São Miguel is located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and will not be familiar to everyone. However, the main island of the Azores, which is about the same size as Madeira, is an absolute dream destination in Europe with plenty of breathtaking natural wonders. There are huge volcanic craters, crystal-clear mountain lakes, hot springs where you can bathe, amazing views of cliffs, sandy beaches for swimming and surfing, hiking trails through dense jungle with spectacular waterfalls, and much more. Here, I will tell you about the must-see attractions on São Miguel.
São Miguel is the largest of the nine Azores islands and is home to the majority of the population. Most tourists also visit here, as the international airport is located in São Miguel’s capital, Ponta Delgada.
Nevertheless, you will also find many cool spots in nature on the island that the large tourist groups with their buses cannot easily reach. Especially if you love hiking and nature, you will not be disappointed by São Miguel.
In this article, I’ll tell you about the best things to see in São Miguel, which you should definitely see, especially if it’s your first visit to the island.
This article contains a wealth of tips for traveling in the Azores in general:
You can get a few more remote insider tips about São Miguel here:
Tips for other islands in the Azores can be found here:
1. Logoa do Fogo
The locals consider this lake to be the most beautiful on the island. This is probably because it is still very wild, remote and unspoilt. There are also some endemic plant species up by the lake and absolutely no cell phone reception. It is therefore also perfect for your digital detox.
The best way to reach the lake is via the PR 39 hiking trail, which first takes you steeply uphill and then along a levada through the jungle. You don’t have to take the same path back. There is another path along the lake down to the village, from which you also have great views of the coast and the island of Ilhéu de Vila.
By the way: you can also reach the lake by car. There are some great viewpoints along the route over the mountain past the lake. The most famous is the Miradouro do Pico da Barrosa. However, from 2023, you will no longer be able to do this with your own rental car between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Instead, you will have to book a shuttle bus to take you to the viewpoints. Signs along the road will alert you to this restriction, which has been put in place to protect nature.
2. Sete Cidades volcanic crater
The Sete Cidades is a mighty crater of volcanic origin (caldera) with a turquoise-blue lake in the middle, divided into two parts – the Lagoa Azul to the north and the Lagoa Verde to the south. There is also an idyllic village in the center of the crater, where you can find a few shops and some vacation apartments.
The landscape along this lake and the crater is absolutely breathtaking and you should spend at least a full day here, although you will probably need more to discover all the viewpoints. Depending on which side you look at the lake from, the water appears in different colors.
From the Miradouro da Boca do Inferno, you have a side view of the Sete Cidades Lake and can also catch a glimpse of the greenish shimmering Lagoa de Santiago.
From the Miradouro da Vista do Rei you look directly at the northern crater wall and can marvel at the two lakes in their full length. Next to the lookout point there is also an old, abandoned hotel. It is closed, but I have seen people climbing up to the roof of the hotel anyway. But the view from the official lookout point is also quite impressive.
The Miradouro das Cumeeiras is located directly above the steep crater walls to the north. From here you have a spectacular view down. Especially on days when there are a few clouds and winds blowing, it is pretty cool here.
I stand at the cliffs, which drop away extremely steeply in a fearsome manner, and watch the rapidly rising fog. I can first see the cloud raining down on the green slopes and finally I can also feel the full force of nature. A stiff breeze blows so strongly in my face that I almost fall backwards in the wind. A pleasantly cool spray floods the air. from my travel notes
The crater walls of Sete Cidades are also the setting for one of the most beautiful hikes on São Miguel. You will walk along the steep slopes almost the whole time, passing not only the well-known viewpoints but also many lesser-known miradouros. There are two official hiking trails here, PR3 and PR4, that will take you almost all the way around the crater. Both take about 2 hours each. However, the end of the PR4 is not directly the beginning of the PR3. This means that to get from the end of the PR4 back to the PR3 parking lot, you have to walk about 1 hour extra along the country road.
Does all this sound too exhausting for you, but would you still like to discover the remote areas of Sete Cidades? Then a guided tour by jeep might be a good alternative for you. These also drive along the crater roads that cannot be reached by normal car, but often also show you other places on the island. You will also get a lot of information from the local drivers. There are half and full day tours from different providers. Here are a few examples:
- Sete Cidades: Half-day off-road jeep
- From Ponta Delgada: 4×4 day tour to Sete Cidades
- Half-day Tour Sete Cidades UTV
- São Miguel Island: Full-day off-road island
- From Ponta Delgada: Full-day Sete Cidades quad tour
Another fantastic activity is to discover the two lakes by kayak. There is a Kayak rental directly in the Sete Cidades village.
3. Furnas
In addition to the Terra Nostra Garden, you should also just stroll through this small town with its many beautiful parks. A river with hot water flows through the town and there are places along the river where the hot mineral water flows out of the wall. By the way, you can drink that too.
The Caldeiras Vulcânicas are where it’s really hot, with bubbling and steaming everywhere. The smell of sulfur in the air is really intense. The whole thing reminded me a bit of Rotorua in New Zealand. Except that admission here in the Azores is free.
You can find many more tips about Furnas here:
4. Terra Nostra Garden in Furnas
This botanical garden with hot springs is a very popular tourist destination. There is a large lake with sulfur water and two smaller pools under ferns and palm trees. A small hiking trail leads through the various areas of the park, which is definitely worth taking.
Tickets cost €8 and the park is only open to visitors from 10:30 to 16:30. Unless you are a guest at the 5-star Hotel Terra Nostra Garden. Because then you can also swim here after the official opening hours. It is something special to swim here in the silence of the night under a full moon, while the fog hangs in the treetops and the hot steam rises from the pool.
By the way, you shouldn’t wear light-colored or even white swimsuits if you want to swim in the pools. This is because the sulfur content, which is harmless to the skin, is guaranteed to settle in them and is difficult to get out again.
In addition to the swimming opportunities, the botanical garden itself is also well worth a visit. There are various areas here that you can explore along a hiking trail.
5. Lagoa das Furnas
In front of the town of Furnas lies an idyllic lake for which you have to pay an entrance fee of €3 if you want to take your car to the springs of the former Pomar das Caldeiras da Lagoa das Furnas.
At the lake, there is also an entrance to Grena Park. This costs €10, minus the €3 required for entry to the lake. You have to climb a few steps here and can then marvel at the highest waterfall in the Azores.
However, Lake Furnas is best known for the Azorean stew, which is cooked in the traditional style – Cozido das Furnas. The food is cooked for 5 to 6 hours in the thermal water of the hot springs.
Locals recommended me the Tonys restaurant. But you should make a reservation here in advance and it is best for dinner because of the long cooking time.
There are also activities that combine typical Azorean food with bathing in hot springs at night. Here you will find such an offer.
6. Salto do Cabrito waterfall
The beautiful waterfall Salto do Cabrito is easily accessible by car. You can basically park almost directly in front of it. There are a few steep switchbacks down, but these should not be a problem for reasonably experienced drivers.
The waterfall itself consists of two smaller waterfalls and a middle terrace. At the bottom, tourists stand knee-deep in the water, taking pictures and selfies. The earlier you arrive in the morning, the more likely it is that you will have fewer people in front of your lens.
The waterfall basin is only part of the highlight. Just before the waterfall, an inconspicuous staircase leads up. This is where the PRC 29 hiking trail begins, which initially leads along a pipe over the river and then further and further up through the jungle to the dam. From here, it continues, mostly along the road, to the hot springs and back to the waterfall.
If you don’t want to hike, you can just walk up the stairs and see Salto do Cabrito from above.
7. Pineapple plantations in Ponta Delgada
The first pineapples appeared in the Azores around 1829, probably coming from Brazil. Over the years, the locals developed very special methods of growing pineapples in the subtropical region of the Azores. Large glass greenhouses provided the solution, ensuring the appropriate year-round temperature.
In Ponta Delgada, you can visit three different pineapple plantations and learn a lot about the history and cultivation of pineapples.
A Aruba – You can just walk in and look around. There is a cool souvenir shop with a small café. The pineapple schnapps bottles look the coolest here.
Santo Antonio – San Antonio is a rather small plantation. There is a free tour here that starts with a video and takes you through a few of the greenhouses. At the end, you can buy a few products in the shop.
Plantação de Ananás dos Açores – You can walk through some of the larger greenhouses here. QR codes provide more information. At the end, you can buy fresh pineapple products in the shop.
8. Janelo do Inferno Waterfall
This waterfall is idyllically situated in the middle of a small jungle section through which many old aqueducts and tunnels still lead, but which nature has long since reclaimed. The hiking trail PR37, which passes these old relics on the way to the waterfall, is a highlight in itself.
I walk through a dark tunnel that leads directly into the dense jungle. I feel a little like I’ve been transported to the backdrop of the TV series Lost. Again and again, bunker-like structures emerge from the jungle thicket. Nature has almost completely reclaimed these man-made buildings and aqueducts, sometimes even engulfing them. Moss covers the old walls. Ferns entwine themselves along the columns. Green plants spurt out of every hole in the walls. From my travel notes
9. Caldera Velha
Caldera Velha is a national monument of the Azores. It is a hot springs in the middle of the jungle. Around the springs, a few pools have been created where you can bathe in the warm water under ferns and palm trees. There is also a pool with a waterfall where the water is a little colder (about 25 degrees Celsius).
You can purchase various admission tickets here. In my opinion, only the “Full” ticket for €8 is worthwhile. With this ticket, you can visit the park and also bathe in the hot springs. Bathing is only allowed for a limited number of visitors (about 55), who are then allowed to enter the facility in individual two-hour time slots. That’s why you should book online tickets in advance. The lines at the entrance are often very long in the morning.
There is also a half-price ticket, but you are not allowed to enter the pools with it. However, there are many spots in nature in the middle of the jungle on Sao Miguel, including waterfalls, that you can hike for free.
If you’re lucky, you can get a ticket directly at the entrance without having to pre-order online. However, since Caldera Velha is not only popular with tourists but also with locals, this might be difficult. When I visited, the pools were always quite full.
The parking lot is located just below the entrance. From there, a short path leads to the entrance.
10. Surf beach Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara beach is considered one of the most beautiful beaches on São Miguel. The dark sandy beach is located directly on the cliffs and is also very popular with surfers.
There is a surf school on site where you can rent boards and suits or book surf lessons directly: The Azores Surf Center. Another provider is the Santa Barbara Surf School. They also have SUPs and bodyboards.
You can also find sanitary facilities here, as well as a few shops, restaurants and bars.
11. Cha Gorreana Tea Plantation
Cha Gorreana is the oldest tea plantation in Europe. The company has existed since 1883. In the factory, you can see the machines and also watch how tea is made. Opposite the factory, there is also a cool 1.5-hour hiking trail that takes you once around the tea plantation.
The tea is grown here without herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, colorings or preservatives and harvested between April and September. The black and green Gorreana tea is a 100 percent organic product.
You can also try these two types of tea for free inside the factory. Packaged tea (e.g. as a souvenir to take home) and cakes are also available for purchase. A small tart costs €1 and goes perfectly with tea.
Another tea factory is Porto Formosa a little further west, but most tourists tend to visit the striking Cha Gorreana house.
12. The west coast
I also recommend driving along the western tip of São Miguel for at least a day – basically once around the crater along the coast. There are many small stops along the way and great viewpoints.
Start the morning with a swim in the Piscina Naturais north of Capelas. There are natural pools like this in almost every bay. I found this one to be one of the best.
Next up is a small windmill, the 200-year-old Moinho do Pico Vermelho. In summer, you can also visit the inside of the mill. But even otherwise, the red mill with the blue house at the entrance is a great photo motif.
Further west, the beautiful Praia dos Mosteiros beach awaits you with its black but fine volcanic sand. From here you have a great view of the strange rock formations rising out of the water. There is also a small bar and sanitary facilities on the beach. In the north of Mosteiros, there are also other natural pools that are a bit rougher than those at Capelas. You can even watch the crabs here. But you shouldn’t get too close to them.
From the Miradouro da Ponta do Escalvado you also have a beautiful view of the rocks and the surrounding coastal landscape. Larger tourist buses also often stop here.
13. Ponta Delgada: The Botanical Gardens
Ponta Delgada has several beautiful gardens. Some are free and for others you have to pay a few euros to enter.
The Jardim Antonio Borges is one of the free gardens. You can stroll through the greenery here in peace, admire exotic plants and even discover a few caves.
In the garden of the Sant’Ana Palace, the highlight is not so much the garden (although it is also beautiful), but the striking red building in the middle. It is the government building of the autonomous region of the Azores and when entering, which costs €2, you must therefore show your ID and then you will receive a badge.
Right next to the palace is Ponta Delgada’s largest botanical garden, the Jardim Botanico José do Canto. For an entrance fee of 4 euros, you can wander through the various areas and marvel at the tropical plants and the works of art distributed throughout the park.
14. Ponta Delgada: Marina and city center
One of the most beautiful parts of São Miguel’s capital is the area around the harbor. There’s usually a large cruise ship anchored somewhere. It’s worth taking a stroll here, watching the locals swimming in the pools, eating at one of the restaurants or just gazing into the distance over the sea.
And don’t miss the Portas da Cidade. This square with its historic archways is a great place to linger.
15. Faro do Arnel
At this coastal site, not only a photogenic lighthouse awaits you, but also a spectacular waterfall that plunges down the steep coastal cliff.
Even the drive up the steep road to the lighthouse is a highlight. Be carefull, as toursits are not supposed to go down there with their rental cars. You need a lot of experience and enough power to get up again on the serpentines.
There are also parking spaces and turning options at the lighthouse. From here you can walk down to the waterfall.
16. The spectacular viewpoints along the east coast
The question of which viewpoints you should visit on the east coast of São Miguel is easily answered: Simply every one!
But here is a selection:
Miradouro da Vista dos Barcos
At the Miradouro da Vista dos Barcos (or simply Boats Viewpoint), you can once again see the lighthouse and the small fishing port from a distance.
Miradouro da Ponta do Sossego
At the Miradouro da Ponta do Sossego, you will immediately be greeted by the scent of the botanical garden laid out here. And on top of that, you have the best view of the cliffs. There are also places to have a picnic or barbecue, as well as a public toilet.
The beguiling scent of hydrangeas and other tropical flowers, which I don’t know by name, fills my nose. They shine in all possible colors: blue, orange, pink, red. Butterflies gorge themselves on the nectar of some of them. A cat greets me with its meow and wants to be petted. A few gardeners are trimming the hedges. Otherwise, I hear only the distant sound of the waves. The view of the spectacular cliffs and wild beaches is etched in my memory. Matthias
Miradouro da Ponta da Madrugada
A fragrant garden has also been created at this lookout point and cats make themselves at home here. The picnic areas, covered with green moss, are built into the hillside in terraces.
Miradouro do Picos dos Bodes
On top of a mountain stands a wooden tower from which you can get a fabulous view of the southern coast. The great PR40 hiking trail also leads this way.
Miradouro do Salto do Cavalo
This view is located along a mountain road from south to north near Furnas. From up here you can see the village of Furnas and its lake wonderfully. You can immediately see where the thermal springs are located from the steaming spots. On a clear day, you can even see the Sete Cidades crater on the horizon.
17. Ribeira dos Caldeirões
Nestled in a gorge, this beautifully designed park has several waterfalls, lots of blue-flowering hydrangeas and a lovely path. You can also watch an old water mill here, through which the water splashes from top to bottom.
And best of all: admission is free.
18. Salto do Prego Waterfall
You can reach this waterfall from the village of Faial de Terra via a 2 km long hiking trail through a gorge, and not from the road above the waterfall, as shown on Google Maps. There is a turnoff on the way that leads you towards the old village of Aldeia do Sanguinho. You can take this on the way back for a change. The roosters and hens along the way will show you the way. We do not recommend bathing at the waterfall because there is a possibility that trees may fall.
19. Vila Franca do Campo Island
You can see the small island with its circular volcanic crater from afar, and you can even swim in it.
You can reach the island on a guided tour. There are several activities offered by different providers:
- Diving on the island of Vila Franca Do Campo
- Kayak experience on the island of Vila Franca do Campo
- Snorkeling in Vila Franca do Campo
Car rental on São Miguel: Yes or No?
In my opinion, you should definitely get a rental car for São Miguel. Public transport or guided bus tours only take you to the tourist hotspots and taxis are too expensive in the long run. With a rental car, you can also get to the more remote corners and are more flexible. Besides, a rental car is not as expensive as you might think. Just compare prices on a comparison site like check24.
I recommend a rental car with fully comprehensive insurance and the additional insurance for underbody protection, glass and tires, as the road conditions on the Azores islands are not always optimal. Without this insurance, it is cheaper, but you should not save at the wrong end here. At check24, you can also search for offers that include this insurance and compare prices.
How long to stay on São Miguel?
You should plan at least a week for São Miguel. But even if you want to stay for two weeks, you will definitely not get bored. However, many travelers to the Azores also visit other islands during their vacation.
You will find answers to the most important questions there, such as:
- How long to stay in the Azores?
- What is the weather like in the Azores?
- What is the best time to go?
- Which islands should I visit?
- and many more…
The best places to stay on São Miguel
Many tourists book accommodation for the whole vacation and then explore the rest of the island on day trips. However, since São Miguel is a very elongated island and not all areas of the island are connected by a highway, I recommend you choose several accommodations from which you can discover the west and the east of the island without long car journeys.
I recommend you choose at least one accommodation in the west and one in the east of the island for your Azores vacation.
Here are my hotel tips:
- West: Grand Hotel Açores Atlântico in Ponta Delgada – great rooms with luxurious bathrooms, swimming pool, great bar
- West: Azor Hotel in Ponta Delgada – modern furnishings, cool spa for €10 entry, the best breakfast I had of all the places I stayed
- West: Pedras do Mar Resort & SPA near Calhetas – good for families, bathtub with sea view, indoor and outdoor swimming pool
- East: Terra Nostra Garden Hotel in Furnas – 24-hour access to the hot springs
- East: Tradicampo Eco Country Houses in Nordestinho – a mix between a holiday apartment and a hotel, outdoor swimming pool, local specialties and tips from the owner
Sao Miguel is a great island with lots to do and see. Which of the attractions is your absolute favorite? Drop me a comment and let me know.
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