AZORES
PORTUGAL
Considerthe Azores that familiar-
sounding place you just can’t...
place. The under-the-radar travel
destination is an archipelago of
nine verdant, rocky islands about
1,500 kilometres west of Portugal.
While each island has its own
character, all are green, lush and
rife with waterfalls, hot springs,
crater lakes and rolling hills
(some claim it’s the site of the lost
city of Atlantis). The pristine towns
are full of vibrant markets, beautiful
buildings and chill sidewalk cafés.
It’s everything you love about
Europe, only on little windswept
islands in the middle of the Atlantic.
FOR THE STOPOVER CROWD:
SÃO MIGUEL
Home to the Azores’ capital city,
Ponta Delgada has miles of rugged
coastline, hydrangea-lined roads
and twee towns. It also has fine
dining and really good holes in the
wall (like Taberna Açor, a tiny gem
serving local fare), high-end hotels
(like Furnas Boutique Hotel,
designhotels.com) and fun nightlife.
The rooftop bar at Azor Hotel
(azorhotel.com) is super cool
and has a pool with a view.FOR INDULGING YOUR
INNER SAILOR:FAIAL
A short flight from São Miguel is
Faial. Horta, the postcard-pretty
capital, is a regular stopover for
yachters crossing the Atlantic.
The harbour and long pier have
been transformed into an open-air
gallery by said boaties, with art
bearing the names of their vessels.
A lovely old bar opposite the
harbour, called Peter Café Sport,
is a go-to spot for its gin and tonics
(try the local passionfruit gin –
it’ll ruin all future G&Ts for you).
FOR THE WANNABE
SOMMELIER:PICO
Weather-beaten Pico’s moniker
is “the island of wine”, thanks to
15th-century monks who built
ingenious stone walls to protect the
vines. The island’s whites and rosés
are the ones to try (recommended:
the Azores Wine Company’s Arinto
dos Açores 2015 White).
FOR THE DETOX AFTER THE
WINE TOUR:TERCEIRA
The third-largest of the group,
it’s home to the city of Angra do
Heroísmo, a UNESCO World
Heritage site: an oasis of
cobblestoned streets, buildings
painted in pastel and jewel colours,
manicured gardens and views
of the sparkling Atlantic.>HIPSTER HEAVEN:
Experience Ponta
Delgada’s foodie scene
and nightlife from the
sleek Azor Hotel
(above and left)
ZEN MASTER:
Soak in the geothermal
pools at Furnas Boutique
Hotel, in São Miguel’s lush
volcanic landscape