Adam Lubinsky is a poster boy for multimodal travel. When he commutes from Brooklyn to his Manhattan office, he switches effortlessly from a folding bike he has modified to make electric and then onto the subway.
25.07.2023 - 10:45 / matadornetwork.com
Most people think traveling from the US to Europe means crossing the Atlantic Ocean, usually on a six-plus-hour flight. However, there’s a whole other part of Europe smack in the middle of the ocean that melds the green, rocky hillsides of the UK with the Mediterranean vibes and culture of Portugal.
Sometimes called the “Hawaii of Europe,” an Azores vacation is a beautiful break from the cold winters of the northern hemisphere and a beachy adventure during the warmer summer months. The islands are part of Portugal but sit 930 miles west of the mainland. They’re divided into three main groups: the Eastern Group (São Miguel and Santa Maria islands), the Central Group (Terceira, Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico, and Faial islands), and the Western Group (Flores and Corvo islands).
Photo: RavenEyePhoto/Shutterstock
The Azores are known for their stunning natural landscapes, including volcanic craters, lakes, hot springs, and rugged coastlines, which means activities vary from hiking and swimming in waterfalls to scuba diving and whale watching (and tasting plenty of Portuguese wine, of course).
Photo: DaLiu/Shutterstock
São Miguel is the largest and most inhabited of the nine islands in the Azores archipelago, making it the one most tourists visit. Pico and Terceria are also larger islands that attract a lot of visitors. Many islands have direct flights from Lisbon and Porto in Portugal, and some connect with other European cities. São Miguel and Terceira even offer direct service from North American cities like New York, Boston, and Toronto, meaning an Azores vacation is less than a five-hour flight for most East Coasters.
If you want to check out the Azores as part of a more extensive Europe trip, take advantage of the stopover option from Azores Airlines. You can book a flight between North America and Europe and add a stop of up to seven days in the Azores at no extra cost.
If you’re coming from mainland Portugal, the flight to the Azores will take only about two hours. Budget carriers like TAP Portugal and SATA have affordable prices throughout the year. As of June 2023, flights from Lisbon on RyanAir start at $55.
There are also flights between the different islands of the Azores and an easy-to-use ferry system during the summer if you have the time to travel by sea.
Photo: Liliana Marmelo/Shutterstock
The islands all share a common language and a more-or-less warm climate, but they each have their unique landmarks and charms. All islands offer the chance to dine on freshly caught seafood, relax against a backdrop of coastal views, and hike through generally lush green landscapes. However, the islands each also have their own draws:
You can drive around the entirety of São Miguel in just a couple of hours, but it
Adam Lubinsky is a poster boy for multimodal travel. When he commutes from Brooklyn to his Manhattan office, he switches effortlessly from a folding bike he has modified to make electric and then onto the subway.
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