What’s the best time to visit Azores? Azores weather in February and March

As we started to research the amazing deal on a trip to the Azores that we found through Azores Getaways, we found we had some concerns about the time of year. When I searched the best time to visit the Azores, many commenters mentioned avoiding the winter, because the flowers wouldn’t be blooming as brilliantly, some restaurants and stores would have limited hours, and the weather would (obviously) be cooler. But, being the gosh darn mavericks we are, we decided to book our trip for the end of February and early March, just in time for Carnival. And you know what? It turns out that the Azores weather in February and March is actually really enjoyable – right along with everything else.

Average Azores weather in February and March

For both months, your average high temperature in the day will be in the low-to-mid 60s F, and the low will hover in the low-to-mid 50s F. These temps are really comfortable for hiking and most outdoor activities that don’t involve being on or in the water. Plus, there’s not a lot of fluctuation between night and day as far as the weather goes, so you won’t have to worry about packing your whole damn wardrobe.

You’re also more likely to experience rain while you’re in the Azores in the winter, since their cooler months are also their rainy season. But the precipitation pattern on Terceira, for instance, is very similar to what we found in Iceland: you have some kind of precipitation every day, at some point, but it rarely lasts for more than a few hours, at most. Just pack a nice, breathable rain jacket, and you’ll be set. Year-round, you’ll also find the Azores can be very windy, so make sure your rain jacket also doubles as a wind-resistant layer.

Azores scenery in the winter

Are the Azores beautiful in summer? Abso-flippin-lutely.

Will you miss out on an amazing trip with gorgeous sights if you visit in the winter? Abso-flippin-lutely NOT.

We worked with locals to find the best views and best photo spots on the island, and neither of us can imagine them being much prettier. The countryside on Terceira looks very much like what you’d find in Ireland, which is a tapestry of grass divided by stone walls. In the winter, the grass looks even more starkly green, because it doesn’t have as much bright and blooming foliage to compete with. Little wildflowers, as well as larger flowers like birds of paradise bloom everywhere, even in February. Just see for yourself!

The only thing you’ll be likely to miss? The island’s famous hydrangeas in bloom since, being non-native, they don’t do well with any kind of season change and are perennials.

Things to do in the Azores in February and March

The good news is, reports of everything being closed in the off-season were GREATLY exaggerated, as the Azores have really leaned into being a tourist destination. That said, be aware of when you’re traveling and if you happen to be visiting on Sunday/Monday, or on any Catholic holidays, as this might have an impact on what activities or restaurants you can experience. Our favorite things to do in the Azores are as follows:

• Go hiking. If you’re remotely outdoorsy (or outdoors-inclined), you should absolutely hike on Terceira and in the Azores. These volcanic islands are beyond beautiful, and they’re incredibly unique. You can
  • hike along cliffs that look like you’re in the UK (Baías da Agualva),
  • trek around volcanoes and volcanic vents like you’re in Iceland (Furnas do Enxofre),
  • pick your way through tropical undergrowth that will remind you of Costa Rica (Misterios Negros),
  • and traverse centuries-old roads like you’ve just hopped in the TARDIS (Passagem das Bestas).
    • And if you’re staying on one island, you can do many of these types of things in a single day, particularly if you rent a car so you can hop from place to place fairly quickly.

• Eat EVERYTHING. While you might find the scenery reminiscent of other places in the world, you’ll know as soon as you sit down in a restaurant or bakery that you’re in the Azores. Each island has foods and pastries that are highly traditional and meaningful. For instance, on Terceira, we were able to sample incredible Dona Amelia cakes, Conde do Praia da Vitória cakes, filhos, alcatra, and more. Plus, the islands have access to wonderfully fresh fish, and Terceira sources all of its beef from free-range farms on the island, making dinner a farm-to-table treat. Regardless of the island you visit, to get the greatest depth and breadth of the culinary offerings, we always recommend booking a food and sightseeing tour, because it put the things you tasted into a more vibrant cultural and historical context.
• Stimulate your brain and your palate with wine tasting. We both love a good glass of wine. In fact, wine tours are one of our favorite things to book in a new country or region, because the history of many places seems irrevocably tied to its grape vines. Go wine tasting on Pico, where they produce the best red wine in the Azores, or on Terceira, where the white wine is so light you could easily drink it all day. And if you’re not in the mood for either of those, you can get plenty of delicious reds imported from mainland Portugal for just a few euro a bottle.

• Instagram all the things. If you think that winter means dreary and less pretty, you’ve got another think coming. While you won’t get the benefit of seeing curated rows of hydrangeas blooming by the roads, plenty of flowers (like birds of paradise, which are plentiful) still bloom this time of year and the grass stays brilliantly green year-round. Plus, in the winter, you won’t find yourself sweating your way through trying to find photo spots. Instead, you can enjoy cool, breezy days. Try taking a photo tour with Trilhas Tours, or booking one through Azores Getaways.
• Learn by visiting museums. The first museum we stopped by in Angra do Heroísmo was the Palácio dos Capitães Generais, which started as a Jesuit monastery, then became a royal palace, and is now one of the official properties used by the Presidency of the Government of the Azores. For about 3E/person, you can tour the palace with an English-speaking guide. Alternatively, many walking tours and city excursions offer this stop as part of their tours. We could go on and on about Terceira’s offerings, but many of the islands have similar museums and places that will help you really experience the history of the place you’re visiting without dealing with any seasonal drizzle.
• Miss the crowds! Okay, so this isn’t so much a thing to do, but it IS a massive benefit of visiting in the off season. In the summer, the Azores play host to vacationers from all over Europe, and they flock en masse to places like the Biscoitos natural pools. In fact, every one of our guides on Terceira mentioned avoiding Biscoitos (one of the loveliest places on the island) in the summer, because it’s so overrun with people sunbathing and swimming. In the winter, you can walk into nearly any restaurant you want and get a seat. In fact, the only reason we saw any crowds at all was because we visited Terceira at Carnival, so all the locals were out in force from around dinner time to dawn.

Packing list for Terceira and the Azores in winter

• Ventilated and layerable rain jacket. While you won’t see many days of constant rain, you will very likely see some rain every day during winter in the Azores. So, pack accordingly. You can also expect windy or brisk weather, sometimes with the rain and sometimes without, so having layers is a huge help. My rain jacket acts as a windproof layer as well as a waterproof one, and I can easily put my Patagonia jacket underneath to stay a little warmer, if needed.
• Quick dry or waterproof pants. With all that rain, what you DON’T want is to only pack jeans or cotton pants, especially if you plan to spend a fair amount of time outdoors. Definitely bring your tech pants, so that if you get caught in a sudden rainstorm, you won’t have to wait an hour to dry out.
• Hiking boots and/or athletic shoes. And pick which based on what level of activity you plan. Our hiking boots (I love mine, and Luke loves his) both have great ankle support, which comes in handy on rocky or uneven surfaces, like the Misterios Negros hike or walking along the Baías da Agualva. Teva or other versatile sandals would also be great for dry days or days when it hasn’t recently rained, but we both passed HARD on the idea of exposing our precious toes to 55F temps and chilly rain.

• Headband and hair ties for anyone whose hair runs away in the wind. While we were on Terceira, we had several days of pretty hardcore wind. Of course Luke was fine, but even my shoulder-length hair kept getting in my eyes and mouth. My kingdom for a headband!!
• Water-resistant or waterproof backpack. In keeping with the “prepare for rain” scenario, make sure you bring at least one water-repellent bag for things like non-waterproof phones, cameras, power banks, etc. We got caught in a couple of random downpours and our gear was saved only by the fact that Luke’s backpack was dependably water-resistant. Whew.
• A couple of sweaters and layerable tees and shirts. I stuck with my midweight insulation layer over cotton sweaters and jeans and Blondo booties for most days spent in Angra do Heroísmo or Praia da Vitória with no issues. And Luke’s regular Lululemon pants did him just fine for those days, as well. I get chilly easily, so I stuck with sweaters under my jacket, but Luke was fine most days layering his breathable insulation over a long sleeve tee or sometimes even a regular t-shirt.

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