Azores travel guide

Azores Essentials

The Azores archipelago features a landscape shaped by volcanic activity, from the massive twin craters of Sete Cidades to the thermal gardens of Furnas. This collection highlights the 18th-century architecture of Ponta Delgada, the only tea plantation in Europe, and natural geothermal pools where volcanic heat meets the Atlantic. Visitors can explore ancient lava tubes, historic whaling museums, and high-altitude viewpoints overlooking endemic forests and crater lakes like Lagoa do Fogo.

Alexandros Kellaris / cc-by-2.0

Lagoa do Fogo

Volcanic crater lake situated at an altitude of 575 meters within a nature reserve. It is one of the largest bodies of water in the region and is characterized by its blue waters and surrounding endemic vegetation.

Samuel Fonseca 85 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Vista do Rei Viewpoint

Viewpoint overlooking the Green and Blue Lakes within a volcanic crater. The site is recognized as one of the 7 Natural Wonders of Portugal and features a large caldera lake formed by volcanic activity.

JCNazza / CC BY 3.0

Boca do Inferno Viewpoint

Lookout point offering panoramic views over the Sete Cidades caldera, including the Blue and Green lakes and Lagoa do Canário.

Anselmo Baptista / CC-BY-SA

Terra Nostra Garden

18th-century botanical garden featuring a massive iron-rich thermal swimming pool and one of the world’s largest collections of camellias.

José Luís Ávila Silveira/Pedro Noronha… / Public domain

Caldeira Velha

Nature reserve featuring thermal pools heated by volcanic activity and a waterfall set amidst lush ferns and endemic vegetation.

José Luís Ávila Silveira/Pedro Noronha… / Public domain

Sete Cidades

Civil parish located inside a massive volcanic caldera, known for its iconic twin lakes and the Neo-Gothic Church of São Nicolau.

Sergey Ashmarin / CC BY-SA 3.0

Portas da Cidade

18th-century three-arched gate constructed from volcanic stone. Originally built on the harbor, it now serves as the symbolic entrance to Ponta Delgada.

José Luís Ávila Silveira/Pedro Noronha… / Public domain

Cha Gorreana Tea Factory

Europe's oldest and only remaining tea plantation, operating since 1883. It produces organic black and green tea using 19th-century British machinery.

José Luís Ávila Silveira/Pedro Noronha… / Public domain

Parque Natural da Ribeira dos Caldeirões

Protected area in Nordeste featuring several waterfalls, restored traditional water mills, and a valley filled with tree ferns and hydrangeas.

Anselmo Baptista / CC-BY-SA

Poça da Dona Beija

Set of five outdoor thermal pools in Furnas with iron-rich waters heated to 39°C by a natural geothermal spring.

CC BY-SA 4.0

Lady of Peace Chapel

18th-century Baroque chapel and pilgrimage site featuring a monumental staircase with 100 steps and 10 landings decorated with religious imagery. The site serves as a viewpoint overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and a nearby volcanic islet.

Sygic Travel User / CC-BY-SA

Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro

Natural site on Flores Island where dozens of waterfalls cascade down a high cliff into a peaceful pond surrounded by greenery.

Bruno / CC-BY-SA

Ponta da Ferraria

Coastal area featuring a natural ocean swimming hole where geothermal springs heat the seawater, creating a unique warm-water bathing experience.

Whalers Museum

Whaling history museum housed in a 19th-century complex of former boat warehouses and blacksmith workshops. It displays specialized tools, equipment, and scrimshaw art created from whale bones and teeth.