Portugal has some of the best islands in Europe and they don’t get nearly enough attention. I’ve spent a lot of time island-hopping across the Azores, exploring Madeira’s mountain trails, and lazing on the Algarve’s barrier island beaches, and I keep finding reasons to go back. 2027 is shaping up to be a big year too, with the Azores celebrating 600 years of discovery, new direct flights from the US, and a wave of hotel openings across the islands.
These are my picks for the best islands in Portugal, all updated for 2026/27. I’ve shared my favorite places to eat, things to do, and tips I wish I’d known before my first trip. I’ve covered volcanic hikes, empty white sand beaches, thermal baths, and tiny fishing villages where lunch comes straight off the boat. If an island trip to Portugal is on your list, this should help you figure out where to go!
Top islands in Portugal at a glance
I’ve visited a lot of Portuguese islands over the years, and these five are the ones I always recommend first. They cover a good mix of hiking, beaches, food, and volcanic scenery. If you’re short on time or just want a starting point, this is where I’d begin.
- São Miguel: The biggest Azores island with volcanic crater lakes, hot springs in Furnas, and Europe’s oldest tea plantation
- Madeira: Incredible levada trail hiking, natural lava pools at Porto Moniz, and Funchal’s food and wine scene
- Faial: A sailor’s island with a famous harbor bar, a moonscape volcano, and the Azores’ first five-star hotel
- Flores: The most remote island in the Azores, with 20+ waterfalls in a single valley and almost no crowds
- Ilha da Tavira: A barrier island in the Algarve with a miniature train to the beach and the best octopus in the region nearby
1. São Miguel Island
São Miguel is the largest island in the Azores. In my opinion, it’s the best starting point if you’re visiting the archipelago for the first time. I’d recommend at least four days here to cover the highlights without rushing.
The first stop should be Sete Cidades, a massive volcanic caldera on the western side of the island with twin lakes sitting inside it, one green and one blue. I’d suggest getting there before 9am, as parking is limited and the viewpoints fill up fast. Check the Spot Azores webcams before you head out – fog rolls in without warning and can completely block the view.
From there, head to the village of Furnas to try Cozido, a stew cooked underground using volcanic heat. I’d recommend ordering it at Tony’s Restaurant, which has been serving it for decades. While you’re in Furnas, the hot springs at Terra Nostra Garden are incredible for an afternoon soak.
On the north coast, Gorreana tea plantation is Europe’s oldest and offers free tastings. If you’re visiting in summer, book a boat to the Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo. It’s a volcanic crater lagoon with calm water perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
A rental car is essential in São Miguel. Public transport won’t get you very far. Ryanair pulled all Azores flights in March 2026, and fares through SATA, TAP, and Azores Airlines now run higher than before. The Portuguese government has launched discounted fares for the winter 2026/27 shoulder season, and new airline routes are expected through 2027.
2. Madeira Island
Madeira is an island built for people who like being outdoors. The levada trails are the main draw, winding through laurel forests and along mountain ridges with huge views at every turn. Put the PR1 trail from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo at the top of your list if you’re a confident hiker!
One big change for 2026/2027 is that all official hiking trails now require advance booking through the SIMplifica platform. It costs €4.50 per trail, or €10.50 for PR1, and you’ll need to pick a 30-minute time slot. I advise booking a few days ahead, as popular routes fill up.
When you’re not hiking, the natural lava pools at Porto Moniz are a great way to spend an afternoon. The capital Funchal has lively markets, excellent restaurants, and the island’s famous fortified wine. I’d also recommend Calheta Beach on the south coast if you want calm water and soft sand. Both Uber and Bolt now work around Funchal, which makes getting around the south side of the island easier than it used to be.
3. Porto Santo Island
Porto Santo is a small island about 43km north of Madeira with a nine-kilometer stretch of golden sand that’s unlike anything else in the archipelago. Where Madeira is green, volcanic, and steep, Porto Santo is flat, dry, and built entirely around its beach. Locals have long said the sand has therapeutic properties, and having spent a full afternoon buried up to my knees in it, I was inclined to believe them!
The main town, Vila Baleira, is compact and walkable. You’ll find whitewashed houses and a museum in the house where Christopher Columbus once lived. If you time it right, the annual Columbus Festival in September re-enacts his arrival on the island with parades, a 16th-century market, and street performances. Away from town, the hike up to Pico de Ana Ferreira is short but memorable, with volcanic rock columns at the top that look like a giant pipe organ.
I’d recommend staying at least two nights in Porto Santo rather than trying to squeeze it into a day trip from Madeira. You can get here by a 15-minute flight from Funchal or by the Lobo Marinho ferry, which takes about two and a half hours and operates daily in summer. Book accommodation early if you’re planning for 2027…Porto Santo has become noticeably busier and summer hotels fill up quickly.
4. Ilha da Armona
Ilha da Armona is a small, car-free island in Portugal off the southern coast of the Algarve, and it’s one of my favorite beach day trips. To get there, you take a short ferry from the fishing town of Olhão, which costs €2 each way and takes about 20 minutes. Before you board, spend some time in Olhão’s twin-hall fish market. It’s one of the best in the region.
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Once you arrive on Armona, follow the sandy paths through the village and over the dunes to reach Praia da Armona Mar on the ocean side, about a 20-minute walk from the jetty. The beach is long, clean, and rarely crowded, with shallow water that’s great for families. I’d suggest bringing your own food and water as there are only a few small cafes on the island.
Armona is part of the Ria Formosa Natural Park, a protected lagoon system where you can spot flamingos, spoonbills, and herons, especially between October and March. If you’re planning a trip for August 2027, look into the Festival do Marisco in Olhão. It’s a week-long seafood and live music festival held on the waterfront every year. The seafood comes directly from the Ria Formosa and it’s easily the best food event in the Algarve.
5. Pico
Pico is home to Mount Pico, Portugal’s highest peak at 2,351 meters, and climbing it is one of the best hiking experiences in the Azores. The ascent takes around three hours from the Casa da Montanha trailhead and the terrain is steep volcanic rock. Only 320 hikers are allowed per day, and you’ll need to register in advance.
Even if the summit isn’t for you, the UNESCO-listed vineyards around Criação Velha are incredible to walk through. Vines grow inside thousands of small stone-walled enclosures built to block the Atlantic wind. You can taste the island’s signature Verdelho white wine at places like Adega A Buraca or the Museu do Vinho in Madalena.
Whale watching from Lajes do Pico is another highlight I’d highly recommend. Sperm whales live in these waters year-round, and blue and fin whales pass through seasonally. While you’re in Lajes, the Museu dos Baleeiros (€2 entry) tells the story of the island’s whaling past and is well worth an hour. I’d recommend combining Pico with neighboring Faial and São Jorge using the inter-island ferries. The three Portuguese islands together make the classic central Azores trip and one of Europe’s best hidden gems.
6. Santa Maria
Santa Maria is the southernmost island in the Azores and the warmest and driest of the whole archipelago. It’s the only place in the Azores where you’ll find proper golden sand beaches, which makes it feel completely different from the green, volcanic Portuguese islands further north. If you’ve been hiking through fog on São Miguel and want a couple of days of sun and sand, this is where you need to come!
Praia Formosa is the best and most beautiful beach in Santa Maria. It’s a wide bay of pale sand with calm, clear water that rarely gets crowded. Every August, it hosts the Maré de Agosto festival, a 40-year-old world music event with the stage right on the sand. Over on the northeast coast, São Lourenço bay has terraced vineyards rising above the water and is easily the most photogenic swim spot in the Azores.
There’s an interesting development happening on the island, too. Santa Maria has been licensed as Portugal’s first spaceport, with suborbital launches already underway in 2026 and the first orbital launches planned for 2027. ESA has also selected the island as the landing site for its Space Rider vehicle. It’s a fascinating time to visit, and the island’s connection to space goes back decades through the ESA tracking station that’s been operating here for years.
7. Flores
Flores is the westernmost island in the Azores, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and one of the most remote places in all of Europe. It’s small, with only about 4,000 people, and the landscape is completely dominated by waterfalls, crater lakes, and hydrangea-lined roads. This is the island I’d recommend for hikers and anyone who wants the Azores at its wildest and least touristy.
Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro is the highlight in Flores. I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s one of the most beautiful spots in the entire country. More than 20 waterfalls cascade down a moss-covered cliff into a single pool, and the walk in takes about 20 minutes. Nearby, Poço do Bacalhau is a 100-meter waterfall you can swim at the base of. If you want something more adventurous, the island has become one of the best canyoning destinations in the Azores.
A few things to know before you go. Flores is only served by SATA flights connecting through other Azorean islands, and those flights get canceled in bad weather. You should always build in an extra day. ATMs are rare outside Santa Cruz and many places only take cash. In July 2027, look out for the Festa do Emigrante in Lajes das Flores, the island’s biggest annual celebration with live music, local food, and a huge community atmosphere marking its 40th edition.
8. Ilha Da Tavira
Ilha da Tavira is a long barrier island on the eastern Algarve coast and one of my favorite beach day trips in southern Portugal. The sand is soft and white, the water is clean and calm, and even in peak summer, it never feels overcrowded. You can reach it by ferry from two points: either from Quatro Águas pier (10 minutes, €2 return) or from Tavira town center in summer (20 minutes).
The island is part of the Ria Formosa Natural Park and has a few different beaches spread along its length. I’d head to Praia do Barril, which you reach via a cute miniature train that runs along old tuna-fishery rails from Pedras d’el Rei. Behind the beach, you’ll find the Anchor Cemetery, a memorial of over 200 rusting anchors laid out in the dunes from Tavira’s tuna fishing days. It’s one of the most unique and photogenic spots in the Algarve.
The nearby village of Santa Luzia is known as the Octopus Capital of the Algarve. I’d highly recommend Casa do Polvo Tasquinha on the waterfront, which has a Michelin Guide mention and serves octopus every way you can imagine. In summer 2027, Tavira’s Verão em Tavira program will bring wine fairs, jazz nights, and fado performances to the town center through July and August. It pairs perfectly with a day on the island.
9. Terceira
Terceira is the third largest island in the Azores and has a great mix of history, food, and volcanic scenery. The capital, Angra do Heroísmo, is a UNESCO World Heritage city with colorful facades, cobbled streets, and a harbor that’s been welcoming ships for centuries. I’d recommend two to three days here to explore properly.
The must-visit attraction is Algar do Carvão. It’s a volcanic cave with a moss-covered crater you can walk down into, and it feels like stepping onto another planet! For food, try alcatra at Quinta do Martelo or Taberna Roberto in Angra, a traditional beef stew slow-cooked in a clay pot with red wine and spices. Don’t leave without trying a Queijada da Dona Amélia either, a small cake created to honor Queen Amélia when she visited the island in 1901.
The big news for American travelers in 2027 is that United Airlines is launching nonstop flights from Newark to Terceira starting June 9, three times a week. It’s the first direct US connection to the island and a major deal for the large Azorean diaspora in North America. For everyone else, Terceira is reachable via SATA or TAP through Lisbon or São Miguel.
10. Faial Island: The blue island of the Azores
Faial is nicknamed the “Blue Island” for the hydrangeas that cover it in summer, and it has a strong maritime identity centered around the harbor town of Horta. The marina is famous among transatlantic sailors, and every wall along the harbor is painted with murals from boats that have passed through over the years. Definitely spend at least two days here, combining it with Pico and São Jorge on the inter-island ferries.
The Caldeira is a huge crater in the center of the island that you can hike around the rim of, with views across to Pico on a clear day. On the western tip, Capelinhos is where a 1957 volcanic eruption created an ash landscape that looks like the surface of the moon. After all that hiking, grab a gin and tonic at Peter Café Sport in Horta, which has been the go-to bar for passing sailors since 1918.
Faial got its first five-star hotel in 2026 with The Book Hotel. It’s a boutique property in a restored 19th-century school building with rooms from around €200 a night. In 2027, the Azores will celebrate the 600th anniversary of the archipelago’s discovery, and Faial is expected to host events as part of celebrations across all nine islands. It’s going to be a brilliant year to visit!
Exploring the lesser-known islands: Berlengas, Sao Jorge, and more
11. Berlengas Islands
Berlengas is a tiny UNESCO Biosphere Reserve about 15 kilometers off the coast of Peniche. Without a doubt, it’s one of the best day trips you can do from Lisbon. The island is wild and rocky, surrounded by turquoise water that looks like it belongs somewhere tropical. The boat from Peniche takes about 30 minutes and costs around €20-25 return.
The main attraction is the Fort of São João Baptista, a 17th-century fortress connected to the island by a narrow stone bridge. You can kayak into the sea caves around the base of the cliffs, and the Furado Grande cave in particular is incredible to paddle through. Snorkeling is excellent here too, with visibility on calm days that you rarely get on mainland Portugal’s coast.
One important thing to know for 2027 is that you now need a Berlengas Pass from the ICNF website (€3) before you can board any boat. The island is capped at 550 visitors per day and summer weekends sell out two to three weeks in advance. Book both the pass and your ferry tickets early, especially for July and August.
12. São Jorge Island
São Jorge is known as the “island of fajãs,” which are flat coastal platforms formed by ancient lava flows at the base of tall cliffs. There are over 40 of them scattered around the island, and hiking down to them is the main reason people visit. I’d recommend two to three days here, based in the main town of Velas on the south coast.
The best hike is down to Fajã da Caldeira de Santo Cristo, a two to three hour trail from the ridge that ends at a lagoon famous for its clams and its surf break. On the south side, drive down to Fajã dos Vimes and visit Café Nunes. Here, the Nunes family grows, hand-roasts, and serves their own organic Arabica coffee from a plantation behind the house. It’s the only coffee grown in Europe and people fly to São Jorge specifically to try it!
Before you leave, pick up some Queijo de São Jorge, a peppery aged cheese with DOP status that you’ll find at farms and markets across the island. São Jorge is part of the central Azores triangle with Pico and Faial, connected by regular ferries. In 2027, the Azores celebrates the 600th anniversary of the archipelago’s discovery, and events are expected across all nine islands.
13. Graciosa Island
Graciosa is the second smallest island in the Azores and by far the quietest. There’s around 4,000 residents and very few tourists even in peak summer. It’s nicknamed the “White Island” because of its pale volcanic rock, and the whole place has an unhurried feel that’s completely different from the bigger islands in Portugal. I’d recommend it if you want to experience the Azores at its calmest.
The main attraction is the Furna do Enxofre, a massive volcanic cave inside the island’s caldera that contains the largest volcanic dome in Europe. You reach it by descending 183 steps through a spiral staircase, and the cave floor has a sulphurous underground lake that smells strongly of rotten eggs. Entry is €5 and the visitor center has a good exhibition to walk through beforehand.
After the cave, drive to the Termas do Carapacho on the southern coast. These are thermal baths that have been operating since 1750 with naturally heated water at around 40°C. Entry is about €1 and there are natural rock pools right next to the sea if you want to cool off afterward. Graciosa is part of the Azores’ 2027 600th anniversary celebrations, and with the island seeing growing visitor numbers through 2026, it’s a great time to visit before it gets busier.
Global Viewpoint is a personal blog. All content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional financial, medical, or legal advice.
