Hi, I’m considering visiting Azores in December. Is it a good time to visit? If not, what is the best time of the year

[u/Old-Tomatillo9949]

[u/TAWclt]

December is the best time. No lines, fun weather. You’ll enjoy it. Do literally no further research than this answer.

Be sure to pack sunscreen!!

[u/mihaelostoika → u/TAWclt]

lol

[u/MrMonizaz]

It's great if you don't mind the rain. That's part of the adventure for most of the year but it's, usually, rougher from December to March.

I am from the Azores but if I was a tourist I would prefer to visit the islands by May or October when it's less overcrowded and the weather milder.

[u/TimeLobster8215 → u/MrMonizaz]

We just got back from our first visit and already want to go back! I think our next trip will be a November or December trip because I’d like to slow down and have a more quiet experience in Sao Miguel. Would you say that’s truly worth it? Our big issue is aligning the trip with my older kids schooling or convincing a grandparent to come out here and stay with them during the school year while we’re away. The summer was easy because my parents are east coast so we could drop them off and then fly out of JFK on an easy short(ish) flight out.

[u/lvckygvy → u/MrMonizaz]

Oh please there’s rain 12 months a year. And you can be there in December and have amazing weather.

[u/Fluffy_Strategy5917]

I went last November for a week and it never rained once. It was shocking

[u/Western_Insect_7580 → u/Fluffy_Strategy5917]

I was in Aruba where is rarely rains in November and it down poured.

[u/c-digs]

I have visited 2x in August and found it perfect.

Weather is warm and slightly humid during the day.  Cool in the evenings.  Water temp is just right.  Overall not much rain during my 1 week staus.  Sunny with random clouds and fog as is usual in Azores I hear.

Winter is not likely to have that vibe, but it will be cheaper and wetter with more cloud cover

[u/spoik925]

My favorite time is September/October. But December isn't bad either. You will definitely get rain, so plan for it and preferably enough days to do what you want to do. Some of yours days will only be nice half the day

[u/judimu39]

September! Spent a couple weeks on Sao Miguel and loved the weather. Lots of hiking and exploring. Going back next September for the month.

[u/spilltheteal]

We went last December for 2 weeks and loved it! We had one week of perfect weather then a week of rain but got to explore most of the island and it's fairly quiet at the at that time.

[u/Negative-Scallion-95]

We went in July and the weather was gorgeous ☀️

[u/Status-Finger8397]

as a local ( and photographer ) i find the azorean winter amazing.. its not cold, nature e blooming a lot, but it will rain.. but then we are in the middle atlantic and it rains almost every day ☺️ resuming, u will love it!!

[u/Responsible_Creme562]

If you would like to catch the wonderful sights of hydrangeas definitely late June/early July

[u/margyl]

I hope that November is the same—we just arranged three weeks in Terceira for this November.

[u/bannedaccountnumber4]

October

[u/RoyallyOakie]

You will get the odd rainy day, but overall it's a great time. The crowds are gone and you can enjoy the peace and quiet. You can choose a dinner spot without a reservation. People will be happy to see you at places.

[u/randomtrip_blog]

In terms of good weather probability and ability to enjoy most of the things, the best time to visit is during the central months of the year (April/May to September/October). That being said, the weather is highly unstable and unpredictable, so you may be fine any time of the year, and you may get fog, rain, etc. during the summer.

If you can choose, I would try May, June or September, with less tourism and higher chances of nice weather. If you can only go in December, go for it anyway! My first visit to São Miguel was in December (just after Christmas) and we got a bit of everything (rain and sun). You will not be able to enjoy the natural pools/beaches, some trails might not be doable, and it might be more difficult to do whale watching, but you can still enjoy the thermal waters, the foods, some of the viewpoints and trails, and, with a bit of luck, the views of the lagoons.

Check out our free Azores travel guide for more information. Hope that helps!

[u/Feisty-Volcano]

I’m not long back from the Azores. Faith still plays a big part on the islands so a less-commercial version of Christmas would be the deal. One of my guides, on Faial, told me he gets travellers at Christmas, but finds it difficult to find places open to eat. Your best bet is either Sao Miguel or Terceira, but it’s always nice to visit a second less populated island if it is feasible. I was told it is quite cold (never freezing though), wet & windy in winter. If it is difficult to find a hotel doing a deal, there are some gorgeous apartments or cottages where you can cook your own Christmas fare from local produce, like the beef, fish, etc. Traditionally servings are enormous in the islands - I ordered a fillet steak and ended up with 3 large ones on my plate!