One of the most obvious ways to travel to Terceira, in the Azores, is to take a direct flight from Lisbon or Porto. But that is not always the only solution — and, in some cases, there may even be more interesting combinations.
In this article, we explain the main ways to travel to Terceira and, depending on where you are coming from, which options tend to be the best.
Terceira is one of the most important islands in the archipelago in terms of accessibility and continues to establish itself as one of the best entry points in the Azores. In addition to combining heritage, nature and good logistics, it benefits from strong connectivity in 2026 — especially for travellers departing from mainland Portugal.
There are direct flights to Terceira from mainland Portugal, as well as connecting options from other markets, which makes this island an excellent choice for starting an itinerary in the Azores — especially if you later want to continue to the Central Group.
However, there are several ways to travel to Terceira, which I will explain below:
Updated for summer 2026: as schedules and routes change throughout the year, we recommend always confirming dates in the search engine (Aviasales) and on the official websites (Azores Airlines/TAP).
- Direct flights and combinations: check the flights below in our comparison tool.
- Other connections in the Azores: if you want to continue your trip to other islands, you can combine Terceira with inter-island flights and, in some itineraries, then continue to the Central Group.
How it works (in 1 minute)
Table of Contents
- 1) Always compare the direct flight with possible combinations via other origins.
- 2) If you are planning for high season, try to book early — Terceira is stronger in 2026, but that may also increase demand.
- 3) If you have connections, always leave some margin between flights to avoid stress.
- 4) In the end, confirm in the search engine (Aviasales) which combination offers the best price/schedule for your dates.
Travelling to Terceira on a direct flight:
Trips are usually made from Lisbon or Porto, and the most relevant airlines are Azores Airlines and TAP Air Portugal.
In 2026, Terceira gained even more importance as an entry point thanks to improved connectivity. Azores Airlines is reinforcing the Lisbon – Terceira route, and TAP launched the new regular Porto – Terceira connection, which makes the island even more accessible for travellers departing from mainland Portugal.
This means that, for many people, Terceira is no longer just an alternative to São Miguel and becomes a very logical entry option, especially if the goal is to combine culture, nature and possible connections to other islands.
Even so, it is still worth comparing dates and testing different combinations, because small changes can make a difference to the final price and to the quality of the schedules.
Travelling to Terceira from other origins:
One of Terceira’s advantages is that, in 2026, it is better positioned for travellers departing from northern Portugal, thanks to the new direct route from Porto. For some travellers, this may make Terceira a more practical option than entering through other islands.
It may also make sense to use Terceira as the point of entry if the idea is to continue afterwards to other islands in the Central Group, since it remains one of the most strategic islands in the archipelago in terms of connections.
In addition, there is another extra update in 2026: Azores Airlines will launch the Terceira – Funchal route, which may be useful for anyone designing combined itineraries between the Azores and Madeira.
If you want to better understand how to combine Terceira with other islands, you can read the article: How to Travel to the Azores
In the form below, you can search for all available flights to Terceira. If you are organising a multi-island trip, also compare entering through Terceira with other options within the archipelago.
Flight Price Comparison for Terceira
This tool performs a search to find the cheapest and best options for travelling to Terceira, regardless of your origin.
Travelling to Terceira with a connection:
Although Terceira is stronger in 2026, in some cases it may still be worth routing through another city or even another airline, especially if you are coming from abroad and comparing different combinations.
Update (Summer 2026): low-cost operations to the Azores have changed. Ryanair announced the cancellation of flights to the Azores from 29/03/2026. Therefore, the best approach is to compare several origins and dates on Aviasales, instead of assuming that the most obvious option will automatically be the cheapest.
It may also make sense to enter through Terceira and then continue to other islands, especially if you want to build an itinerary that combines the island with the Central Group.
That is, in fact, one of the reasons why Terceira works so well as the first island on a trip to the Azores: it allows you to begin with a complete, well-connected island and then continue your itinerary relatively simply.
Flight delays:
If you arrive in the Azores on connecting flights from another country to Lisbon, Porto or another city, and then travel to Terceira, always try to book flights with some safety margin between connections.
Even with improved connectivity, the ideal is to avoid connections that are too tight, especially if you still have another island connection afterwards.
The only good thing is that, if there is a delay, you can always request compensation via AirHelp and receive an amount that may help pay for your holiday.
If your flight was cancelled or delayed, please note that you may be entitled to compensation of up to €600. Learn more in the banner below:
What is the best way to travel to Terceira?
There are several solutions; however, for many people, the best one will simply be to look for a direct flight to Terceira, especially in 2026, when the island is strengthening its role as one of the best entry points in the Azores. The advantages are:
- Good connectivity with mainland Portugal
- A stronger role as an entry point in 2026
- An excellent base for continuing your trip to other islands.
Frequently asked questions
What is the simplest way to travel to Terceira?
In most cases, the simplest way is to book a direct flight to Terceira. In 2026, the island became even stronger as an entry point thanks to improved connectivity.
Is it worth entering through Terceira and then continuing to other islands?
Yes. Terceira works very well as the entry point for a longer trip in the Azores, especially if you want to combine the island with the Central Group.
How far in advance should I book for Terceira?
If you are travelling in summer, booking in advance continues to be important, especially because Terceira gained more demand with the strengthening of flights in 2026.
Is Terceira a good option for travellers departing from northern Portugal?
Yes. In 2026, the new Porto – Terceira route greatly strengthened the island’s position for travellers departing from the north of the country.
Conclusion
Besides direct connections from Lisbon or Porto, there are other ways to travel to Terceira, especially for travellers coming from abroad or wanting to combine several islands in the same itinerary.
Entering through Terceira can also be an excellent way to begin a broader trip through the Azores, since the island is even stronger in 2026 as one of the main entry points to the archipelago.
Both solutions — entering directly in Terceira or using the island as a starting point for others — can work very well, as long as prices, schedules and connections are carefully compared.
Whichever solution you prefer, it is worth travelling to Terceira and discovering everything this extraordinary island has to offer.