PT · Azores · 38.66°N 28.07°W

azores

Crater lakes, steaming volcanic ground and whale trips in the middle of the Atlantic.

Best time
May–September is warmest, best for walking, swimming and whale trips, and the hydrangeas flower in summer. Spring brings migrating blue whales; winter is mild but wet and windy, with more flights and boats cancelled.
How long
5–7 days on São Miguel
Getting there
Fly with one stop to Lisbon, usually via Dubai, Doha or Istanbul (about 17–19 hours all in), then about 2.5 hours on to Ponta Delgada. The Azores are 8 hours behind KL in summer and 9 in winter.
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PT · Azoresazores38.66°N 28.07°Wgowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Crater lakes, steaming volcanic ground and whale trips in the middle of the Atlantic.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingAzoresPT, Azores
KLazores
≈ 13,085 km from KL, as the crow flies
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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

The Azores are nine volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic, all crater lakes, hydrangea hedges and steaming ground. For a first trip, São Miguel, the biggest island, has plenty for a week.

Makan

  1. Cozido das FurnasMeat and vegetables slow-cooked for hours in the hot ground. It includes pork and blood sausage alongside the beef and chicken.Map ↗
  2. Bolo lêvedoSoft, slightly sweet griddle muffins from Furnas.Map ↗
  3. Azorean pineappleSmall, sweet pineapples grown in greenhouses on São Miguel.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Sete CidadesTwin crater lakes, one blue and one green, seen from the Vista do Rei viewpoint.Map ↗
  2. FurnasHot springs, bubbling fumaroles and a lake where pots of stew are buried to cook in the volcanic ground.Map ↗
  3. Whale watchingBoats from Ponta Delgada go out most of the year to find sperm whales and dolphins.Map ↗
  4. Gorreana tea plantationOne of Europe's oldest working tea plantations, on the north coast.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Cloud can hide the crater lakes while the coast is sunny, so look at the island webcams before driving up.
  • Stick to São Miguel for a first trip; hopping between islands needs spare days for the weather.
  • Halal meat is very hard to find; fish, cheese and fruit are easy, and self-catering helps.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.