Azores Islands Draw U.S. Visitors via Direct Flights from Boston and New York

The Azores consist of nine volcanic islands in the North Atlantic Ocean that form an autonomous region of Portugal. The islands span roughly 370 miles and lie less than 1,000 miles from the Portuguese mainland. Direct flights connect the largest island, São Miguel, to Boston in five hours and to New York City in six hours.

A traveler arriving from Lisbon can reach São Miguel in two and a half hours.

The most popular visiting period runs from June through September, when many accommodations sell out. Shoulder-season travel between March and May or September and December typically brings lower rates and fewer visitors. One traveler who visited São Miguel and the western island of Flores in March reported that some restaurants remained closed for the off-season and that rainfall was heavier than in summer, yet the reduced crowds offset those conditions.

Rental cars allowed visitors to stop at miradouros, or viewpoints, scattered along island roads. Some overlooks accommodate only one or two vehicles, while others include picnic tables and grills. Hiking trails on both islands pass dramatic coastlines, hidden waterfalls, historic villages, pastures, and lakes.

Most paths are marked, though some sections require navigation without a clear footpath.