Ponta Delgada Transportation – Taxi, Train, Bus & Airport Tips

Ponta Delgada Transportation

Ponta Delgada is the administrative capital of the Azores, a chain of islands located west of Portugal. Located on Sao Miguel Island, the city of Ponta Delgada is distant from any other major nations, but still retains effective transportation for getting around and off of the islands.

Bus

Getting around while on the island itself can be done by riding on any one of the city’s major bus routes.  There is a route from Ponta Delgada to Ribeira Grande and many buses that make the trip per day. Other bus routes run to Gorreana and Porto Fomoso, a region of the country that is famous for its tea factory.

While bus lines connect Ponta Delgada with the rest of the island, it also has an effective transit system for getting around within the city. There are three minibus lines, the A, B, and C lines, that operate inside the town on working days. These buses run from 07:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and depart every 15 minutes. Tickets are affordable, running only 50 euro cents and purchasable for a discount when you buy a set of 10.

Those hoping to return to the airport will want to take Line A to the airport terminal. There is also a shuttle bus that links the airport to the downtown area. This bus departs from the airport about 20 minutes after the arrival of an airplane and is available from the first to the last flight.

Getting Off the Island

Besides SATA and TAP airlines that link mainland Portugal to the Azores, there are also  low-cost airlines Easyjet and Ryanair to consider. The latter also links Ponta Delgada to London’s Stansted Airport on Saturdays. SATA also has direct flights from Ponta Delgada to the U.S. and Canada.

Boats also make the journey to Ponta Delgada and use it as a port of call and a stop during the journey to Europe. Cruise ships regularly pass through before continuing on to France and Spain. Boats also connect the Azores themselves. There is a boat all year round that can transport passengers to other parts of the Azores for about 35 euros round-trip.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about transporation in Ponta Delgada.