Best Time to Visit the Azores, Month by Month
Summer is when we receive most of our visitors here in the Azores, but the high season is not the optimal time for everyone. There’s a reason for every season here in the islands, and a season for every kind of traveler. The best time to visit depends on you — the nature of your trip, how long you plan to stay, and what you’d like to do here.
January through March: The Coldest Months
Winter in the Azores isn’t really winter in the way many North Americans or northern Europeans think of it. Snow is virtually unknown here except at the islands’ highest points, temperatures remain relatively mild, and the landscape stays green year-round.
From January through March, daytime temperatures typically range from the mid 50s to low 60s°F (mid to high teens °C) , while nights can drop into the low 50s°F (low 10s°C). Big storms blow in every few weeks, dumping rain and occasional hail and with wind speeds of 30–40 mph (48–64 km/h) and gusts that can exceed 70 mph (115 km/h).
The weather is always changeable in the Azores, but in these months the swings are much wider: sunshine one minute and heavy showers the next, followed by bright rainbows streaking through a dazzling mess of cloud formations.
Heavy winter rains make it one of the greenest times of the year and ensure that waterfalls are running at their fullest. After storms, the waves crash against the cliffs with such ferocity that you can hear their thunder miles from the coastline. In this season, the mood is less island paradise and more wild North Atlantic adventure.
| Advantages of Visiting January through March | -Fewer people, more peace -Significantly lower prices on airfare, accommodation, and car rental – Stormy skies and seas create great photo opportunities -Good time for writing and other creative work, restful retreats, quiet contemplation, and cold plunges in the ocean |
| Disadvantages of Visiting January through March | -Flights and ferries get delayed or cancelled because of storms -Visibility may be compromised by rain and fog -Limited outdoor activities during heavy rain |
April through June: Warmer but Rainy and Foggy
By April, the temperatures begin climbing into the 60s°F ( and flowers start to appear in gardens and along roadsides all through the archipelago. When the sun comes out, it gives the impression that winter is over and then boom, winter comes back again full force with more rain, more wind, more cold, more pounding waves. For many residents, having to put up with this tease makes this the most difficult time of year.
asdf
| Advantages of Visiting April through June | |
| Disadvantages of Visiting April through June |
July: Sunnier and Peak Hydrangea Season
asdf
| Advantages of Visiting in July | |
| Disadvantages of Visiting in July |
August: The Diaspora Returns
asdf
| Advantages of Visiting in August | |
| Disadvantages of Visiting in August |
September: Summer’s End Means Fewer Tourists
| Advantages of Visiting in September | |
| Disadvantages of Visiting in September |
October through December: The Storms Begin
