THE AZORES
We have gathered some useful information to help you plan and best prepare for your next adventure to the Azores! Browse through the information below or visit our travel bonanza for more stories and tips!
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Every principal town on the Azores has a hospital with an emergency department or a health center. The EHIC (european Health Insurance Card) is widely accepted, but private travel insurance is always recommended.
General opening hours of pharmacies are from Monday to Saturday between 9am - 1pm and 3 - 7pm.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
EU or Swiss citizens do not require a visa to travel to the Azores, but a valid passport / ID card has to be presented upon entrance. Visitors travelling from outside the EU or Schengen area might need a visa upon entering any EU country, even though a number of countries will not require a visa. Documents like an invitation letter, a proof of lodging or a round-trip ticket might be required. Please check with your local consular services.
SARS-COV2 INFORMATION
For comprehensive and up-to-date information on the current situation and restrictions in place on the Azores, please visit and check the advise on the pages of Visit Portugal.
MONEY AND PRICE LEVEL
Like mainland Portugal, the Azores are part of the Eurozone. ATMs are common and it is possible to withdraw cash with your bank or credit card. Individual bank charges apply.
Most hotels, restaurants and operators on the Azores accept card payments, especially in the more populated and urban areas. It is always advisable to carry a few euros in cash for smaller transactions. Also, quite often bars or taxis would only accept cash.
Despite their isolated islands location, the Azores are quite affordable. A 2l bottle of water or a fresh cup of coffee come in around € 1 and you can buy a decent enough bottle of wine in the
supermarket for € 5. Price levels vary when dining out, but an average meal for one person in a restaurant including an alcoholic beverage comes out at around € 15 - 18. Petiscos (Portuguese tapas) or a glass of beer or wine in a mid-class bar or restaurant cost you around € 2, but will be more depending on the exclusivity of the place. A taxi ride costs about € 1 per km.
OPENING HOURS
Shops - Monday - Friday 9am - 1pm and 3 - 6pm, Saturday 9am - 1pm
Banks - Monday - Friday 8:30am - 2:45pm
Post offices - Monday - Friday 9am - 1pm and 3 - 6pm
ELECTRICITY
220 Volt/50 Hertz alternating current.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
January 1
New Years Day
Friday before Easter
Good Friday
Monday after Easter
Easter Sunday
April 25
Freedom Day / Day of the Carnation Revolution
May 1
Labour Day
60 days after Easter Sunday
Corpus Cristi
June 10
Portugal Day
August 15
Assumption of Maria
October 5
Day of the Republic
November 1
All Saints Day
December 1
Restoration of Independence Day
December 8
Immaculate Conception
December 25
Christmas Day
FESTIVITIES & EVENTS
Festivities on the Azores are centred around religious traditions and every island has its own celebration of saints, which usually take place over the summer months. Additionally, holy spirit celebrations (‘festas do espirito santo') take place between April and September, peaking in the crowning of a ‘farmers king”, where the special ‘holy spirit soup’ is prepared in giant cauldrons and served with blessed cornbread. Due to the frequency of religious festivities, you can almost enjoy a local celebration every week over the summer on some of the islands.
Furnas / Sao Miguel
Festa do Senhor dos Enfermos, flower decorations are brought up to celebrate the ill and those in need
Sunday after Easter
Velas / Sao Jorge
Semana Cultural, showcasing traditional and local arts, music and crafts
Mid April
Horta / Faial
Peter Cafe Sport Triathlon, surf from Velas / Sao Jorge to Cais / Pico, mountain bike through the Pico mountains and kayak from Pico to Horta
Late April, ever two years
Ponta Delgada / Sao Miguel
Festa do Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres - people from Vila Franca do Campo move through the streets of Ponta Delgada in medieval robes
five weeks after Easter
Angra do Heroismo or Praia da Vitoria / Terceira (alternating each year)
San Joaninas - celebration of the Holy Joaninas with cultural programs and processions
June 24
Ribeira Seca and Ribeira Grande / Sao Miguel
Cavalhadas de Sao Pedro - processions with horses
June 29
Calheta / Sao Jorge
Festival do Julho - festival with music, exhibitions, sport events, entertainment for kids and bull hunt at the end
mid July
Horta / Faial
Semana do Mar - crafts, music, food and drink, water games and a sailing race between Horta and Pico
second weekend in August
Praia Formosa / Santa Mar
Festival Mare de Agosto - music festival
second half of August
Lajes do Pico / Pico
Semana dos Baleeiros - traditional festival dating back to 1883 to celebrate whalers, music, food and drink
last week in August
Faja do Santo Cristo / Sao Jorge
Romaria de Santo Cristo - pilgrimage to Faja do Santo Cristo
first Sunday in September
