Tourist Attractions & Monuments The Azores

Timetable

For the most part, museums and tourist sites keep to office hours, in the belief that employees deserve their weekends, school vacations and public holidays too. So, except in summer, they're open Monday to Friday, generally from 9am to 5pm (with the occasional lunch break).

To be booked

It is advisable to book in advance for certain sites, especially those with guided tours only or limited visitor numbers: Caldeira Velha in São Miguel, Grotte do Natal and Grotte d'Algar do Carvo in Terceira (www.montanheiros.com), Grotte das Torres in Pico... We also suggest that you think about booking your visits in high season.

Budget & Tips

Prices for tours and museum admission are reasonable, ranging from €2 to €8 for an adult. Many places are free to visit all year round: the gardens and pineapple plantations of São Miguel, the Porto Formoso tea factory (www.chaportoformoso.com), the Vieira ceramics factory in São Miguel..

Main events

There's no shortage of festivities and major events on the archipelago. All year round, the nine islands live to the rhythm of religious and traditional festivals (non-exhaustive list).

Carnival (February ): a popular and colorful festival, especially in Graciosa.

Feast of the Holy Spirit (April): a major religious event throughout the archipelago, celebrated for eight weeks between Easter and Trinity Sundays.

Feast of the Holy Christ of Miracles (May ): a three-day festival in São Miguel, this is an extremely passionate occasion, with many emigrants returning.

São João Festival (June ): a secular festival celebrated in Terceira. On this occasion, you can watch the famous rope fight.

National holiday (June 10 ): public holiday throughout the archipelago.

Velas Cultural Week (July ): a week of festive and cultural events in the capital of São Jorge.

Feast of the Good Miraculous Jesus (August ): from August 6 to 9, the island of Pico devotes a special devotion to honoring the Good Miraculous Jesus.

Feast of the Virgin (August ): August 15, an extremely important religious festival throughout the Azores.

Mare de Agosto Festival (August ): the archipelago's biggest festival, every year at the end of August, Santa Maria is alive with concerts by national and international artists.

Grape Harvest Festival (September ): Pico and Terceira celebrate vines and wine at the beginning of the month.

Angrajazz (October): marks the end of the festive season with this jazz music festival in Angra.

Guided tours

Most museums offer guided tours, but these are usually conducted in Portuguese and English (very rarely in French). It's best to book them in advance.

Tourist traps

The Azoresians are adorable and there's not really any trickery on the archipelago! Admission prices are fixed and there are no fake guides.