Azores · Portugal
October
Autumn proper — the first Atlantic storms arrive, tourists recede, and the islands return to their wild character.
Strong option
#5 of 12 months
There are better months for Azores — see the full ranking below.
See when to go instead →Climate
High
22°C
Low
17°C
Rain
80mm
Sun
6.5hrs/day
30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5
How October scores in Azores
Weather
Above average
Value
Excellent
Crowds
Excellent
Events
Above average
Atmosphere
Very good
What you gain in October
- ↑October whale watching recovers as autumn migration peaks — sei whales return on their southward journey and sperm whale activity is excellent in the rough-water upwellings; the whale watch experience in October's heavier seas is more physically demanding but more dramatic than summer
- ↑Autumn storms create the most spectacular version of the Azorean volcanic coast: the Atlantic swell hitting the lava cliffs at Ponta da Ferraria and the Mosteiros stacks on São Miguel generates spray photographs that do not exist in the summer flat-calm; storm watchers and seascape photographers specifically target October–November
- ↑Prices and availability return to accessible levels — September's remaining price premium disappears in October; direct flights from Northern Europe reduce in frequency but the longer stay available (no August crowds to book around) compensates
What you sacrifice
- ↓October rainfall at 80mm is significantly higher than summer — expect several rainy days per week and be ready to adapt plans; the crater lake views are frequently obscured by cloud in October
- ↓Inter-island ferry and flight disruptions increase with autumn storm frequency; buffer days between island departures are essential from October onwards
- ↓Swimming and sea activities cool off — 21°C water requires a 5mm wetsuit for comfortable dive sessions; the casual volcanic pool swimming of summer is uncomfortable without a wetsuit
How October compares to May (best month)
| Factor | October | May ★ |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | 5 | 7 |
| Value | 8 | 7 |
| Crowds | 8 | 7 |
October in other destinations
Lisbon (21.1°C)Barcelona (21.2°C)Tokyo (22.4°C)Bali (31.1°C)Santorini (20.9°C)Paris (16°C)New York (18.5°C)Marrakech (27.1°C)Amsterdam (14.4°C)Maldives (30.3°C)Rome (20.7°C)Bangkok (30.6°C)Istanbul (19.2°C)Vienna (16.1°C)Seoul (18.4°C)Dubrovnik (20.2°C)Rio de Janeiro (27.6°C)Kyoto (22.8°C)Phuket (31.2°C)Cape Town (21.4°C)Prague (14°C)Amalfi Coast (22°C)Mexico City (22°C)Medellín (27°C)Fiji (28°C)London (15°C)Sydney (22°C)Iceland (6°C)Tulum (31°C)Dubai (34°C)Singapore (32°C)Hoi An (29°C)Chiang Mai (30.5°C)Miami (30°C)Florence (19.8°C)Queenstown (15.5°C)Madrid (19.8°C)Porto (21°C)Edinburgh (13°C)Copenhagen (13°C)Budapest (17°C)Kraków (13°C)Tbilisi (19°C)Palawan (30°C)Hanoi (29°C)Osaka (22°C)Goa (32°C)Cusco (21°C)Buenos Aires (22°C)Mykonos (22°C)Zanzibar (29°C)Sri Lanka (30°C)Costa Rica (25°C)Cancun (30°C)Krabi (32°C)Athens (23°C)Seville (24°C)Cartagena (31°C)Siem Reap (30°C)Havana (29°C)Split (20°C)Taipei (27°C)Kuala Lumpur (32°C)Valletta (25°C)Ho Chi Minh City (32°C)Hawaii (30°C)Cappadocia (19°C)Dominican Republic (30°C)Jamaica (31°C)Tanzania (27°C)Seychelles (28°C)Nepal (24°C)Jordan (26°C)Bora Bora (28°C)Los Angeles (25.3°C)Cairo (30.6°C)Kenya (26.2°C)Jaipur (33.5°C)Las Vegas (28.8°C)San Francisco (20.3°C)Madeira (24°C)Vancouver (13.5°C)Muscat (35.2°C)Lima (19.5°C)Cinque Terre (20°C)Kotor (21°C)Tel Aviv (26°C)Santiago (22°C)Bogotá (18°C)Bruges (14.8°C)Penang (31.2°C)Lombok (31.5°C)Cape Verde (28.5°C)Fez (26.4°C)Kerala (31°C)Kigali (26°C)Hong Kong (26°C)Oslo (12°C)Auckland (18°C)
Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Azores, not across destinations. Methodology →