Get to know the perfect european holiday destination all year round - Azores

On Terceira Island, the World Heritage town of Angra do Heroísmo is steeped in history. It has served as Portugal’s capital twice, even so for brief moments. In the 15th and 16th centuries, during the Discoveries period, it was an important port of call of the Indies and fleets coming from Africa. The ships laden with gold, silver, and spices brought prosperity to the city at the time, which led to the construction of splendid palaces and elegant streets full of colourful buildings and churches. 

Angra presents its history with grace and elegance through its colorful streets, that contrast with Atlantic’s bright and peaceful light. There are also plenty of buildings with beautiful façades across the town, being the most emblematic ones: Igreja do Santíssimo Salvador da Sé (Cathedral), Igreja da Misericórdia (Church), MAH – Museum of Anga do Heroísmo and Palácio dos Capitães Generais (Palace).

Other landmarks of the city are the dark walls of the powerful fortress - Fortaleza de São João Batista - and the monuments, which have been cherishing art treasures for centuries. 

The prominent Monte Brazil is also one of the main attractions here. It consists of the remnants of a volcano covered with an extensive green area, where you can have a beautiful view over the glimmering sea horizon.

In Pico Island, there is a mountain that emerges from the sea, with vineyards planted in black lava fields. It is the highest mountain in Portugal, 7713 ft above sea level, which is more than twice the elevation of any other peak in the Azores.

Mount Pico is a volcano that stands out on the island’s scenery! Its cone of lava inside its main crater is constantly venting steam, showing off its volcanic nature. The climb to the top is one of the most sought-after activities to do in the Azores, as the view at the highest point is breathtaking. Although the trekking can be tough, it is rewarded to arrive and see all the unique panoramic views which, on a cloudless day, praise you with the additional perk of a glimpse of Graciosa and Terceira islands, also part of the central islands group.

Pico Mountain is located in Pico Island, a mineral-rich lava soil area with a hot, dry climate. The island has been experiencing a surge in grape growth over the last decades, especially of the Verdelho type. Hence, the extensive fields form the unique “Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture”, elected World Heritage by UNESCO in 2004.

The iconic Lagoa das Sete Cidades - Lagoon of the Seven Cities -  is a twin lake formed in the crater of an inactive volcano in São Miguel Island. Named one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal, the view you get of this lagoon along its footpaths packed with delicate French Hydrangeas is absolutely astonishing and stands out from the rest of the views in the Azores archipelago. In fact, for being one of the landmarks in the Azores, Lagoa das Sete Cidadades was classified as Protected Landscape of the Rede Natura 2000.

The Lagoon is composed of blue and green lakes, connected by a narrow strait, that jointly flows into a single natural water reservoir, the largest one in the Azores. There is a legend associated with the explanation of the existence of two different colours within the same lagoon. It says that the lagoon owes its colours to the tears of the young and beautiful Princess Antília and her true lover. One day, the daughter of the king of this Azorean land was taking a walk through the fields and met a shepherd whom she fell deeply in love with. Her father wanted her to marry a prince, forbidding the princess from seeing the shepherd again but still conceded her a final meeting with him. On this farewell day, the princess, with her blue eyes, and the shepherd, with his green eyes, cried so much that they ended up creating the two lakes - the blue and green.

Giving its incredible natural beauty, the Azores have a huge amount of outdoor sports and activities to do. There are plenty of options for you to enjoy nature to the fullest and even get a bit of a sense of adventure. 

The rich fauna of the archipelago offers a wide range of activities. Whale and dolphin watching is a very popular attraction since these marine mammals can be easily spotted in the area. The variety of bird species this island hosts is also incredible, making bird watching a practice that can be done in all of the Azores islands. You may find a large number of migratory birds coming from America and Euroasia. 

Another main attraction to animal lovers is scuba diving. In the Azores, there is a diverse underwater fauna that spans tiny invertebrates to huge pelagic fish and marine mammals.

If you are not so keen on animals, there are plenty of other options. Hiking is an often practice in all islands, living up to all the sightseeing footpaths the islands comprise. The Azores is also a good spot for surfing, mainly São Miguel, which hosts the World Surf League in Ribeira Grande beach. Azorean beaches are also good spots for snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, swimming, and much more. 

There is also a venture offer for real adrenaline enthusiasts. In the Azores, you have the unique chance of flying over the volcanic craters in Furnas island or the Lagoa das Sete Cidades, in São Miguel. Over the last years, the island of São Miguel has become a hotspot for paragliders worldwide.

Furnas is located on the island of São Miguel, at a 50 km distance from Ponta Delgada. It is gifted with its volcanic phenomena, which can be seen through the hot springs, thermal pools, and geysers.

On the eastern side of the town, is where the volcanic phenomena are mostly alive. Here you can find the steaming geysers and the hot springs – so-called fumaroles – throwing therapeutic mud and mineral water used for today’s modern spa therapies. The largest and nosiest hot spring of the island is called Caldeira de Pêro Botelho. Caldeira de Polme is equally fascinating, as it often tends to expel out large clouds of grey dust.

The hot springs on the lake’s northern shores are also a place where locals come to cook a typical Portuguese dish named cozido – a rich meat and vegetable stew boiled underground in a huge pot for five to seven hours. This is a local practice that has been enduring for generations.

In Faial, you can find the most colourful marina in the world. Horta Marine is a beautiful area filled with moored yachts and a beautiful exhibition of paintings on the marina walls, made by the visiting sailors. This tradition carried out for generations turned the marina into an open-air art gallery.

It is the 4th most visited marine in the world, being an almost mandatory stopover for sailboats traveling from the Caribbean towards the Mediterranean. The marine is also a meeting point for many international boat races. 

In the marine, you can also find the mythical Peter Café Sport. It is a multi-faceted place, being not only a sailors’ bar, but also a post office, a currency exchange office, a scrimshaw museum, and, above all, a place where you are welcomed for a restful moment during your stopover.

Ponta Delgada is the economic capital of the Autonomous Region of the Azores in Portugal. It is located in São Miguel, the biggest and most populated island in the Azores. 

The city started by being a small fishing village, that eventually became the main port of São Miguel Island. The town began to grow and, during the 17th and 18th centuries, the churches, convents, and houses were built forming the emblematic historical centre.

Nowadays, Ponta Delgada is a city with a rich economic and social life. It embodies a rich history of over five centuries with the typical cosmopolitanism of a city and the peacefulness of Azorean life.

Nearby São Miguel Island, there is a small volcanic islet, around 500 meters away from the coast, which was formed as a result of the crater of an ancient submerged volcano. It is considered one of the main tourist attractions of the São Miguel island, especially since one of the stages of the Red Bull Cliff Diving was held there. 

Classified as a Nature Reserve, the walls of the islet’s crater are covered with endemic vegetation, having a natural pool in the midst of it, with an almost perfect circular shape that is linked to the sea through a narrow channel. This natural pool is excellent for swimming and snorkeling. The small opening of the pool faces the coast of the São Miguel island, which prevents the bustling sea waves from entering and helps to keep the water warmer than outside. There is also a lovely beach on the islet, great for sunbathing and spending the day.