A little blip in the Atlantic Ocean carpeted in black basalt-lined vineyards dating back half a millennium, a larger-than-life Vulcano – often enveloped in bruma (mist) and surrounded by the sapphire-colored sea. This is Pico the third largest of the nine Azorean islands. Time to find out the best Pico itinerary for a 2 or day trip.
During my unforgettable 10-day trip to the Azores, Portugal, I explored four incredible islands: São Miguel, Terceira, Faial, and Pico. While each island was born from volcanic origins, it is not until one visits Pico with its rugged volcanic landscapes, UNESCO-protected vineyards, and ever-present Mount Pico, that this truly becomes palpable.
Although small in size, there is a veritable treasure trove of things to do in Pico most notably huffing and puffing up the highest peak in Portugal, Mount Pico, or for those less inclined to get active on holiday, enjoying some of the island’s delicious white wine.
If you are planning on climbing Mount Pico, consider booking 3 days on the island. If that is not on the books, then a 2 day stay in Pico is probably enough to get a good feel of what is on offer. Read on to find the ins and outs of visiting Pico.
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1. Stroll through the wine museum
There are two main things to do in Pico, one involves laboriously clambering up a mountain and the other sitting back and nipping a glass of vulcanic wine. To be fair, the vineyards in Pico were classified by UNESCO in 2024 as World Heritage, so in this case, you are getting “drunk on culture”, right? That’s my excuse and I am sticking to it.
My suggestion would be to start your Pico itinerary by learning a little more about the viticultural heritage on Pico. The aptly named Wine Museum on Pico is the best spot on the island to do just that. It has a striking little red cabin with a fabulous viewpoint of the surrounding volcanic vineyards as well as a smattering of buildings housing traditional tools, a museum about the artifacts used in wine-making and a nice little garden to stroll through.
As we walked in, we were handed a folder with an explanation of the various exhibits in English. The information panels inside are an odd mix of English and Portuguese, so you might want to keep that folder closeby when visiting. Before you ask, there is no wine tasting possible inside the museum, for that, you need to drive 5 minutes down the road to the Azorean Wine Company (more on that below).
ADDRESS | R. do Carmo S/N, 9950-364 Madalena, Portugal
FEES | €2
OPENING HOURS | Monday – Saturday, from 10 AM to 5:30 PM
DEDICATED WINE TOUR: Looking for a slightly more structured approach to experiencing wines in Pico? Why not book a dedicated Wine Tour which includes a visit to the Wine Museum, one vineyard and one wine company. The added benefit is you have a driver and therefore can try as much wine as you like!
2. Visit the Gruta das Torres (Torres Caves)
While driving around the island it’s hard to miss Pico’s volcanic origins; if the larger-than-life vulcano was not a dead giveaway the sprawling vineyards growing in the iconic lava stone “currais” might just do the trick. The best place to visit in Pico to get a feel of the terrain however is the Gruta das Torres.
Located near Criação Velha, this lava tube is the longest in Portugal, stretching over 5 kilometers. Exploring it needs to be done with a guide, safety, and all that! The entrance fee gives you entrance to the site as well as a helmet and flashlight. I would advise wearing proper hiking boots as the ground is uneven with little pieces of lava sticking out at times e.g. if you are wearing a thin-soled shoe like I did when visiting the lava tube in northern Tenerife, it’s going to get very uncomfortable.
Good to know: We planned on visiting the caves but our GPS made us drive via the most random dirt road. Our little Peugeot rental car ended up getting stuck and we had to make a U-turn. There is actually an asphalt road that leads you right to the Cave Interpretation Centre, make sure Google takes you via this route to avoid making the same mistake we did!
ADDRESS | Caminho da Gruta das Torres Criação Velha, 9950-000 Madalena, Portugal
FEES | €10
OPENING HOURS | Tuesday – Saturday, from 10 AM to 5:30 PM
3. Clamber up the highest mountain in Portugal
The most iconic thing to do in Pico is clamber up Pico Mountain, also known as the highest mountain in Portugal. Depending on your point of reference “high” is a rather relative term, at 2,351 meters it’s no Kilimanjaro. That being said, despite it’s moderate height the climb is anything but a piece of cake.
When researching this climb I was shocked to read the trek takes the average hiker anywhere between 6 to 8 hours to cover. Knowing the distance is a mere 7.6 km (or 4.1 mi) this led me to believe your average Joe hiking up is either very out of shape ( and had a little too much delicious Pico wine) or the terrain is challenging.
Turns out it’s very much the latter. Our hike started at Casa da Montanha at 1,200 meters. Over a distance of 3.8 km (2.4 mi) we ascent 1150 meters (3772 feet), basically it’s up, up, and up some more. We weave our way around the side of the Vulcano until we almost reach the top following a set of 47 wooden markers. The last few meters before the summit you will need to climb a small hill atop the volcano known as Piquinho (little Pico).
Piquinho was a bit of a shock to the system. In essence, we got to the foot of Piquinho and were met with a wall of lava rocks. Our guide pointed up with a big smile and said “We are going there” and started bouldering up the wall. The good thing is the vulcanic rocks offer a really good grip, however, if you are suffering from Vertigo I strongly advise against this activity.
We opted to do a guided tour and booked via a locally run company, Tripix. Our local tour guide Matteo honestly was a life savor as our hike up coincided with the most terrible weather. He kept our spirits high, our walking sticks properly rooted in the ground (no one lost an eye) and ensured we had a few funny pictures to commemorate the hike.
STARTING POINT | Casa da Montanha (Mountain House)
LENGTH | 7.6 km (or 4.1 mi)
GUIDED TOURS | Book via Get Your Guide or Viator starting at €75 a person or via the Tripix website directly.
4. Hunt down the red windmills
Driving around the island’s basaltic landscapes you are bound to come across at least one of the five iconic red windmills. Painted a vibrant color to stand out against said landscape and be recognizable from the sea, they were originally used to grind flour.
While windmills in let’s say the Netherlands come in all shapes and sizes, those of Pico are all built according to the same layout: A sturdy black and white stone base (for stability) with a red conical structure made out of timber and local know as casota (little house). If you are short on time try to squeeze in the below two mentioned windmills!
Moinho do Frade: The most photographed windmill on the island thanks to its beautiful location. Smack in the middle of the Pico vineyards surrounded by basalt walls with Pico Mountain looming in the background.
Moinho do Ponta Rasa: Pictured above. Easily accessible by car and offers the most stunning views over the southern coastline.
TOUR THE ISLAND | If you want to make sure you see all the windmills but do not feel like renting a car. Look into booking a full day guided tour of Pico. Prices start at €100 per person and include regional lunch, pick up/ drop off, and pictures.
5. Drive the most scenic route in the Azores (Estrada Miradouro do Pico)
If your trip to Pico island coincides with good weather, drop whatever you are doing and make your way to the Estrada Miradouro do Pico. As briefly mentioned, we got incredibly unlucky with the weather as we caught the tail end of hurricane season and Pico was shrouded in mist throughout our trip.
Well, mist and a LOT of rain which meant visibility was limited to the raindrops falling on the windshield of the car for the majority of our two-day Pico itinerary. So we missed out on the above-pictured views, and yes I am inwardly still crying about it. It does make for one heck of an excuse to come back though.
Simply type in Estrada Miradouro do Pico into Google and off you go! We drove over the dirt road and even with the rain it was perfectly fine to get around in a normal (non-4×4 car).
6. Book a wine tasting with a view (Azorean Wine Company)
This was probably the fanciest place I have ever had the pleasure of drinking a glass of wine and pondering my life’s choices. Located in Criação Velha, an area famous for its UNESCO-listed volcanic vineyards, and just down the road from the Wine Museum. The winery is putting Pico on the oenological map by cultivating native grape varieties such as Verdelho, Arinto dos Açores, and Terrantez do Pico.
Aside from the beautiful vineyards themselves, it’s the facility that stands out. Wine tastings are held overlooking both the vines and the Atlantic Ocean in a true architectural gem. Honestly, I had not planned on stopping here but found myself turning into the driveway of the vineyard as we drove by because it looked too inviting to pass up.
We did not book a wine tasting (alas, I was driving so could not) but did treat ourselves to a glass of wine and a small sharing platter (vegetarian options available). Tastings start at around €30 a person (4 glasses of wine). If you can make sure to try the Terrantez do Pico, an indigenous grape almost extinct in the archipelago until the Azores Wine Company in collaboration with the Agricultural Development Services of São Miguel actively started cultivating it again in 2014.
FARES | Tasting €30 per person; Glass of wine starts at €6.
OPENING HOURS | Monday – Sunday, from 11 AM to 07:00 PM
LOCATION | Rua do Poço Velho nº34, 9950-054 Bandeiras, Portugal
DEDICATED WINE TOUR: Looking for a slightly more structured approach to experiencing wines in Pico? Why not book a dedicated Wine Tour which includes a visit to the Wine Museum, one vineyard, and one wine company. The added benefit is you have a driver and therefore can try as much wine as you like!
7. Learn about the whaling history of the island
Make a pit stop in Lajes do Pico once the island’s hub for whaling now home to the Museu dos Baleeiros (Whaling Museum), which is dedicated to, you got it, the whaling industry. Although no longer practiced since the mid-1980s, this was once a highly lucrative stream of revenue for the island. The relatively small museum is filled to the rafters with artifacts, harpoons, photographs, and traditional whaling boats.
Whalers have discarded their harpoons and jumped on the ever-growing trend of whale watching. Ironically it is these former whalers who are now the loudest advocates for their former prey ensuring the whale-watching business across the Azorean islands is conducted with the utmost respect for the animals. The customer experience takes a backseat to the welfare of the whales.
FARES | €2
OPENING HOURS | Tuesday to Sunday, 10 AM-5:30 PM
LOCATION | Rua dos Baleeiros 13, 9930-143 Lajes do Pico, Portugal
Where to Stay in Pico
WHERE TO STAY | We ended up staying in Lajes do Pico which is one of the largest towns on the island and has a variety of different accommodations. This is great if you are flying in or out of Pico as it is close to the airport. Alternatively, if you are thinking of taking a ferry, consider booking accommodations in Madalena. Or simply browse all accommodations on Pico.
WHERE WE STAYED: Aldeia da Fonte
We stayed in this lovely locally run B&B in Lajos da Pico. It was wonderfully quiet and green, had an on-site sauna, and a very nice restaurant serving delicious breakfast and dinner. They also have a nice viewpoint by the sea and a large private parking area.
BEST VIEWS: Porto Velho Boutique Hostel
The Porto Velho Hostel is more of a B&B than a hostel in traditional terms. It’s a great accommodation located by the ferry port, various stores as well as restaurants. It is also excellent value for money. Stay here if you are coming in/out by ferry this would be my go-to place to stay.
SUSTAINABLE LUXURY PICK: Lava Homes
By far the most beautiful hotel we checked out at the hotel. Located slightly more out of the way but by goodness the views are to die for! Their on-site restaurant serves seasonal, local, and some of the best food we eat on the island.
Practical Tips for Visiting Pico
What to pack for the Azores
The Azores have a generally tepid, oceanic, mild to warm subtropical climate. Leave your heavy clothes at home, temperature wise the islands never drop below 13°C (55°F). What you will want to pack is a good raincoat, hiking boots and many breathable layers of clothing.
Weather in the Azores
Keep an eye on the weather via the Spot Azores Webcams set-up across the various islands for this very purpose. As is oftentimes the case for islands, the weather can be very fickle. We noticed that traditional weather apps did not really work for the Azores and relied on these webcams instead.
Best time to visit Pico
The driest months of the year are between June and September, this is also the time of year when the flowers tend to come out. That being said, prices triple and the islands are absolutely jam-packed. Personally I would avoid these months at all costs instead opting for shoulder season. We visited in October and were able to walk around in T-shirt!
How to get to Pico
FERRY: The Atlantico Line ferries have daily connections to the other Azorean islands, particularly near Faial and São Jorge. We opted to take the 35-minute ferry from Faial, which even for this seasick-prone traveler was an absolute breeze! Schedules and routes tend to change monthly, so make sure to check in advance before booking transport.
PLANE: The only airlines that fly to Pico are SATA Air Acores and Azores Airlines. If you are flying into Pico from Lisbon your carrier of choice is Azores Airlines, while SATA Air Acores connects Pico with São Miguel and Terceira. There are no direct international flights to/from Pico.
How to get around Pico
Public transportation is available, although we heard it tends to take its sweet time i.e. you might end up waiting a few hours at the bus stop for the bus to appear.
RENT A CAR | We ended up renting a car from the ferry terminal in Madalena and dropped in off at the airport in Lajes do Pico. Before you go, make sure to read up on what to expect when renting a car in the Azores. Check pricing and book online.
TOUR | If you do not feel comfortable driving, there are a host of affordable day tour options ranging from €80 to €120 per person for the full day. Have a browse on Viator or GetYourGuide for the best tours.
Where to eat and drink in Pico
O MAGMA RESTAURANT AT LAVA HOMES | This hotel also has an on-site restaurant serving seasonal, farm-to-table dishes. The views from the restaurant are spectacular and the menu is filled with plant-based dishes!
ALDEAIA DA FONTE | Our hotel had an on-site restaurant that outside guests could book for a meal. The restaurant is set in a verdant surrounding, the food is locally sourced and the service is excellent. Plenty of vegetarian options on the menu.
AZOREAN WINE COMPANY | My favorite spot for wine tasting on the island. Set in a beautiful setting surrounded by the UNESCO classified Criação Velha Vineyards.
CELLA BAR | This wine bar in Madalena has everyone raving! The reasons for this include the majestic contemporary design as well as the unbeatable location right by the beach. Best spot to grab a glass of wine at sunset!
MORE TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR VISITING PORTUGAL
CENTRAL PORTUGAL: 4 Day Roadtrip Through Central Portugal
AZORES: Renting a car in the Azores, wisdom or folly?
TERCEIRA: 10 Things to do in Terceira
FAIAL ISLAND: 10 Things to do in Faial Island
SAO MIGUEL: 22 Things to do in São Miguel Island – The perfect 4 day itinerary
Things to do in Pico – Pin it
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