The Azores are an archipelago of nine islands located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The Azorean islands are distanced from each other and the only way to travel between the islands is by boat or plane. If you are visiting the Azores and want to explore more than one island, it is important to keep this in mind.

By air, you can travel from one island to any other island, but this is not the case for boat trips, as ferry connections are not available for all islands. But don't worry, in this article, you will learn how to travel between the islands, what connections exist, and how to purchase boat or plane tickets that will allow you to travel to all islands.

To visit more than one island, it is important to plan ahead, especially if you are visiting during the summer period. The influx during this time is high, and this may affect the possibility of unplanned trips.

Don't be tempted to visit more than one island if your trip is less than three or four days. To explore the islands, even the smallest ones, you need time. As time is limited, you won't want to waste part of your two or three-day trip at airport or ferry terminals. That being said, let's see how to travel between the islands.

Traveling by plane

Photo by Aero Icarus from Zürich

By plane, you are guaranteed to be able to travel between all the islands, and only by plane can you travel, for example, from the island of Santa Maria on the easternmost part of the archipelago to the islands of Flores or Corvo on the westernmost part. The plane is also the fastest way to jump between the islands. In direct domestic connections, flights are very short, but in some situations, it may be necessary to make a stopover on one or more islands before reaching the final destination. Sata Air Açores is the company that operates inter-island flights throughout the year.

Inter-island flight schedules and prices

All the islands are connected by air, with several flights per day between the islands. Routes, schedules, and prices vary mainly depending on the routes. To obtain dynamic and real-time schedules and prices, use one of the methods indicated below.

• In our dedicated flights section, where you can search for flights in the Azores and flights to the Azores.
• Directly on the airline's website.
• At a travel agency.

Traveling by Boat

Inter-island ferry connections are provided by the company Atlânticoline, but as previously mentioned, it's important to be aware that there is no maritime connection between all islands. Despite this limitation, this service is very convenient for traveling between the islands of the central group where there are more connections. In addition to being more cost-effective than air travel, it's also possible to transport vehicles. If you haven't booked your car rental yet, we recommend that you do so as soon as possible. We suggest comparing prices here.

To purchase your ferry  tickets, you can use the following methods:

• Directferry - where you can compare schedules and fares.
• On the Atlanticoline website or offices
• In a RIAC store in the Azores

Currently, Atlânticoline operates in the Central and Western group of islands. The islands of São Miguel and Santa Maria, the eastern group, have no ferry connection between them or with other islands. The connections are organized into 6 lines that correspond to 6 different routes.

Below you can find information on the lines and the respective Atlânticoline 2023 schedules. Click on the dates of each line to view the schedules.