Top Things to See and Do in the Azores, Portugal

Whale splashing out of the water | georgewolf / Unsplash

In São Miguel’s village of Furnas, locals take slow cooking to a whole new level. Pots of cozido (meat-and-vegetable stew) are lowered into the volcanic ground, where they cook all day. Many local restaurants, such as Caldeiras e Vulcões, take orders in advance – it’s recommended to call the day before – so don’t wait for dinnertime to place an order.

A panoramic view across the lakes of Sete Cidades in the Azores | Colin Watts / Unsplash

Mount Pico, Portugal | Daniel Wallace / Unsplash

Eating seafood is a must in the Azores. Many restaurants source ingredients straight from the ocean and ordering lapas (limpet clams) is particularly special. A Tasca is regarded as one of the best restaurants in the area to try the delicacy. Caught off the rocks, they can be eaten raw or grilled – the latter (lapas grelhadas) are served with butter, garlic and a drizzle of lemon. Found all over the Azores, lapas are among the most popular oceanic treats, and the largest lapas can be found on the westernmost islands of Flores and Corvo.

Seafood Boil | wikisleep / unsplash

The pretty towns and villages in the Azores will make you feel like you’ve travelled back through time, so embrace that feeling and explore a city by carriage. Many of the most popular locations, such as Angra do Heroísmo in Terceira and Ponta Delgada in São Miguel, offer these experiences, which can be booked on the day.

From religious to musical and even maritime themes, the warmest months are when the islands come alive with festivals, with each island having its own event calendar. Festa do Divino Espirito Santo (the Holy Ghost Festival), is the most popular festa, celebrating the third person of the Godhead – a day where somebody is named empress or emperor for a day.

For a full-body workout and a chance to spend time on the water, book a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) excursion. The lakes provide calm yet spectacular environments to try this – and organised trips on the ocean are available as well. You can rent a board and kayaks at Garoupa Canoe Tours.

Person falling of stand up paddleboard | keer_yay / Unsplash

Sunset on the ocean | Linus Nylund / Unsplash

Head west in São Miguel for one of the most dramatic and famous views in the Azores: the crater and lakes at Sete Cidades. This is another top location for hikers and the stunning scenery is perfect for photographers. Book a guided tour for advice on where to begin or how best to explore the area.