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Terceira Island is a volcanic island in the Azores archipelago. It is located in the Atlantic Ocean about 950 mi (1500 km) west of mainland Portugal. The Azores are an independent region in Portugal.
We visited Terceira in October 2023 and absolutely loved our trip! Mountainous terrain, gorgeous patchwork pastures, lush greenery, stunning coastline, fun water activities, hydrangeas galore, welcoming people, and delicious food, coffee, and pastries?
Yes, please!
Seriously, we couldn’t believe that such a place exists on this planet. What a treat it was to visit!
This post will give you an intro to Terceira Island, tell you why we think you should consider visiting, and give you pointers on planning a trip. It links out to more detailed info.
Terceira Island overview
Terceira is part of the Azores Islands in Portugal. The official language is Portuguese. The currency is the Euro.
We found that English was commonly spoken in touristy areas. However, knowing a little Portuguese was helpful for us in some situations.
The island has a varied topography because of its volcanic history. Much of the settlement is around the outer perimeter. The interior hillier region was wilder and full of pastures.

Patchwork pastures were seemingly everywhere. They are separated by small rock walls and filled with very happy-looking cows. Seeing cows in small pastures trailing off to an oceanside cliff was an amazing view.
Because of this pasture land cheese, butter, and beef products are abundant and delicious. There is some great seafood as well, but don’t skip the beef and dairy if they’re part of your diet!
Like São Miguel, hydrangeas are very popular on Terceira!
Map of Terceira Island and attractions
Here is a Terceira map with several attractions and notable locations labeled
How to get to Terceira Island?
In 2023, no ferry boats were serving Terceira. So flying was the only option. As of the time of writing (November 2023) there are flights to Terceira Island from places like Boston, New York, Oakland, Montreal, and Toronto in North America. Lisbon and Porto have direct flights from mainland Portugal. Connections to other islands in the Azores are also common.
The Terceira airport, called Aerogare Civil das Lajes, is in the northeast part of the island. Several car rental agencies are available at the airport.
Getting around on Terceira and other logistics
The options we saw for getting around included taxis, a bus system, and car rentals. We chose to rent a car and don’t have personal insight into the other options.
Our car rental was from Angrauto. Their reviews and prices were reasonable. The Citroën they provided was in good shape but was a little underpowered for some of the Island’s hills. It was a good experience otherwise.
Renting a car was the right option for us as it gave us the flexibility to visit attractions that may not be served by transit. We could also be flexible with plans when unexpected rain popped up (and it did nearly every day).
My bias is towards avoiding rental cars whenever practical. In this case, I was happy that we had the car as destinations are spread out through the island. The flexibility and ease of carrying our gear for the day were big wins.
Driving in Terceira Island
Driving in Terceira was pretty reasonable for us. You should be aware of a few things.
Most rental cars have manual transmissions. We saw some automatics available for a significant premium.
People drive on the right side of the road. Traffic circles are ubiquitous. We even passed two herds of cows moving pastures on the road near traffic circles! The second herd handled it better than many Boston drivers I’ve seen.

Some quite steep roads will test your proficiency. There are some narrow roads in places.
We were impressed with how plentiful parking was on the island. There were ample street spots and good parking areas at most attractions. Downtown Angra do Heroísmo was the only place we had to pay to park.
Public transit in Terceira
We didn’t use public transit and can’t speak directly to it. However, we did see bus stops that locals appeared to be using. So it could be worth researching to see if it meets your needs and plans.
Banks and getting cash
Many businesses accept card and contactless payments, making paying simple. Sometimes cash is still required, though.
There were many banks with ATMs throughout the island. I’d recommend staying away from Euronet ATMs as they charge huge fees.
Otherwise, we had no issues with various others like Multibanco and CTT. Tip Our bank gave us much better currency conversion rates than the ATM. We could choose “decline conversion” or “continue without conversion” to perform the transaction in Euros and let our bank do the conversion. An example difference was being charged $107 vs. $120.
Things to do in Terceira Island
An overarching theme to our Terceira trip was admiring nature and the green beauty of the island. Adding rich culture, history, and food rounds out a fantastic trip.
Here are some of the things you can do in Terceira. Our Terceira activities page has much more detail.
See the many miradouros
The island has a variety of well-marked, stunning miradouros (viewpoints). You’ll find many on Google Maps.
Miradouro da Serra do Cume is one of the most famous for sweeping views of the island and its pastures.
Monte Brasil is the remains of a volcano at the south end of Angra do Heroísmo. It provides stunning views with several viewpoints.
Miradouro da Cruz do Canario gives lovely views of the coast and the pretty Ilhéus das Cabras.

Lastly, the Baías da Agualva trail – PR2TER was one of the most beautiful hikes we’ve ever done! The areas around Ponta do mistério and the neighboring outlooks were incredible!
Go hiking
There are so many gorgeous places for beautiful hikes and walks on Terceira. Visit Azores has a list and map of some of the trails. You can find others on Google Maps, AllTrails, and other resources.
Baías da Agualva trail – PR2TER was one of the most beautiful hikes we’ve ever done! Fairytale-like paths through brush alongside pastures lead to breathtaking oceanside cliffs. Just wow.

The trail around Furnas do Enxofre gave pretty views of the caldeiras and surrounding landscapes.
Rocha do Chambre is a famous trail. It can collect large puddles and mud after rain. So waterproof shoes are a must around wet weather.
Read Terceira hiking info on our activities post.
Visit Angra do Heroísmo – UNESCO World Heritage Site
Angra do Heroísmo is one of the oldest cities in the Azores and a past capital of the Azores. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You’ll find a quaint downtown with pretty Portuguese pavement (calçada portuguesa – small white and black stones arranged in artistic patterns), parks, a beach, and gorgeous views from Monte do Brasil.
See lava tubes and caves
The volcanic origins of the Azores and Terceira are visible by visiting two extremely accessible caves Algar do Carvão and Gruta do Natal.
Algar do Carvão is a 300 ft (90 m) deep lava tube. It opens to the air with a pretty green shaft. Stairs lead down to explore the cavern that ends in a lagoon.

Gruta do Natal is a cave system where you can see lava flows and the unique formations they caused.
Read more about Algar do Carvão and Gruta do Natal on our activities page.
Play in the water and beaches
Terceira has multiple natural swimming areas. You’ll see these called “piscinas naturais” (natural pools) on maps. You’ll also see “zona balnear” on maps and street signs designating bathing areas.
Piscinas Naturais Biscoitos are a beautiful set of natural pools with some infrastructure like umbrellas and stairs. You can swim among the black lava rock! Plentiful fish make for good snorkeling and diving too.

Piscinas Naturais de Porto Martins were also quite pretty! We didn’t swim there on our visit but enjoyed a walk around the area.
Go snorkeling and diving
Many options for snorkeling and diving exist on Terceira. The ocean was rough during our trip so we only got one dive in. Explore Terceira has a great guide to snorkeling and diving areas.
We did a boat dive with Octopus Diving Center. Alex and João were excellent divemasters. Our dive briefing was thorough and they were attentive while underwater. I saw my first eels and wild octopus on this dive! I’d recommend checking them out.
Go whale watching
The Azores are an important path in the migration of whales and other marine mammals. Opportunities abound to go whale watching.
You’ll find many providers on sites like TripAdvisor, Viator, and GetYourGuide.
Terceira Island cuisine
We absolutely loved the food in Terceira! Beef and dairy are prevalent in the cuisine due to the large number of cattle. And wow, are they delicious! The beef was among the best tasting we’ve ever had! Amie is still talking about the bolognese we made.
The range of cheeses, butter, and ice creams was amazing as well.
Chicken, sausage, seafood, garlic, bread, and pastries were also prevalent in the cuisine we found on Terceira. Salads, rice, olives, potatoes, and beans show up frequently. Garlic also had a large presence.
Here are some specific things that we loved and think you should consider. Check out our Terceira food deep dive for more detail!
Up for a food or wine tour? Check out a food tour of the island to get a great intro to the cuisine! If you want a truly local experience, you can even try dining with a local family! Is wine your passion? Check out a guided wine tour of Azorean wine!
Alcatra – Terceira’s delicious beef stew
Alcatra is a Terceira signature dish of stewed beef. Many places offer it. Because it is intensive to cook, the dish may not be available every day. It’s worth checking with the restaurant beforehand to see if they’ll have it.
Seafood
Seafood is also rich and delicious on the island. Grilled and garlicky or lightly fried were two common preparations. Lapas grelhadas (grilled limpets) smothered in garlic, butter, and lemon are another Azorean specialty.
Tip Many Portuguese fish dishes contain some bones. So take care when eating.

Qeuijadas da Dona Amélia spiced cakes
Qeuijadas da Dona Amélia spiced cakes are a signature dessert on Terceira. They are small moist cakes (queijadas) seasoned with warm spices and dusted with powdered sugar. You’ll find them in many pastelarias and cafes. Delish!
Pastries
We found many delicious pastries in Terceira, as in the rest of Portugal. In addition to Qeuijadas da Dona Amélia, we loved turnovers with marmelada (Portuguese marmalade), croissants, and more.
Cream, passion fruit (maracujá), pineapple (ananas), strawberry (morango), and apple (maçã) are common fillings.
Bread
The Portuguese legacy of delicious fresh bread is alive in Terceira. We found a great variety of fresh breads all around.
Bolos lêvedos (yeast cakes) were a special treat we discovered in the Azores. They look like large English muffins but have a caky crumb and are slightly sweet.
They’re great on their own with coffee or tea, with fruit preserves (like pineapple or marmelada), with local cheese or butter, and great for a sandwich!
Cheese
The Azores are famous for cheese. After trying some, I see why! Queijo Vaquinha is the signature buttery cheese of Terceira. Stop by their shop and cafe for delicious food and great views!
We sampled a variety of delicious cheeses ranging from hard to soft and spicy or ripened to creamy and buttery. The guide at Cheese Professor was a helpful intro.
Coffee
As in all of Portugal, coffee is everywhere and delicious! It felt like every bar, restaurant, and little hut in the park had an espresso machine and grinder, and knew how to use them! How great!
Check out our intro to Portuguese coffee if you’d like a primer.

Other drinks
Amie loved sangrias with fresh fruit and caipirinhas. We’re not big wine drinkers, so we don’t have advice for you there.
Where to stay on Terceira Island?
The majority of the towns are around the perimeter of the island. I’ll give you a few specific suggestions below and then point you at some resources.
Quintinha da Chinela in Porto Judeu – Where we stayed
Quintinha da Chinela is a house right on the southern coast in Porto Judeu. The view is stunning! There’s a miradouro next door and lovely islands across the water.
We found the stay to be very comfortable. The WiFi was good for working. The location was great with a car and had easy parking. We had everything we needed to cook when desired. And having laundry was awesome! The host was responsive and kind.
The biggest downside was that payment was in cash. I don’t know if that’s still the case.
Learn more or book your stay now on Agoda!
Azoris Angra Garden in Angra do Heroismo
Azoris Angra Garden is an upscale hotel right in downtown Angra! It includes breakfast, a pool, and a spa. You’ll be within walking distance of many attractions in Angra!
Guests like the amenities, welcoming staff, being centrally located, and breakfast!
Learn more or book your stay now on Agoda or Hotels.com!
Be surrounded by nature at Caparica Azores Ecolodge near Biscoitos
Caparica Azores Ecolodge is a unique property surrounded by gorgeous grounds. Guests said they loved being surrounded by nature’s greenery and hearing birds! Enjoy the outdoor pool and the breakfast that guests loved. Then explore the rest of the island.
Guests loved the unique stay and being so close to nature. Some of the rooms are treehouses! Note that it does sound like some outdoor walking is necessary
Learn more or book your stay now on Hotels.com!
Finding other places to stay
In Europe in general, I’ve found sites like Agoda, VRBO, and Booking.com tend to have some private residences and smaller places listed like I’d find on Airbnb. So it’s worth checking those out in my opinion. Also, I recommend checking a more classic booking site like Hotels.com as they tend to have some options not listed on Agoda.
Consider where you plan to spend your time on the island. Choosing a place nearby can help minimize driving. Though, the drives are gorgeous, sometimes filled with cows, and often filled with hydrangeas! Also consider if you’ll need things like parking, elevators, easy walking, etc. when booking.
Questions
Where is Terceira Island?
The Azores Terceira Island is a volcanic island in the Azores archipelago. It is located in the Atlantic Ocean about 950 mi (1500 km) west of mainland Portugal.
How big is Terceira Island?
Terceira Island Portugal is about 400 km2 (155 sq mi) in area. We found that we were never more than 45-50 min driving from anywhere on the island. That made for easy day trips to explore!
How to pronounce Terceira?
I heard a few variations of the Terceira pronunciation. The Portuguese say something like “tur-‘seye-ruh”. We heard several English-speaking folks say “tare-see-‘air-uh”.
Is Terceira worth visiting?
For us, the answer is absolutely! We preferred Terceira over São Miguel for its beauty, ubiquitous pastures, and slower pace. We’re already talking about a return visit.
The rest of this post should give you an idea if Terceira offers what you’re looking for.
Wrapping up
We absolutely loved Terceira and are already talking about return visits. Writing this post was a great way to relive the magic!
Are you ready to plan a trip to this green gem in the Atlantic? Have you visited? Tell us below!
Disclaimer: I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you when you make purchases via links on this site. Thanks for supporting me in creating content like this! See the privacy policy.