Azores: The Most Beautiful Islands for A Green Getaway In These Portuguese Islands
Is your heart looking for new places to visit? Something like, where nature embraces you like an old friend?
I give you the Azores. Here, every step you take reveals green valleys and volcanic views that simply scream: “This is what you’ve been looking for a long time!”
It’s not hard to imagine yourself here. So, take a minute and accept this personal invitation to reconnect with nature and recharge your batteries.
You’ll feel this paradise was made just for you!
1. São Miguel
If the Azores were a grand orchestra, São Miguel would be the bold, dramatic first violin!
Beautiful landscapes, volcanic wonders, and just the right amount of mystery. Perfect! The island’s most famous sight, Sete Cidades, is like a fairytale painting come to life: two lakes, one blue and one green, resting inside a massive volcanic crater.
But São Miguel doesn’t just sit around looking pretty. It bubbles with geothermal energy, literally. In Furnas, steam rises from the earth, turning the town into a natural spa. You can soak in warm iron-rich waters at Terra Nostra Park, then dig into Cozido das Furnas.
The flavors? Deep, smoky, and touched by the earth itself.
2. Flores
Flores is the Azores’ wild child, where nature doesn’t just thrive. It performs! Waterfalls spill down cliffs like liquid silver, green hills stretch as far as the eye can see, and the coastline looks like something a painter dreamed up in a fever of inspiration.
If you only visit one spot, make it Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro! This hidden valley is a place where waterfalls tumble down the rock, and create a magical scene.
Yes, this place is perfect for peace and quiet. But, there’s more. The communities here are small, but so warm and ready for a heartwarming conversation. In the village of Fajã Grande, locals gather in cozy cafés, where conversations flow as easily as the island’s rivers.
3. São Jorge
São Jorge doesn’t do boring. It’s the island of fajãs, coastal plateaus created by landslides and lava flows, each with its own microclimate and secret treasures. Some have forests, others cradle quiet villages, and a few are only reachable by foot or boat.
Fajã da Caldeira de Santo Cristo is one of them. If you like to surf, you’ll feel like the waves are daring you, all the time. And don’t even get me started on the clams. The best in the Azores!
Adventure is the unofficial language of São Jorge. The verbs are the most important segments! Hiking through misty mountains, driving for stunning discoveries sounds just about right! Don’t forget the Serra do Topo to Fajã dos Cubres! This trail is a must!
And then, there’s the cheese. Yes, São Jorge cheese is a celebrity in its own right. It’s aged to perfection, rich with nutty and spicy notes.
Come for the views, stay for the cheese, and leave with a heart full of saudade.
4. Terceira
Terceira doesn’t believe in being just one thing. It’s an island of contrasts!
The heart of it all is Angra do Heroísmo, a town so rich in history it feels like a time capsule. Cobbled streets, pastel-colored buildings, and a harbor that once welcomed explorers from across the globe; it’s no wonder it’s a World Heritage Site.
But Terceira isn’t just about looking back, it’s full of unexpected natural wonders. The Algar do Carvão, a volcanic cave, lets you literally step inside a volcano, where walls drip with mineral-rich water and light filters through an ancient crater above.
If you visit during summer, don’t be surprised if you stumble into a tourada à corda—a traditional Azorean bull-running event. But if that’s not your scene, simply follow the scent of freshly baked Dona Amélia cakes.
5. Pico
Attention, please! Pico, the island, needs it! Meet Mount Pico, Portugal’s highest peak. Climbing it is both a challenge and a rite of passage. The views from the summit stretch across the central Azorean islands, and watching the sunrise from up here? Pure magic.
The island’s volcanic DNA is everywhere, from the Lava Tubes of Gruta das Torres to the black basalt vineyards. These vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, produce Pico’s famous Verdelho wine, a crisp, mineral-rich white that pairs perfectly with fresh seafood.
Pico also carries a deep whaling heritage, though today, the only hunting done is with cameras. The Whaling Museum in Lajes do Pico tells the island’s seafaring history, while modern-day whale-watching tours offer the chance to see cachalots and dolphins.
I say: Go for it!
6. Graciosa
The name says it all! But it doesn’t seek attention for no good reason.
Graciosa is the quiet beauty in the corner, waiting for those who truly appreciate slow travel. Rolling green fields, windmills dotting the hills, and whitewashed villages that seem almost untouched by time.
But Graciosa hides surprises beneath its gentle exterior. The Furna do Enxofre is a volcanic cave so big it looks like nature’s cathedral, complete with an underground lake and a perfectly circular skylight at the top.
Life here moves at a different rhythm; one best enjoyed with a glass of local wine in hand, watching the sunset over the Atlantic. The island’s name means “graceful,” and it lives up to it in every way.