Winter
Dec → Feb17°
nights 13 to 14°
- 17 rainy days · 134 mm
- 7.5 h of sun
- sea 18°
When is the best time to visit the Azores?
- Jan17°not recommended
- Feb17°not recommended
- Mar17°not recommended
- Apr18°fair
- May19°recommended
- Jun21°recommended
- Jul24°recommended
- Aug25°recommended
- Sep24°recommended
- Oct22°fair
- Nov20°not recommended
- Dec17°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in the Azores, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 17° | 14° | 7.3 h | 136 mm | 19 d | 18° | |
| February | 17° | 13° | 8.2 h | 111 mm | 16 d | 17° | |
| March | 17° | 13° | 9.5 h | 125 mm | 19 d | 16° | |
| April | 18° | 14° | 10.7 h | 157 mm | 19 d | 17° | |
| May | 19° | 15° | 11.4 h | 122 mm | 22 d | 19° | ✓ |
| June | 21° | 17° | 12.6 h | 107 mm | 18 d | 21° | ✓ |
| July | 24° | 19° | 13.1 h | 52 mm | 15 d | 23° | ✓ |
| August | 25° | 21° | 12.2 h | 73 mm | 18 d | 25° | ✓ |
| September | 24° | 20° | 11 h | 77 mm | 16 d | 24° | ✓ |
| October | 22° | 18° | 9.1 h | 132 mm | 18 d | 22° | |
| November | 20° | 16° | 7.7 h | 167 mm | 19 d | 20° | |
| December | 17° | 14° | 7 h | 156 mm | 17 d | 19° |
The four seasons in the Azores, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Ponta Delgada) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May17 to 19°
nights 13 to 15°
- 20 rainy days · 135 mm
- 10.5 h of sun
- sea 17°
Summer
Jun → Aug21 to 25°
nights 17 to 21°
- 17 rainy days · 77 mm
- 12.6 h of sun
- sea 23°
Autumn
Sep → Nov20 to 24°
nights 16 to 20°
- 18 rainy days · 125 mm
- 9.3 h of sun
- sea 22°
Book early for May to September
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. The selection does not depend on these links.
Daylight in the Azores, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 14h46 of daylight, in December 9h34, a difference of 5h12.
9h49Jan
10h45Feb
11h51Mar
13h08Apr
14h11May
14h46Jun
14h32Jul
13h36Aug
12h22Sep
11h08Oct
10h05Nov
9h34Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Ponta Delgada" (37.74°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in the Azores, month by month
.jpg/960px-The_Peak_Where_The_Sun_Touches_(Pico_Mountain).jpg)
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture | ||||||||||||
| Diving & snorkelling | ||||||||||||
| Long days | ||||||||||||
| Events | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
EventsFestas do Senhor Santo Cristo dos MilagresApril to MayFestas do Espírito SantoMay to JulySemana do MarAugustWhale migrationApril to JuneDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Beach & swimming: July, August, September
- Diving & snorkelling: August
- Long days: May, June, July
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in the Azores, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. One of these events fills the hotels and pushes prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- April to MayFestas do Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres big crowds
Ponta Delgada carries out its miraculous image over a carpet of flowers five weeks after Easter, and São Miguel fills up.
- May to JulyFestas do Espírito Santo
Each village opens its império (little chapel), serves the Holy Spirit soup and crowns a child, from spring to the height of summer.
- AugustSemana do Mar
Horta, on Faial, devotes a week to regattas, sailing whaleboats and concerts at the harbour.
- April to JuneWhale migration
Blue whales and fin whales pass along the archipelago in spring, ahead of the sperm whales that are present for much of the year.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended17°14° at night
- 136 mm · 19 d
- 7.3 h
- sea 18°
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended17°13° at night
- 111 mm · 16 d
- 8.2 h
- sea 17°
Low season, lower prices
March
Not recommended17°13° at night
- 125 mm · 19 d
- 9.5 h
- sea 16°
Low season, lower prices
April
Fair18°14° at night
- 157 mm · 19 d
- 10.7 h
- sea 17°
Busy, without the crush
May
Recommended19°15° at night
- 122 mm · 22 d
- 11.4 h
- sea 19°
High season, book early
June
Recommended21°17° at night
- 107 mm · 18 d
- 12.6 h
- sea 21°
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended24°19° at night
- 52 mm · 15 d
- 13.1 h
- sea 23°
High season, book early
August
Recommended25°21° at night
- 73 mm · 18 d
- 12.2 h
- sea 25°
High season, book early
September
Recommended24°20° at night
- 77 mm · 16 d
- 11 h
- sea 24°
Busy, without the crush
October
Fair22°18° at night
- 132 mm · 18 d
- 9.1 h
- sea 22°
Low season, lower prices
November
Not recommended20°16° at night
- 167 mm · 19 d
- 7.7 h
- sea 20°
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended17°14° at night
- 156 mm · 17 d
- 7 h
- sea 19°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Cool: 17 °C at best, 14 °C at night. A very wet month, 136 mm of rain over 19 days. Expect 7.3 h of sunshine a day. Cool sea (18 °C), for the brave. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Cool: 17 °C at best, 13 °C at night. A very wet month, 111 mm of rain over 16 days. Expect 8.2 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Cool: 17 °C at best, 13 °C at night. A very wet month, 125 mm of rain over 19 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.5 h a day on average. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C early in the morning. Frequent rain: 157 mm over 19 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.7 h a day on average. Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
May. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C early in the morning. Frequent rain: 122 mm over 22 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11.4 h a day on average. Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. High season: book early.
June. Mild, 21 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C early in the morning. Frequent rain: 107 mm over 18 days. Plenty of sunshine: 12.6 h a day on average. Cool sea (21 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
July. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C early in the morning. Frequent but light showers: 52 mm over 15 days. Plenty of sunshine: 13.1 h a day on average. The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
August. 25 °C in the afternoon and 21 °C at night. Frequent but light showers: 73 mm over 18 days. Plenty of sunshine: 12.2 h a day on average. The sea is at 25 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
September. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C early in the morning. Frequent but light showers: 77 mm over 16 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11 h a day on average. The sea is at 24 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C early in the morning. Frequent rain: 132 mm over 18 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.1 h a day on average. The sea is at 22 °C: pleasant swimming. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. Mild, 20 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C early in the morning. A very wet month, 167 mm of rain over 19 days. Expect 7.7 h of sunshine a day. Cool sea (20 °C), for the brave. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Cool: 17 °C at best, 14 °C at night. A very wet month, 156 mm of rain over 17 days. Expect 7 h of sunshine a day. Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the Azores?
May to September: over these months, recorded highs range from 19 to 25 °C, with 18 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Ponta Delgada).
Which month should you avoid in the Azores?
November: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 167 mm over 19 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Ponta Delgada).
What is the hottest month in the Azores?
August, with 25 °C on average in the afternoon and 21 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Ponta Delgada).
What is the coldest month in the Azores?
January, with 17 °C at best during the day and 14 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Ponta Delgada).
What is the driest month in the Azores?
July: 52 mm over 15 days of rain, against 167 mm in November, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in the Azores?
July, with 13.1 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in the Azores?
The water reaches 22 °C or more in July, August, September, October (warmest 25 °C in August), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Ponta Delgada).
When to go diving or snorkelling in the Azores?
August: the sea is above 25 °C, warm enough to stay in a long time without a thick wetsuit. 2023-2024 records on the nearest coast (Ponta Delgada).
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Azores guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Portugal: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: André Moniz Vieira / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Efrem Efre / Pexels · Regimantas Danys / Pexels