Choosing the best time to visit the Azores is much more than just looking at the good weather.
Eventually it all comes down on your interests and which activities are you most willing to experience in the islands.
I’m breaking down some factors to find out what is your best time of the year to visit the Azores islands!
WEATHER
For small islands, specially the ones in the middle of the Atlantic, weather takes a huge part on the overall experience for travelers. As much as a liberating moment it can be, no one really enjoys to be out in the wild with heavy showers.
November to March corresponds to winter time and to the rainy season in Azores. Even though temperatures don’t drop considerably, this is not a good time to travel if you don’t want to get wet.
Summer on the other hand (June to September) offers very warm air and sea water temperatures. This has a direct impact on all the outdoor activities you can do in Azores – hiking, surfing or paragliding for instance.
You can find more details on the Azores climate page.
TRANSPORTATION
Domestic flights and even tours and boat trips are much more frequent in the warmer months. The AtlanticoLine inter-island ferries have a limited yearly schedule and only run from April to October.
In winter they only run between Flores and Corvo islands. The private boat that runs to Vila Franca islet starts running on early June.
Plus, from November to February some flights can get cancelled/postponed due to storms and frequent foggy weather.
In summary, it is still not yet exactly easy or cheap to get around the islands of Azores here are significant differences in transportation between summer and winter months. If you want to maximize your mobility in Azores, you’ll want to avoid the latter.
CROWDS
Azores rarely get impossibly crowded and you can expect lots of space around while exploring the islands. Having that said, if you are looking for the fewer amount of people possible avoid the months of July and August. Some beaches and main sights of São Miguel island can get quite busy by then.
PRICES
By avoiding the peak summer months of July and August, you also avoid the inflated prices in accommodation, flights and services like car rental. Like most places in Europe, winter months are significantly (at least 30-40%) cheaper.
There are not many hotels in Azores… Book your hotel ASAP for the best deal!
I’ve made your life easier and you can start your search with my pre-selection of the hotels/guesthouses/villas in the Azores. This list only includes the top-rated reviewed hotels in the islands, with WiFi included. Hard to go wrong with these!
Or explore the latest hotel deals:
Booking.com
PHOTOGRAPHY
If you are into capturing the islands’ essence through a lens, the Spring season might be the ideal time for you. From March to June flowers like hydrangeas, agapanthus and ginger lilies are in full bloom, adding some extra vibrant colors to your pictures.
WHALE WATCHING
The Azores are a top-notch whale-watching hotspot in the world and up to 30% of ALL known cetacean species can be seen in a single three-hour trip. These species are spotted by lookouts on the coast, who use powerful binoculars and guide the boats to spot the location of the dolphins and whales, ensuring a higher probability of sights for the tour operators.
If whale-watching activities are on your bucket list – they should -, it’s worth to check the time of the year with more species swimming in azorean waters. April to June are the months of the year where the migratory routes of cetaceans overlap the most. Follow this calendar to plan your trip accordingly.
Note some of the species have a sighting period of only a couple of months – e.g. the blue whale!
EVENTS
Santo Cristo Festivities – São Miguel island
The biggest festivities in the archipelago – Santo Cristo Festivities – happen in Ponta Delgada somewhere in April or May (2016 dates: 26th April – 3rd May).
Apart from some festivals and live music events, there’s an highly religious component to this. Every year, thousands of immigrants in the US and Canada return to the island of São Miguel to participate in the celebrations of Christ.
Red Bull Cliff Diving – São Miguel island
Cliff diving competition from Vila Franca do Campo islet in São Miguel.
Happens in July.
Running of the bulls – Terceira island
Tourada a Corda is a unique event where bulls with a single giant rope attached chase people in the streets. Not surprisingly, a few people get injured every year.
Daily from May to September.
Maré de Agosto – Santa Maria island
Maré de Agosto (August Tide) Festival in Praia Formosa, in the island of Santa Maria, joins several international musicians and artists. It’s probably the most charismatic music festivals in Azores.
Takes place every year in August.
Walk&Talk – São Miguel island
This street art festival features worldwide renowned sculptors, designers and video directors to perform cutting-edge festival of public performance and visual arts.
Taking place over two weeks in July.
Other important azorean events are:
- Sanjoaninas (June, Terceira island)
- Espírito Santo festivities (April to June, São Miguel island)
- World Surf League (September, São Miguel island)
As you can see, the overwhelming majority of events in Azores take place during spring or summer months.
Still need help deciding when to travel to Azores?
As expected, the ideal time of the year to go to the Azores is a trade-off of several factors. Take a moment to realize what is most important for you to accomplish in the islands. The chart below might help put everything in perspective.
I will still throw in my two cents. After living in the Azores during many years, my favorite month in the islands eventually became September. Great warm weather (more stable than July and August), fewer people on the beaches, still a lots of things happening.
However, this is from a local’s perspective.
If I put myself in the shoes of a visitor, I’d probably take other factors in. Specially the best time to do sea-related activities such as whale watching or inter-island ferries. Adding this criterion to the mix and compromising with other equally important (weather, transports, events), June looks like a winner to me!
Azores Flight + Hotel + Transfers Deals
I usually don’t use travel agencies to book holidays. They end up being more expensive in 99% of the times. Yet I have to make an exception for Azores Getaways because I really think they have some pretty good prices for a flight + hotel + transfers packages to the Azores – starting at 599USD!
Plus, you can customize your package by combining 2 or 3 islands to your itinerary which is great:
I particularly recommend using Azores Getaways if you are flying from the United States and don’t have much time to plan your holidays.
Planning a trip to Azores by yourself
Azores Flights
If you are not from the US or simply not into vacation packages, you’re better off by booking your flight independently.
As a rule of thumb, flights to Azores are considerably cheaper from Porto, Lisbon or London. Ponta Delgada airport has the highest number of flight connections. From there you may be entitled to a FREE connecting flight to other islands – check this page for more info.
Azores Hotels
For hotels, you can start off with this pre-filtered list of hotels, guesthouses and villas in Azores. Or explore hotel deals:
Useful resources about the Azores
- Selection of hotels, guesthouses in São Miguel, Azores with WiFi
- Event calendar of Azores
- Climate and weather information about Azores
- Information about flights to Azores
My blogs about the Azores
- 7 Unique Experiences and Things To Do in Pico Island, Azores
- The Most Complete Travel Guide to Pico Island, Azores
- Climbing Mount Pico: All You Need To Know For an Epic Hike
- The Ultimate Itinerary of São Miguel Island (Made By An Azorean)
- 14 Important Things To Know Before Traveling To Azores
- What & Where To Eat In São Miguel, Azores
- Azores Travel Blog: São Miguel Guide
- Why Are The Azores The Next Big Travel Destination
- What To Do In São Miguel Island, Azores