Azores, Portugal

Sitting alone in the vast Atlantic Ocean, the Azores could best be described as Europe’s answer to Hawaii. Volcanic in origin, the nine-island archipelago is a paradise for watersports enthusiasts and beach lovers. For all your accommodation needs in the Azores, search FlipKey where you will find a huge selection of beautiful rental homes in perfect locations to choose from.

About Azores, Portugal

First settled by the Portuguese in the 15th century, today the Azores are an autonomous region of Portugal.

Besides speaking Portuguese and adopting the Euro as the island's currency, the people of the Azores are used to a slow pace of life and seem in no hurry to change. A large part of this is due to the island's location—932 miles west of Portugal and 2,485 miles east of New York. Up until recently, the only way to visit the Azores was an expensive flight from Lisbon or as a stopover on a transatlantic sailboat voyage.


With a loosening of airline competition throughout Europe, that is all about to change with affordable airlines Ryanair and EasyJet starting a daily service from Lisbon and Porto to João Paulo II Airport, Ponta Delgada.

What to do in the Azores

Portugal has 15 UNESCO World Heritage sites, and Azores is home to two of them. There’s the historic Old Town of Angra do Heroismo on Terceira and the stunning vineyards of Pico.

Big game fishing is as good as you will find anywhere on the planet with white marlin, bluefin tuna, bigeye tuna, longfin tuna (albacore), yellowfin tuna mako shark, swordfish, wahoo, dorado and giant blue marlin all present in Azorean waters. Whether you have experience in deep sea fishing or you’re a complete novice, you’ll be able to try your hand at it.

With very few good surfing destinations to choose from in Europe, the Azores—with their year-round swells and warm water—are a good reason to grab your board and head to São Miguel. You’ll find several surf schools and outfitters here.

Hiking and mountain biking is popular in the Azores with a trip to the volcanic lakes at Sete Cidades a must-see for any tourist. The same must be said for the geothermal pools that heat up the ocean water like a warm bath. It’s as unique a swimming location as you could hope to find!

Top travel tips for the Azores

Tourism in the Azores is geared towards the summer months, where temperatures average 75F. In the winter they drop to around 55F. The weather generally is influenced by Atlantic storms which mean it can go from sunny to rainy and back to sunny the same day.

The best way to get between the islands is to fly using an Azores Air Pass. A more scenic approach is to take a regular ferry—you might spot some migrating whales. The best months are between May and July. Be sure to try the local wine and bring back some tea from Europe’s only commercial tea plantation.

Visiting the Azores is almost like stepping back in time due to its inaccessibility, but now with budget airfares available, that could be about to change. With limited accommodation available, the best place to stay is in your own rental property. Start searching the great options available here on FLipKey. You won’t be disappointed!