Shopping · Azores · Portugal
Shopping in Azores
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Lacobrigo, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Shopping in the Azores focuses on local food, crafts and drink: cheese, tea, pineapple products, liqueurs, ceramics and embroidery from each island. Best souvenirs: São Jorge cheese, Azorean tea and Pineapple liqueur and jam.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 1
- Top souvenir
- São Jorge cheese
Where to shop
Ponta Delgada old town
Craft shops, ceramics and delicatessens around the Igreja Matriz and the main squares.
Ribeira Grande
Liqueur producers and craft shops, including ceramics from nearby Lagoa.
Angra do Heroísmo
Shops along Rua da Sé and around the main square with Terceira crafts and sweets.
Markets
Mercado da Graça
Ponta Delgada's covered market for fruit, cheese, fish and local produce.
What to buy
São Jorge cheese
Vacuum-packed wedges of the island's spicy, aged cheese.
Azorean tea
Boxes of green and black tea from Gorreana and Porto Formoso.
Pineapple liqueur and jam
Sold at plantations and delicatessens in Ponta Delgada.
Lagoa ceramics
Hand-painted pottery from the ceramic tradition of Lagoa on São Miguel.
Pico wine
Bottles of Verdelho and other wines from the UNESCO-listed vineyards.
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Bolo lêvedo, Azorean pineapple, Queijadas da Vila and Azorean tea. Bakeries and cafés across São Miguel; the Furnas originals are sold in the village. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Ponta Delgada | $$ | São Miguel's harbour capital of black-and-white cobbles and whale-watching boats |
| Ribeira Grande | $$ | North-coast town of surf beaches and stone churches near Caldeira Velha |
| Angra do Heroísmo | $$ | Terceira's UNESCO-listed Renaissance port town of painted façades |
| Pico Island | $$ | Black-lava vineyards and fishing villages below Portugal's highest peak |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in EUR. Tipping is modest; rounding up or leaving 5–10% in restaurants for good service is appreciated but not expected.
- Greet people with 'Bom dia' or 'Boa tarde' in shops and cafés.
- Supermarkets sell São Jorge cheese, local wine and tea far more cheaply than souvenir shops.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–February and November; the busiest months are July–August.
- April: Holy Spirit festivals begin after Easter
- May: Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres festival in Ponta Delgada (fifth Sunday after Easter, usually May)
- June: Sanjoaninas festival in Angra do Heroísmo (usually late June)
- August: Semana do Mar — Sea Week festival in Horta (usually early August)
- December: Christmas lights and nativity scenes in the towns (usually December)
Staying near the shops
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Azores?
São Jorge cheese, Azorean tea, Pineapple liqueur and jam and Lagoa ceramics.
+Where is the best shopping in Azores?
Ponta Delgada old town: Craft shops, ceramics and delicatessens around the Igreja Matriz and the main squares.
+What are the best markets in Azores?
Mercado da Graça.