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Best time to visit the Azores

The best time to visit the Azores is between April and September, when you’ll enjoy the fairest weather and calmer seas. Peak season is summer (July and August), when the capital Ponta Delgada gets busy, but it’s perfectly pleasant all year round. Temperatures are rarely lower than 14°C and they don’t get much higher than 25°C. That said, sea conditions can get rougher during the winter season. Find out more with our indispensable guide on when to go to the Azores.

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Best time to visit The Azores

The Azores host the ‘Big Three’ in April – blue, fin and sei whales.

Influenced by the Gulf Stream, the Azores enjoy a mild, breezy but changeable climate. Daytime temperatures rarely dip below 14°C in winter or rise above 25°C in July, making the Azores a good choice for an outdoorsy break in any season. That said, the best time to visit the Azores is between April and September. Whales and dolphins can be seen all year round, but this is the best time to visit for boat tours, when conditions are calmest and warmest. Spring holidays, when the Azores are less busy, coincide with the mid-March to late May migration of blue whales.

Call us for the best time to go to Azores

A month by month guide on when to go to the Azores

January in the Azores

Mild temperatures | Low prices for flights and hotels | Wet weather and rough seas

Though its climate is notoriously changeable, the Azores doesn’t really see extremes of temperature. In January temperatures average around 14-16°C but are several degrees cooler on the coasts. The Azores in January is wet, though – this is the middle of the rainy season. Low season deals can be had but expect damp, blustery conditions for walking, and an ocean too choppy for boat excursions.

February in the Azores

Whale research | Overwintering birds | Coldest month

If you can tolerate chilly, damp weather, it can make sense to visit the Azores in February. It’s the coldest month in the Azores, but you can still enjoy walking and warming up in hot springs. Whale watching trips are even more fascinating, as you’ll often be accompanied by knowledgeable researchers who’d usually be busy with their studies. And birdwatchers can delight as the islands teem with overwintering species from Europe and America.

March in the Azores

Blue whales | Hiking | Spring flowers

Come to the Azores in March and you stand a decent chance of seeing the largest animal that has ever lived. Blue whales pass through these waters between March and August, filling up on plankton before continuing their epic migration to the Arctic. With temperatures improving and rains easing a little, March is also a good time of year for walking in the Azores, with spring flowers making an appearance.

March is a good time to help out on our whale conservation holiday in the Azores

April in the Azores

Lush vegetation | Big Three whale watching | More flights and ferries

The Azores in April hosts the ‘Big Three’ – blue, fin and sei whales – so although you can see cetaceans year-round, April may be the best time for wildlife trips. The winter rains, now slowing, have painted the scenery in vivid shades of green that are dotted with pretty spring flowers. And flight and ferry timetables are full – another reason why April is a good month to visit the Azores.

May in the Azores

Sunny weather | Hydrangeas in bloom | Last chance for blue whales

Sunny May can be the best time to visit the Azores for flowers. Across the islands, hydrangeas start coming into bloom and pink azaleas frame caldera viewpoints. The Azores in May can be glorious, with increasingly frequent mild, dry days perfect for boat tours and active adventures like hiking and cycling. Blue whales are on the move though – most have left the area by late May.

May is an ideal month to see blue whales in the Azores

June in the Azores

Start of peak season | Active adventures | Warm, sunny weather

Promising warm, sunny weather, June may be the best time for hiking and a host of other active adventures like canyoning – our small group and self guided trips explore some of the archipelago’s most gorgeous scenery. Balmy temperatures range from around 16-23°C and even though the islands are not known for beach holidays, the Azores in June is generally warm enough for sunbathing.

Autumn, summer and the end of spring are really nice times to try canyoning in Flores and avoid the strong water.

– Paulo Medeiros, co-founder of our partner Fun Activities Azores Adventure

July in the Azores

Sunny and hot | Dolphin watching | Summer crowds

The Azores in July basks in hot, sunny weather, with calmer seas too – perfect for boat tours. This is peak season not only for the crowds of summer, but also for dolphin watching. Species you’re likely to encounter in the Azores include Atlantic spotted, striped, Risso’s and bottlenose, and pods can number into the hundreds. On land, hiking, mountain biking and canyoning are all popular in July.

August in the Azores

Festivals galore | Warmest month | Family holidays

August is the best time to travel to the Azores with kids – there’s a wealth of fun activities to enjoy on land and at sea, there are plenty of both direct and indirect flights available, and this is the warmest month in the Azores too. Festivals abound across the Azores in August, often celebrating the islands’ nautical heritage. Expect concerts, feasts and a general air of revelry.

August is perfect for our family activity holiday in the Azores

September in the Azores

Late summer | Warm sea and winds | Walking and cycling

With average temperatures as high as 24°C, September is a lovely month to visit the Azores. You will likely encounter a spot of rain, and very occasionally a weak Atlantic hurricane shows up, but overall the Azores in September is fabulous, weather-wise. Winds are building up and, coupled with warm seas, this is a popular month for windsurfing and surfing, while land-based pursuits including walking, cycling, as well as wine tasting on Pico.

September is a brilliant time for hiking in the Azores, with a hot spring reward

October in the Azores

Good hiking | Wine tasting | Temperatures dropping

The onset of autumn sees temperatures starting to drop a little, while rainfall increases. The crowds of the peak summer season are no more and, consequently, if you visit the Azores in October you’ll find that ferry timetables tend to be restricted and flights require a stopover in Portugal. Still, wrap up well and October is a good month for walking and exploring the fruits of Pico’s UNESCO-protected vines.

November in the Azores

Late autumn | Rougher seas | Rainy and chilly

November can be very rainy in the Azores, but that said, it rarely buckets down and across a week you can still expect a few days of sunshine. The Azores in November tends to be fairly quiet. There is not much chance of spying whales or dolphins amongst the rougher sea conditions, though boat trips do sometimes go. Some intrepid walkers do still enjoy hitting the trails, albeit dressed in suitable raingear.

December in the Azores

Low season | Rainiest month | Many places closed

December is the rainiest month in the Azores, although some people do come to take advantage of bargain flight and hotel costs. The Azores in December is still quite mild however – there’s little chance of snow and with a warm, waterproof coat on the weather is usually perfectly tolerable. It’s quiet, though. With fewer tourists around, many shops and restaurants close their shutters for the winter.

Azores Weather Chart

MIN °C

MAX °C

RAIN (mm)

JAN

135

FEB

110

MAR

106

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

114

NOV

133

DEC

124

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Best times to visit the Azores for festivals & events

Sanjoaninas (late June)

Revellers fill the streets of Angra do Heroismo in Terceira for 10 days each June in honour of Sao Joao. There are concerts, food stalls, theatrical shows, fireworks, sporting events and popular dances. The highlight takes place on the night of June 23, when the parade courses the crowded streets.

Walk&Talk (every other July)

Founded by two young Azoreans, this is a cutting-edge festival of public performance and visual arts. Taking place over two weeks every other July in Ponta Delgada, Ribeira Grande and Lagoa on Sao Miguel, it features the work of street artists, sculptors, designers and video directors from three continents.

Santa Maria Blues Festival (mid-July)

Are you a blues fan? Then get over to Santa Maria, the southernmost island in the Azores archipelago in mid-July for this annual music festival attracting an international crowd of fans and performers, including award-winning artists like Bobby Rush and Justina Lee Brown. The food is great too – stalls serve bifanas pork sandwiches and Azorean malassadas doughnuts.

Sea Week (August)

When you live on a remote island, it’s natural to have a complex and deep relationship with the sea. Faial, the most westerly in the central group of the Azores, hosts the lively Sea Week in August when dozens of sailing boats flock into the port of Horta, and people compete in a variety of aquatic events and races such as windsurfing and deep-sea fishing.

Whalers Week (late August)

Held on the island of Pico from the last Sunday in August, Whalers Week remembers the Azores’ history of whaling (12,000 whales were killed for their oil between 1896 and 1949) as well as celebrating the Virgin Mary. Events include regattas using decommissioned whaling boats. Visit Pico’s Whalers’ Museum to learn about the industry, and how the Azores transitioned from hunting whales to protecting them.

Grape Harvest Festival (second week in September)

Exposed to the harsh Atlantic climate, Pico’s grapevines twist through walls of black volcanic rock – a unique landscape that has earned them UNESCO protection. The harvest is celebrated for a month from mid-September. You can get involved either by helping with the picking or later in the festivities by sampling wines along with typical Azorean delicacies. Pico’s wine industry isn’t terribly profitable – it’s often a labour of love, so tourism income can help many local growers keep going.

Our travellers also ask…

What are the best months to visit the Azores?

May to August are the best months to visit the Azores. You’ll find mild weather going into summer sunshine, and calmer seas that are ideal for dolphin and whale watching. Alternatively, if staying in Sao Miguel, you can stick to April to June to avoid the busy summer months in Ponta Delgada. You can expect the occasional shower and the sea can sometimes be choppy – exposed in the Atlantic, the weather in the Azores is very changeable. But generally, April to June tends to be very pleasant.

What is the rainy season in the Azores?

The rainiest period in the Azores tends to be between October and March, but owing to the subtropical, oceanic climate, you can expect to encounter rain showers at any time of year. But don’t expect torrential rain – even during the winter months from December to February it’s possible to hike and tour the islands. You just need to dress in layers and be prepared for the occasional downpour.

What is the coldest month in the Azores?

February is the coldest month in the Azores, but the subtropical climate means that average temperatures are usually around a mild 14.5°C. That means that the midwinter off-season (December to February) can still be a good time to go to the Azores if you don’t mind putting up with a bit of wind and rain. Boat trips are weather sensitive and the sea tends to be a lot choppier during winter, but over a week you’ll usually get at least a few days when the sea is calm enough to go out.

Can you sunbathe in the Azores?

You can sunbathe in the Azores – the hottest months are July to September. There’s plenty of coastline to go around for lounging on volcanic beaches and laying out a towel on craggy outcrops with harbour views. You’ll have to deliberately plan in that time, though – most holidays to the Azores have you scouring the seas for whales, hiking trails, abseiling off waterfalls, and soaking in thermal hot pools. Unless you set aside a beach day, you’re more likely to catch some sun while on the go, not on the beach.

Is the Azores crowded in August?

The Azores does get very busy in August, particularly on islands such as Sao Miguel. But it’s well-managed for the most part, and not busy enough to dent the enjoyment of your holiday. On our dolphin and whale watching holidays, boat captains and guides are well-trained at keeping a distance from the animals and not staying with them for too long, and will look elsewhere if there are too many other boats around. And while most of the action is water-based, you can always escape the crowds by heading inland to walk or cycle on both self guided trips and small group tours led by knowledgeable local guides.