São Miguel Island – everything you need to know to visit the largest island in the Azores

If there's one island in the Azores that you absolutely must visit, it's São Miguel.

With its easy access, excellent infrastructure, breathtaking landscapes, delicious food, and charming villages, São Miguel encapsulates all the best that the Azores has to offer in a single island.

São Miguel was our first stop on our week-long itinerary in the Azores, which also included Pico Island and Terceira Island.

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How to get to São Miguel Island, Azores

There are several flights connecting Ponta Delegada airport, in São Miguel, with Portugal and other countries in Europe, and also to the USA, including low cost options . We took a Ryanair flight from Lisbon.

From São Miguel, there are flights to several other islands in the archipelago, making it the ideal starting point for a tour of the Azores. Inter-island flights are operated by SATA and are the best way to travel from one island to another.

In our post about our itinerary through the Azores , I provide detailed information on how to get to the Azores, which islands to visit, how to travel between them, and everything else you need to know for your trip around the archipelago.

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How to get around São Miguel Island, Azores

When it comes to getting around São Miguel (or any other island in the Azores), there's no better option than renting a car.

We rented a car through Sixt (there are several rental companies operating on the island) and picked it up and returned it at Ponta Delegada airport. Although there was a small queue when we picked up the car, the process was quick and straightforward, with no complications. The return was also simple and fast; since we had paid for full insurance (with no excess), we didn’t even need to do an inspection—we just left the keys at the counter inside the airport and left.

We found it easy to drive around the island. The roads are all single-lane, well-signposted, toll-free, and the traffic is calm, as we mentioned in our post detailing our trip to the Azores.

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Where to stay on São Miguel Island, Azores

The best area to stay on São Miguel Island is the city of Ponta Delgada. Here, you'll find a wide range of accommodations to suit all tastes and budgets, as well as many restaurants, local shops, and historical sites to explore. The city's waterfront is also perfect for a relaxing walk in the late afternoon.

Another factor that is important to consider is that Ponta Delgada is centrally located on the island, making it convenient for exploring the rest of São Miguel.

For this trip, we chose to stay in a really nice place in Ponta Delgada — a little comfort never hurts, right?

We stayed at Vila Gale Collection São Miguel. , and I highly recommend it. . The rooms are excellent, the service is friendly, and the breakfast is great. Plus, it's all housed in a historic building in the heart of Ponta Delgada, with views of São Brás Fort and the sea.

Other options I considered were the Hotel do Colégio, located in a 19 th-century building with a good location and excellent value for money, and the AC – Armazéns Cogumbreiro, a beautifully restored historic building on the city's main street, close to several bars, restaurants, and shops. (As you can probably tell, I have a soft spot for hotels in historic buildings!) Believe me, it wasn't easy to decide between these three options.

For a more budget-friendly option, the Azorean Urban Lodge looks great and is highly rated on booking platforms.

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What to do on São Miguel Island, Azores

São Miguel Island is the largest and most populous in the Azores, offering the most attractions. We spent two and a half days exploring the island, but even with more time, there would still be plenty to do.

São Miguel is known as the island of viewpoints. They are everywhere — on the coast, inland, and around every corner. It might sound like an exaggeration, but every single one is worth a stop. Trust me, you don’t want to miss any of them. It’s incredible how such a small island can have so many stunning landscapes!

Most viewpoints are easily accessible: just park your car, take a few steps, soak in the view, breathe deeply, and appreciate the privilege of being there before moving on. Of course, if you have the time and the inclination, feel free to linger as long as you like.

Some viewpoints have picnic facilities.

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East side of São Miguel island

Starting from Ponta Delgada and heading inland, we followed a clockwise route through the eastern side of the island, returning to Ponta Delgada in the late afternoon.

• Gorreana Tea Factory: Did you know that the Azores is the only place in Europe where tea is grown? I discovered this while planning my trip, which made a visit to Gorreana — a major producer on the island — a must.

• Pelado Viewpoint: This was the first viewpoint we visited in the Azores, and it quickly became one of my favorites. It was completely empty, offering a beautiful and serene view — perfect!

• Arnel Lighthouse and Ponta do Arnel Waterfall: Park your car at the designated area near the road and continue on foot. The path is steep but short. Avoid driving down; it’s more trouble than it’s worth. Trust me, the walk is well worth it!

• Vista dos Barcos Viewpoint: Located very close to the Arnel Lighthouse viewpoint.

• Ponta do Sossego Viewpoint: This viewpoint features a well-maintained garden and a picnic area.

• From the Ponta do Sossego Viewpoint, we drove down the road to Fajã do Araújo, where you can see the cliffs from a different angle, down by the beach.

• Ponta da Madrugada Viewpoint: Another viewpoint with excellent facilities and beautiful views.

• Pico Longo Viewpoint and Sunset Viewpoint, both of which offer views of the island’s interior, with the sea in the background. There’s also the Pico dos Bodes Viewpoint nearby, which we didn’t visit, but it looks stunning.

• Povoação: We stopped in this a small village for a quick lunch at Snack Bar o Garoto — a basic bur friendly snack-bar, the food was great and very affordable.

• We then proceed to the Furnas Volcano Caldera: Our next stop was the Furnas Volcano Caldera, a volcanic region famous for its fumaroles and the smell of sulfur. The small boilers with bubbling thermal waters create an impressive geothermal scene. It’s one of the island’s must-see spots.
  

• Terra Nostra Park: One of the most beautiful botanical gardens in Europe, renowned for its thermal water lake and lush vegetation. Bring a bathing suit for a swim—the water, despite its uninviting color, is wonderfully warm!

• Poça da Dona Beija:A thermal park with natural pools for swimming. Tickets must be purchased in advance online — when we visited, it was fully booked for the day, but there was availability for the next day. Since we had already been to Terra Nostra Park, we decided to skip Dona Beija.

• Lagoa de Furnas and Mata Jardim José do Canto: A walk along the banks of the lagoon and a visit to the garden are well worth your time.

• If you have time, visit the Pico do Ferro Viewpoint for a beautiful view of Lagoa de Furnas and the surrounding area.

• Lagoa do Fogo: One of the most stunning lagoons on the island, located atop a mountain with several hiking trails. Although there are viewpoints like Lagoa do Fogo Viewpoint and Pico da Barrosa Viewpoint, we didn’t get a chance to visit them.

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Have you checked out our complete 1 week itinerary in the Azores?

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West side of São Miguel Island

The west side of São Miguel Island is home to some of the island's most iconic viewpoints, including those overlooking the Lagoa das Sete Cidades, one of the most famous sights in the Azores. Unfortunately, our visit was hindered by fog, which limited our view.

We set out from Ponta Delgada in our rental car, following the main road with Google Maps guiding us to the Pico do Carvão Viewpoint—the first in a remarkable sequence of viewpoints:

• Pico do Carvão Viewpoint: This viewpoint is said to offer a panoramic view of the Sete Cidades Massif and both the north and south sides of the island, but all we saw was fog. Hopefully, you’ll have better luck.

• Carvão Aqueduct, we only glimpsed it from the road.

• Lagoa das Empapadas, Miradouro do Pico do Paul e Miradouro da Grota do Inferno: We passed by these viewpoints as the fog made it difficult to even see the road, let alone the landscape, but you should definitely stop if the weather is clear!

• Lagoa do Canário: There are some short trails in the area with views of this lagoon and Sete Cidades.

• Vista do Rei Viewpoint:   This is one of the most iconic views in the Azores. The two lagoons—Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul in Sete Cidades—are nestled within the crater of an ancient volcano, creating a stunning panorama. Unfortunately, when we visited, the fog was so thick that we could barely see anything at all!

• Cerrado das Freiras Viewpoint: Overlooking Sete Cidades, this viewpoint gave us the best view of the lagoons that have made São Miguel Island so popular on Instagram.

• almost in front of Santiago Lagoon Viewpoint: Located almost directly across the road from Cerrado das Freiras Viewpoint. Be careful not to miss it. Santiago Lagoon Viewpoint – pay attention not to miss it.

• Continuing along the road, you’ll pass through the town of Sete Cidades and cross the bridge that separates Lagoa Verde from Lagoa Azul.

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Arriving at the coast, we turned left and headed to Porta do Diabo and the Ferraria Lighthouse and Viewpoint. Nearby are the Ferraria Hot Springs, which feature thermal pools, but they were closed during our visit. It’s worth walking to the coast to see where the sea meets the black volcanic rocks. The rough sea crashing against the black rocks created a surreal, almost otherworldly view.

From there, we headed towards Mosteiros, stopping at the Ponta do Escavaldo Viewpoint.

In Mosteiros, it is worth stopping at Ponta dos Mosteiros and the Carneiros Natural Pools When we visited, the temperature and tide weren’t ideal for swimming, but it’s worth bringing a bathing suit — who knows, you might have better luck! You can also visit Mosteiros Beach, a small black stone beach with large rocks in the ocean that make for stunning photos.

In the village of Mosteiros, we had lunch at Gazcidla Restaurant. We had initially planned to eat at O Américo de Barbosa, but the wait was longer than our hunger could handle.

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Ponta Delgada

The main city of the Azores is worth at least a few hours of your visit. In addition to walking through the charming little center, which makes you absolutely sure that you are really in Portugal. Below are some of the most interesting points to observe in the city.

- Portas da Cidade (City Gates): One of Ponta Delgada's most iconic landmarks, these gates were originally built between 1783 and 1785 during the reign of Queen Maria I as part of the city's urbanization project. They are located in Praça Gonçalo Velho, near the Main Church.

– Igreja Matriz de São Sebastião:This impressive baroque church dates back to the 16 th century. Unfortunately, it was closed when we visited, so if you plan to go, be sure to check the website for opening hours or mass times.

- António Borges Garden: A delightful, century-old garden built between 1858 and 1861, offering a peaceful walk in the city center with its ancient trees, lakes, and caves. The José do Canto Botanical Garden is also worth the visit.

- Ponta Delgada Marina: perfect for a late afternoon stroll.

- Convento da Esperança: This historic convent is famous for its sanctuary of Senhora da Esperança and its traditional tiles. Nearby, you’ll find the Campo de São Francisco square and the São José Church.

- Fortress of São Brás: A 16th-century fortress offering panoramic views of the city and the Atlantic Ocean.

- Mercado da Graça: A traditional market where you can find fresh local products like fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and handicrafts.

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Have you checked out our complete 1 week itinerary in the Azores?

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Where to eat on São Miguel Island

Let me tell you something: the people of the Azores truly know how to eat well! Everything we tasted on the islands was absolutely delicious. I’m a big fan of Portuguese cuisine and had high expectations, but the food in the Azores managed to exceed them all.

Be sure to try the seafood (just thinking about the octopus makes my mouth water), the traditional cod, and the unique dishes of São Miguel: "cozido de Furnas" (Furnas stew, cooked in the natural heat of the fumaroles), the "lapas" (a type of large clam), and the "bolo levedo" (yeast cake).

In Ponta Delgada, we had lunch at O Pataniscaon the downtown's main street, close to our hotel; at A Tasca, also in downtown area, often recommended as the best restaurant on the island (there was a huge queue when we visited); and at Cais da Sardinha, located by the sea with glass walls, perfect for watching the sunset.

Out of Ponta Delgada, as I mentioned earlier, we ate at Gazcidla Restaurant in Mosteiros and had a quick snack at Snack Bar o Garoto in Povoação. I recommend both for a quick and good meal while exploring these regions of São Miguel Island.

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Map with complete itinerary of the trip to the Azores

Here is our detailed one week Azores itinerary and on the map below you can see all the details of it. Just click and save to your Google account. When you plan your next trip to the Azores, you already know where to start 😉

In this post, I explain how I use Google MyMaps to plan my trips. It’s an amazing tool for saving locations, calculating routes and distances, and organizing your entire journey. I highly recommend giving it a try!

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