Ok ok so the Azores aren’t exactly new, but they have gained a certain amount of popularity in recent years. So just incase you haven’t heard of them yet here are a few reason the Azores Islands should be your next European destination.

Its Cheaper

The Azores are part of Portugal which means they are so much cheaper then Iceland. Its true the flights to get there are slightly more expensive and generally you have to pay extra for flights to get between the islands, but everything else is cheaper. We rented a car the entire time we were there, went out for dinner and drinks several times and stayed in Airbnbs all for significantly less then when I was in Iceland. It also means that we could afford more organized activities like scuba diving and canyoning.

The Flights are Easy

Azores Airline have been increasing their amount of direct flights to North America, shuttling relatives from the North America back and forth to the Azores. The flights to Europe are even easier, Ryanair and TAP Air Portugal both have multiple flight options. The flights to get there are only a little bit longer then the flights to get to Iceland. It is also possible to get free stop overs on the islands on lots of flights from Europe to North America.

The Food is Great

Before I went to the Azores I read a lot about how the food wasn’t great, but we were pleasantly surprised by how much we enjoyed the food. Iceland is famous for sheep head and fermented shark – kinda cool, but not that appetizing. Plus most of the places are so expensive that it wasn’t worth going out to eat in Iceland. The Azores islands had steak that was cooked on rock slabs infront of yo and cozido – stew cooked underground using the heat of the land.

The Weather is Better

The weather can be a little unpredictable in both countries, it could rain in the morning then be super sunny in the afternoon. However in general the Azores are generally warmer and sunnier!

There is Something for Everyone

Theres 9 volcanic island in the Azores and they are incredible diverse. I’ve only been to 2 of them; Terceira island from the Formigas islets and São Miguel from the Eastern islets. Both islands were incredible different from each other and