Portuguese is the language spoken, although each island has its unique accent. Azoreans have an easy grasp of the English and French languages.

In the Summer time, we suggest light and fresh clothing. In the Spring and Autumn, we advise clothes proper for cooler and more humid days. In the Winter, the temperatures are not too cold, but rain is frequent and therefore we advise wearing raincoats.

The monetary unit in use is the EURO (€). There are coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and of 1 and 2 euros, and bills of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 euros. You may exchange money at banking institutions, which are open from 8:30h to 15h, except on weekends and holidays. You may also use the automated teller machines, or credit cards, where they are accepted.

There are many holidays celebrated in the Azores. Some are national holidays and some are regional and more connected to the Azorean culture. The following days are holidays that take place on fixed dates: 1^st of January (New Year); 25^th April (Freedom’s Day); 1^st May (Labour Day); 10^th of June (Day of Portugal, Camões and the Portuguese Communities); 15^th of August (Day of Nossa Senhora da Assunção); 1^st of November (All Saint’s Day); 8^th of December (Immaculate Conception Day); 25^th of December (Christmas Day).

Easter is a holiday in Portugal and in the Azores. However its dates are not fixed and vary every year. This has to do with the lunisolar calendar. As of 2022 Easter will be celebrated on the 15^th and 17^th of April, as Easter Friday and Easter Day respectively.

Autonomy Day is a holiday exclusive to the Azores. It takes place on Espírito Santo Monday, which is the biggest festivity of the Azorean people. As such, this was named a holiday by the Azorean parliament in 1980 because of its importance to the identity and culture of the islands. Its dates vary from year to year, as Espírito Santo Monday takes place on the first Monday after Pentecost, which also changes dates every year.

The Day of Christ’s Body is also a holiday that changes dates, because it is linked to Easter and Pentecost. It takes place 60 days after Easter and is always celebrated on a Thursday.

Carnaval is celebrated in all 9 islands, although most of them take place on different dates.

Lastly, every municipality in the Azores has a holiday to itself. These holidays can be on fixed dates or varying ones depending on which municipality they take place in.

The Azores offer several ways of spending your time, always with the most entertainment. Along the coast there are several beaches and natural pools. You may visit several parks and gardens, where you can find interesting botanical species. In some places you may try horse riding, hiking trails or biking, which are great ways of connecting with nature.

Travel agencies organize several circuits and guided tours, allowing the tourist to know, in general, the main points of interest.

Various enterprises can provide unforgettable moments in sailing yachts, boat rides, fishing, diving, canyoning, among many other activities that you may pursue in the Azores. The several bars, night clubs, pubs and cinemas are a great way of occupying your evening leisure hours.

You may practice numerous sports. São Miguel and Terceira offer excellent golf courses. Tennis and paddle tennis are sports that you will also want to try. The sea provides conditions for sailing, surfing, bodyboarding, windsurfing, whale watching and other nautical activities that will fill your time in the best way.

The abundance of various species of fish, in the sea of the Azores, allows you to fish at high sea or from the rocks, species such as merlin, anchovy, parrotfish and white seabream. In the creeks and lagoons, you may fish trout, carp and pyke. You may also give a try to hunting rabbit, quail, partridge and pigeon. For hunting and fresh water fishing, the necessary permits can be obtained from the forest services.

The gastronomy of the Azores is very diverse. While the foods of the different islands have something in common, they have unique particularities. Regarding meat, try the delicious Regional Steak, the Alcatra, the sausages and greaves. If you prefer fish and seafood, enjoy our tuna, limpets with Afonso sauce and the famous fish stews.

Those with a sweet tooth will want to try the bolos levedos, the queijada da Vila Franca do Campo, the queijada da Graciosa, the “cavacas”, and the “Orelha” biscuits of Santa Maria. To go with your food, we have the good wines of Pico. We have also the several spirits of the region. Characteristic local fruits include the pineapple of São Miguel, the cantaloupe and the passionfruit.

    São Jorge Clams

In the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, 1408 km from Lisbon and 3910 km from New York, lay the nine volcanic islands of the archipelago of the Azores, named at the time of discovery after the local birds of prey initially thought to be goshawks, but were actually kites. The islands are divided in 3 groups: Eastern (São Miguel and Santa Maria), Central (Terceira, Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico and Faial), and Western (Flores and Corvo). Together, the islands cover an area of 2325 km² and inhabited by 246 102 people (as of a 2011 census).

São Miguel is the largest island of the archipelago, while Corvo is the smallest. The mountain of Pico, on the island of Pico, is the highest point of the archipelago and of Portugal. The tempered maritime climate is smooth due to the influence of the Golf stream, and it is due to this climate that the Azores offer the beautiful green landscapes, characteristic of its islands. The air temperature does not oscillate much, maintaining a mean value of 23 °C (73 °F) in the Summer, and of 13 °C (55 ° F) in the Winter, with one of the warmest Winters in Europe. The water temperature varies between 24 °C (75 °F) and 17 °C (24 °F).

The Azores, historically, enter the map of Europe at the time of the Portuguese discoveries, led by Infante D. Henrique. The first discoverers of the archipelago are thought to be Diogo de Silves, in 1427, or Gonçalo Velho Cabral, in 1431. It is certain that the settlement of the archipelago started between 1431 and 1432, with the first shipment of animals, followed by the first settlers in 1439.

The settlement spread across the several island groups through the centuries: Eastern and Central groups in the 15th century, Western group in the 16th century. Initial settlers included people from the north and the south of Portugal, Jews, Moors, Flemish, English and French. The Azores played a vital role in the conquest and defense of Portuguese forts in North Africa, serving as stopover for ships coming from India and also as support for the expeditions that explored the Americas. The Azores were also important for the defense of the Kingdom during the Spanish dominion between 1580 and 1640.

During the two World Wars, the archipelago provided essential support to its allies, through its ports and airports, and were an important support center for communications. After the national revolution of April 25th, 1974, the Azores were granted the Autonomous Region status, with its own government and legislative assembly.

The Azores have at your disposal a lot to offer. Of volcanic origin, each island presents its volcanic identity through the fossils in Santa Maria, the lagoons in São Miguel, the caves in Terceira, the cones in Graciosa, the fajãs in São Jorge, the mountain of Pico, the Capelinhos volcano in Faial, the waterfalls in Flores and the Caldeirão in Corvo. The whole archipelago presents several sightseeing spots, from where you can observe the coast and its bays, the dashing views of unforgettable landscapes, lagoons, volcanic calderas, fumaroles, hot springs and great waterfalls that impress anyone. The fertility of the soil and the humid climate allow for an abundant flora to thrive, with a great diversity of flowers, from which the hortensia stands out. The sea of the Azores is rich in fish species, great for sport fishing. It is also possible to watch dolphins, sperm whales, whales and other cetaceans that will amaze you. The islands are home to several World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, and Natural Reserves that have been preserved, with its natural landscapes, flora and fauna kept intact.