The Best 7 Days on Sao Miguel, Azores
Sao Miguel is arguably the best Portuguese island and is the largest within the Azores archipelago. Located roughly 1,000 miles (1,600km) off the coast of Portugal, the Azores are the westernmost point of Europe. They are also easily accessed by America with direct flights available.
The natural beauty of Sao Miguel, Azores makes this the ideal paradise for those looking for something a little more tropical virtually on the doorstep. Home to hot springs, hikes, and some incredible food, Sao Miguel is a European underdog. We had never really heard of it before our trip, but wow, we were blown away. We spent a week on the island and can’t wait to explore more of what the Azores has to offer.
Do not miss your chance for an incredible, fairly off radar, adventure. Continue reading to find out how best to spend a week on Sao Miguel, The Azores.
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Contents
- How long do you need on Sao Miguel
- How to get around Sao Miguel
- Day 1 – Ponta Delgada
- Day 2 – Sete Cidades
- Day 3 – Whale Watching
- Day 4 – Furnas
- Day 5 – North East
- Day 6 – Central Sao Miguel
- Day 7 – North Coast
- Reasons to Return
- Total Cost
How long do you need on Sao Miguel, Azores?
This depends on your interests, whether you are hiring a car to get around yourself or going on group tours. There are 3-4 day itineraries out there, however, we recommend 7 days. This might be a small island but it is packed with things to do. This itinerary should give you a good balance of seeing the sights and enjoying some downtime.
Grouping activities that are in the same area, should also avoid too much driving here, there and everywhere.
How to get around Sao Miguel, Azores
We highly recommend hiring a car to get around Sao Miguel. The roads are well looked after, easy to drive on and you are rarely driving for longer than an hour. We also never encountered any crazy, reckless drivers that could make you nervous driving abroad. Everybody here kept to the speed limit. Parking was also really easy to find everywhere, with most of the sights having free parking available. For the best hire car deals, use this link.
Public transport is another option although the buses are quite old. Buses and minibuses connect the major hubs of the island. Check out the bus routes and timetables here. Uber, and other taxi app services do not exist on this island as far as we know but local taxi services were available.
Alternatively, you could look at booking a tour so you can just sit back and enjoy being chauffeured around.
Day 1 – Ponta Delgada
Use this first day to explore what the island’s capital has to offer.
First, check into your accommodation. We stayed at the Azoris Royal Garden Hotel and made good use of the spa facilities to unwind after our early flight. For hotel recommendations, have a look at our Sao Miguel accommodation options.
Stunning architecture
Have breakfast at Cafe Central opposite the Igreja De São Sebastião – a stunning black and white gothic church in the centre of Ponta Delgada. This is also right next to the city gates (Portas Da Cidade) and the city hall. A hidden gem here is the Torre Sineira de Ponta Delgada – the city hall bell tower with 106 steps to the top for panoramic views of the city, which you can enjoy for free.
Botanical Gardens
Have a wander around one of the city’s botanical gardens. We chose the free-to-enter Jardim Botânico António Borges, a beautiful place to explore with its various winding paths to little grottos and plenty of benches to sit and watch the world go by. Nearby is also Jardim Botânico José do Canto which you can also enjoy for €5pp.
Mercado da Graca
Another local spot is the farmers’ market (Mercado da Graça) where the farmers come to sell their produce. Whilst we did have a wander around, we weren’t exactly blown away by this market if I’m being truly honest. Don’t come here expecting a stunning market hall as you get in some European cities, this is just an old multi-storey car park where stalls have been set up. Still, the food they are selling looks like quality stuff and is worth buying, with the best day to visit being a Saturday.
Pineapple Plantation and Lava Caves
Just outside of the city centre is the pineapple plantation (Plantação Ananases A Arruda). It is free to visit and sells homemade liquors and jams. Or you could visit the lava caves (Gruta do Carvão – Monumento Natural). Here, you can go on a 30-minute guided tour of the lava tubes for €7.50pp. It is advised to call ahead to reserve that one though.
Restaurant Recommendations
For dinner, our Ponta Delgada highlights were O Giro and Otaka. Both of these places were phenomenal and reasonably priced for this standard of food. You would pay double elsewhere in Europe. We were lucky enough to get the last unreserved table at O Giro one night however we strongly recommend making a reservation at any restaurant in Ponta Delgada.
Day 2 – Sete Cidades
Now – before we dive into the rest of the itinerary it is important to note that this is weather dependent. Move this around according to how clear it is looking that day and use the island webcams to check the live weather (http://www.spotazores.com/cams). We found relying on the forecast alone to be unreliable. Our first experience of Sete Cidades and the beautiful lakes was thick clouds. Go here when it is clear.
Miradouro da Vista do Rei
Sete Cidades is probably the main photo you have seen of The Azores and there’s a good reason for it. The views are magnificent.
Start at the Miradouro da Vista do Rei. This isn’t called the View of the King for nothing. Seeing the blue and green lakes ahead of you is breathtaking. If you’re feeling brave you could also explore the abandoned Monte Palace Hotel right next to the viewpoint. People go up to the rooftop to get another view of the lakes but be extremely careful as it is dangerous. We weren’t feeling brave or adventurous so we just enjoyed it from Vista do Rei with absolutely no regrets.
Miradouro da Boca do Inferno
Next, head on over to Miradouro da Boca do Inferno. Park at Miradouro da Lagoa do Canário and stroll along the forest path to reach the viewpoint. This viewpoint is worth the walk as you really get an appreciation for the lakes and the giant crater they lie in from here. Take your time to appreciate this view.
Our top tip here is once you have viewed it from the probably crowded balcony, turn right on your way back and walk down one of the paths that jut out from the cliff. Again, be careful as it might be slippy but this gives you a more organic experience without the big crowd and a way better angle to appreciate the lakes from.
On the way back to the car, take the set of stairs down to Lagao do Canário, the famous Snapchat logo-shaped lake, for a tranquil moment of watching the water.
Sete Cidades
Next, drive down into the town of Sete Cidades. Stop at one of the points on the bridge between the blue and green lakes to get a different angle before heading further into the town. We parked by the church and grabbed a cheap lunch at Sao Nicolau before exploring the rest of the town.
Ponta da Ferreria
One of the best things to do in Sao Miguel is to soak in one of the many natural hot springs.
From Sete Cidades, drive over to Ponta da Ferreria to enjoy the first natural hot spring of the trip. It is best to go here at low tide when it is warmest. There are changing rooms available a bit further up the path from the pool. The road driving down to the pools is quite steep and windy. Manageable but go slow.
Enjoy this free and unique experience of the tide rocking you back and forth in the hot spring. If you are a poor swimmer, there are ropes across the pool to hold on to and lifeguards on hand.
Mosteiros
From here, head on up to Mosteiros to stroll along the black sand beach and admire the rock formations, have some dinner and watch the sunset.
Day 3 – Whale Watching
One of the best things about the Azores is the marine life just off the shore. There are many species of whales and dolphins that can be seen from Sao Miguel, including blue whales!
We highly recommend booking a whale-watching tour with Futurismo for €60pp for a half-day experience. On our tour, we saw sperm whales. Book this for early on during your trip as it may need to be rescheduled according to sea conditions.
Another tip is to take some travel sickness tablets, even if you don’t think you get seasick. There were a couple of people suffering on the way back to land on our tour. There are morning or afternoon tours available so grab a slot that suits you.
A great place we found for lunch near the Futurismo meeting point was Anfiteatro where we had a reasonably priced and healthy lunch but there are also a few options nearby, even a Burger King.
After our tour we spent the rest of the day relaxing and enjoying the hotel facilities. You could do the same, explore the streets of Ponta Delgada or even head slightly further afield to Lagoa or Vila Franca do Campo.
Day 4 – Furnas
On our itinerary, we checked into a lovely cottage right on Furnas Lake. It isn’t required to change accommodation as the island is easily drivable, however, we recommend it to get the most out of the place you are visiting.
Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Paz
En route to Furnas, stop off at Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Paz. This is a white chapel on the hilltop with panoramic views of Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo – the small islet just off the coast with an almost perfectly circular hole in the middle. Most people come for a picture of the many steps leading up to the chapel. It is worth making the climb to have a closer look, especially at the hand-painted tiles.
Lagoa do Furnas
As you approach Furnas, you will first encounter the lake where we recommend stopping. It is €3 per person at the gate and this gives you access to the famous geothermal geysers which are used to boil the unique cozido das Furnas for the local restaurants.
From here you could kayak on the lake (€10 per hour) and explore the Grena park walks and waterfalls (€10pp). You could also walk the 5km perimeter of the lake featuring a lakeside chapel. You could easily spend a full day at the lake making it the perfect place for nature lovers. If you park along the roadside to do the walk around the lake, you can access the geysers for free.
Terra Nosta Garden
Continuing on the geothermal theme, Terra Nosta Garden is an absolute must in Furnas. Here is where you find the famous orange hot spring, caused by iron in the water. Do not wear anything you don’t want to be ruined as the orange will stain your clothes. I’m on the third wash of my no-longer white t-shirt!
Entry is €10pp but this gives you access to the hot springs and the stunning gardens themselves.
This is a place to relax and absorb your surroundings, there’s absolutely no need to rush around. There are three different pools available each around 35-40℃ . The main pool is the large orange one you see in all the pictures. The other two “jacuzzis” are located near the changing rooms and provide a more “bathing in nature” vibe. Spend time in each of these as this is an experience you can’t get in many other European countries.
There are no lockers available for your stuff so make sure you keep an eye on your possessions. We didn’t see anything sketchy going on but it’s worth keeping an eye out just in case.
For dinner, you could sample the famous stew cooked in the geysers. The Terra Nostra Hotel supposedly has the best one, however, there are many places in Furnas with this on the menu. There is the standard meat option as well as a fish and vegetable version so you should be able to find one to your tastes. I’ve heard it can be quite rich so maybe only order one portion and another main and share.
Day 5 – North East Sao Miguel
If you are staying in Furnas as we did, go to the Gloria Moniz Bakery and grab some delicious pastries for breakfast and maybe a sandwich to go for lunch.
Miradouro do Pico do Ferro
The first port of call is Miradouro do Pico do Ferro, possibly my favourite viewpoint on the island. Not only can you see the phenomenal Lagao do Furnas but you can also see the town and the crater it sits in. We can’t help but notice the slightly amusing shape of the lake from here.
Parque Natural da Ribeira dos Caldeiroes
The next stop is the Parque Natural da Ribeira dos Caldeirões which is a national park in the northeast of Sao Miguel.
Just before you enter the park there is one of the most picturesque waterfalls we’ve seen. Have a closer look and then use the stepping stones to cross the stream to the other side. Another 15-minute walk along this path will bring you to a second waterfall which is popular with canyoning companies.
Return the way you came and go into the park itself. Whilst it isn’t huge, it is free and contains a couple more waterfalls and watermills to take in along with covered tables for picnics.
Miradouro da Vista dos Barcos
Continuing on along the eastern coast you will come to Miradouro da Vista dos Barcos where you can see the Arnel lighthouse and the docked fishing boats. Whilst we personally didn’t rate this viewpoint, it did have a lovely area to sit and enjoy our picnic lunch and it makes sense to stop there as you loop around the eastern coast.
If you come on a Wednesday you could visit the lighthouse and have a free guided tour from the lighthouse keeper themselves. The road is so steep we advise walking down instead of driving.
There are a few different miradouros or viewpoints along this road so feel free to stop off along the way to take in the magnificent scenery. Being on the eastern side, it is also supposed to be lovely for sunrise.
Cascata do Salto do Prego and Cascata Salto do Cararrao
Looping back in land will bring you to the Cascata do Salto do Prego and Cascata Salto do Cagarrao hikes.
Start in Faial Da Terra and head uphill to Salto do Prego. This waterfall has a great pool for a bit of wild swimming. The trail is clearly marked and should take about 45-60 minutes to reach the waterfall. If you are feeling particularly energetic, you could also tag on Cascata do Salto do Cargarrao which is an additional 2km. Returning back to Faial Da Terra will also bring you through the abandoned village of Sanguinho in the forest.
Poca da Dona Beija
After a long day, what better way to relax than in Poca da Dona Beija, another set of hot springs located in Furnas?
Here you have five thermal pools to choose from of different depths in a tropical setting. They are open until 11 pm at night which makes it a little more romantic. These pools are extremely popular so they have recently implemented a 1.5-hour maximum stay but this should be plenty of time to soak any aching muscles. The entrance fee is €6pp and we also recommend wearing those old, dark swimmers here too.
Day 6 – Central Sao Miguel
On this day we checked out of our fabulous accommodation in Furnas and headed for the coast.
Lagao do Fogo
The first stop is Lagao do Fogo, stopping at Miradouro do Pico da Barrosa for those first glimpse photos, followed by a stop at Miradouro da Lagoa do Fogo.
Lake Fogo is the highest elevated lake on Sao Miguel. This is another one you want to come to on a clear day. Check those webcams and the forecast beforehand – if you are lingering nearby you might be able to return for a better view as the clouds can move quickly.
From the Miradouro da Lagoa do Fogo, follow the winding pathways down to the lakeside where there is a small beach you can enjoy. The walk should only take around 30 minutes but is quite steep coming back uphill. You could also extend the walk further along the shore to find a more secluded patch to yourselves however, this lake is not for swimming in as it is protected by the Azorean government.
Caldeira Velha
After you have enjoyed the lake, head 10 minutes down the road to Caldeira Velha. These thermal pools amongst the forest were our favourite hot springs on Sao Miguel. The setting of the forest and the looming cliffside was magical.
For the price of €8pp, you can enjoy 1.5 hours of thermal pool bliss. There are four pools to enjoy, one of which is colder but features a mind-blowing waterfall that cascades down out of the thick tropical forest above. This was definitely a highlight of the trip, we have never seen anything like it!
Changing facilities and showers are available as well as lockers however you need to bring a padlock to secure your belongings in them. Otherwise, just place your possessions on a bench or somewhere within the eyesight of the pools.
Salto do Cabrito
Once your time is up in Caldeira Velha, drive further down the road to Salto do Cabrito, a lovely waterfall about 10 minute hike from the parking. You can also climb up some stairs to the top of the falls for a different angle. The pool at the base of the falls is also deep enough to have a swim in if you need cooling off on a hot day.
From here you can return to your accommodation, continue on to Ribeira Grande or do what we did and check into a hotel on the north coast and relax.
Day 7 – North Coast of Sao Miguel
Being the last day of the trip, this day is about going at a slower pace.
Gorreana Tea Factory
Get in the car and head along the north coast to Gorreana Tea Factory, Europe’s sole tea plantation. This local family-run factory opens its doors for free, allowing visitors to have a taste of their products and roam around the factory floor as well as through the picturesque rows of tea on their land. There are a few well-marked hikes around the grounds so pick one that suits your abilities and soak in those amazing views.
Ribeira Grande
Once you have had your fill of tea, drive back down the coast to Ribeira Grande. This lovely seaside town offers plenty of places to eat with our pick being PH Gastropub for a well-priced lunch with huge portions.
Head down to Praia do Monte Verde or Praia do Areal de Santa Bárbara to stroll along the volcanic sand beaches and watch the surfers catch waves.
Finally for a bit of dessert or a great souvenir, pop into O Chocolatinho for a hot chocolate, or cake or choose a few truffles. Other sights of note in Ribeira Grande include Ponte da Ribeira Grande, an eight-arch bridge crossing over the river, Jardim Municipal de Ribeira Grande, and the municipal pools.
The remainder of the day can be spent as you wish, whether it’s exploring more beaches, relaxing in your accommodation or spending more time in one of the towns.
Reasons to return to Sao Miguel, Azores
Our week on Sao Miguel was incredible but there were still stones left unturned. We would have loved to have visited Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo however the seasonal boats were not running at the time of our trip. We are also desperate to visit a few more islands in the Azores and experience what they have to offer.
Total cost of Sao Miguel, Azores
From leaving our front door to returning, we spent £1,800 however, this was a birthday trip and we splashed the cash a little. This includes our flights, accommodation, transport to the airport, car hire, meals, activities, insurance – everything. We know this is not making it sound very budget-friendly but please trust me when I say, the majority of our spending was done before we even landed. Sao Miguel is incredibly affordable and if you hire a car then most of the sights and activities are free to enjoy.
We hope this guide has been useful and inspiring to you. If you have any more Sao Miguel suggestions, please let us know in the comment box below 🙂
Travelling the Azores? Why not check out our other posts on Sao Miguel for more inspiration?
