The tourist season in the Azores generally lasts from May to October — this is when the weather is at its finest. Summers in the Azores are quite hot, but nonetheless significantly cooler than on the Portuguese island of Madeira or in the Canary Islands. Summer months are also when precipitation is the lowest and when swimming in the ocean is the most enjoyable. Although the islands see the largest number of visitors, including vacationing Portuguese from the mainland, from June to August, crowds are smaller than at any popular beach resort on the Mediterranean coast.

Winters are very mild in the Azores, with temperatures only rarely dropping below 10 °C (50 °F). However, there is a noticeable increase in precipitation — on São Miguel, there are, on average, 17 rainy days per month between October and March.

It's good to keep in mind that the weather in the Azores can be quite hard to predict and can change multiple times within one day, even during summertime. The good news is that even if the weather turns bad, it will most likely get better again soon.

The Azores are affected by strong winds and have been hit by more than ten hurricanes over the last couple of decades. The strongest winds usually occur in September and October but can surprise the island during practically any season, so it's a good idea to check the latest weather forecast. It's not advisable to drive when it is windy, especially in the coastal areas and near cliffs.

The Azores are a great place for whale and dolphin watching, and there are many tours on São Miguel and other islands that you can join. The whale watching season lasts from May to October and different species of the aquatic mammals can be viewed at different parts of the summer.

Now that you've decided when to travel to the Azores Islands, check out our prices for the dates you have chosen!

The Azores is a great destination to explore on your own. Each of the islands is tourist-friendly, the locals are hospitable, and most things can be booked online in advance. Each of the nine islands has hidden gems beyond its main town that are waiting to be explored.

The weather can be quite unpredictable in the Azores and certain months can be either very windy or rainy. Read more about the weather on our 'When should I rent a car in the Azores?' section.

Experienced travelers who have visited the Azores many times argue that it's a good idea not to try to squeeze visiting too many islands into a single trip. Although the distances between the islands are not that large and island hopping is perfectly possible, any trip between the islands involves a lot of planning and organizing that can ultimately feel overwhelming. Each one of the islands has plenty to enjoy and explore — it's better to stick to just one or two at a time and then return to see others on a different trip.

The Azores is an extremely safe travel destination! Tourist scams are very rare and violent crime is practically unheard of. Only two islands have a population of more than 20,000, so the local feeling of community is very strong, and the atmosphere is very relaxed. The emergency number in the Azores, just like on mainland Portugal and everywhere else in the European Union, is 112.

Although driving is generally very safe in the Azores since local drivers are polite and the quality of roads is good, some mountain roads both in the inland areas and near coastal cliffs can be very narrow and steep, so be careful, especially when driving after dark. Fog is very common in the islands and can seriously affect visibility. The Azores also have a lot of cattle (the islands are known as the dairy hub of Portugal), so be mindful of cows crossing the road.

Getting an up-to-date GPS device is also a good idea. While the islands are small, it is not uncommon for tourists to get lost, especially outside the main settlements and on rural inland roads. Ask your rental car provider about the availability of GPS for your vehicle.

The official and main language in the Azores, just like on mainland Portugal, is Portuguese. Although the Azorean dialect has some slight differences from the mainland variety (it is more similar to the Southern Portuguese dialects of the mainland than the northern ones), all speakers of Portuguese will have absolutely no problem communicating with the locals.

Due to the large number of tourists and also because of the presence of the United States Air Force which still has a base on Terceira, knowledge of English in the Azores is arguably higher than on mainland Portugal. Not all Azoreans speak English, but nearly everyone working in the tourism and hospitality industries will have at least some knowledge of the language. Learning at least a few basic phrases in Portuguese can be very beneficial, though.

Although rarer, speakers of German, Dutch, Spanish, and other languages can also be found in the Azores.

While closely related in tradition, culture, and landscape, each of the Azores islands is unique and offers its own set of delights.

The largest and by far the most visited of the nine, São Miguel is a gateway to the rest of the archipelago - it receives more international flights than all the other islands, combined. That being said, the capital island is also a great destination in its own right - attractions include its lively main city, Ponta Delgada, as well as natural attractions like Lagoa do Fogo or the Lake of Fire. Some travelers also visit the island of Santa Maria on the same trip - located to the southeast, it's the closest one to São Miguel.

Terceira is another beloved destination. Inhabited for centuries, it is best known for its southeastern coast that has many historical landmarks including Angra do Heroismo, a town that's a UNESCO World Heritage site. North of Terceira is Graciosa or the White Island, known for its relaxed pace of life and small, but interesting island museum.

Meanwhile, southwest of Terceira you can find the trio of São Jorge, Faial, and Pico. These islands are perhaps the most emblematic of the Azores as they are characterized by stunning volcanic scenery (including Mount Pico, the highest point in Portugal) and a wealth of grottoes, caves, and calderas. A prime hiking destination, the region used to be known for its whaling industry which has now been replaced by whale-watching tours that take off from all three islands.

If the Azores have an off-the-beaten-path region, then it's definitely the sisters of Corvo and Flores. The northernmost and westernmost of the archipelago, these two small islands are so far from the rest that they are in fact part of a different tectonic plate and therefore technically located in North America.

The small size of the islands means that some of them have only a few service stations - but the good news is that you are never too far from one, either.

Prices at the Azores' gas stations are shown per liter (1 liter = 0.26 US gallons).

As of April 2022, the average gas price in Portugal is € 2.02 per liter. The prices in the archipelago are usually very similar to those on mainland Portugal.

The prime tourist season of the Azores is during the warmer time of the year, so this is naturally when the car rental prices are also the highest. In July, the most expensive month, the average price is €69 per day of rent (though, naturally, you can find cheaper individual deals). In comparison, the average price is just €26 in January and €30 in October. April and September are seen as a good compromise for visiting as you get relatively good prices and rather nice weather.

While it can be tempting to look for the cheapest possible car rental deal, you should keep in mind other factors, chiefly the rental conditions and the rating of the rental car company (more on that below). Other factors that influence the price are how early in advance do you book the car (generally, the earlier, the better), the length of your trip (a weeklong trip will usually have a lower daily price than a rental period of just one or two days), and the type of transmission the vehicle has (a manual is almost always cheaper).

Price is obviously a huge factor when choosing a rental car, but it shouldn't be your only concern — often, for a couple of euros more, you can find a much better overall deal. Instead, try to look for a company that offers both a good price and has a good rating from previous travelers.

Also, make sure you are familiar with the rental conditions! Different rental car suppliers will have different conditions. The rental conditions can influence the final price of the car and are important to be aware of in general.

You can find the rental conditions when searching for a rental car on our website.

Some of the most important things when picking up a rental car is knowing your rental car supplier's fuel and mileage policies along with its driver requirements.

Mileage policy :
A rental supplier's mileage policy is the maximum permitted distance that you are allowed to travel per day (or sometimes per week) with your rental car. Once you exceed the permitted distance, you will be required to pay an extra fee for every additional kilometer you drive. There might also be the maximum permitted mileage for the whole of the rental period.

Different rental car suppliers have different mileage rules. It's important to know about them before booking your car, especially if you plan to drive a lot or travel long distances during your trip.

You can find the supplier's mileage policy in their rental conditions:

Fuel policy:
Different car rental companies have different policies when it comes to fuel. Some of the most popular ones are:

Driver requirements:
Different rental car companies will have different requirements for drivers. These may include:

The same as with mileage and fuel policies, the driver requirements of each car rental supplier be found on their rental conditions page.

Check our comprehensive Help Center to learn more about mileage, fuel, and driver requirements, as well as other important questions.

Choosing the right insurance is very important as it will protect you in case anything goes wrong during your rental period. If you have your own personal insurance, it may or may not cover your rental car — you should ask your insurance carrier to find out.

We strongly recommend you choose our own Full Coverage. Not only does it come at a reasonable price and covers most potential scenarios, but it will also give you clarity and peace of mind as you will have 24/7 support from our team for any issue that you might have.

Check the Insurance section of our Help Center to learn more about choosing the right insurance and everything related to it.

Small cars are the cheapest in the Azores — the average price of renting one is just €31 per day (and significantly cheaper individual deals can be unearthed). Unlike in many other European destinations, large cars are actually cheaper in the Azores than medium cars - the former come, on average, for €48 per day while the latter cost €60.

To pick up a rental car, you'll need to have your booking confirmation voucher, passport, driver's license, a credit card on the main driver's name, and all the other necessary documents.

When making the reservation, you will see your rental car's pickup location, of which there are many types. Since most travelers tend to pick up their rental cars at the airport, we'll mainly focus on the pickup locations in or near the airport. These are the most popular pickup location types:

• Meet & Greet. With this type of pickup location, you'll be met by an employee of the car rental company in the arrivals hall of the airport which you normally enter right after leaving the baggage claim area. The employee will usually have a printed sign with your name on it. The employee will take you to the company's office to proceed with signing the rental contract and collecting the car's keys.
• In the terminal. In this case, you will have to find your rental car company's desk yourself. The desk will be usually located in the arrivals hall. Once you've found the desk, you can present your documents and continue with the pickup procedure. Do keep in mind that you might have to wait in line.
• Shuttle bus. In certain cases, the car rental company's desk might be located outside the airport's terminal. Sometimes you can reach it on foot, but in most cases, you need to take a shuttle bus. For this, you'll need to find the shuttle bus stop inside the airport, the location of which will be given to you when making the booking. Sometimes, the shuttle bus is shared by multiple car rental companies while others have their own shuttle service just for them. Look for the name and the logo of your rental company to make sure you take the right shuttle bus.
• Delivery service. This type of pick-up is similar to Meet & Greet but takes even less time to complete as you won't need to go to the car provider's office to sign the agreement.
• Car rental center. This means that your car rental company shares its location with other companies. The car rental center is located in the arrivals hall, in another part of the terminal, or in a separate building next to the terminal.
• Outside terminal. This pick-up location means that your car rental company has an individual desk located outside the airport's terminal, but within the larger airport complex, that can usually be reached on foot

At the pickup location: After the car rental company checks your documents and make sure you have enough deposit on your credit card, you will receive the car's keys and be taken to the rental car which will usually be parked in a nearby parking lot.

Inspect the car: Upon picking up the car, you will have to sign a document called the check-out form. If your rental car has any scratches or other types of damage, they should be listed on the form. Inspect the car carefully — if it has any scratches or other issues that are not listed, make sure to point them out to the employee before signing the check-out form. The form will also list the mileage and the amount of fuel the car has at the pickup time.

Take photos: It is generally a very good idea to take photos of the car before picking it up, preferably from multiple angles and including the inside of the car with the odometer showing the previous mileage on the car and of the amount of fuel in the tank (read more about fuel on our Fuel Policy section above). The photos should have a timestamp to show the date and time when they were taken; most pictures taken with mobile and digital cameras have them.

Find out the drop-off location: Before leaving with the car, make sure you find out the exact drop-off location and the directions to get there. While it will often be the same as the pickup location, it might also be in a completely different part of the airport (this is especially the case with the larger airports that have multiple terminals).

Returning the car: When dropping off the car at the end of your trip, carefully check the vehicle in the presence of an employee of the rental company. If any new scratches or damages are found, the company employee should point them out in your presence. If there are none, the car's check-in form should state that the car has been returned in the same condition. The same applies to the cleanliness of the car (if you return a car that is not clean, the company might later charge an extra cleaning fee). Make sure to check the car's trunk and the glove compartment to avoid leaving any personal belongings in the vehicle.

You might also want to add some extras for your rental car such as a GPS system, a child's seat, second-driver permission (if you're traveling with a friend or a family member who can and wants to drive). If you plan to drive in the Alps or Pyrenees, snow chains might be useful or even necessary during winter. Be sure to search for them in advance and add them before making the booking. Not every rental car supplier will have all of these extras available. Adding extras will influence the final price of a car and different car rental companies offer them for different prices.

The alcohol limit is 0.05% for experienced drivers and 0.02% for novices. Drunk driving is taken very seriously and can lead to not just fines, but even license loss or imprisonment.

There are no toll roads in the archipelago.