In which city house in the Azores?

Which island and city to visit the Azores Archipelago? Here is our presentation of the cities where to stay in the Azores!

Portuguese Archipelago consisting of nine islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, 1 450 kilometres west of Lisbon the Azores are an autonomous region Portugal . Often forgotten by Western tourists, it still holds many riches: an exceptional fauna and flora, an incredible diversity of landscapes, a paradise of contrasting colors, where each island offers its small wonders, allowing countless activities of nature, etc. The population of the archipelago was 245,283 in 2016.

Whether you choose to stay in Ponta Delgada, Angra do Heroísmo or Horta, you will have the feeling of living an eternal spring all year round (the maximum temperatures being between 16°C and 25°C on an annual average). Attention, staying at the Azores can cost expensive as it is remote islands of the continent.

Are you looking for accommodation on one of the nine islands in the archipelago? To guide you in your choices, the editorial team has designed a presentation of the largest cities where to stay in the Azores.

Ponta Delgada

Ponta Delgada is the capital of the archipelago. Located south of the island of São Miguel, it is a historic city of 68,809 inhabitants, founded in the 16th century. Nearby you can explore the lakes of Sete Cidades, the Forest and Recreation Reserve of Pinhal da Paz, the cave of Carvão, the islet of São Roque, the islets dos Mosteiros, the seaside area of Ferraria. In particular, we go there to observe whales, scuba diving and explore the various hiking trails from the city.

The Military Museum of Azores, the fort of São Brás, the Carlos Machado Museum and collections and art galleries are also waiting for you, like religious and historical buildings such as the Convent of Nossa Senhora da Esperança, the Church of Saint Joseph (São José) and the Church of Matrix or Saint Sebastian (São Sebastião). On their sides, gardens and palaces are not left with the Palácio de Sant’Ana and the Palácio do Canto. The Avenida Infante Dom Henrique and the Porte de la Ville (Portas da Cidade) are waiting for you with many shops, restaurants, bars and hotels where to stay in Ponta Delgada.

Angra do Heroísmo

The second city of Azores, Angra do Heroísmo is located south of the island of Terceira and is the historical capital of the archipelago. Its city centre is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The commune is located in the north of a small peninsula surrounding an unmissable setting: the Reserva Florestal de Recreio do Monte Brasil. The population is 35,402 inhabitants and is a good choice to stay in the Azores. Walking around the paved alleys, sprinkled with colourful houses with wrought iron balconies, wandering through the bustling streets and restaurants make it a good place to sleep on Terceira.

Horta

The third largest city in the archipelago, Horta is located southeast of Faial Island and faces the island of Pico. Less populated than the other islands, the tranquility awaits you, even in the summer. There are only 15,000 inhabitants in Horta and little more on the island. Many hotels allow you to stay in Horta in the port’s anthem. Bar Peter Café Sport is a must-see in the city, as the seafarer’s den crossing the Atlantic Ocean. The place is loaded in souvenirs of trips and shipping.

To the south, we can go up to Monter da Guia, to have a breathtaking view of the sea and the city. The rest of the island is composed of a lunar landscape of ash mountains where nature reclaims its rights on volcanic eruptions.