Terminal Drop-Off Charge

A £5 charge now applies to vehicles dropping off passengers at the designated drop-off zones, located directly outside the terminals. Discounts and exemptions will apply. Free drop-off will be available at the Long Stay car parks.

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Important information (2 Notifications)

No rail services to Heathrow - 4 & 5 December

Due to engineering works at Heathrow, there will be no mainline rail services to or from Heathrow Airport on 4 & 5 December.

 

London Underground services between the terminals and London will continue to operate, passengers looking to travel to central London, or connecting between terminals 5 and 2/3, will be required to use the London Underground services.

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Coronavirus update

Face coverings are mandatory at the airport and we encourage everyone to wear one at all times, unless they’re exempt. Passengers can purchase face coverings at several retailers at the airport including Boots and WHSmith. 

 

The safety of both passengers and colleagues has always been Heathrow’s number one priority. The airport has several COVID-secure measures in place to make sure everyone has a safe journey including: 

 

- Enhance cleaning regimes including Hygiene Technicians, UV robots and other anti-viral technologies to ensure continuous disinfection across terminals

- Dedicated COVID marshals to enforce social distancing

- 600 hand sanitiser stations 

 

Due to the emergence of a new Coronavirus variant, the UK Government have advised that fully vaccinated passengers arriving into England must:

 

- Take a PCR test no later than 2 days after their arrival.

- Self isolate until they receive their result.

- If a passenger tests positive, they must isolate for 10 days.

- If a passenger tests negative, they can leave self isolation.

 

Passengers arriving from a country on the red list must book a managed quarantine hotel.

 

Passengers who are not fully vaccinated must continue to follow separate guidance.

 

As countries may change their entry requirements, we advise customers to check the UK Government website for up to date information.

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    • The Azores

    The Azores travel guide

    View Portugal travel guide

    Overview

    The remoteness of the archipelago of the Azores in the North Atlantic has saved the beautiful green islands from becoming overdeveloped. International flights do make their way to the Azores, which lie 900 miles west of Portugal. But as of yet, tourism has not spoilt the islanders' traditional way of life nor marred the magnificent natural attractions, including the geysers at Lagoa das Furnas or the white sand beaches of Lagoa da Fogo.

    Those who visit soon manage to drop the words 'stress' and 'pollution' from their vocabularies, and give in totally to enjoying the islands' year round subtropical climate with mild temperatures and high humidity. The only concern that might arise is the odd earth tremor: the islands are rather geologically unstable and pitted with volcanoes and hot sulphur springs. The 250,000 inhabitants seem unperturbed by this, however, and go about their daily rounds much as their forefathers did hundreds of years before.

    The daily business is generally agricultural labour. The Azores is characterised by large tracts of farmland, sprinkled with little settlements of whitewashed houses. The gently sloping hillsides are carpeted with vineyards and fruit orchards. The coast of the islands is, in the main, rather rugged, but there are bays and inlets for swimming and sunbathing with the odd stretch of white sand. Island hopping is simple to achieve because all the islands are connected by ferry and local air services.

    Pico

    The resort island of Pico is dominated by its volcanic namesake, rising from the middle of the landscape and towering 7,720ft (2,351m) above sea level. It's the highest peak in Portugal, with a single road encircling the island following the rugged coastline. It's possible to climb the volcano to the summit but the route is arduous and should not be attempted by amateurs. Pico's other main claim to fame is as a jumping-off point for whale-watching expeditions, offered by local boatmen. In the island's vineyards, the famous verdelho wine grapes are grown. At Lajes, there is a whale-hunting museum and in São Roche, visitors can discover a museum depicting the operation of a whaling factory.

    Pico Pico AiresAlmeida
    Terceira

    Terceira, an island resort destination in the Azores, holds many places of interest for tourists. The historic centre of its capital town, Angra do Heroísmo, is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town is an idyllic setting, renowned for its pastel-coloured sunset vistas and its periodic running of the bulls. Ask in the local bar when the next event is likely to take place. The other main town on the island, Praia da Vitória, is interesting because of its American flavour, being close to the American airbase in Lajes and featuring several burger joints and US-style souvenir shops.

    Angra do Heroismo Angra do Heroismo Marco Derksen
    São Jorge

    The resort island of São Jorge is surrounded by sheer black cliffs and is the centre of the Azores' dairy industry. The lush green grass of the island's fields plumps up the grazing cows, who in turn produce rich milk for creamy, straw-coloured wheels of cheese. The island also has exclusive rights to the delicious fleshy cockles that are caught in the waters of Caldeira de Santo Cristo. Aside from its gastronomic delights, São Jorge offers active pursuits like dive fishing, hiking, swimming and bird watching. Villages such as Velas and Manadas possess historic buildings dating back to 1400 and offer the sleepy culture of traditional harbour towns.

    Sao Jorge Sao Jorge Aitor Salaberria
    Santa Maria

    The island resort of Santa Maria, a fantastic holiday retreat, lies southwest of São Miguel Island and features an airport that was a World War II American Air Force base, now appropriated as a civil airport. The main town on the island is Vila do Porto. It only has one hotel but also several inns and private villas for rent. There are a few sandy golden beaches on the island, including Praia Formosa, and the scenic Maia and São Lourenço Bays, offering rocky cliffs and attractive vineyards. Pretty villages like Anjos and Santo Espírito are steeped in local history and culture, and the island has many colourful festivals throughout the summertime.

    São Lourenço Islet São Lourenço Islet Carlos Luis M C da Cruz
    Graciosa

    The tiny Graciosa is known as the White Island of the Azores due to the pale rocky landscape. But there is variety in its golden wheatfields and green and purple vineyards. The landscape is dotted with quaint Dutch-style windmills, and most of its 4,600 inhabitants make their living from farming, winemaking and cattle-raising. Graciosa has its own unique natural attraction: the Furna de Enxofre. This is a small, warm sulphur lake, concealed in a grotto underneath a volcanic crater. Visitors on holiday can reach the lake via a 270ft (80m) spiral staircase enclosed in a brick tower.

    Graciosa Graciosa Xavier
    Faial

    Faial, with its sheltered bays and immense volcanic crater, is the most visited of the Azores. Much of the interior is protected as a reserve where visitors enjoy the diverse flora and fauna under the supervision of local guides. Faial's main town, Horta, has a large marina used as a favoured stopping point for yachtsmen, and the harbour also occasionally accommodates cruise liners. Horta and other villages have a number of pretty churches, chapels, towers and forts, and a lively small-town atmosphere. Of interest to sightseers is the new section of land, covering an area of approximately one mile (two km), added to the island in the most recent volcanic eruption of 1957.

    Faial Faial trebol-a
    Flores

    Literally the island of 'flowers', this most northerly of the Azores blooms, carpeted with numerous flowers among impossibly green hills and white-washed villages. Considered one of the most beautiful islands in the Azores, the best time to visit is summer, when it is covered in the bright pink and blue hydrangeas that give Flores its name. Highlights on the island include the seven serene lakes in volcanic craters, the Enxareus Grotto, the Águas Quentes hot springs and the multiple waterfalls of the Ribeira Grande. Flores' largest town, Lajes, is a picturesque fishing port set in green fields. All the island's towns and villages have historic chapels and churches to explore.

    Flores Flores Julen Iturbe-Ormaetxe

    Phrase Book

    English Pronounciation

    The Azores islands have a sub-tropical climate, characterised by high humidity and frequent fluctuations in weather patterns. The islands enjoy pleasant year-round temperatures with mild winters (January to March) and warm summers (July to September). The highest rainfall in the Azores archipelago is from October through to January.

    João Paulo II Airport
    Location: 1.9 miles (3km) west of Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island
    Time: GMT (GMT +1 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October)
    Getting to the city: There is a bus to downtown Ponta Delgada, however taxis are the preferred method for city transfers as the airport is only 1.8 miles (3km) from the city centre.
    Car Rental: Argus operates car hire facilities at Ponta Delgada airport.
    Airport Taxis: There are taxis available at the airport 24 hours a day.
    Facilities: The terminal contains restaurants, duty-free shopping, a bank, currency exchange, post office, ATM, and tourist information centre.
    Parking Parking in lot P1, closest to the airport terminal, starts at €0.60 per 15 minutes and then charges €10 for the first day, €12 for two days, €14 for three days, and €3.20 per day thereafter. Lot P2, situated farther from the terminal, is a little cheaper at €0.50 per 15 minutes, €8 for one day, €9 for two days, and €1 per subsequent day.
    Website: www.ana.pt

    The nine volcanic islands of the Azores archipelago offer up a variety of things to see and do for travellers to its shores. With hundreds of resorts, the year-round warmth certainly suits the sun-loving visitor as they are never far away from a beautiful beach on which to laze.

    On popular resort island São Miguel, there are endless activities and sights for the traveller to explore: mountain biking, golfing on world-class courses, horse-riding on the beach and whale watching from a boat cruise. Ponta Delgada on São Miguel makes a good base from which to explore the other eight islands of the Azores.

    The town of Ponta Delgada has a variety of cultural sights such as a bustling town square filled with markets, the charming Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Esperanca, and a harbour boasting the imposing fortress of São Brás. From this base, which has its own airport chartering international flights, one can explore the surrounding islands, such as the picturesque Graciosa, sporting stunning turquoise waters and a pale white landscape. Alternatively, one can visit the historic centre of Terceira's capital town, Angra do Heroísmo, which has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

    a1

    No direct flights from Heathrow to this Destination