São Miguel, the largest island in the Azores archipelago, is a true paradise for nature and adventure lovers. This island offers a wide range of unique and unforgettable experiences.
In this one-week itinerary in São Miguel, we will explore the charms of São Miguel, from the capital, Ponta Delgada, and the most famous attractions, such as Sete Cidades and Furnas, to some quieter and more isolated corners.
Top Tip
This itinerary assumes you will have a full week on the island, with a return trip on the same day of the week, totaling eight days and seven nights in São Miguel.
In our opinion, a week is the ideal time to visit São Miguel and get to know all of São Miguel’s main attractions, taste the delicious local food, and learn about the culture and history.
Despite being the largest Portuguese island, São Miguel is not extraordinarily large but full of things to see and do. Prepare for a week full of adventures, discoveries, and moments of pure tranquility. This detailed guide will ensure you make the most of your trip to São Miguel.
How to travel in São Miguel for a week
One of the first decisions to make when planning an itinerary is the overnight stays, i.e., where to stay and how many days to stay in each place. In this case, it is quite simple: São Miguel only has one large and main city, which is Ponta Delgada.
Since the island is only 62.1 kilometers long and 15.8 kilometers wide, and the roads are good, any destination on the island is a maximum of one hour’s drive from Ponta Delgada.
So, you can visit any attraction and return to Ponta Delgada, where you have most of the best hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops. This is our suggestion and what we do whenever we visit São Miguel. Thus, this is how we planned this itinerary for you.
Another option is to split your stay, with four nights in Ponta Delgada and 3 nights in Furnas. Despite being a small village, Furnas offers several attractions and a variety of accommodations and restaurants to explore.
Renting a Car in São Miguel
Renting a car is the best way to explore São Miguel and visit its main attractions. Without a vehicle, it is difficult to reach the viewpoints, waterfalls, and many of the island’s natural and historical monuments.
The car rental cost in São Miguel varies greatly throughout the year. During low season, renting a car for less than 100 Euros per week is possible, while in summer, this value easily increases three or fourfold, sometimes even more.
Whenever we go to the Azores we rent with Discovery Cars, as it allows us to search for prices from different rental companies, always offering lower prices. Our experience has always been good. Check here.
Where to stay in Ponta Delgada
Ponta Delgada has plenty of accommodation for almost all tastes. Below, we leave some of our suggestions for staying in the Azorean capital:
- Grand Hotel Açores Atlântico – excellent luxury hotel. Located in the center of Ponta Delgada, overlooking the port. It offers amenities like an indoor pool, gourmet restaurant, fitness center, and conference rooms. See prices, photos, and book here.
- Azores Youth Hostels – Ponta Delgada Youth Hostel – An affordable option for young people and backpackers. It offers shared dormitories, private rooms, a common kitchen, and common areas. Book and check availability here.
- Azorean Urban Lodge – modern and welcoming guesthouse with comfortable rooms and contemporary decor. Homely and personalized atmosphere, ideal for those looking for a more intimate stay rather than a large hotel. See photos and book here.
One-week itinerary in São Miguel
One of the great advantages of sleeping every day in Ponta Delgada is that we can rearrange our days however we want, which can be a huge benefit if rain or fog is forecast on some days of the trip. Just keep in mind that some activities must be booked in advance.
For example, it’s not worth visiting the Ferraria natural pools if the tide is too high, or there are too big waves. The viewpoints also lose their spectacularity if it is foggy.
On the other hand, a place like Poças de Dona Beja is perfectly visitable in rain and bad weather. In our opinion, they even become more spectacular.
A Week in São Miguel, Azores – Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival and Ponta Delgada
On the first day of travel, we usually don’t have much time to explore. The main focus should be on resolving logistical issues such as car rental, SIM card purchase (for non-EU visitors), hotel check-in and cash withdrawal.
Still, if you have time, you can take the opportunity to get to know a little of the city of Ponta Delgada. The Portas da Cidade area is very beautiful at night. If you want to stretch your legs and go for a walk, the Ponta Delgada waterfront and marina are the ideal destination. Especially because they have some bars and restaurants to enjoy.
In this article we explore some of our favorite restaurants in São Miguel, including the best in Ponta Delgada.
Day 2 – Sete Cidades and West Coast
On the second day, we will visit the west of the island of São Miguel, namely the area of Sete Cidades, Mosteiros, and Ponta da Ferraria.
One of the most important things to take into account on this day is to check the sea conditions at Ponta da Ferraria. It is not possible to go to the famous natural pools of sea water heated by the fumaroles if the tide is high or the waves are very large. So, try to balance the time you get there with low tide.
Attractions not to be missed:
- Lagoa das Sete Cidades – the largest and most beautiful lagoon in São Miguel. It is possible to go hiking or practice water sports in the lagoon (Kayak and SUP, for example)
- Vista do Rei Viewpoint – This is one of the best viewpoints for Lagoa das Sete Cidades. Since it is on the side of the road, it is accessible to everyone.
- Abandoned Hotel – The Abandoned Hotel is right next door and is extremely popular for creating photos
- Grota do Inferno Viewpoint – From here we can see the various lagoons in the region, including the seven cities. To go there, we have to take a 4 km walk (2+2, round trip). See here how.
- Mosteiros (more in summer) – Mosteiros beach is very well known and popular in summer. In winter the landscape is spectacular, but it is impossible to go to the water.
- Ponta da Ferraria – the famous natural pool whose sea water is heated by sea fumaroles.
This day’s route is circular, so you can start at Ponta da Ferraria and Mosteiros, then go to Sete Cidades, and at the end to Miradouros, or do exactly the opposite.
Where to eat
The best place to eat on this day is in the Mosteiros area, where there are several quality restaurants. Our favorite is Américo, where you can eat delicious São Miguel octopus. The steak also looked excellent.
The village of Sete Cidades is disappointing in terms of restaurants, but the restaurant – Lagoa Azul is quite reasonable. It is a buffet restaurant, with a lot of variety and tasty food.
Day 3 – Whale-Watching and Ponta Delgada
Seeing cetaceans is one of the activities not to be missed in São Miguel. Although it is much more likely to see whales in spring and summer, there are tours throughout the year.
The big issue is that there are more species of whales in Spring/Summer than in Winter as the only species completely resident in São Miguel are sperm whales. Dolphins can be seen all year round.
Tours normally last a morning so we still have the afternoon free and so we suggest you visit Ponta Delgada in the afternoon. The entire central and historic area of the city can be visited on foot, but if you want to go to the Carvão cave and the Pineapple plantations it might be better to go by car.
Another thing that we have to take into consideration is that sea conditions sometimes do not allow us to take the tour, but it doesn’t happen that often. In any case, we highly recommend taking these tours to see cetaceans, as the Azores are one of the best places in the world to do so. We took this tour and really enjoyed it.
See here the best things to do in Ponta Delgada.
Attractions not to be missed:
- Cetacean Tour (morning) – one of the great attractions of the Azores
- Visit Ponta Delgada (Afternoon)
- Mercado da Graça – the city’s main local market
- City Gates and Church – main square in the center of Ponta Delgada
- Visit the Pineapple plantation – see how São Miguel’s famous pineapples are produced
- Gruta do Carvão – volcanic cave, great if the weather is bad
Where to eat in Ponta Delgada?
Today we are going to spend the whole day in Ponta Delgada so we are going to have lunch and dinner there. There are lots of light lunch options in the city or even the dish of the day.
Our lunch suggestion goes to Mané Cigano, a small local restaurant where you can eat excellent fish. The chicharros with villain sauce are excellent and one of the traditional dishes of São Miguel.
For dinner, the options are even greater and varied. If you want fish, we suggest Cais 20, or if you want to eat the famous Bife à Regional, Alcides is considered the best steak restaurant in the city. The tavern is an excellent restaurant with modern dishes, but local ingredients.
Day 4 – Lagoa do Fogo
On this day we go to the center of the island, to the Fogo caldera and lagoon. Please note that access to Lagoa do Fogo is limited during the summer and you may have to go by bus. In low season it is much easier and you can explore freely by car.
The disadvantage of low season is that the Lagoa do Fogo region is often cloudy, making viewing Lagoa do Fogo impossible. That’s it, I need a little luck to do it.
If you have time and energy, it is also possible to go down to Lagoa do Fogo via a pedestrian trail. The path is not very easy, but it allows access to Lagoa do Fogo beach, one of the most spectacular river beaches in Portugal.
After the Lagoa do Fogo we have the natural monument of Caldeira Velha, one of the best known and spectacular thermal waters on the island. Note that it is essential to book in advance, as there are limited tickets per hour, and they sell out quickly due to their popularity.
If you still have time and desire, you can visit the city of Ribeira Grande. The center of Ribeira Grande is beautiful, and Santa Barbara Beach is one of the largest and most beautiful on the island. The little-known caldera hot springs and the Salto do Cabrito waterfall are also nearby and can be visited on this day.
Do not miss:
- Lagoa do Fogo Viewpoint – Best point to see the fabulous Lagoa do Fogo
- Lagoa do Fogo Beach – one of the most beautiful river beaches in Portugal
- Caldeira Velha – A natural monument with a thermal water waterfall
- Ribeira Grande – One of the main cities on the island, with a beautiful beach
- Termas das Caldeiras – smaller and lesser-known spas in São Miguel
- Salto do Cabrito – Beautiful waterfall
Where to eat?
The best place to eat is Ribeira Grande. There are several quality restaurants there, especially fish. Some of the best-known are Alabote and Monte Verde. We especially liked the sea views from Alabote.
Near Ribeira Grande is also the Associação Agrícola de São Miguel Restaurant, which is perhaps the most famous restaurant on the island. The dish that everyone will eat there is the regional steak, and it is well worth it. If you want, you can also have dinner at Ribeira Grande as it is less than 30 minutes from Ponta Delgada, via the highway (free of charge).
Day 5 – Furnas
The fifth day of our itinerary is perhaps the busiest, but it’s worth it as the Furnas area is absolutely fabulous, and is full of attractions and things to do, particularly those related to the region’s volcanic activity.
Parque Terra Nostra and its famous outdoor pool with warm, yellow water is perhaps the main attraction, but don’t forget to also go to Caldeiras das Furnas, Fumarolas, and the banks of the lagoon where the famous stew is made.
Poças Dona Beja are another very popular thermal bath and anyone who enjoys this type of activity shouldn’t miss it. As they are open until night, we suggest you leave them until the end of the day (because they are beautiful at night). Just don’t forget that you have to book in advance as they also fill up very quickly.
Not to be missed in Furnas:
- Pico do Ferro Viewpoint – View of the entire Furnas valley, including the village and lagoon
- Fumaroles of Lagoa das Furnas – Volcanic activity near the lagoons
- Cozido das Furnas – one of the most famous dishes in Portugal
- Caldeiras das Furnas – natural calderas where water is heated by volcanic activity
- Parque Terra Nostra – Wonderful park and swimming pool with iron waters
- Poças Dona Beja – several pools of thermal waters
Where to eat in Furnas
Cozido das Furnas is undoubtedly the food not to be missed on this day. Cozido is one of the most traditional dishes in Portugal, and in Furnas it is cooked in a very special way as the thermal heat from the boilers and fumaroles of the Furnas is used to cook the food for 6 to 7 hours.
There are lots of restaurants serving this delicacy, but we really liked “Banhos Férreos”. Tony’s is also very well known and has an excellent reputation.
If you want a lighter meal, the Furnense cheese shop serves light dishes and excellent tapas. There you can also buy excellent cheese from Vale das Furnas and several local cheesecakes.
Day 6 – Nordeste and Gorreana
This is another very long day, but it is mainly a road trip through the furthest areas of the island, the Northeast. As we are going to pass through the famous tea plantations, it is the ideal opportunity to stop and get to know them.
There is even a small free trail that takes us through the tea plantation. It is very beautiful and worth the stop. You can and should also visit the factory and buy some tea to bring back as a souvenir.
During this day we will pass by several viewpoints that show us the natural beauty of the island and especially its coast. There are a few dozen viewpoints, but our favorites are Farol do Arnel, Vigia das Baleias, Ponta do Sossego, and Ponta da Madrugada.
The Ribeira dos Caldeirões Natural Park is another of the main attractions of the day, due to the gorges on the slopes of the Tronqueira mountain range full of plants and waterfalls as well as watermills from the 16th century. The pools at Boca da Ribeira are excellent for a swim if you are traveling to São Miguel in the summer.
Don’t forget to stop by Povoação, the first village in the Azores, to eat the local delicacy: Povoação cute. They are similar to an éclair, but in our opinion, better.
Main attractions of the day:
- Gorreana – Europe’s oldest tea plantation and factory
- Whale Watch – Beautiful Viewpoint to the North Coast
- Ribeira dos Caldeirões Natural Park – Park with several waterfalls and a beautiful garden
- Nordeste – Beautiful village in the northeast of the island
- Boca da Ribeira Swimming Pools – Sea swimming pools near the Northeast, great for refreshing ideas in the summer
- Farol do Arnel – spectacular lighthouse; gives spectacular photos
- Ponta do Sossego and Ponta da Madrugada viewpoints are the two best-known viewpoints on the East Coast.
- Povoação – the first settlement on the island
Important
Today’s route is circular, so you can either start in Povoação, go along the coast to the Northeast, and end in Gorreana, or do the opposite.
Where to eat?
Along this day’s route, we have several restaurants, but there are two that stand out in our opinion:
- Casa de Pasto o Amaral: It is in Porto Formoso, close to Gorreana, so it is ideal for dinner if you travel counterclockwise. This local restaurant is known for fish and seafood. Limpet rice is a curious dish that we really enjoy.
- Casa de Pasto: O Cardoso in Lomba da Fazenda, Nordeste: Don’t be fooled by this restaurant’s rustic and unpretentious appearance. It is one of our favorites in São Miguel. The São Miguel octopus we ate there was fabulous. It even offers several daily dishes at very attractive prices.
Day 7 – Vila Franca Islet or Sanguinho trail
The Islet of Vila Franca do Campo is one of the great attractions of São Miguel, but it can only be visited during the summer. So, for this day, we have two alternatives: one for the summer and the other for the rest of the year.
If it’s summer, this is a day to visit the south coast of São Miguel, especially Vila Franca do Campo and its famous islet. The islet is quite close to the coast, and boats can take you to it from the port of Vila Franca.
The islet is famous for its almost circular shape with just a small opening, which creates an almost perfect sea lagoon with crystal-clear water. It’s spectacular for swimming. While still in Vila Franca, don’t forget to try the delicious cheesecakes, the most famous of which are those at Morgado.
During the rest of the year, we suggest you stop by Vila Franca to explore the town and try the famous queijadas, but the big attraction of the day is the Sanguinho trail, one of our favorites in São Miguel. On this trail, you can see two beautiful waterfalls (Salto do Prego and Salto do Cagarrão), and you can also visit the beautiful abandoned village of Sanguinho. See here everything you need to know about the Sanguinho trail.
Whatever the time of year, at the end of the day, we suggest you go to Caloura, where there are natural pools and a bar with a super pleasant terrace. The bar also serves fish and seafood and is one of our favorites in São Miguel.
In the summer
- Visit Vila Franca do Campo
- Eating cheesecakes from Morgado
- Go to Vila Franca Islet
- Go to Caloura
- Bar da Caloura
Rest of the year
- Sanguinho Trail
- Nail Jump
- Cagarrão Jump
- Abandoned village of Sanguinho
- Caloura
- Bar da Caloura
Where to eat?
Interestingly, we never ate in Vila Franca do Campo, so we can’t give you any suggestions here, but there are several restaurants in the town. Or you can also take a picnic and eat on the islet. If you go on the trail, the ideal is to take snacks and a light lunch with you.
At the end of the day we strongly recommend that you go to Bar da Caloura. It functions as both a bar and restaurant and has fabulous fish and seafood. We love the grilled limpets. The view of the sea and natural pools are also extremely pleasant.
Day 8 – Ponta Delgada and return
This is your last day in São Miguel, and depending on your flight, you may not have time to visit anything else. That’s why we suggest you have a relaxed day and stay in São Miguel.
Take the opportunity to do some last-minute shopping. The Grace market is excellent for buying souvenirs. We particularly like the King of Cheeses to buy cheese, sausages, and everything else related to local gastronomy.
São Miguel is an island that offers something for everyone, from outdoor adventures to relaxing thermal baths. We hope this one-week itinerary in São Miguel helps you plan the perfect trip. If you have any questions or suggestions, join our Facebook community and post your questions there.
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