Azores Packing List: What do You Need to Bring?
We are definitely known for being last-minute packers, which means having a packing list for the Azores was a must for us to remember everything we needed for our trip.
Over the years, we’ve spent a lot of time in mainland Portugal and Madeira – and now in the Azores. This archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic is known for all sorts of unpredictable weather, so you definitely want to come prepared!
If there’s one thing that’s good to know about The Azores, it’s that you can expect all kinds of weather. It’s a group of islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, so it can get quite unpredictable at times.
It’s one of the few places where it actually makes sense to overpack a bit. You’ll be happy you did if the weather changes quickly on you.
June through September are usually the warmest months, where you’ll find temperatures in the mid-20s, and January through March, you’ll see it around 15-16 degrees Celsius.
The beauty of the Azores is that it never gets crazy warm or crazy cold, so the Archipelago does stay pretty consistent all year round.
Saying that, it means there really isn’t a bad time of year to come visit the Azores, which is awesome! And that means this packing list is relevant year round, no matter when you go 😉
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What to pack for the Azores
In this post, you can find a list of all the things we recommend bringing on your trip to the Azores (and a few we wish we had brought). That’s the beauty of making this list for you once we’ve gone, because we then include the things we wish we brought as well.
This packing list contains all the essentials that every traveller needs while exploring the Azores – including gear that’s good to have for hiking and outdoor adventure travel, which is what these islands are all about!
If you enter your email in the form below, you will be able to download the packing list, print it out, and check off the items as you pack for your trip (+ you’ll get on our monthly newsletter list)!
Important travel items
- Passport
- Visa (if applicable)
- Journal
- Travel insurance (read about our recommended travel insurance here)
- International driver’s license (if needed)
- Debit or credit cards (if you rent a car, you’ll likely need a credit card)
- Euro cash (most places take cards, but it’s always good to have some cash on you)
- Phone, camera, gadgets, and chargers for all your electronics
- Adapter – the Azores uses the same plugs as mainland Europe (Type C and Type F). We’ve been using this universal adapter for years, and it’s so good!)
Clothing & footwear
- Underwear
- Sport and dress socks
- A few pairs of shorts (running and casual)
- Casual and sports shirts
- A cute dress for when you visit some of the nice restaurants in Ponta Delgada)
- 1-2 pairs of pants
- Pair of sandals
- Pair of sneakers
- Hiking shoes & poles
- Definitely a few bathing suits
- 1 sweater
- Warm layers (especially if you’re planning on doing a whale watching tour)
Toiletries & other items
- Day bag for excursions
- Toothbrush (+ charger if it’s electric)
- Hairbrush
- Toothpaste
- Floss
- Body lotions
- Other toiletries
Travel Insurance (Safety Wing)
While this isn’t necessarily something you can pack, having travel insurance is one of the most important things you need to have on your trip!
After almost 10 years of full-time travel, SafetyWing is our go-to travel insurance (both because of their coverage and pricing). The price starts at just $2/day and can be purchased for any duration of time – with the option to cancel or extend.
One thing we really appreciate about SafetyWing is their 24/7 human support. You can reach out to them at any time and ask questions about your policy and get help should you, *knock on wood*, need to file a claim.
Their usual response time is less than a minute, and you don’t have to go through any bots before getting help. Check out SafetyWing here.
✈️ Also read: World Nomads vs SafetyWing: Which Travel Insurance Is Best?
More gadgets and things to pack for the Azores
Below are some additional items we brought on our trip that we thought you might find helpful as well!
Packing Cubes
Packing cubes have to be one of the most undervalued purchases we’ve ever made. Our suitcases have never looked so organised, and it’s so nice being able to organise them.
We’ve been using these packing cubes for the last few years, and even though it’s such a simple invention, it’s actually really nice to have.
It’s definitely something you should consider buying if you don’t have some already, to make your packing experience a lot easier.
It’s great if you’re travelling between the different islands, too, and need to pack up often. This way, your suitcase can stay organized and you’ll know exactly where everything is.
Universal Adapter
We already mentioned this briefly above, but if you travel between different continents, a universal adapter (like this one) is one of the gadgets you can travel with.
The Azores have the same outlets as mainland Europe, which are different from North America, Oceania, and the UK.
So if you’re travelling to the Azores from outside of Europe, then you’ll need an adapter.
We recommend getting a universal adapter because then, no matter where you go, you can use it. Jo used to have 6 different adapters, and it just takes up a lot of space, and things get lost.
Now I have a universal one and I love it. This one specifically also has room for you to insert a USB or USB-c cord so you can charge both your phone and laptop or camera or whatever at the same time! So easy 🙂
Just a small little gadget, but it does so much. It’s one little thing we never travel without.
Power bank
If you’re planning on doing some day trips and spending a lot of time outdoors, it’s good to have a power bank / portable charger in case your phone battery gets low or you need to recharge any of the devices you brought along for your trip.
We always bring our power bank (this is a newer model of the one we have) on trips like this because we have everything from a Kindle to a camera that needs to be charged, because we sometimes forget to do it overnight.
I think we can all agree that it’s comforting having a power bank with you when travelling in a foreign country. And when you’re travelling around and between the different islands, it’s good to have a bit of backup juice as we like to call it!
Hiking shoes
Every single island in the Azores has amzing hiking, and chances are that if you’re coming over here, you plan to do some hiking.
There are some hikes where you’re definitely be fine with trail shoes, but it’s probably a safe bet to bring hiking shoes just in case since you know these will be great on any trail.
If you have room for it, bring a pair of hiking shoes for the trip to make it easier on your feet while exploring and hiking around all the different islands. These are the hiking shoes Josie has been using for the last two years.
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We’re currently putting together a map with +75 locations around the island we know you’re gonna love. Join the waitlist and be the first to know when it’s ready for purchase! 🗺️
Water bottle
If you haven’t heard about LifeStraw water bottles before, they will change how you drink water forever. Okay, maybe not forever, but it definitely makes it easier and better to drink water from literally anywhere.
LifeStraw water bottles are different from regular water bottles because they come with a built-in filter that makes any water drinkable.
It claims to filter out 99.99999% of all bacteria, parasites and microplastics. We’ve even used ours to drink tab water in Mexico!
The other water bottle we recommend is a Nalgene water bottle. We’ve been travelling around with ours for the past few years.
They are great because they are both BPA free and they can handle boiling water, so it’s perfect if you want to bring some warm water on a hike for some tea or coffee. While they don’t keep the tea or coffee warm, they’re great for camping (and can also be used as a “heating pad” if you fill it up with hot water).
Also, we love adding fun stickers from our travels onto the bottles, so they end up having sentimental value as well. If you’ve never owned a Nalgene before, we highly recommend getting one!
Eco-Friendly and Reef Safe Sunscreen
Reef-safe sunscreen is a win-win for everyone! It’s better for your body and better for the oceans, so why not?
We love mineral sunscreens for those reasons. One thing we’ve found out is it’s so hard to actually buy good sunscreen. So many sunscreens are filled with terrible chemicals and they might even say they’re reef safe, even when they’re not.
Since a mineral sunscreen is both reef and eco-friendly, they often cost a little more than the standard sunscreen brands but, to us, it’s totally worth it.
At the end of the day you’re putting it on your body (and potentially in the ocean), so you want to make sure it’s not bad for you or the environment!
Quick-dry towel
A quick-dry towel is perfect for the Azores, especially if you’re only bringing a carry-on on as it takes up almost no space. No matter where you go, it’s nice to pack light and not have to bring too much.
They take up so little space and is perfect to bring along on hikes if you randomly stumble upon a waterfall or a lake to swim in. They’re great if you go canyoning too!
These towels are another thing we bring around with us almost everywhere we travel, just because of how convenient they are to take with you.
I’d say my favourite thing about these dry towels is that they fit perfectly in your day bag if you’re heading out for a hike or to a waterfall, it’s super easy to throw in your backpack without taking up much space or weight. They’re pretty affordable too!
Noise cancelling headphones
We’ve both had cordless headphones for the past five years or so, but we’ve recently made the switch over to noise cancelling ones, and it’s been a game changer.
I (Dom) recently got the new Sony Wireless headphones, and they are amazing to have on flights. All the extra noise you don’t want to hear is gone and making for a completely different experience!
Frequently asked questions about what to bring to the Azores
When is it summer in the Azores?
The summer months in the Azores are between June and September. During that time, you can expect temperatures in the mid 20s (Celsius) / mid 70s (Fahrenheit).
When is the warmest time of year in the Azores?
July and August are consistently the warmest months in the Azores. During these months, you can expect the sunniest days and the warmest temperatures.
This is also the best time of year to go whale watching (from April through September), although it is possible to spot both dolphins and whales year-round.
🐳 Also read: Incredible Whale Watching & Dolphin Tour in Ponta Delgada (São Miguel) 🐳
Can I take a carry-on only to the Azores?
If you’re planning a 1-2 week trip to the Azores, you can definitely do it with carry-on only. Use this packing list as a guide to see what you need and don’t need for your trip. With some organization, you should easily be able to do carry on! Just make sure you pack for all sorts of weather.
You may also like…
- Incredible Whale Watching & Dolphin Tour in Ponta Delgada (São Miguel Island)
- 11 Best Things to Do on São Miguel, Azores (Guide for First-Timers)
- 5 Great Restaurants in Angra do Heroismo, Terceira
- How to Rent a Car from Ponta Delgada Airport (São Miguel Island)
Final thoughts on what to pack for the Azores
You now have a complete list of everything you need for your trip to the Azores – from important travel items to clothing and footwear, and also a few extra gadgets we recommend bringing.
You should be able to pack a lot lighter during the warmer months when the weather is warmer and (almost) only summer clothes is needed. During the cooler months it might be a bit tricky with only carry-on but if you pack smart you might be able to make it work.
We hope you have an amazing time visiting this beautiful archipelago in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It’s a stunning place to visit and all of the islands have so much to offer!
Have any questions? Or did we miss anything? Leave a comment below and let us know!
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