The best way to get from the airport is to hire a car straight after arrival.

If you’re staying only in Ponta Delgada and have organised your trips around the island, you can use a taxi, Uber, Bolt or a pre-booked transfer.

There is no regular public transport service to the airport.

Car hire

As the only way to explore the whole of São Miguel Island is by car, we recommend hiring a car straight after arrival at the airport, where all the car hire companies operating on the island are based. You’ll find the counters for all car hire companies in the arrivals terminal, but be sure to book your car well in advance – ideally 1–2 months.

Some car hire companies have limited availability, and if you leave it until the last minute or even wait until you arrive, you may find that only the most expensive cars are left.

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Examples of average prices:

• 7-day hire in winter (booked at least one month in advance): small car from 120 eur
• 7-day hire in summer (booked at least 6 months in advance): small car from 250 eur

When returning the car upon arrival at the airport, look out for signs displaying the name of your car hire company, which will guide you to the relevant car park. You will hand the car back directly in the car park and do not need to visit the car hire counter in the terminal.

Taxi

The official taxi rank is located directly in front of the arrivals terminal. The journey to the centre of Ponta Delgada takes around 10 minutes and costs approximately 10 eur.

Journeys from the airport may be charged at a fixed rate or based on distance. It is therefore advisable to confirm the price before getting in. Card payments are not always accepted, so we recommend carrying cash.

The Uber and Bolt apps also operate on São Miguel. Most drivers are based in Ponta Delgada and Ribeira Grande, but availability outside the larger towns can be significantly poorer. After the arrival of several flights at the same time, a traditional taxi is therefore usually a more reliable option.

An Uber or Bolt ride to the centre of Ponta Delgada usually costs between 7 eur and 10 eur, making it generally cheaper than a taxi.

If you’d like to have your transfer confirmed in advance – for example, if you’re arriving late, travelling with children or staying outside Ponta Delgada – you can book an airport taxi via Booking.com. You’ll see the price in advance, pay online, and the driver will be waiting for you on arrival.

Approximate prices for a private car when booking via Booking.com:

• airport – Ponta Delgada town centre: around 12 eur
• airport – Ribeira Grande: around 40 eur
• airport – Furnas: around 80 eur

A pre-booked transfer is more expensive than a standard taxi from the airport rank. The advantages are a guaranteed pick-up, a fixed price and the option to pay by card before the journey.

You’ll find traditional taxis mainly in Ponta Delgada. The central taxi rank is located on the seafront promenade near Portas da Cidade (location at google.com/maps). Taxis can also be booked via the local Taxi-Link app.

Taxis are mainly found in Ponta Delgada. The central taxi rank is situated on the seafront promenade near Portas da Cidade (location at google.com/maps).

Bus

No public buses run directly to the terminal.

There are no bus stops within easy walking distance either, so the only options are taxis or hiring a car.