Planning a road trip in the Azores? With this ultimate guide to driving in the Azores island, you will know all the safety tips and regulations to have a great time traveling.
Here, roads are mostly in good conditions, depending if you are staying on the main roads or going to the secondary roads. But there are some things you should definitely know before considering renting a car in the Azores and drive on our roads.
Special things to keep in mind while driving in the Azores
On-road encounters when driving in the Azores
When driving in the Azores, you will not find many traffic jams. However, you may have some typical encounters in the middle of the road.
As the 9 islands rely mostly on agriculture, specifically in the dairy industry, there are plenty of cows (as of 2024, 1,13 cows per inhabitant). The farmers take them from field to field, or to the milking station by foot. This means you will see from time to time (mostly in the early morning and late afternoon) groups of cows walking slowly on the roads. This is part of the Azorean life, this is our local traffic jam. Just be patient, follow them slowly, enjoy and take some pictures to take home with you.
In April, there is also an important event impacting the roads of the Azores: pilgrimage. The Azorean pilgrims go from church to church for several days, marching and chanting along the way. Be careful if traveling to the Azores by that time, especially in the curves.
From time to time you might find a car alone in the middle of a street, or on the side of the road. This is also perfectly normal and part of the local culture. Azoreans park anywhere. In that case, you can choose to wait for them to come back if there is no way of passing the stopped car, or simply overtake slowly if it is possible to go. Do not do the same yourself and stop the car anywhere, always find a proper parking space.
Particular roads
Some roads can be quite impressive, the Azores are all about hills and cliffs. In the end, don’t forget that you are driving on top of volcanoes, so it is not flat at all! If you are unsure of a road, listen to your instinct. Do not drive on dangerous roads or off-road.
The most impressive roads on São Miguel island would be to reach Ponta da Ferraria, Salto do Cabrito or Arnel’s lighthouse. If you are not a confident driver, just park your car before and go down to these locations by foot.
Moreover, the streets of city centers are very narrow, especially in Ponta Delgada in São Miguel island, or Angra do Heroísmo in Terceira island. When you are parallel parking in a narrow street, keep your mirrors in to avoid bad surprises.
Weather conditions and driving in the Azores
In the Azores, we say we have the four seasons in a day, and it is very much true! Weather conditions can make it harder to drive if you are not used to quick changes (mostly fog in altitude, heavy rains or strong winds. If you find yourself in hazardous conditions, reduce speed or just park safely and wait for a bit, as the weather changes quickly.
🌦️ For more info about the weather in the Azores, check the links below:
- The weather in the Azores in January
- The weather in the Azores in February
- The weather in the Azores in March
- The weather in the Azores in April
- The weather in the Azores in May
- The weather in the Azores in July
- The weather in the Azores in August
For the thick fog, use low beams or fog lights. Using the high-beam lights causes glare and you won’t see any better. On more rare occasions, you can also experience floods, storms and landslides, especially in the wintertime.
On the coast, the weather tends to be nicer, but if you want to know what you are getting into, check the weather conditions before heading out on the website Spot Azores. Thanks to the cameras set up on every island and in several locations, you can actually see the live weather where you want to go.
Quick Info
The emergency number for the Azores is 112.
Driving in the Azores – laws and regulations
The laws are the same as most Europe. You need to drive on the right side of the road.
Use a seatbelt, even in the back of the car. Do not drive and use your phone at the same time, as your hands must be free and on the stirring wheel. Children under 12 years old or 135cm in height should use a special seat.
Roundabouts
Roundabouts can be tricky. But here is how you should take them in the Azores.
When entering a two-lane roundabout, use the outer lane only if you want to turn right (first exit). Otherwise, you will always use the inner lane (to go straight, left, or make a U-turn). Always use the signals to exit and move to the outer lane gradually from the exit before the one you are aiming. There is one roundabout with 3 lanes in Ponta Delgada. Use the same principles, but go to the middle lane if you are going straight.
Speed limits
Keep in mind that our speed limit signs are in kilometers, not miles. They are well indicated on each road, but here is an idea:
- 50km/h inside localities, 30km/h for the city-center
- 80km/h outside localities
- 100km/h on the highway
Did you know
There are no toll roads in the Azores. All roads are free to use.
There are a total of one or two fixed speed cameras around the whole archipelago, but the police can be hidden on the side of the road with a mobile one, so make sure to always respect the limits.
Alcohol and Driving in the Azores
Driving under the influence of alcohol is forbidden. The maximum level of alcohol allowed in Portugal is 0,5g/L of blood. Even one drink, if very strong, can make you unable to drive safely. So, if you don’t want any trouble, take a taxi when you plan on drinking.
Rent a Car in the Azores
Renting a car is a good idea to explore at your own rhythm. Public transportation can also be a solution, but the schedule is restricting. Renting your own car is much more comfortable. When arriving at the airport, several car rentals companies are located right at the arrivals, others are in the nearest city.
Don’t forget to book in advance, especially if coming in the summer and if you want an automatic gear. Most cars are manual, but you can find some automatic for a higher price. About the fares, it all depends on the season you are coming, the type of car you are looking for and the company.
Sometimes, you need to let a deposit of up to 1,200 euros, so make sure you have that amount of money available on your bank account or simply ask the rental car company when booking if a deposit will be needed. Note that if you include the total insurance directly with the car company, then no deposit is needed. But every car company’s policy is different.
Also, before leaving the company with your rental car, take a video of it and check for the dings and scratches around. Although, if you have full insurance, you do not need to worry about it. Finally, make sure to have insurance for all types of incidents for a smooth trip.
The directions are well indicated with signs and Google Maps also works great here but do not rely 100% on it. If you have any problem on the road, contact the car rental agency directly. Be sure to familiarise yourself with road signs and everything should be alright.
Azores Guide Book
🗣️ Azorean Language & Phrases
💵 Currency & Banks
🏧 Credit Cards & Traveler’s Cheques
🚗 Driving in the Azores
🔌 Electricity
🗺️ Experiences & Tours
🩺 Health & Safety
🛫 How to get to the Azores
🛜 Internet & Wi-Fi Access
📞 Phones & Mobile Service
✉️ Post Offices & Buying Stamps
🏖️ Public Holidays
🛒 Shopping
🕒 Time & Daylight
🌦️ Weather
🐳 Whale Watching Guide
🧳 What to Pack
🏞️ Which island to choose?
Is a 4×4 needed?
This depends on what you want to do. If you want to explore off the beaten track on dirt roads, then consider a 4×4 or SUV. For city trips and if you are staying in the center, then small cars will be your best friends!
Driving in the Azores – License requirements
Before leaving your home country, ensure you have a valid driving licence.
A valid driver’s license is needed to rent a car in the Azores. Non-EU visitors might want to get an International Driving Permit (IDP) in addition to your national driver’s license. For US citizens, the American diver’s license works in Portugal for up to 6 months.
Moreover, some car rental companies have requirements for the driver. The minimum age for renting a car is 18 years old. But people under 25 can possibly get higher fees.
Contact your rental car agency in the Azores for the documents needed with your country of origin and if there are extra charges related to your age or driving experience time.
Island hopping with a rental car
If you want to explore several islands, there are two options. You could use the ferry between the central islands (Pico, Faial and São Jorge) with the car, but it would be necessary to return it on the same island as where you rented it first.
Otherwise, simply arrange different bookings on each island. For instance, from São Miguel at the moment (2024) there are no ferries to go to another island. So it is absolutely necessary to have 2 different car bookings.
Gas stations / electric cars charging station
The islands are not too big, you will find gas stations regularly. Some require prepayment but most of them you can fill the tank and pay inside the station shop. The cashier generally accepts card, but always carry some cash with you. At the bigger stations, there is at least one ATM. Some stations in São Miguel island are open 24/7 on the main roads, but make sure to check opening times before going. Also, check which type of fuel your car requires. You can find this information on the fuel cap.
About fuel prices, they are relatively cheap as of June 2024: cars here run mostly on Diesel (1,39€/L) or Gasoline 95 (1,44€/L).
For electric cars, charging stations are spreading in São Miguel island, as well as other islands. Check here the charging stations in the Azores.
Parking
In cities like Ponta Delgada, most parking spaces are not free. Make sure you pay at the machine before leaving the car park, otherwise you will come back to a fine. Enter the plate number and put coins in the machine. It will then tell you how long you can stay. At the end, put the paper visible on the dashboard.
The fine is not very expensive, but it costs less to just pay for the time you will leave the car as it is around 0.60 euros per hour. The metered parking lots are free after 7pm, on Saturday afternoon and Sunday.
Always park on a proper parking space, otherwise there is a higher fine if you are blocking a gate, or parked on top of a side walk for instance. You can even get your car towed.
There are also some underground parking lots. But if you want free parking, you will need to go outside the city center. In most villages on all 9 islands, parking is free.
Outside the cities, sometimes, parking spaces at popular locations like viewpoints can get crowded, mostly in the summer. People may park on the side of the roads nearby, but we do not recommend doing so. Be mindful about the surroundings, do not block entrances to the fields as farmers need to have access to them.
Video – Driving in the Azores
Conclusion
We hope you have all the keys in hand to feel confident to rent a car and drive the scenic roads of the Azores islands.
Renting your own car is ideal if you are planning on staying several days on the same island. It is more economic than the taxi and faster than the bus. Going on guided tours can also be a great option if you do not fancy driving in a foreign country. Go see our van tours for extraordinary adventures in the Azores.
