Getting around · Azores · Portugal
Getting around Azores
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Wo st 01 (There are 682 Pictures in my Category ) See also Toolserver, CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Quick answer
Each island needs its own transport plan. On São Miguel, a hire car is the easiest way to reach the crater lakes, hot springs and viewpoints; Ponta Delgada to Furnas takes about 45 minutes. Islands are linked by short inter-island flights and, on some routes, ferries. Yes for most visitors: buses are too infrequent to reach the crater lakes, hot springs and trailheads easily.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Car
- Airports
- PDL, TER, HOR, PIX, FLW
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
Ways to get around
Car
Hire cars are available on all the main islands and give the freedom to chase good weather between viewpoints. Roads are good but often narrow and winding.
Book cars well ahead for July and August, when they can sell out on São Miguel and the smaller islands.
Bus
Local buses connect Ponta Delgada with towns such as Furnas, Ribeira Grande and Sete Cidades, but services are infrequent and not ideal for sightseeing.
Taxi
Taxis are available in the main towns and can be hired for half-day or full-day island tours.
Ferry
Atlânticoline ferries run year-round across the 'triangle' of Faial, Pico and São Jorge, with Horta to Madalena taking about 30 minutes; longer routes between island groups run mainly in summer.
Crossings can be cancelled in bad weather; leave a buffer day before any international flight.
Walking
A network of official walking trails covers every island, from crater rims and coastal paths to forest routes; many are well signposted.
Boat
Licensed boats run whale-watching, dolphin-swimming and coastal trips from Ponta Delgada, Vila Franca do Campo, Horta and Lajes do Pico.
From the airport
Ponta Delgada's João Paulo II Airport is about 3 km west of the town centre, roughly 10 minutes by taxi. Terceira (Lajes), Horta (Faial), Pico and Flores airports handle most inter-island flights, and some receive direct flights from mainland Portugal.
Do you need a car?
Yes for most visitors: buses are too infrequent to reach the crater lakes, hot springs and trailheads easily. Without a car, rely on day tours and taxis from Ponta Delgada, or stay on a small island with a guided programme.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Nordeste and the east coast | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car from Ponta Delgada | Car around the north or south coast of São Miguel |
| Pico from Faial | About 30 minutes by ferry | Atlânticoline ferry from Horta to Madalena |
| São Jorge and its fajãs | About 1–2 hours by ferry from Pico or Faial | Atlânticoline ferry to Velas, then car or taxi |
| Corvo from Flores | About 45 minutes by boat | Boat from Santa Cruz das Flores (mainly in summer) |
| Santa Maria | About 25 minutes by plane from Ponta Delgada | Inter-island flight, or a seasonal ferry in summer |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Azores?
Yes for most visitors: buses are too infrequent to reach the crater lakes, hot springs and trailheads easily. Without a car, rely on day tours and taxis from Ponta Delgada, or stay on a small island with a guided programme.
+How do you get from the airport to Azores?
Ponta Delgada's João Paulo II Airport is about 3 km west of the town centre, roughly 10 minutes by taxi. Terceira (Lajes), Horta (Faial), Pico and Flores airports handle most inter-island flights, and some receive direct flights from mainland Portugal.
+What is the best way to get around Azores?
Car: Hire cars are available on all the main islands and give the freedom to chase good weather between viewpoints. Roads are good but often narrow and winding.