Last updated: 4 November 2026

There is no passenger ferry from mainland Portugal to the Azores, but you can still arrive by sea. 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, Atlânticoline ferries link the islands.

Why there is no ferry from the mainland

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 Leixões, but they are cargo services.

Option 1: a cruise that calls at the Azores

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 São Miguel the busiest port, followed by Praia da Vitória on Terceira and Horta on Faial. A typical call lasts one day.

For a one-way crossing that ends in Europe, see our guide to repositioning cruises from the UK.

Watch: the Faial–Pico ferry crossing

Option 2: a small-ship cruise around the islands

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 São Jorge, Graciosa and Terceira, from about £4,578 per person. Expedition lines such as Hapag-Lloyd and Ponant also run Azores itineraries.

Option 3: sail in on your own yacht

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’s name on the marina walls for luck, turning the harbour into one of the most colourful in the world. Peter Café Sport by the harbour is the traditional meeting point.

Getting between the islands: Atlânticoline ferries

Atlânticoline is the Azores’ only passenger ferry operator in 2026. It runs a year-round service in the central group and seasonal routes in spring and summer.

Fares are low: Flores to Corvo costs €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 Açores.

Watch: island hopping by ferry in autumn

What to see in the Azores

• Sete Cidades: twin crater lakes on São Miguel
• Mount Pico: Portugal’s highest mountain at 2,351 metres
• Whale watching: sperm whales all year; blue whales in spring
• Angra do Heroísmo: a UNESCO World Heritage town on Terceira
• Furnas: hot springs and stew cooked in volcanic ground

Best time to go

Tips

1. Plan by island group: ferries work well within the central group, less well between groups.
2. Book summer ferries early if you take a car.
3. Keep flexible: Atlantic weather can cancel crossings.
4. Bring seasickness remedies for longer crossings; see our Guide sur le mal de mer.

Foire aux questions

Sources: Atlânticoline 2026 schedules and fares; Azores.com ferry guide; Azores ports cruise data 2024; Sea Cloud Cruises 2026 itinerary via Mundy Cruising. Checked November 2026.