Terceira island travel tips – start planning your trip to the Azores

Terceira island is one of the most beautiful and diversified of the Azores islands, with awesome vulcanic landscapes, rich culture and long history, great food and amazing beaches and natural pools. If you decide to travel in Azores, Terceira island has to be on your itinerary, so that’s why we will show you all the travel tips to visit Terceira island, like when to go, how to get there, how to get around, travel insurance and where to stay. Start planning your trip to the Azores and Terceira island with our travel tips.

• Check out our post about visiting Terceira island to know more about its territory, history and geography.

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TRAVEL TIPS TO VISIT TERCEIRA ISLAND

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Here are our travel tips to visit Terceira island, in order to make your life easier on the ground, namely when to visit Terceira island, how to get to Terceira island, how to get around, and where to sleep on Terceira island.

1. When to visit Terceira island, in the Azores

The climate of the Azores and the island of Terceira is characterized by high levels of air humidity, regular rainfall, sometimes strong winds, mild temperatures and low levels of sunshine. On Terceira island, winters are not harsh, but they are rainy, and snowfall may occur in the highlands, while in summer the days are warmer and sunnier, although days with completely clear skies are rare.

Therefore, the best time of year to visit Terceira Island is in summer, between the months of June and September. In June, the most important festivity on Terceira island takes place, the Festas das Sanjoaninas (Saint John festivities), when Angra do Heroísmo brings together cultural, art, music and sports events.

• For more information about the weather in Portugal, don’t forget to check out our “Plan your trip”.

As on other islands in the Azores, on Terceira island the cult of the Espírito Santo (Holy Spirit) is very important for the population, and the Holy Spirit Festivals begin on Pentecost Sunday (50 days after Easter) until the 8th Sunday. The celebration of Carnival on the island of Terceira is also a special time, with dances and satirical theater at Casas do Povo (community houses).

If you visit Terceira Island in the summer, don’t miss the opportunity to watch an exclusive tradition on Terceira Island, rope bullfighting.

2. Terceira island travel tips – How to get there

To visit Terceira island you can get there by plane or boat.

Arriving by plane to Terceira island

If you don’t have your own sailboat, you will need to fly to get to the Azores. There are direct flights to the island of Terceira from Lisbon, and, with a stopover in Ponta Delgada, from Porto. If you are already in the Azores, the only company that operates flights between islands in the Azores is Sata Azores Airlines.

Search and buy your flight to Portugal and Azores here.

Getting to Terceira island by boat

If you are on one of the islands in the central group of the Azores (São Jorge, Faial, Pico and Graciosa), you can also go by boat to visit Terceira island, on a ferry connection using the Atlântico Line services. Under normal circumstances, during the summer, there are also connections with the eastern (São Miguel and Santa Maria) and western (Flores and Corvo) groups.

3. Terceira island travel tips – Travel insurance

Travel insurance is more important than ever for a trip without worries, specially when the trip involves outdoor activities and car rental. Like Portuguese people use to say “You don’t fool around with health!”.

Buy your travel insurance to visit Terceira island and the Azores.

4. Terceira island travel tips – How to get around

It is true that, to move between some locations on the island of Terceira you can use the bus services “Empresa de Viação Terceirense Lda”, but the best option for getting around when you visit Terceira island is to rent a car, giving you the necessary autonomy to enjoy everything that Terceira island has to offer. In the historic center of the city of Angra do Heroísmo, there is also a minibus service on an urban circuit, managed by the City Council.

Book your rental car at the best prices to visit Terceira island.

5. Terceira island travel tips – Where to stay

Terceira island is a large island with many accommodation options, so you can choose to stay in various areas of Terceira island. However, the two main locations, Angra do Heroísmo and Praia da Vitória, are where you will find the most diversity and quality on the island of Terceira. Other good areas to sleep on Terceira island are Porto Judeu and Biscoitos.

We stayed on Terceira Island at Hotel Ilha, right in the historic center of Angra do Heroísmo, with comfortable rooms and affordable prices. From there, you can explore the historic center of Angra do Heroísmo on foot.

Book your stay at Hotel Ilha when you visit Terceira island.

• But there are other excellent accommodation options when you visit Terceira island. To complete the travel tips to visit Terceira island, check our post with our suggestions where to stay on Terceira island.

6. Using bank cards in Portugal

Portugal is integrated into the international banking system, so using debit or credit cards will not be a problem in handling money in Portugal, including the Azores. With your debit or credit card, you can make payments at any store or commercial establishment, as well as withdraw euros in ATMs, which are widely available, the national network being called Multibanco. You can also find international networks of ATMs, but be careful with the conversion and transaction fees that are applied.

When we travel abroad, we use the Wise debit Mastercard®. The borderless Wise account comes with a debit card and allows you to spend anywhere in the world at the real exchange rate. You will receive low conversion rates, free ATM withdrawals of up to £ 200 per month and zero transaction fees. You can create your Wise multi-currency account here and get your Wise debit card.

If you are going to travel to Terceira island, these are our posts that you shouldn’t miss:

• AZORES ISLANDS – Travel to Portugal’s best kept secret – Introduction to the nine islands of the Azores and their characteristics; practical tips for visiting Portugal’s best kept secret. To read before proceeding to Terceira island travel tips.

• SÃO MIGUEL ISLAND – What not to miss when visiting the Azores – Tips for visiting São Miguel island, a paradise in the Atlantic; how to get around, where to sleep, what to do and see and places not to miss.

• São Miguel itinerary – Road trip for 5 or 7 days in the Azores island – All the tips for a São Miguel itinerary, bringing together the best of the Azores island, for a 5 or 7 days road trip.

• Visit Terceira island – Territory, history and geography – Guide to visit Terceira island in the Azores; the territory, history and geography of this beautiful and diversified Azores island. To read before proceeding to Terceira island travel tips.

• Terceira island travel tips – Travel tips to start planning your trip; when to go, how to get there, how to get around, travel insurance and where to stay.

• Terceira island itinerary – 5 days itinerary on this beautiful Azores island, covering the island’s main attractions. Part of our series on Terceira island travel tips.

• Where to stay on Terceira island – The best hotels and places to stay on Terceira island. Part of our series on Terceira island travel tips.

• Terceira island best viewpoints – Best spots to enjoy the spectacular landscapes of this beautiful Azores island. Part of our series on Terceira island travel tips.

• Terceira island volcanoes – Best spots and landscapes to enjoy and understand the volcanic nature of Terceira island.

• Terceira island culture & heritage – Best places to learn about Terceira island culture & heritage, UNESCO heritage town of Angra do Heroismo, religious and historical places on the island. Part of our series on Terceira island travel tips.

• Terceira island beaches, bathing areas and natural pools – Terceira island best beaches and bathing areas, including natural swimming pools, the best places in the island to enjoy the sea and sun. Part of our series on Terceira island travel tips.

• Terceira island best restaurants – Best places on Terceira island to taste Azores traditional food, fish, seafood and meat. Part of our series on Terceira island travel tips.