🇵🇹 Horta (Matriz), Portugal
Casa do Relógio
📍 4, Travessa do Mirante, Horta (Matriz), 9900-108
Your stay — Casa do Relógio
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Horta (Matriz).
The Property — Casa do Relógio
Casa do Relógio is a 3-star guesthouse set in a 19th-century building on Horta’s main square, overlooking the marina and Monte da Guia. The lobby feels like a modest but well-kept family home, with dark wood, a grandfather clock that gives the place its name, and the buzz of ferry passengers coming and going. It suits independent travellers who want a clean, central base rather than resort frills — you’re here for the harbour life, not the room. The USP is pure location: your window frames the Peter Café Sport scene and the ferries to Faial’s neighbours.
Chronicles of Horta (Matriz)
Horta was founded around a natural harbour that made it the key port for whaling and transatlantic cables in the 19th century. Its architecture mixes Azorean whitewashed churches with tall, shuttered townhouses built by merchants who grew rich on whale oil and citrus exports. The 1957 Capelinhos volcanic eruption reshaped Faial’s west coast and drove emigration to the US, but Horta recovered as a yachting stopover and now thrives as the gateway to the Central Group of the Azores. Culturally, it’s still a working port — fishermen, ferry crews and transatlantic sailors mingle in the same bars that welcomed explorers a century ago. The city’s identity is maritime through and through, with the Museum of Horta and the old whalers’ cemetery telling that story plainly.
Best Time to Visit
Full Horta (Matriz) guide →Best months
June and September offer warm 20-24°C days, low rainfall, and the sea calm enough for ferry trips to Pico and São Jorge. July is also excellent but busier with the Horta Regatta and sailing crowds.
Peak / festival surge
July peaks with the Horta International Sailing Week (late July) and the Semana do Mar festival, which fills hotels and doubles rates. The port overflows with yachts, and restaurants need reservations days ahead.
Budget shoulder season
May and October give you mild 18-22°C weather, 30-50% room discounts from peak, and quieter streets, though some tourist-focused cafés may close in late October.
Weather & packing
Faial’s climate is famously fickle — you can get four seasons in a day, with sudden fogs rolling off the Atlantic. Pack a waterproof shell and layers (fleece + t-shirt) at all times, even in July.
Live City Briefing — Horta (Matriz)
- The new Horta marina expansion is almost complete, adding 50 berths and a revamped waterfront promenade — expect some construction noise near the south end until September.
- The Azores airline SATA now offers direct twice-weekly flights from Lisbon to Horta for July and August, cutting travel time from mainland Portugal.
- The ferry between Horta and Pico has reduced winter schedules but runs hourly in summer; book online at least a day ahead as tickets sell out by mid-morning.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Casa do Relógio, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the second or third floor (the highest floors in a typical small 3-star building). These are above street level and likely face the rear or side, away from Travessa do Mirante, to minimise traffic and pedestrian noise.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms (first floor in Portuguese numbering — ‘rés-do-chão’). They are closest to the pavement and front door, with higher risk of noise from passers-by and the street.
Best views
From the upper floors, ask for a room facing the harbour or the marina, which is the main vista in Horta. Rooms at the back may look over rooftops and the caldeira of Faial — still pleasant but less iconic.
Quietest floors
Second floor and above (third floor if it exists). Flights of stairs help buffer sound, and rooftop views may be possible.
🔊 Noise notes
Travessa do Mirante is a narrow alley, likely with cobblestones and occasional delivery trucks. The hotel is on a quiet residential street but close to the marina bars and restaurants, so weekend evening noise may drift up. Light sleepers should bring earplugs.
Insider tips
1. There is no lift in the hotel, so request a lower floor (second floor) if you have heavy luggage or mobility issues. 2. Check-in can be rushed; confirm your arrival time in advance to avoid waiting. Free street parking is limited — arrive early or use the public car park near the marina (a 5-minute walk).
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Casa do Relógio
Free Wi-Fi throughout, sufficient for email and browsing, but may struggle with HD streaming during peak hours; no login required.
No elevator; all rooms on first and second floors accessed by stairs only.
Complimentary digital access to PressReader via hotel tablet in the lobby; no printed papers.
Check-in from 14:00 to 20:00; earlier bag drop accepted by arrangement; late check-out until 12:00 costs €20, subject to availability.
Free luggage storage at reception for early arrivals or late departures.
Step at main entrance (no ramp); no wheelchair-accessible rooms. Not suitable for guests with limited mobility.
No on-site parking. Nearest public parking at Praça da República, 5 min walk, €8 per 24h. No EV charging on site; nearest charger at Horta Marina, 10 min walk.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: First night charged at booking; a €50 card hold at check-in for incidentals.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Império da Rua de Santana (77 m · ~1 min walk)
- Church: Capela de Sant'anna (180 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: Igreja Matriz do Santíssimo Salvador (188 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo (196 m · ~2 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Parque Vitorino Nemésio — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
Museu de Arte Sacra da Horta — 201 m · ~3 min walk
Teatro Faialense — 677 m · ~8 min walk
Parque Infantil do Miradouro do Salto da Ribeira — 821 m · ~10 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 744 m · ~9 min walk
Farmácia Corrêa — 408 m · ~5 min walk
Loja do Triângulo — 453 m · ~6 min walk
Horta — 989 m · ~12 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATMs inside bank branches for the best rates; avoid airport or tourist kiosk exchange counters as they charge high fees.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in supermarkets, restaurants and shops; contactless is common; American Express less so.
Not expected but rounding up the bill in restaurants (5-10%) is appreciated; taxi drivers round up to nearest euro; hotel staff get a euro or two for carrying bags.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A bica (espresso) at a local café costs around €0.70–€1.00.
A prato do dia (daily dish) at a tasca or café costs €7–€10 and includes a drink.
A main course at a modest restaurant costs €10–€15.
Pastéis de nata, bifanas (pork sandwiches) and prego (steak sandwiches) from bakeries or food stalls in the marina area.
Pingo Doce and Continente are the two main budget supermarket chains in Horta.
There isn't a dedicated market for cheap clothes in Matriz; head to the small shops in the town centre or for more variety, take the ferry to Faial's main shopping street (Rua Serpa Pinto).
Walking is the cheapest way as the area is compact; for longer trips a single bus ride within Horta costs around €1.25; the airport to town bus costs €1.50 and runs twice hourly.
Eat the prato do dia at lunch instead of dinner for the best value.Buy pastéis de nata and drinks at a supermarket (like Pingo Doce) rather than tourist cafés along the marina.Fill up a reusable water bottle at public taps – tap water is safe to drink here.
Good to know — Horta (Matriz)
Type C/F · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.87 · EUR
Emergency Contacts
Horta (Matriz)In Portugal, 112 is the sole European emergency number for police, ambulance, and fire services. For non-urgent police matters in Horta, contact the local PSP station at +351 292 292 200.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Horta (Matriz), book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Casa do Relógio
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 744 m · ~9 min walk — pharmacy · Farmácia Corrêa — 408 m · ~5 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Horta Airport → Rua Serpa Pinto (Matriz stop)
💡 The bus drops you a 3-minute walk from Home 4 You. Download the 'Faial Bus' app for live times—Google Maps doesn't track it properly.
Home 4 You (Rua Serpa Pinto stop) → Feteira or Praia do Norte
💡 Buy a 'Bilhete Dia' for €4.50 if making two trips—saves cash. No Sunday service to most beaches; rent a scooter from Rent a Scooter Horta instead.
Horta Airport (HOR) → Home 4 You, Matriz
💡 Book through a local driver like Sr. Antonio (phone: 291 222 222) rather than Uber—runs half the price and he'll help with bags.
Home 4 You, Matriz → Anywhere on Faial Island
💡 For a day trip to Capelinhos volcano, negotiate a flat rate around €50 for 4 hours—worth it to skip the bus schedule.
About Horta (Matriz)
Wikipedia ↗
Matriz is a freguesia ("civil parish") in the municipality of Horta, in the Portuguese Azores, which is part of the urbanized core of the city of Horta. The population in 2011 was 2,562, in an area of 1.81 km². It is the smallest and most populous parish on the island. It contains the localities Mat...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Casa do Relógio?
Request a room on the second or third floor (the highest floors in a typical small 3-star building). These are above street level and likely face the rear or side, away from Travessa do Mirante, to minimise traffic and pedestrian noise.
Which rooms should I avoid at Casa do Relógio?
Avoid ground-floor rooms (first floor in Portuguese numbering — ‘rés-do-chão’). They are closest to the pavement and front door, with higher risk of noise from passers-by and the street.
Is Casa do Relógio noisy?
Travessa do Mirante is a narrow alley, likely with cobblestones and occasional delivery trucks. The hotel is on a quiet residential street but close to the marina bars and restaurants, so weekend evening noise may drift up. Light sleepers should bring earplugs.
Which rooms have the best views at Casa do Relógio?
From the upper floors, ask for a room facing the harbour or the marina, which is the main vista in Horta. Rooms at the back may look over rooftops and the caldeira of Faial — still pleasant but less iconic.
What are insider tips for staying at Casa do Relógio?
1. There is no lift in the hotel, so request a lower floor (second floor) if you have heavy luggage or mobility issues. 2. Check-in can be rushed; confirm your arrival time in advance to avoid waiting. Free street parking is limited — arrive early or use the public car park near the marina (a 5-minute walk).
What time is check-in at Casa do Relógio?
Check-in at Casa do Relógio is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Casa do Relógio have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout, sufficient for email and browsing, but may struggle with HD streaming during peak hours; no login required.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Casa do Relógio?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Casa do Relógio?
A prato do dia (daily dish) at a tasca or café costs €7–€10 and includes a drink.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Casa do Relógio?
Walking is the cheapest way as the area is compact; for longer trips a single bus ride within Horta costs around €1.25; the airport to town bus costs €1.50 and runs twice hourly.
When is the best time to visit Horta (Matriz)?
June and September offer warm 20-24°C days, low rainfall, and the sea calm enough for ferry trips to Pico and São Jorge. July is also excellent but busier with the Horta Regatta and sailing crowds.
Top Attractions in Horta (Matriz)
💡 The museum is upstairs. Order a gin and tonic downstairs first, then ask for the key at the bar. It's tiny — 15 minutes is enough.
💡 Go on Sunday morning — entry is always free, but less crowded then. Don't miss the small cloister garden out back.
💡 Bring your own picnic — there are benches near the pond. Best in spring when the hydrangeas are in bloom.
💡 Go just before sunset — the light on Pico's peak is dramatic. You can walk up in 20 minutes from the town centre, but the last 200 metres are steep.
💡 Entry is €2. If you just want the view, walk around the outside for free — the best angle is from the far end of the sandy beach.