Travelguide Azores, Lisbon city of light

Optimal itinerary

Islands	Pension / Hotel / Apartement	Rental car, driven km / flight time	Days
nonstop flight Munich -> Ponta Delgada with SATA Air (4,5 hours), time shift -2 hours
São Miguel	SOLAR DE LALEM, alternatively Casa do Monte, alternatively Residential Casa do Jardim	Varela & Ca. Rent a Car, pick up and return at the airport, driven km: 500, Flight São Miguel -> Flores with SATA Air (1 hour)	4
Flores	Argonauta	Flight Flores -> Faial with SATA Air (45 min)	2
Faial	Villa Belgica, alternatively Residência Neves	Ilhaverde, takeover at the airport, return in the harbor at Horta, driven km: 300, By ferry boat from Horta to Magdalena (1,5 hours)	3
Pico	Lodge Espaço Talassa	Tropical Rent a Car, takeover at the harbor in Madalena, return to the airport, driven km: 380, Flight Pico -> Terceira with SATA Air (30 min)	3
Terceira	Quinta da Dotty, alternatively Residential Terezinha	Ilhaverde, pick up and return at the airport near Praia Victoria, driven km: 280, Flight Terceira -> Lisbon with TAP (2 hours), timeshift +1 hour	3
Lissabon	ALBERGARIA SENHORA DO MONTE, alternatively Residential Avenida Parque	Lisbon Card for public transport and museum tickets	3
return flight Lisbon -> Munich with TAP (2,5 hours), time shift +1 hour

The most beautiful Hotels, Apartments and Bead & Breakfasts

São Miguel Under German leadership, the SOLAR DE LALEM located in Maia, is a noble residence from the 18th Century. Very comfortable rooms and good breakfast. email: solar.de.lalem@mail.telepac.pt In a botanical garden on the outskirts of Ponta Delgada is the Casa do Jardim. The rooms are in the souterain the old manor house. email: reservas@residencialcasadojardim.com
Faial Located high above Horta (passing the old windmills in direction Caldeira) with stunning views downto Horta and Pico volcano is the Vila BELGICA. email: info@azoresvilabelgica.com
Pico In Lajes everything is all about whales and whale watching. 1987 the last whale was slaughtered in Lajes. Since then, whaling is banned on the Azores. Also for Whale watching, there are strict rules and minimum distances to ensure that animals are not disturbed. Here the breathtaking view from the balcony of our room to the Pico volcano in the Lodge Espaço Talassa. email: viallelle@espacotalassa.com
Terceira Near Angra do Heroismo is located the small Guesthouse of the currently unique German family living on Terceira: QUINTA DA DOTTY, email: dottys@web.de Caution: Staying overnight in Praia da Vitória is not recommended because it is close to a huge military base of the American (Aircraft noise from low-flying combat jets flying directly over the city, danger of crashing down, risk of terrorist attacks).
Capital city Lisbon An absolute insider tip with stunning views over Lisbon is the ALBERGARIA SENHORA DO MONTE at the Miradouro Senhora do Monte im Stadtteil Graça. A stop of tram line 28 is nearby. email: senhoradomonte@hotmail.com
The small, quiet beside the Parque Eduardo VII situated hotel is a good starting point for walking tours in and around Lisbon. The next Metro connection is at the Marques de Pombal and the Aerobus to the airport stops nearby. (Unfortunately, during our visit in July 2005 in front and behind the hotel were some large buildings under construction)

Island hopping

Between the Azores islands operates the SATA Air Açores mainly with turboprop aircrafts.

When visiting several islands of the Azores its worth to buy the Airpass.
You can obtain the Azores Airpass only if arriving on the Azores by SATA Air.

Difficult is the flight booking if the return flight with the TAP Air Portugal should take place for the purpose of stopover in Lisbon.
Therefore you best use the experience of a good specialist tour operator such as Sea Breeze TRAVEL in Augsburg.

From Faial to Pico with the ferry boat

The ships of the ferry company Transmaçor connect the islands Faial, Pico, São Jorge, Terceira and Graciosa.

The passage from Horta (Faial) to Madalena (Pico) takes only half an hour. Very nice view back to Horta.

Rental car

Without a rental car you will not get far on the Azores. You can take public buses, but they operate usually only mornings and evenings. The constant waiting for the bus so costs too much time. If you don't want to drive yourself, you can hire a taxi and driver for a full day. The taxi driver then stops all the beautiful locations.
Gasoline was in comparison to Germany very cheap (in July 2005 circa 0.95 Euro).

Good experience (brand new vehicles in top condition) I have made with the following car rental agencies:

VARELA RENT-A-CAR (email: rentacar@bensaude.pt)
TROPICAL Lda Rent a Car (email: tropical@sapo.pt)

Rental car of Varela in the Jardim Jose do Canto near Sao Miguel

The road network on the islands is well developed. The Portuguese would rather drive carefully and defensively. Only in the very narrow one-way streets of Ponta Delgada increased attention is required.

The only unpaved road was on Faial from Flamengo to Capelinhos. A 4WD vehicle is not necessary.

Picnic areas and viewpoints

Throughout the islands, there are at the most scenic places well maintained picnic areas and viewpoints (Miradouros) with parking lots.

The resting and picnic areas are very well equipped with grill and fire wood.

Travel forecasts for the Azores:

Azores anticyclone and Icelandic low pressure, Gulf Stream

The Azores as Weather citchen of Europe are wellknown for many rainy days.
Nevertheless in the 16 days of our Azores stay in the beginning of Juli it never rained !

Best travelseason:

During the months of July and August on all the islands the beautiful hydrangeas are blooming.

Rustic Picnic Area on the Azores island Faial

Still questions - then please join our Azores or Lisbon Forum

Travelguide Azores - Weather citchen of Europe
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Optimal itinerary

The most beautiful Hotels, Apartments and Bead & Breakfasts

São Miguel

Faial

Pico

Terceira