João Paulo II Airport: where to stay, areas and recommended hotels

Ponta Delgada airport is in the parish of Relva, just 3 km from the historic centre: a taxi costs €10-14 and takes 10-15 minutes, with urban buses 208 and 252 as a daytime alternative and the night bus 902 in the evening hours. For this reason, unlike the other Azores islands, in Ponta Delgada it's almost always worth staying in the centre, with the port and historic centre within walking distance even for those leaving early in the morning. Those who prefer a hotel with a pool and an in-house restaurant, accepting a taxi for both the centre and the terminal, can look at Fajã de Baixo, on the opposite side of the city.

Historic centre and marina

City centre · Taxi from the terminal to the centre in 10-15 minutes (€10-14); urban buses 208 and 252 link the airport to the centre during the day, the night bus 902 in the evening hours.

Best for: Those who want the historic centre and the port within walking distance, with the airport still only a few taxi minutes away.

Pros

Port, Portas da Cidade and the historic centre within walking distance of the area's hotels
Pedestrian zone with restaurants and shops open until late

Cons

Narrow streets in the historic centre: scarce parking for those arriving with a rental car
From here the airport is still 10-15 taxi minutes away, not walkable

Recommended hotels in this area

Mercure Ponta Delgada Azores: On Rua Machado dos Santos, about 700 metres from the marina and a few minutes on foot from the historic centre; 75 rooms, an indoor and outdoor pool and a wellness centre, among the most complete facilities in the city centre.
Aljube Residences I - Apt novo, com terraço, centro PDL: Apartment in a renovated building on Rua do Aljube, on a quiet side street of the historic centre; full kitchen and terrace, handy for stays of several nights.

See more hotels in this area →

Fajã de Baixo

Neighbourhood · About 9-10 taxi minutes from both the airport and the historic centre; no dedicated direct bus.

Best for: Those who prefer a resort with a pool and in-house restaurant, accepting a taxi for both the centre and the airport.

Pros

Two pools (one indoor) and a gym, a rare feature among Ponta Delgada's hotels
Views of the ocean and the countryside, away from the traffic of the centre

Cons

No attraction within walking distance: every outing requires a taxi
Rates higher than the average for hotels in the historic centre

Recommended hotels in this area

Delta Hotels by Marriott Azores: 60 rooms with ocean or countryside views, two pools and the Atlantic Grill & View restaurant; about 9 taxi minutes from both the historic centre and the airport.

See more hotels in this area →