For most people heading to The Azores, the island of São Miguel is the first, and often main, stop on their itinerary. João Paulo II Airport in Ponta Delgada is the largest airport on The Azores, and it also has the most connections to mainland Portugal as well as other parts of the world like the United States and Canada.
The easiest way to get from the airport to Ponta Delgada, or anywhere else on São Miguel island is by airport transfer. It’s more comfortable than a shuttle bus or public transport and, because the driver will be waiting for you in the Arrivals Terminal, you don’t have the hassle of trying to find a taxi.
Your driver will take you straight to your hotel where you can drop your luggage, freshen up, and get on with what you came to do: explore The Azores.
Airport Transfer Companies
There are several airport transfer comparison websites as well as a few local companies that provide airport transfers from Ponta Delgada Airport to destinations across São Miguel island, but which one is the best? This comparison table compares quotes from several different companies to show which is cheapest.
Ponta Delgada |
|
|---|---|
Rideways.com |
€23.32 |
Hoppa.com |
€27.55 |
Kwiktaxi.com |
€30 |
Prices based on a journey from Ponta Delgada Airport to Ponta Delgada. Prices accurate at the time of writing (March 2019).
Airport transfers with young children
If you’re travelling with a child or baby, you may be wondering if your airport transfer will have a child or baby car seat. The following companies confirm that they have car seats, which you can request when you book your airport transfer.
- Kwiktaxi.com: child and booster car seats available for a fee (~€4)
Alternatively, you could bring your own child car seat with you. Most airlines allow you to bring them with you for free, and it may be something that you need during the rest of your trip.
Minibus or large vehicles
If you’re travelling as part of a large group, you may want to book a minibus or minicoach so that you can all travel together.
- Hoppa.com and rideways.com both allow you to book minibuses and coaches.
Luxury airport transfers
Perhaps you’re visiting The Azores for an important business meeting, or maybe you’re visiting as part of a special occasion. Regardless of why you’re here, you may decide that you want to get picked up in a car that’s a little more prestigious than what most drivers have.
- Hoppa.com have executive and luxury cars as one of their options.
Alternatives to booking an airport transfer
An airport transfer is just one way of getting from the airport to your accommodation. On São Miguel you have several other options like taking a taxi when you arrive, taking a shuttle bus, or renting a car.
Taxi
Taxis on São Miguel are not metered and have a fixed price and, actually, are usually cheaper than taking an airport transfer. You can see a list of current prices on taxispdl.com.
These can be pre-booked, or you’ll find taxis waiting outside the Arrivals Terminal.
Shuttle bus
Shuttle buses can be booked through sites like hoppa.com. This is probably the cheapest way to get to and from the airport although, because it stops at several hotels and towns along the way, it has the longest journey time.
Renting a car
The best, and most cost-effective, way to see São Miguel is to rent a car, and it normally makes sense to pick the car up at the airport. If you’re just mainly going to spend your time in Ponta Delgada city, however, it probably doesn’t make much sense to rent a car.
Useful car rental websites include
- Rentalcars.com
- Kayak.com
- Skyscanner.net
Travelling to other parts of Portugal? Be sure to read the guides to airport transfers in Lisbon, Porto, Faro, and Madeira.
