Car Rental in the Azores Islands

Why rent a car in the Azores Islands?

The Azores Islands is a fascinating place to travel around by car. While the islands are small, each of them is unique in history and nature, holding endless hidden gems to discover. The hospitality of locals and the delicious cuisine help as well.

If you want to know more about renting a car in the Azores Islands, don't miss our complete guide.

Top ways to enter Portugal - Azores Islands

• Ponta Delgada Airport. By far the most common way for both Portuguese and foreign visitors to arrive in the Azores is by flying to its largest city, Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel. The airport, which is only about a ten-minute drive west of the city, provides local connections with other parts of the archipelago, as well as flights to and from the wider world and destinations in Europe and North America.
• Lajes Airport: Located on the island of Terceira, Lajes is the second-busiest airport in the Azores. In addition to providing flights to and from other islands of the archipelago, there are also air connections with destinations like Lisbon, London, Boston, Toronto, and Amsterdam. Lajes Airport is located 4km (2.5 miles) north of Praia da Vitoria and 20km (12.5 miles) northeast of Angra do Heroísmo, the two most popular tourism destinations on Terceira.
• Pico Airport: Serving the island of the same name, Pico Airport offers flights to and from São Miguel, Terceira, and Lisbon. Pico Airport is located 9km (5.6 miles) northeast of Madalena, the main settlement of Pico, and 16km (10 miles) north of Mount Pico, the highest peak in Portugal.
• Horta Airport: Another small Azorean airport, it serves the island of Faial and handles about a quarter of a million travelers every year. Horta Airport offers flights to and from other islands of the archipelago, as well as Lisbon. The airport is located about 9km (5.6 miles) west of Horta, the main town of Faial, and can be reached in ten minutes.
• Santa Maria Airport: Serving the southernmost island of the Azores, Santa Maria Airport has year-round flights to and from Ponta Delgada and Lisbon. The airport is on the western coast of the island, about 5km (3.1 miles) from Vila do Porto, the largest town on the island.
• Corvo Airport, Flores Airport, Graciosa Airport, São Jorge Airport: Although these four Azorean airports serving their namesake islands are working, as of March 2020 they offer flights only to other Azorean destinations and provide no connections with the mainland Portugal or any other country. 
• By sea: There is a frequent network of ferries operating in the Azores and any island of the archipelago can be reached from any other island (albeit sometimes it requires a connecting trip). The ferry service is much more frequent during the tourism season which lasts approximately from mid-April until October. On the other hand, the demand for tickets is also much higher during the tourism season, so they should be booked in advance. Ferry service can sometimes be canceled or delayed due to bad weather. Most ferries companies permit bringing a vehicle on board if a special ticket is purchased; some, however, do not, so you should look it up in advance. Regardless of the ferry company’s policy, you should also ask your rental car provider whether they permit you to bring a rental car on ship. 

Top cities and places to visit

• São Miguel. By far the largest and most populous of the islands, São Miguel is home to more than half the population of all the archipelago. The island is modern and developed - its main settlement, Ponta Delgada, can safely be called the only large city of the Azores - but there are also plenty of impressive peaks, hot lakes, and other natural attractions for visitors to discover as part of their Azores itinerary.
• Pico. The island of Pico is defined by its most impressive feature, the mountain of the same name. Standing at 2,350 m (7,710 ft), Mount Pico is a dormant volcano that’s more than twice the size of any other peak of the Azores. But there’s even more about this island - tourist-beloved attractions include the Whale Museum and the Wine Museum. 
• Terceira. The island of Terceira is home to Angra do Heroismo, arguably the most famous historic attraction in the Azores. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the town has historic buildings like the city customs house, Manor of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, and Fort of Negrito, as well as a number of interesting museums.
• São Jorge. Like all the other Azorean islands, little São Jorge is home to impressive nature. Travelers and hikers love to explore its mighty volcanic complexes, climb the dramatic cliffs, and drive the steep mountain roads. The island’s cuisine, largely consisting of locally grown produce, is also not to be missed.
• Faial. The main attraction of the island of Faial is a caldera or crater of the same name - located in the center of the island, it offers truly otherworldly views. Other attractions of Faial include many opportunities for doing water sports, while the bravest of visitors can even try diving with sharks during certain months of the year.
• Graciosa. The second-smallest of the Azores, Graciosa is nonetheless home to truly stunning nature - the island is made up of the impressive Caldeira Massif, sandy beaches, and wild landscapes dotted with tiny historic villages.
• Santa Maria. Both the southernmost and easternmost of the islands, Santa Maria is home to picturesque landscapes, sandy beaches, and tiny, whitewashed villages. Influenced by the Sahara, the island has pleasantly warm and dry weather. One of the least visited islands of the Azores, this is the perfect place for a relaxing, tranquil vacation.
• Flores. The westernmost of the Azores, Flores is located within the North American tectonic plate. The island is practically in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, located some 2,300km (1,430 miles) east of Newfoundland in Canada and 1,900km (1,180 miles) west of Lisbon. The unique geographical location is not the only reason to visit Flores - it is also a prime hiking and ecotourism destination.
• Corvo. The neighboring island of Flores, the much smaller Corvo is home to less than 500 inhabitants. Despite its small size and remote location, the island is a lovely place to visit thanks to its beautiful beaches, green canyons, and relaxed atmosphere.

Most popular rental car

The most popular rental car in the Azores is the Ford Fiesta, followed by the Renault Twingo and the Opel Corsa.

Driver's license requirements

• Portugal recognizes valid foreign driver’s licenses that are written in a Latin alphabet and if you’re visiting for a shorter period than six months.
• If you’re in Portugal for longer than six months or are living there permanently, the law requires you to obtain a Portuguese driver’s license
• If your driver’s license is printed in a non-Latin alphabet (Cyrillic, Arabic, etc.), you’ll need an International Driving Permit (IDP).
• Similarly, if your driver’s license doesn’t show your photograph, you might be required to have an IDP.
• Even if you have an IDP, you must also carry your original driver’s license as you will be required to present both.
• You must carry your driver’s license, not a copy, with you at all times. 
• You need to have had your driver’s license for at least two years.
• Some rental car suppliers charge a young driver fee for drivers between the ages of 22 and 25 and a senior driver fee for drivers over the age of 65.
• There may be additional requirements depending on the car supplier and category, so make sure to check the rental conditions before booking.

Crossing borders

The Azores is an island archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean and belongs to Portugal. It has no land borders.

Most popular types of rental car

The most popular rental car type in the Azores is Economy. Mini and Compact are also picked a lot.

Top driving routes

1. Ponta Delgada - Mosteiros (31 km / 19 mi) A short, but picturesque ride along the western coast of the island of Sao Miguel.
2. Velas - Topo (48 km / 30 mi) While going between these two towns will take less than an hour, you will cross most of Sao Jorge Island on the way.
3. Lajes - São Sebastião (16 km / 10 mi) These two towns are next-door neighbors, and both of them are a great starting point for further exploring Terceira Island.

Car rental prices in the Azores Islands

• Small cars - from $6 per day
• SUVs - from $9 per day
• Medium cars - from $8 per day
• Station wagons - from $37 per day
• Large cars - from $12 per day
• Vans - from $41 per day
• Convertibles - from $22 per day
• Premium cars - from $83 per day

Money-saving and other tips

You can do a number of things to get a good car rental deal in the Azores:

• Compare the rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Research your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting the Azores is the cheapest in January when renting a car is almost 40% cheaper than the yearly average.