The opening of the first Mercure hotel in the Azores provided the perfect excuse for a return visit to São Miguel, with bicycle rides and RIB outings, a dip in the sea and breathtaking scenery.
São Miguel — the island that has it all
Saturday, 10 January 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
Local accommodation (alojamento local) means short-term tourist rentals—private apartments, houses or rooms rented for days or weeks—that must be registered and licensed with municipal authorities. Municipalities can suspend or cancel licences (Lisbon cancelled about 6,700 licences in early 2026), so travellers and hosts should check a listing's registration and local rules before booking or offering stays.
