Ribeira Grande vs Ribeira Seca: which Azores town suits you?
Their January highs are within 1°C of each other (16°C and 16°C). Ribeira Seca has more grocery stores on foot; on the other measures the two are close.
Ribeira Grande
3,968 peopleChoose Ribeira Grande if you want
No clear advantage on the measures with precise values.
Ribeira Seca
2,950 peopleChoose Ribeira Seca if you want
- More grocery stores within a 15-minute walk (7, against 4)
Side by side
Bold marks the better value where one is clearly better and both values are precise.
Climate
Town-level · ERA5-Land 1991-2020| Measure | Ribeira Grande | Ribeira Seca |
|---|---|---|
| January high | 16°C | 16°C |
| January low | 14°C | 14°C |
| July high | 24°C | 24°C |
| Days above 35°C a year | 0 | 0 |
| Nights above 20°C a year | 76 | 76 |
| Frost days a year | 0 | 0 |
| Days with rain a year | 165 | 165 |
| Daylight on 21 December | 9 h 33 min | 9 h 33 min |
| Sea in August | 23°C | 23°C |
Daily life within a 15-minute walk
| Measure | Ribeira Grande | Ribeira Seca |
|---|---|---|
| Grocery stores | 4 | 7 |
| Pharmacies | 3 | 2 |
| Doctors and clinics | 0 | 0 |
| Cafés | 6 | 4 |
| Restaurants | 27 | 19 |
Getting around
| Measure | Ribeira Grande | Ribeira Seca |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest train station | – | – |
| Nearest bus station | 0.2 km | 1.1 km |
| Nearest hospital | 9.7 km | 8.7 km |
| Nearest beach | 0.3 km | 0.6 km |
| Nearest airport with scheduled flights | 18 km | 17 km |
Housing and safety (whole municipality)
| Measure | Ribeira Grande | Ribeira Seca |
|---|---|---|
| Median rent per m², per month | €4.41/m² | €4.41/m² |
| Sale price per m² | €1,676/m² | €1,676/m² |
| Sale price change, 5 years | +121% | +121% |
| Crimes recorded per 1,000 residents | 47.5 | 47.5 |
People
| Measure | Ribeira Grande | Ribeira Seca |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,968 | 2,950 |
| Aged 65 and over | 12.2% | 12.2% |
| Under 15 | 17.1% | 16.3% |
| Born in another country | 2.5% | 2.8% |
Natural hazards
| Measure | Ribeira Grande | Ribeira Seca |
|---|---|---|
| Earthquakes of M5+ within 100 km since 1900 | 13 | 13 |
Month by month
Town-level · ERA5-Land 1991-2020| High | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ribeira Grande | 16° | 16° | 17° | 17° | 19° | 21° | 24° | 25° | 24° | 21° | 19° | 17° |
| Ribeira Seca | 16° | 16° | 17° | 17° | 19° | 21° | 24° | 25° | 24° | 21° | 19° | 17° |
The average highs are within 1°C of each other in every month.
Ribeira Grande or Ribeira Seca: common questions
Which is warmer in winter, Ribeira Grande or Ribeira Seca?
They are within 1°C of each other: average January highs of 16.5°C in Ribeira Grande and 16.5°C in Ribeira Seca.
Which has more shops within walking distance?
Ribeira Seca: 7 grocery stores within a 15-minute walk of the centre, against 4 in Ribeira Grande.
Which is closer to an airport?
Both use João Paulo II Airport (PDL): 18 km from Ribeira Grande and 17 km from Ribeira Seca, in a straight line.
Cite or link
hexplace (2026). Ribeira Grande vs Ribeira Seca: climate, homes and daily life compared. https://hexplace.org/portugal/compare/ribeira-grande-azores-vs-ribeira-seca/