TERCEIRA ISLAND: THREE DAY ITINERARY.
When we planned our trip to the Azores, Terceira wasn’t initially the island we were most excited about. São Miguel, with its famous hot springs, and Pico, with its dramatic volcanic peak, seemed to hog all the limelight. But I wanted to visit somewhere a little quieter, a little more off the radar, and Terceira ended up being the perfect choice.
We spent three days here, balancing scenic hikes, amazing food, and plenty of downtime. The island’s charm lies in its contrasts: rugged trails, colourful towns, stunning viewpoints, and some of the prettiest beaches in the Azores. Here’s everything we got up to during our time on Terceira.
Is Terceira worth visiting?
Before I tell you more, let me answer the obvious question: is Terceira worth the trip?
For me, it was an easy yes. The island has this calm, unhurried vibe, with just enough activities to keep you entertained without feeling overwhelmed. It felt like one of the greenest islands, very agricultural. I think there may be more cows on this island that people.
If you love nature, hiking, and food, you’ll find plenty to enjoy. And Angra do Heroísmo, the capital, has a charm all its own, with its cobblestone streets, pastel-coloured buildings, and a cultured feel.
Terceira might not be as famous as São Miguel, but that’s part of what makes it special. In São Miguel, there were loads of tourists milling about, not so much in Terceira. We felt that we had discovered an island, and mass tourism is nowhere to be seen.
How many days do you need on Terceira?
We spent three full days and four nights on Terceira, which felt like just the right amount of time. But, If you love hiking and you have more time, you could easily stretch your visit to four or five days. Three days allows for a good mix of adventure and relaxation.
How to get to Terceira
Getting to Terceira is pretty straightforward. We flew in from Lisbon, which was just a two-and-a-half-hour flight. You can also fly direct from Porto or from a few international cities like Boston and Toronto (but flights are seasonal). Once we landed at Lajes Airport, it was a quick trip to our accommodation in Angra do Heroísmo.
Of all the island we visited, the airport bus into the capital seemed the most reliable. Although the service is not regular, you may have to wait a while, it does run.
Do you need a car to get around Terceira?
Yes, you’ll definitely want a car. Many of the island’s highlights—hiking trails, viewpoints, and smaller villages—are spread out, and public transport is limited. Driving on Terceira is really easy, though. The roads are quiet, and the only traffic jams we encountered were caused by the occasional herd of cows!
Find out more about driving in the Azores in our detailed guide here.
Tip – Try to find accommodation with parking, but if you can’t rest assured there is a large free carpark in Angra. Find the location on the map below.
Terceira Island: Three day Itinerary + map
Here’s exactly how we spent three unforgettable days on Terceira, with a mix of hikes, beaches, and local food.
All locations mentioned are found in the map below.
Day One: To the west
Cheese & coffee (yes, together)
We kicked off our trip at Queijo Vaquinha, a family-run cheese factory tucked away in the countryside.
I can safely say that I’ve never visited anywhere quite like this. Although you can’t actually go into the factory, you can see it through the windows. We stopped for a coffee and found a seat with a direct view inside, there’s something quite mesmerizing about watching the cheese being made whilst sipping an espresso.
At the bar, they will give you a free sample board of the different cheese made here. We loved the spicy one and bought a wedge to take with us on our hike.
Top tip – buy some bread from one of the bakeries in town, and some cheese from the factory. And you’ve got your picnic lunch sorted for the day!
Hiking the Serreta-Lagoinha Trail
After a few too many cheese samples, we headed to the Serreta-Lagoinha Trail (PRC03). This was one of my favourite hikes on the island. The trail winds through dense, mossy forest and opens up to Lagoinha do Serreta, a small, serene lake surrounded by greenery.
At the top near the lake is a viewpoint with far reaching views out to the ocean – you can see other islands on a clear day.
It is a circular route, so you get to see different scenery on the way back. We actually preferred the route down, which opened up into green pastures and offered great views.
Set aside around 3 hours for this hike, plus a little bit of driving time. Parking at the trailhead is easy . Details for this hike can be found on All Trails.
If you do this hike, keep in mind that the wooden steps up to the lake can get extremely slippery, especially if it has been raining. Hiking shoes are recommended.
Biscoitos and the wine museum
By the time we finished the hike, we were ready for a slower pace. We drove up to Biscoitos, a little coastal village famous for its natural swimming pools and wine.
The Museu do Vinho dos Biscoitos was small but interesting, especially to see the old fashioned machinery. The museum is free to enter and you can expect to be there for a round 20 minutes.
They do sell local wine there and you could ask for a sample, but the wine is quite expensive so we didn’t hang around for a tasting. I know it;s not quite in the spirit, but I imagine local wine is sold in the supermarkets on the island for a considerably lower price point.
If you are interested to do a wine tasting on the island, you can book a tasting and tour in advance. For context, we drove to a vineyard on the island only to realise they are only open to advance bookings, so it’s best to book. Here are two great tours with wine tastings:
1/ Volcanic wine tasting & tapas: this includes visit to the museum, tasting and what sounds like a good knees up with an Azorean family.
2/ Wine & moonshine tour: a full day tour which sounds super immersive – it includes quite a few stops across the island, and of course moonshine!
Wine + Tapas in Angra do Heroismo
Angra, is a great little town. Of all the capitals on the Azorean islands that we visited, Angra seemed to have the best selection of bars and restaurants for the evening. Budget travellers may also be delighted to hear that food and drink is extremely good value – wine for less than €2.
Our favourite spots for wine and tapas in Angra are:
1/ Café Aliança – a very local spot with good prices and salty snacks to accompany wine or beer. In good weather they have tables in the square, otherwise there’s a cozy inside bar.
2/ Wine not – Fancier spot, with a good selection of wine and tapas bites.
3/ Lar Doce Livro – a book store/cafe/wine bar, one for a cold night when you want to get warm and have good conversation or read a book in a nook.
Day Two: To the middle
Coffee Plantation
Many people refer to the coffee plantations on Sao Jorge as the “only ones in Europe.” Whilst it is true that they have some of the largest, Terceira island also had it’s very own coffee plantation.
A short drive out of Angra, is Coffee Cabana. Here you’ll find coffee, banana and papaya plants all merrily planted alongside one another. There’s an eco camp in the grounds – Banana eco camp, and then a small cafe, Coffee Cabana.
We visited on a rather dreary morning, and it totally brightened our outlook. The cabana is a clever space that feels totally hidden in the jungle of plants.
You can pop in and try their beans – I watched in wonder as the friendly cafe owner brewed my cup of coffee in what looked like a science experiment. I’m not exaggerating when I say that the coffee was nothing like I’ve ever experienced before, I could even taste the banana flavour.
We stayed for breakfast, because why not! And then took ourselves on a little tour of the grounds.
Zona Balnear do Negrito
Just a few minutes drive from the coffee plantation is the delightful swimming area of Zona Balnear do Negrito. Of all the natural pools on the island, this was the prettiest that we discovered. Early in the morning, there were regulars taking a dip and some pet dogs playing in the water.
The black mysteries trail PRC01
There were lots of hikes in Terceira that we wanted to do and we couldn’t decide between doing this one, or heading to the Rocha de Chambre to tackle the PRC06. In the end, we couldn’t resist – anything with the word mysteries in has to be done!
It is called Misterios Negros Trail because of some unique black volcanic masses that are buried inside the vegetation. Sections of the trail are quite challenging, and we tackled it in extreme rain.
The hike is only 5km in a circular route and ends back at the Christmas Grotto car parking area. You can pay to enter this cave if you wish. It’s a popular tourist spot, but not for anyone claustrophobic (like me!)
Find the full details of this hike here on All Trails.
If you have the legs for it, and the time, you could combine the PRC06 and PRC01, this would be a total of 13km. The hikes are found a few minutes drive from one another.
Furnas do Enoxfre
Whilst in this area, we recommend visiting Furnas do Enoxfre. This is a volcanic park where you can see sulfurous gas emerging out from the ground, as though it is a kettle boiling. A unique and otherworldly experience.
You can take a short 20 minute walk around the park area, a wooden walkway makes this easy. Or, if you want to fully explore, the PRC10 is a longer hike of 7.7km.
Exploring Angra do Heroismo
If you can, I’d recommend setting aside a few hours to explore the capital properly during day light. Highlights that we found included The Duque da Terceira Garden, lots of leafy walkways and pretty flowers.
The Church of the Holy Savior’s Cathedral as well as Igreja da Misericórdia, are both imposing buildings. There’s a very small municipal market, which we browsed but it is perhaps not a highlight. There are however lots of clothing stores around town, if you fancy a browse!
Finally, the view down to the beach from the edge of town is special. We watched the same man appear on the beach to write “Terceira” two nights in a row – now that’s dedication. Of all the Azores island we visited, we thought the beach in Angra was one of the prettiest – the cove and sand reminded me very much of Cornish coastline.
Supper at O Chico
For dinner, we were fortunate enough to get a table at O Chico. A bit of an Angra institution. It specializes in seafood and fish, but also serves meat stews and various chicken dishes. It’s the type of place that serves wine by the litre. A few bowls of soup, large plates of fish and meat and a lot of wine later – we were very happy with the short stroll back to our apartment.
Day 3: To the east
Brunch in Angra
We took advantage of the lovely cafes in Angra and stopped for coffee and pastry and O Forno. There are a few to choose from, but this was the one we favoured. It has seating inside and out and a friendly atmosphere. Ideal for breakfast or a cheeky Pastel de Nata in the afternoon.
The east
Having explored the west on day one and the centre of the island on day two, we used our final day in Terceira to explore the east.
From Angra, we drove to Miradouro da Serra do Cume. This viewpoint offers the most incredible panoramic views of Terceira’s patchwork of green fields and stone walls.
We spent our last afternoon relaxing at Praia da Vitória, a wide, sandy beach on the east coast. This is the second largest town on the island. It’s a great spot for swimming and exploring. The promenade is long and ideal for strolling. There are also some delightful places to eat like Lulu cafe.
If you would rather something more active than visiting the beach, there are a few hikes towards the east of the island that may interest you. The first is the PRC8, a 5km circular loop in a protected area of the island. The second is Baías da Agualva, a 5km coastal trail along the north east of hte island.
Sunsets and beer
For sunset in Angra, we recommend the Pirate Bar, tucked around the bay. Alternatively, if you have more energy, there is a short hike to Miradouro do Pico do Facho which has better views.
Beer lovers will also want to visit Cevejaria do Canto, a small brewery in town. We followed this with burgers in A Barrica.
Where to stay in Terceira
For accommodation, I’d recommend Angra as the ideal base. The town is very charming and there’s lots going on in the evening. If you’d rather somewhere quieter, Praia do Vittoria may suit you better, or consider a rural property. Keep in mind that if you visit off-season, its likely that more rural properties may not be open.
Here are a few great places to stay in Angra.
BUDGET: We stayed at Principe de Monaco Boutique House, which offers small apartments. The location is wonderful, right on the water. If a little noisy at night. Great value accommodation.
MID-RANGE: Consider Hotel Cruzeiro in the centre of town or Pousado de Angra do Heroismo Castelo de S Sebastiao which has quite a striking location atop a cliff.
LUXURY: Boutique Hotel Teatro offers dramatic accommodation in a historic building. Or Acores Autentico Boutique Hotel has a more contemporary feel to it.
The Triangle Islands
São Jorge, Pico and Faial make up the three Triangle Islands of The Azores. Although the islands are neighbours, they all offer something totally different and unique. Find our guides to all three below.
PICO ISLAND
Known as they “grey island” and famous for wine, volcanic landscape and Mount Pico.
SAO JORGE
Known for the dramatic Fajãs, hiking trails, cheese and surfing.
Written by Emma
Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.
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