Nine volcanic islands scattered across the mid-Atlantic make up the Azores, a Portuguese archipelago where green crater lakes fill dormant calderas, hydrangeas line country roads in early summer, and whales pass close enough to shore to spot from a clifftop lookout. It’s a destination built for outdoor travel, with each island offering a slightly different mix of hiking, hot springs, and coastline.

Best Things to Do in the Azores

Visit the Twin Crater Lakes of Sete Cidades

On São Miguel, a single volcanic crater holds two lakes side by side, one green and one blue, framed by steep forested slopes. The viewpoint at Vista do Rei is the classic photo stop, though the hike down into the crater rim gets you much closer to the water.

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Soak in the Hot Springs of Furnas

Thermal pools stained orange from mineral deposits sit within a botanical garden at Terra Nostra Park, while nearby vents and bubbling mud pots power a local specialty: stew slow-cooked underground in the volcanic heat for hours.

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Go Whale Watching

The Azores sit along migration routes for sperm whales, blue whales, and dozens of dolphin species, and boat tours departing from São Miguel or Pico give some of the most reliable whale-watching odds anywhere in Europe.

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Hike Around Pico’s Volcano

Portugal’s highest peak rises directly from the island of Pico, and climbing to its summit crater is a demanding but rewarding full-day hike, with views across neighboring islands on a clear morning before clouds typically roll in.

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Explore Terceira’s Angra do Heroísmo

This UNESCO-listed port town’s pastel facades and volcanic fortress trace the island’s role as a key stop for ships crossing the Atlantic for centuries, and nearby lava tube caves add an underground detour worth the visit.

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Best Time to Visit

June through September brings the best combination of warm weather, calmer seas for whale watching, and hydrangeas in full bloom along the country roads. Weather in the Azores is famously changeable year-round, so packing for four seasons in one day is standard advice regardless of season.

How to Get There

Ponta Delgada on São Miguel is the main gateway, with direct flights from mainland Portugal and a growing number of routes from North America and other parts of Europe. Inter-island flights and ferries connect the archipelago, though island-hopping requires more planning than a single-island trip.

Good to Know

Most visitors focus on one or two islands rather than trying to see all nine, since inter-island transport eats into limited vacation time. Renting a car is the most practical way to reach crater lakes, hot springs, and trailheads scattered across each island’s interior.

Fewer crowds and more raw, volcanic landscape than most of Europe’s islands make the Azores a rewarding choice for travelers who’d rather hike a crater rim than lie on a lounger.