How to Get to Terceira, Azores: Flights, Ferries, & Travel Tips
If you're planning a trip to the Portuguese islands and wondering how to get to Terceira Azores, you're in the right place. This lesser-known island offers a charming mix of natural beauty, vibrant towns, and a laid-back local vibe.
Getting there can be straightforward, but it helps to understand your options and what to expect when planning your route. Terceira may be remote, but it's more accessible than you might think actually!
In this guide, we’ll walk you through what to know before you go so you can plan your journey without any surprises.
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How to Get to Terceira, Azores: a Brief Intro
Before diving into how to get to Terceira in the Azores, let's talk a bit about where Terceira is and how to get to the Azores in general.
What is the Best Way to Get to the Azores?
There are two ways to visit the Azores - by air and by sea. There are some cruise ships that stop in the Azores when they are doing Transatlantic crossings (in Spring and in Autumn), but this will just be a quick stop for the day, and is just a tiny taste of the Azores.
The Azores have 9 islands, and the best way to really explore them, is to go to at least a few of the islands. In this case, the best way to get to the Azores is to fly, and spend a few weeks exploring the archipelago.
Where is Terceira Island, Azores Located?
Terceira is one of the 9 islands that make up the Azores archipelago, an island chain that is located in the middle of the Atlantic, but belongs to Portugal.
The Azores is divided into three groups, northern islands, central islands, and southern islands. Terceira is the eastern most island in the central group, and also one of the easiest ones to get to.
How Do I Get to Terceira Island?
Terceira island may seem far, but it actually can be reached by air or sea. In the next part of our guide, we'll dive into the details for how to get to Terceira, Azores by comparing the different options.
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How to Get to Terceira, Azores: Comparing Travel Options
Now that you know a bit about where Terceira island is, let's look at how to get to Terceira, Azores by plane and by boat.
How to Get to Terceira, Azores by Flight
Terceira's airport is small, and only receives a few flights each day. You can fly directly there from other islands in the Azores, a couple of other cities in Portugal, a few cities in the US, Canada, and Switzerland.
The cities in the Azores that fly to Terceira include Flores, Graciosa, Horta, Ponta Delgada, Pico, and Sao Jorge. The other two cities in Portugal that fly to Terceira are Lisbon and Porto, which oftentimes have very affordable flights (even cheaper than the ones from the nearby islands).
A lot of local people from Terceira actually emigrated to a few places in the US, so you'll find direct flights from Boston, New York, and San Francisco. Additionally, there are scattered flights from Toronto, Canada, and Zurich, Switzerland.
Flight Tip: Using Skyscanner you can use the calendar option to see which are the cheapest dates for getting to Terceira, or you can opt to go to Lisbon or Porto first.
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How to Get to Terceira, Azores by Sea
Another option for how to get to Terceira is by sailing to them. There are some Transatlantic cruises that stop in the Azores, and although most go to Sao Miguel, we have heard smaller cruise lines may stop there.
The most common way to get to Terceira is from one of the other islands in the Azores though. There is a ferry system that runs between the different islands. However, it's good to know that there are three groups of islands, and while you can connect island to island within the different groups, the three groups cannot be connected with a ferry.
How to Get to Terceira, Azores by Ferry
Ferries that go to Terceira include Graciosa, Sao Jorge, Pico, and Faial. They do not run regularly, and this was a big mistake of ours when we thought we'd be "island hopping through the Azores". Ferries leaving Terceira were once or twice a week, and then coming back would have been another week, which we simply didn't have time for.
For this reason, itineraries for the Azores should be booked well in advance, especially if you have a car! We had a car and couldn't use the ferry because there are only around 10 spots and they fill up around 3 months prior). Cars are the cheapest in Terceria from this island group, which is why we rented the car there for the entire time in the first place.
What is the Best Way to Get to Terceira, Azores?
Honestly, flying to Terceira is much easier than the ferry, and is the much more reliable option. We assumed ferries would have been a breeze, but due to limited options and unreliable schedules (because of the crazy weather of the Azores), we think you're much better of flying to Terceira.
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How to Get to Terceira, Azores:Final Tips & Thoughts
Now you know pretty much everything you need to know for how to get to Terceira, Azores. But in case you missed anything, here is a recap, along with some other helpful tips for visiting.
Flying to Terceira is the easiest option, and can be done from various cities in Portugal, and a few cities in the US.
Ferries go to Terceira from the middle islands of the Azores, which include Sao Jorge, Graciosa, Pico, and Faial.
Flights and ferries are limited, so make sure to book well in advance!
You can take a car on the ferry from the different islands, but you should book minimum 3 months in advance.
Flexibility is key as harsh weather conditions can impact flights and ferry schedules.
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What's Next?
Now that you know how to get to Terceira, Azores, you're ready to learn more about visiting! We currently have a guide about the best things to do in Terceira, and each week we will be having another new article about the island (as well as other Portuguese islands!).
Travel Planning Tools
Here are some useful tools that you can use for planning your upcoming trip!
So are you ready to enjoy one of the best islands in the Azores? We hope our guide for how to get Terceira helps kickstart your plan for an amazing trip.
Want to learn more about visiting Terceira island and other incredible places in Portugal? We have a lot of other Portugal travel guides coming up, particularly about the different islands. Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter for all of our weekly article updates, as well as for exclusive discounts on our shop!
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