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Praia da Vitória is a small coastal town with around 3,000 inhabitants. Located on the eastern tip of Terceira island, it benefited greatly, economically and socially, from the installation of a US air base there during the Second World War. Unfortunately, the Americans have reduced their presence drastically in the last decade which negatively impacted Praia da Vitória, so when you walk along Praia da Vitória, you feel like it is a somewhat “sleepy” town, unlike Angra do Heroísmo.
It is also the city where the island’s airport is located, so in my opinion, it is one of the best places to stay on Terceira.
It is a very small town, but it is worth spending a morning or afternoon there :)
So, in this article we will explore the best things to do in Praia da Vitória but also the best accommodation, how to get there and the services available to you in this Portuguese city.
Best things to do in Praia da Vitória
Do some whale watching
One of the best things to do in the Azores is to take a boat to see whales and dolphins. What if I told you that there is a tour, which starts at Praia da Vitória, that combines not only a whale watching activity but also a jeep ride and a fantastic regional lunch?
It’s an expensive tour (I won’t beat around the bush) but it allows you to do three things:
– be accompanied by a local guide, who knows the island like no one else.
– try a regional lunch (and Terceira, as I’ve said before, is by far the island of the Azores where you can eat the best).
– you can explore off the beaten path roads, used mostly by farmers – you’ll get to see the real Terceira.
Price: This Terceira island whale watching and Jeep Tour costs 225€ / person, which includes transportation (including pick up and drop off from your hotel), lunch and local guide.
Check out a picturesque church
There is a beautiful church called Igreja do Senhor Santo Cristo das Misericórdias and visiting it is, without a doubt, one of the best things to do in Praia da Vitória.
In addition to being very picturesque on the outside, inside it is a very unusual church, as it has two altars instead of just one. Senhor Eusébio, a city council employee, is often there and he taught me the history of the church, and it is definitely worth talking to him :)
Now this church has two altars and not just one because in the past there were actually two churches next to each other. Then there was a terrible fire in the 1920s and the church was rebuilt as a single church. As there was no money at that time to invest in gilded woodwork, it was decided to make the altars out of carved wood and then painted white. After that, it suffered a lot from the earthquake of the 1980s – this beautiful church is a survivor!
Price: free entrance.
Try the traditional “Conde da Praia” pastry
A few years ago I stumbled upon one of the best pastry shops in the Azores, and it’s right in Praia da Vitória. It’s called Pastelaria da Graça, and it’s one of my favourite places on the island because they make the best pastries in the world. My favourite is the white bean and almond pastry, but don’t forget to try the Dona Amélia and the Conde da Praia, because they’re traditional sweets from Terceira, and they’re both wonderful. These pastries keep for a long time, because of their high sugar content, so it’s worth ordering some to take home – that’s what I do every time I visit Terceira!
Opening hours: everyday from 7 am to 10 pm.
Try fantastic seafood at O Pescador
One of the best things to do in the Azores is to have a seafood meal at O Pescador, the best restaurant in Terceira island. This place really stoods out among the competition because, even though there are other restaurants with fantastic food in the island, there are very few with such an efficient, fast and kind service as O Pescador.
The menu of O Pescador has great suggestions for both meat and fish, but my favorite dishes are by far the grandmother’s soup, made with red beans, fennel and pork meat, and also the codfish cataplana with “Portuguese sauce”, as they call it.
The wine list is extensive and, at lunch time, they serve wine by the glass at very affordable prices.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday from noon to 10pm. Closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Try the best alcatra at Fonte das Bicas
Alcatra is one of the most famous Azorean dishes and is typical of Terceira Island. Almost all restaurants serve it, but there is one, in Praia da Vitória, that does it particularly well. It is called Fonte das Sete Bicas and it is worth taking a 10-minute detour by car to have lunch there.
Don’t be fooled by the humble appearance of this restaurant: in fact, I have rarely eaten such a memorable octopus rump. In addition to the octopus rump, Fonte das Sete Bicas also serves fish rump, beef rump (the traditional kind), veal tongue and bean rump. They are all delicious!
Opening hours: open from Monday to Friday from 7am to 6pm. On Saturdays it closes earlier, around 3pm, and is closed on Sundays.
Go to the beach
I have already written about the best beaches on Terceira and, in fact, some of the best are in Praia da Vitória. There, there is Praia da Riviera, Praia Grande and also the so-called Prainha, locally nicknamed “Americans’ beach”.
These three beaches are the only sandy beaches on the entire island (with the exception of Praínha, in Angra do Heroísmo) and are beautifully equipped with showers, changing rooms and parking. Furthermore, and precisely because they are in the city centre, they are very close to many restaurants and cafés.
Check the local market
The Praia da Vitória municipal market is small but sooooo cute :) Basically, it has a restaurant, a really cool grocery store full of bowls full of vegetables, a great fishmonger (that’s where I buy my fish when I want to cook) and a small florist. All these vendors face the tiny internal courtyard, where you can enjoy a delicious meal at Aromas e Sabores Bistro.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 7:30 am to 5 pm. On Saturdays it only opens in the morning, and is closed on Sundays.
Price: free entrance.
Relax at Praia da Vitória’s garden
Right in front of the Praia da Vitória municipal market there is a small but very nice garden. At the back, it consists of a large landscaped area with two huge, beautiful aracacia trees, flanking a commemorative statue. There is also a small café, where I like to have a coffee while reading a book.
Price: free entrance.
Wonder around the main square
One of the best things to do in Praia da Vitória is simply to stroll through its picturesque streets, admiring the low houses decorated with bright colors. There is no specific route to follow, but I personally really like walking up from the Marina to a small square where the Town Hall is located, and then slowly walking up Rua de Jesus.
Unfortunately, most of the shops are abandoned, possibly because many businesses went bankrupt when the Americans left the island. But it is still a lovely stroll through the center of Praia da Vitória.
Admire the views from the Facho viewpoint
One of the best things to do in Praia da Vitória is to enjoy the views from the Facho viewpoint. The view from there is phenomenal, with views of the entire bay, industrial area and pasture fields.
If you are in Praia Grande, you can easily walk up to the Facho viewpoint. If you are feeling lazy, you can drive there.
Take a dip in the Porto Martins natural pools
One of the best things to do in Praia da Vitória is definitely to take a dip in some of its natural pools, like Porto Martins, which are very popular with both locals and tourists. It has a very large and protected natural pool, which is accessed by a ramp, which makes it very easy for people with reduced mobility.
You can also go for a swim directly in the sea.
One of the advantages of this, which is one of the best beaches in Terceira, is that it has an excellent restaurant right next door, Búzius, as well as many accommodation options in the small fishing village where it is located, Porto Martins.
Admire the ecosystem of Paul da Praia da Vitória
For those who don’t know, a marsh is a very particular ecosystem, made up of wetlands, often located below sea level. It is therefore capable of supporting wildlife, particularly migratory birds, which use it as a refuge and nesting area.
There are several marshes in Praia da Vitória and probably the most popular one is called Paúl da Praia da Vitória.
Right next to it are two playgrounds (one for younger children and one for older children), as well as a picnic area.
If paúls fascinate you, then check also Paul da Pedreira do Cabo da praia.
Price: free entrance.
Visit the Fort of Santa Catarina
If you like history, I recommend you visit the Fort of Santa Catarina, a fortification built in the sixteenth century to defend this anchorage against attacks by pirates and corsairs.
During the Portuguese Civil War (1828-1834), during the Battle of Praia da Vitória (11 August 1829), it was severely damaged during the attempt by Miguelist forces to land at this location.
The fort has an elevated interior, with a charming view of the sea and the port. In addition, it has the advantage of being guided by Mr Eusébio (yes, the same man from the Igreja do Senhor Santo Cristo das Misericórdias church – he is at the two monuments on alternate days).
How to get to Praia da Vitória
You basically have three options:
- If you have just arrived at Terceira airport, you can simply rent a car and drive for a couple of minutes. NEVER let renting a car in the Azores to the last minute – these are small islands, with a lot more demand than supply, so renting a car for weeks – even months! – in advance is wise.
- If you don’t want to rent a car, you can take a taxi. The price of a taxi journey with luggage from Terceira airport to the centre of Praia da Vitória costs around €9 (yes, taxis are super expensive in Terceira!).
- Another option is to take the bus that leaves from Terceira airport.
For more information, read my article about how to get around Terceira Island.
