Buses, car hire, taxis and the inter-island ferries out of Ponta Delgada, with the practical answer to the question every visitor asks first: whether you need a car here.
Travel TipsGraciosa is 12.5 km long, has one airport and one ferry port, and in 2026 the Atlânticoline boat called only between 1 June and 28 September. How the SATA flights from Terceira and Ponta Delgada work, why Santa Cruz is the base, what the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status covers, and why two full days plus a buffer is the right length for most visits.
Travel TipsThe Atlânticoline Blue Line crosses from Horta to Madalena on Pico in 25 to 30 minutes all year, while the Green Line to Velas on São Jorge runs far less often. Summer and winter frequencies, the June to September lines to Terceira and Graciosa, boarding deadlines and refunds, and what your rights are when the sea cancels the boat.
Travel TipsThe year-round Green Line ferry links Velas with Pico and Faial, and in summer three more Atlânticoline lines call at São Jorge. Flights come only from Ponta Delgada and Terceira. Velas suits travellers without a car; Calheta is closer to the eastern fajãs. Plan two nights at least, and a spare day for the weather.
Travel TipsSATA Air Açores flies from Ponta Delgada to Santa Maria in about 30 minutes, and in summer 2026 the only sea link was a cargo ship taking 16 passengers. Vila do Porto is the natural base, two to four nights covers the island, and the Maré de Agosto festival in the second half of August books up rooms and flights early.