{"id":100573,"date":"2026-11-04T13:57:48","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T13:57:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/?p=100573"},"modified":"2026-11-04T13:57:51","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T13:57:51","slug":"azores-by-sea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/azores-by-sea","title":{"rendered":"How to Get to the Azores by Sea: Ferries, Cruises &#038; Yachts (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"<head><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\n    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n    \"@graph\": [\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"BlogPosting\",\n            \"headline\": \"How to Get to the Azores by Sea: Ferries, Cruises & Yachts (2026)\",\n            \"description\": \"How to get to the Azores by sea in 2026: why there is no ferry from Lisbon, cruise ports, small-ship cruises, yachts at Horta and Atl&acirc;nticoline inter-island ferries.\",\n            \"mainEntityOfPage\": \"https:\\\/\\\/cargoholidays.com\\\/azores-by-sea\",\n            \"image\": \"https:\\\/\\\/cargoholidays.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/11\\\/azores-by-sea-cargoholidays.jpg\",\n            \"datePublished\": \"2026-11-04\",\n            \"dateModified\": \"2026-11-04\",\n            \"inLanguage\": \"en-GB\",\n            \"author\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n                \"name\": \"CargoHolidays\"\n            },\n            \"publisher\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n                \"name\": \"CargoHolidays\",\n                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/cargoholidays.com\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n            \"mainEntity\": [\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"Is there a ferry from Lisbon to the Azores?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"No. There is no passenger ferry from mainland Portugal to the Azores in 2026. Visitors fly, arrive on a cruise ship, or sail their own yacht.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"How far are the Azores from Portugal?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"About 1,500 km (around 950 miles) west of Lisbon, in the middle of the North Atlantic.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"Can you take a ferry between the Azores islands?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Yes. Atl&acirc;nticoline runs inter-island ferries. The Horta&ndash;Madalena crossing between Faial and Pico runs several times a day, all year, in about 30 minutes; longer routes are mostly seasonal.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"Which cruise ships stop in the Azores?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Many transatlantic and repositioning cruises call at Ponta Delgada, Horta and Praia da Vit&oacute;ria, especially in spring and autumn. Small ships also sail week-long round trips from Ponta Delgada.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"Can you take a car to the Azores?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Not as a passenger with your car. Vehicles can be shipped as freight from mainland Portugal; within the islands, some Atl&acirc;nticoline ferries carry cars.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"When is the best time to visit the Azores by sea?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"May to September for calmer seas, seasonal ferries and whale watching. Spring and autumn bring most transatlantic cruise calls.\"\n                    }\n                }\n            ]\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"VideoObject\",\n            \"name\": \"Ferry in the Azores from Horta (Faial) to Madalena (Pico)\",\n            \"description\": \"The 30-minute ferry crossing between Faial and Pico.\",\n            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/i.ytimg.com\\\/vi\\\/Ul6XfhyF0fo\\\/hqdefault.jpg\",\n            \"embedUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\\\/embed\\\/Ul6XfhyF0fo\",\n            \"uploadDate\": \"2025-02-23\"\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"VideoObject\",\n            \"name\": \"From Horta to Madalena by ferry &ndash; Azores in autumn\",\n            \"description\": \"Atl&acirc;nticoline ferry between Faial and Pico in autumn.\",\n            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/i.ytimg.com\\\/vi\\\/eYjnSPexQAY\\\/hqdefault.jpg\",\n            \"embedUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\\\/embed\\\/eYjnSPexQAY\",\n            \"uploadDate\": \"2022-12-21\"\n        }\n    ]\n}<\/script>\n<\/head><div class=\"ch-post\"><p class=\"ch-updated\">Last updated: 4 November 2026<\/p>\n<p><strong>There is no passenger ferry from mainland Portugal to the Azores, but you can still arrive by sea.<\/strong> The islands sit about 1,500 km west of Lisbon, and most visitors fly. If you want the sea journey, your options are a transatlantic or island cruise, a small sailing ship, or your own yacht via Horta, one of the most famous marinas in the Atlantic. Once there, Atl&acirc;nticoline ferries link the islands.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ch-key\"><strong>Quick answer<\/strong><ul><li>From Lisbon: no ferry; fly, cruise or sail<\/li><li>By cruise: Ponta Delgada, Horta and Praia da Vit&oacute;ria are the main ports<\/li><li>Between islands: Atl&acirc;nticoline ferries; Horta&ndash;Madalena in 30 minutes<\/li><li>Best season: May to September<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<h2>Why there is no ferry from the mainland<\/h2>\n<p>The Azores are nine volcanic islands in the middle of the North Atlantic, spread over about 600 km. A crossing from Lisbon would take well over two days, and with frequent, cheap flights there is not enough demand for a passenger ferry. Freight still goes by sea: container and ro-ro ships supply the islands from Lisbon and Leix&otilde;es, but they are cargo services.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"margin:1.6em 0\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/azores-by-sea-infographic-cargoholidays.jpg\" alt=\"Infographic of the ways to reach and travel around the Azores by sea\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:12px;display:block\" title=\"Infographic of the ways to reach and travel around the Azores by sea\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:.85em;color:#6b7280;margin-top:.45em;text-align:center\">Four ways to travel the Azores by sea.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Option 1: a cruise that calls at the Azores<\/h2>\n<p>The Azores are a classic stop on transatlantic crossings between the Caribbean or North America and Europe, especially on spring and autumn repositioning cruises. In 2024 around 200 cruise calls were expected, with Ponta Delgada on S&atilde;o Miguel the busiest port, followed by Praia da Vit&oacute;ria on Terceira and Horta on Faial. A typical call lasts one day.<\/p>\n<p>For a one-way crossing that ends in Europe, see our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/repositionierungskreuzfahrten\/\">repositioning cruises from the UK<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"margin:1.6em 0\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/AdobeStock_411418047-1024x682.jpeg\" alt=\"Pod of dolphins swimming in deep blue Atlantic water\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:12px;display:block\" title=\"Pod of dolphins swimming in deep blue Atlantic water\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:.85em;color:#6b7280;margin-top:.45em;text-align:center\">Dolphins and whales are often seen on the approach to the Azores.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Watch: the Faial&ndash;Pico ferry crossing<\/h3>\n<div class=\"ch-video\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/Ul6XfhyF0fo\" title=\"Ferry in the Azores from Horta (Faial) to Madalena (Pico)\" loading=\"lazy\" allow=\"accelerometer; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n<h2>Option 2: a small-ship cruise around the islands<\/h2>\n<p>Several small ships sail round trips from Ponta Delgada. Sea Cloud Spirit, a modern tall ship, runs 7-night voyages in summer 2026 calling at Horta, Velas on S&atilde;o Jorge, Graciosa and Terceira, from about &pound;4,578 per person. Expedition lines such as Hapag-Lloyd and Ponant also run Azores itineraries.<\/p>\n<h2>Option 3: sail in on your own yacht<\/h2>\n<p>Almost every yacht crossing the Atlantic from the Caribbean to Europe stops at Horta on Faial, usually in May and June. Crews paint their boat&rsquo;s name on the marina walls for luck, turning the harbour into one of the most colourful in the world. Peter Caf&eacute; Sport by the harbour is the traditional meeting point.<\/p>\n<h2>Getting between the islands: Atl&acirc;nticoline ferries<\/h2>\n<p>Atl&acirc;nticoline is the Azores&rsquo; only passenger ferry operator in 2026. It runs a year-round service in the central group and seasonal routes in spring and summer.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ch-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Route<\/th><th>Zeit<\/th><th>Frequency<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Horta (Faial) &#8644; Madalena (Pico)<\/td><td>About 30 min<\/td><td>Several daily, all year<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Madalena &#8644; Calheta (S&atilde;o Jorge)<\/td><td>About 1 h 45 min<\/td><td>Seasonal, a few times a week<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Horta &#8644; Angra do Hero&iacute;smo (Terceira)<\/td><td>About 6 hours<\/td><td>Seasonal<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Flores &#8644; Corvo<\/td><td>About 40 min<\/td><td>Most of the year, weather permitting<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n<p>Fares are low: Flores to Corvo costs &euro;16.30 one way for non-residents in 2026, with discounts for children and over-65s. To move between the eastern, central and western groups you will usually need to fly with SATA Air A&ccedil;ores.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"margin:1.6em 0\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/azores-by-sea-islands-infographic-cargoholidays.jpg\" alt=\"Infographic of the Azores island groups and sea links between them\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:12px;display:block\" title=\"Infographic of the Azores island groups and sea links between them\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:.85em;color:#6b7280;margin-top:.45em;text-align:center\">The central group has the best ferry links.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure style=\"margin:1.6em 0\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/AdobeStock_344566703-1024x483.jpeg\" alt=\"Container ship docked at a port at sunset\" width=\"1024\" height=\"483\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:12px;display:block\" title=\"Container ship docked at a port at sunset\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:.85em;color:#6b7280;margin-top:.45em;text-align:center\">Freight ships from Lisbon keep the islands supplied.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Watch: island hopping by ferry in autumn<\/h3>\n<div class=\"ch-video\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/eYjnSPexQAY\" title=\"From Horta to Madalena by ferry &ndash; Azores in autumn\" loading=\"lazy\" allow=\"accelerometer; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n<h2>What to see in the Azores<\/h2><ul><li><strong>Sete Cidades:<\/strong> twin crater lakes on S&atilde;o Miguel<\/li><li><strong>Mount Pico:<\/strong> Portugal&rsquo;s highest mountain at 2,351 metres<\/li><li><strong>Whale watching:<\/strong> sperm whales all year; blue whales in spring<\/li><li><strong>Angra do Hero&iacute;smo:<\/strong> a UNESCO World Heritage town on Terceira<\/li><li><strong>Furnas:<\/strong> hot springs and stew cooked in volcanic ground<\/li><\/ul>\n<h2>Beste Reisezeit<\/h2><div class=\"ch-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Months<\/th><th>At sea<\/th><th>On land<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Apr&ndash;May<\/td><td>Spring cruise calls, yacht arrivals<\/td><td>Hydrangeas start, blue whales pass<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Jun&ndash;Sep<\/td><td>Calmest seas, full ferry timetable<\/td><td>Warmest, busiest<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Oct&ndash;Nov<\/td><td>Autumn transatlantic cruises<\/td><td>Quieter, mild<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Dec&ndash;Mar<\/td><td>Rough seas, limited ferries<\/td><td>Cheapest, rainy<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n<h2>Tips<\/h2><ol><li><strong>Plan by island group:<\/strong> ferries work well within the central group, less well between groups.<\/li><li><strong>Book summer ferries early<\/strong> if you take a car.<\/li><li><strong>Keep flexible:<\/strong> Atlantic weather can cancel crossings.<\/li><li><strong>Bring seasickness remedies<\/strong> for longer crossings; see our <a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/seasickness-on-a-cargo-ship\/\">seasickness guide<\/a>.<\/li><\/ol>\n<h2>H\u00e4ufig gestellte Fragen<\/h2><div class=\"ch-faq\"><h3>Is there a ferry from Lisbon to the Azores?<\/h3><p>No. There is no passenger ferry from mainland Portugal to the Azores in 2026. Visitors fly, arrive on a cruise ship, or sail their own yacht.<\/p><h3>How far are the Azores from Portugal?<\/h3><p>About 1,500 km (around 950 miles) west of Lisbon, in the middle of the North Atlantic.<\/p><h3>Can you take a ferry between the Azores islands?<\/h3><p>Yes. Atl&acirc;nticoline runs inter-island ferries. The Horta&ndash;Madalena crossing between Faial and Pico runs several times a day, all year, in about 30 minutes; longer routes are mostly seasonal.<\/p><h3>Which cruise ships stop in the Azores?<\/h3><p>Many transatlantic and repositioning cruises call at Ponta Delgada, Horta and Praia da Vit&oacute;ria, especially in spring and autumn. Small ships also sail week-long round trips from Ponta Delgada.<\/p><h3>Can you take a car to the Azores?<\/h3><p>Not as a passenger with your car. Vehicles can be shipped as freight from mainland Portugal; within the islands, some Atl&acirc;nticoline ferries carry cars.<\/p><h3>When is the best time to visit the Azores by sea?<\/h3><p>May to September for calmer seas, seasonal ferries and whale watching. Spring and autumn bring most transatlantic cruise calls.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ch-related\"><strong>Verwandte Anleitungen<\/strong><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/uk-to-portugal-by-boat\/\">UK to Portugal by boat<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/uk-to-canary-islands-by-boat\/\">Mit dem Schiff von Gro\u00dfbritannien auf die Kanarischen Inseln<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/repositionierungskreuzfahrten\/\">Repositioning cruises<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wie-lange-dauert-die-uberquerung-des-atlantiks-mit-dem-schiff\/\">How long to cross the Atlantic by ship<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<div class=\"ch-cta\"><strong>Mit einem Frachtschiff den Atlantik \u00fcberqueren<\/strong><p>Prefer a working freighter to a cruise? Tell us your month and we&rsquo;ll check passenger cabins across the Atlantic.<\/p><a class=\"ch-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/anfrage-fur-eine-frachtschiffreise\/\">Angebot f\u00fcr eine Reise anfordern \u2192<\/a><\/div>\n<p class=\"ch-sources\"><em>Sources: Atl&acirc;nticoline 2026 schedules and fares; Azores.com ferry guide; Azores ports cruise data 2024; Sea Cloud Cruises 2026 itinerary via Mundy Cruising. Checked November 2026.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<style>\n.ch-post{font-family:inherit;line-height:1.7;color:#1f2937;max-width:820px;margin:0 auto}\n.ch-post h2{font-size:1.6em;margin:1.8em 0 .6em;color:#0b2545;border-bottom:3px solid #f5a623;padding-bottom:.25em}\n.ch-post h3{font-size:1.15em;margin:1.4em 0 .3em;color:#0b2545}\n.ch-post p{margin:0 0 1em}\n.ch-post ul,.ch-post ol{margin:0 0 1.2em 1.3em}\n.ch-post li{margin:.35em 0}\n.ch-post .ch-updated{font-size:.9em;color:#6b7280;margin-bottom:1.2em}\n.ch-post .ch-key{background:#fff7e8;border-left:5px solid #f5a623;border-radius:10px;padding:1em 1.3em;margin:1.4em 0}\n.ch-post .ch-key strong{color:#0b2545;font-size:1.1em}\n.ch-post .ch-key ul{margin:.5em 0 0 1.2em}\n.ch-post .ch-table{overflow-x:auto;margin:1.2em 0 1.6em}\n.ch-post table{border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;font-size:.95em}\n.ch-post th{background:#0b2545;color:#fff;text-align:left;padding:.65em .8em}\n.ch-post td{padding:.6em .8em;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;vertical-align:top}\n.ch-post tr:nth-child(even) td{background:#f6f8fb}\n.ch-post .ch-video{position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;border-radius:12px;margin:1em 0 1.8em;background:#0b2545}\n.ch-post .ch-video iframe{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0}\n.ch-post .ch-faq{background:#f6f8fb;border-radius:12px;padding:1em 1.4em;margin:1em 0 2em}\n.ch-post .ch-faq h3{margin-top:1em}\n.ch-post .ch-related{border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-radius:12px;padding:1em 1.4em;margin:1.5em 0}\n.ch-post .ch-related strong{color:#0b2545}\n.ch-post .ch-cta{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#0b2545,#13315c);color:#fff;border-radius:14px;padding:1.6em 1.8em;margin:2.2em 0;text-align:center}\n.ch-post .ch-cta strong{display:block;font-size:1.35em;margin-bottom:.4em;color:#fff}\n.ch-post .ch-cta p{color:#dbe4f0;margin:.2em 0 1.1em}\n.ch-post .ch-btn{display:inline-block;background:#f5a623;color:#0b2545 !important;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;padding:.8em 1.6em;border-radius:999px}\n.ch-post .ch-btn:hover{background:#ffbb45}\n.ch-post .ch-sources{font-size:.85em}\n.ch-post em{color:#4b5563}\n<\/style>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>No ferry runs from Lisbon to the Azores, but you can arrive by cruise or yacht and island-hop by ferry.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":100570,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"single3.php","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[356,357],"tags":[1957,1956,1958,1553,1959,1785],"yst_prominent_words":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100573"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=100573"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100573\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":100574,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100573\/revisions\/100574"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/100570"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=100573"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=100573"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=100573"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=100573"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}