Do you want to know how to get to São Miguel Island? In this article, we provide all the necessary information to help you plan your trip to this wonderful island in the Azores.
São Miguel, the largest of the Azores islands, is also the most visited by tourists. It's no surprise that this island, known as "the Green Island," is considered the gateway to the Azores. While other islands like Terceira and Santa Maria also have airports, São Miguel's airport receives an average of 2 million visitors annually, making it the most popular in the archipelago.
Additionally, São Miguel has the most air and sea connections with the rest of the Azores, making it very easy to reach if you are visiting other islands.
In this article, we will provide all the details on how to get to São Miguel Island. Don’t worry, the information will focus on the main connections between the island and the rest of the world, so you’ll likely find useful details for planning your trip from your home country.
Let’s start this post about how to get to São Miguel in the Azores!
For your stay in São Miguel, we recommend the Herdade do Ananás hotel, cozy and unique with its pineapple greenhouse; the Comercial Azores Boutique, located in the center of Ponta Delgada; and Senhora da Rosa, which offers a blend of tradition and modernity, surrounded by nature
How to get to São Miguel Island, the gateway to the Azores – Contents:
By Plane, the Best Way to Get to São Miguel and the Azores
The easiest and most common way to get to São Miguel is by plane. João Paulo II Airport in Ponta Delgada (PDL) receives millions of direct international, domestic, and inter-island flights.
In this section, we will provide all the necessary information to help you easily plan your arrival at Ponta Delgada Airport from different parts of the world. Let’s begin!
1. International Flights to São Miguel
Reaching São Miguel from different parts of the world is easier than you might think. The island is well connected with several international destinations through Ponta Delgada Airport.
Here is a table with the main direct connections to João Paulo II Airport in Ponta Delgada (PDL) and the airlines with which you can book direct flights to São Miguel:
As you can see, Azores Airlines (Sata Azores) offers most of the direct flights to São Miguel, especially on long-haul routes such as Toronto, New York, and Montreal.
Airbus A321 neo Wonder with over 180 seats. (Photo by Sata Azores - www.azoresairlines.pt)
We, who are from Barcelona, have traveled to the Azores with SATA Azores (and with other airlines with stopovers, of course). And we can say that our experience with SATA Azores has been very good. It’s not the cheapest option, but the possibility of traveling nonstop and the service provided by the airline really impressed us. To be clear, it’s not a low-cost airline (without disrespecting low-cost carriers), but the fact that they offer free food and drinks and don’t charge for carry-on luggage has really won us over.
However, the frequency of SATA Azores flights (at least from Barcelona) isn’t very high; there aren’t flights every day or all year round, and there’s only one per day. But don’t worry! You’ll still have more options to travel to São Miguel and the Azores; there are daily flights from Porto and Lisbon. What better than a quick stopover in one of these fantastic cities? Plus, it’s a more economical and flexible option!
Important Tip: Before traveling, make sure to check the carry-on baggage policy of each airline to avoid unexpected charges at the airport. For example, if you travel with Sata Azores, carry-on luggage is included in the flight fare, but if you travel with Ryanair, you’ll have to pay an additional fee to bring your carry-on. Be sure to check the information on the airlines’ official websites!
If you don't want to rent a car, don't worry! São Miguel offers an affordable shuttle service from Ponta Delgada Airport and between the main towns. Don't waste time on transportation!
2. Domestic Flights from Portugal
Traveling to São Miguel from mainland Portugal is one of the best options, thanks to frequent air connections from the main cities of Portugal. Besides offering greater flexibility, it’s usually a more economical choice. Lisbon and Porto have had global air connections for years, which has helped consolidate routes and reduce costs, thus offering cheaper prices.
Getting to São Miguel from Lisbon
Lisbon is one of the main departure points to São Miguel. With direct flights several times a day, getting to Ponta Delgada from Lisbon is super quick.
On regular days, you can find between 4 and 6 direct flights from Lisbon to Ponta Delgada daily, and the flight time is around 2 hours and 25 minutes, making it a very good option to combine.
By the way, Lisbon is one of our favorite cities, so we highly recommend a stopover in this beautiful city…
Getting to São Miguel from Porto
Porto is also a good option to reach São Miguel, with between 3 and 5 direct flights daily. The flight time from Porto to Ponta Delgada is similar to Lisbon, approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes.
Although we prefer Lisbon, Porto is also a city we really like. We think it’s a great option if you want to spend a maximum of 2 days in a city before reaching São Miguel; you’ll have plenty of time to see the most important sights and enjoy a good wine in Vila Nova de Gaia, on the banks of the Douro River.
Airlines from Lisbon and Porto
Whether you travel from Lisbon or Porto, the airlines with direct flights to São Miguel are:
Sata Azores
Tap Air Portugal
Ryanair
By the way! It is also possible to reach São Miguel from Madeira, one of the most visited islands in Portugal. It’s not the most optimal way to get directly to São Miguel from other parts of the world, but it is a great option if you plan to combine a trip between Madeira and the Azores. Is it in your plans?
We, of course, believe Madeira is always a good option, but we leave that to your choice. If you decide to take this combined trip, you will have to fly with Sata Azores on a flight that is just under 2 hours long.
THE BEST ACTIVITIES IN SÃO MIGUEL!
3. Inter-Island Flights
Another way to get to São Miguel is from other islands of the Azores. You can do this with the inter-island flights offered by Sata Azores, the local airline.
Inter-island air connections. (Photo by Sata Azores - www.azoresairlines.pt)
Although moving between islands is quite easy, you should keep in mind that the frequency of flights is not very high and the schedules vary quite a bit depending on the season, so we recommend you check the official website of the airline.
The good news is that São Miguel has direct connections with all the islands of the Azores (Pico, Terceira, São Jorge, Faial, Flores, Santa Maria, Graciosa, and Corvo), so you won’t have any problem getting to the airport in Ponta Delgada.
Inter-island flights with Sata Azores are comfortable and allow you to carry cabin luggage at no additional cost. However, these inter-island planes are generally small and don’t carry more than 100 passengers, so they can fill up quickly. We recommend that if you want to travel during peak season, you book the inter-island flights well in advance.
Bombardier Q400 with 80 seats. (Photo by Sata Azores - www.azoresairlines.pt)
It’s also important to note that inter-island flight schedules often change quite a bit in terms of timing and availability, and there isn’t usually daily frequency on most routes. Therefore, it’s super important to check the information carefully on the Sata Azores website.
Want to travel between islands by ferry? Since the pandemic in 2020, there has been no ferry connection between São Miguel and the other Azores islands. The main connections that operate regularly are between the central islands (Faial, Pico, and São Jorge) and between Flores and Corvo. The company that operates these trips is Atlanticoline.
Getting around São Miguel by car is the best option. If you haven't booked your rental car yet, don't miss out on the best rental deals on the island, with full coverage to protect you from any issues!
Booking Affordable Flights to São Miguel
Flights are the main expense for many trips, which is why it’s so important to try to get the best possible deal. We know it can be challenging to follow all these tips, but here are some suggestions that might help you find a cheaper flight to São Miguel:
Book in advance. Yes, we know this is basic advice, but it’s the most important and cannot be overlooked. We understand not everyone can plan their vacations in advance, but if you can, don’t hesitate—you’ll save a lot of money! When it comes to booking flights, this rule rarely fails: flight prices are usually lower when booked several months in advance..
Use flight comparison tools. Comparators can help you find the best flight combinations at the best prices. Our favorite is Skyscanner, but other comparators like Kayak or Google Flights also yield good results.
Try to be flexible with your dates. We know that it’s often not possible to have enough flexibility to choose your travel dates. But if you can, try to book flights on days or at times when it’s cheaper to travel. It’s not the same flying on a Saturday at 10 AM as it is on a Tuesday at 6 AM. Getting up early or shifting your travel dates by a few days can be very cost-effective.
Set up price alerts. It may seem unbelievable, but it has happened to us a few times. Most flight comparison tools allow you to set up an alert to notify you when the flight you’re interested in drops in price. These fluctuations are often due to lower-than-expected demand, new flight routes for that destination, or simply changes in the airline’s pricing strategy. Either way, you’ll be informed in time to buy it!
Consider connecting flights. Layovers aren’t that bad, especially if the money saved is worth it. For example, it’s very likely that to reach São Miguel, it will be much cheaper to have a layover in Porto or Lisbon than to book a direct flight. It’s less convenient, but often worth it. And what can we say? Both Lisbon and Porto are great options to combine with your trip to the Azores.
Don’t forget insurance and get a -5% DISCOUNT!
Traveling with good insurance is essential, especially if you’re going to engage in “adventure” activities. IATI insurance covers any medical mishaps, including visits to private centers, purchasing medication, or repatriation (for about €5 a day). Protect yourself!
What Documents Are Required to Travel to São Miguel?
We can’t end this post without informing you about the necessary documentation to travel to São Miguel.
If you are a European Union citizen, it’s easy. You only need your valid ID to travel to the Azores. That doesn’t mean we don’t recommend bringing your passport as well; we like to carry both documents separately, just in case one of them gets lost.
For non-European Union citizens, a passport with a minimum validity of six months from the date of entry is required. Citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, and many other countries do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days, but to be sure, we recommend checking the specific requirements for your nationality before traveling.