Itinerary to visit São Miguel, Azores, in 7 days (one week)

Visiting São Miguel in the Azores is almost a must. There is so much to see on the main island of the Azores that a week is always too little and, above all, tastes like too little.

I've been to São Miguel more than once, but I haven't had time to see everything. And every time I go there, I always want to revisit São Miguel's main sites.

When planning a trip to the Azores Archipelago, it's important to always take the temperamental weather into account, as plans may have to be changed at the last minute. For example, when I was in Furnas it rained like the biblical deluge and this prevented me from seeing some of the sights on my itinerary that day.

Route to see São Miguel - complete guide

This is a nature destination of choice and in this itinerary you'll find the essential points and tips for visiting São Miguel. Of course there are places like Lagoa das Sete Cidade or Lagoa do Fogo, but there are also less obvious places like Lagoa do Pau Pique or Tromba de Elefante. Here you can also find the best hotels in São Miguel.

So let's visit São Miguel in 7 days or, if you prefer, in a week.

Itinerary for visiting São Miguel: Day 1

I suggest you start your São Miguel itinerary in the beautiful city of Ponta Delgada. The Azorean capital isn't very big and the places to see are concentrated in the centre - with a few exceptions. However, there is plenty to do in Ponta Delgada. 

The most emblematic place is called the City gates. It is a building with three stone arches, the centre one being the largest. It features baroque elements and the coat of arms of Portugal and the Municipality of Ponta Delgada. It is considered a building of public interest.

Downtown, you'll also find the São Brás Fort, whose main function was to defend the city and its merchant fleets from attacks by English, French and Algerian pirates and privateers. It now houses a military museum.

Not far from there, visit the Graça Market. Built in 1848, it is still a place where you can buy a huge variety of fresh produce. It is open from 7.30am until 6.30pm, closed on Sundays and Mondays.

A two-minute walk from the Graça Market, you'll discover the Micaelense Theatre. It now occupies the former site of a church and convent, having been inaugurated in 1951 and refurbished in 2004. You can visit, but you'll need to book.

Between the Fort and the City Gates, you'll discover the Ponta Delgada Bell Tower. Dating from 1724, it rises to a height of around 30 metres and is part of the Ponta Delgada Town Hall building. Entry is free and from the top you'll have a panoramic view of the capital of São Miguel. However, it is only open from Monday to Friday, from 9.30 to 17.30.

Since the Azores is a natural destination, even in the city centre you'll find these refreshing references in the António Borges Botanical Garden. The Azorean businessman and politician converted his property into a botanical garden and planted hundreds of exotic species that he imported from abroad.

Finally, if you don't suffer from claustrophobia, you can visit the Coal Caves. These are volcanic cavities in the western part of the city, stretching some 2,500 metres across three main cavities. Visits are by appointment only.

My final recommendation for the end of the day is the São Roque Beach. You can walk, if you feel like it, for about 3.5 kilometres along the coast, but the easiest way is by car. It's a dark sandy beach that's particularly attractive at the end of the day, with the Church of São Roque as a backdrop.

Where to sleep in Ponta Delgada: Casa das Palmeiras Charming House

Itinerary for visiting São Miguel: Day 2

I chose Capelas to stay a few days and I took the opportunity to visit some of the places in the area, such as the Vigia Viewpoint. From here you'll have a superb view of the Atlantic Ocean, the steep slopes and the entire north coast of São Miguel. This site used to be used to spot whales at sea, but is now a stopping-off point for (a few) tourists. 

Next door, try to catch a glimpse of a distant rock they've named Elephant's Trunk. If you can't see it, don't worry, the view is beautiful anyway and the elephants, you'll find them... on safari in Africa.

We leave the sea behind to head inland on this route to São Miguel. 25 minutes away you'll discover a beautiful lagoon in São Miguel: Lagoa das Empadadas. Located in the Serra Devassa area of Sete Cidades, it is one of São Miguel's most beautiful lagoons.

Along the way you'll pass the Pau Pique Lagoon, but you'll have to look for it on the map, as there are no signs or signposts. And, by the way, this lagoon is fantastic... seen from the air. Still, it's one of my favourites.

Along the way, you'll discover the Muro das Nove Janelas, an aqueduct considered to be of historical value and which used to carry water to the fountains of Ponta Delgada, several kilometres away.

Next, in the Sete Cidades area, you can't miss the view from the Miradouro da Boca do Inferno (or Miradouro da Grota do Inferno). The wide panoramic view is awe-inspiring. To reach this viewpoint, you'll have to cross the Lagoa do Canário forest and the lagoon of the same name.

On your way to Lagoa das Sete Cidades, stop at the Cerrado das Freiras viewpoint and the Lagoa de Santiago viewpoint. The former offers views of Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde, while the latter allows you to glimpse the intense green of Lagoa de Santiago.

The rest of the day is rounded off with a visit to the island's most popular sites, such as the Vista do Rei viewpoint and the ruins of the Monte Palace Hotel. In my opinion, it's not from this viewpoint that you'll get the best view of Sete Cidades, but it's still worth a look. There you'll also find one of the region's white elephants, the ruins of a hotel. In good Portuguese, a real mamarracho.

I suggest that you then take a look at the beautiful Mosteiros Beach and spend the last hours of the day at Ponta da Ferraria. There you can bathe in the warm thermal waters of the sea and watch the sunset overlooking the Ferraria Lighthouse.

Where to stay: Northern View! 

Itinerary for visiting São Miguel: Day 3

If you've followed the suggestion and stayed overnight in the Capelas area, then all you have to do is follow the coastline until you reach the beautiful Areal de Santa Barbara. It's a beach with a vast expanse of sand, but with a strong swell - it's favoured for water sports such as bodyboarding or surfing.

Before you get there, stop off in Rabo de Peixe, where you'll get a close-up view of the sea, next to the fishing harbour. Then we'll head towards the municipality of Lagoa, where you can explore the coast and all the tourist attractions.

First of all, some beaches - such as Praia do Degredo or Praia da Pedreira - are only four kilometres apart. If you want to add another beautiful bathing spot, there's Praia da Margarida, just 10 minutes away.

Take a trip to the Caloura Bathing Area and the beautiful swimming pools in the sea, without forgetting the Caloura Convent. On the way out, stop for a few minutes at the Miradouro do Pisão, from where you'll have an excellent view.

As they say the beach whets the appetite, perhaps it's worth satiating it with a sweet treat. In Vila Franca do Campo, the town's queijadas are famous. They're famous for a reason. The truth is that, to my palate, they are excessively sweet (and expensive).

Swap the queijadas for a trip to the Vila Franca Islet instead. This superb site is the result of a marine eruption and has been redesigned for thousands of years. It is estimated that this natural pool is around 150 metres in diameter.

You can only get there by boat. The trips take around 10 minutes and run every hour between 10am and 6pm - between mid-June and October. There is limited capacity on the islet at the same time, but you can buy tickets online to guarantee your place.

A menos de 10 minutos de carro de Vila Franca do Campo não pode perder uma ida à Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Paz. É uma obra quinhentista, com uma longa escadaria e com uma excelente vista para toda a paisagem abaixo. É um dos locais mais procurados desta região dos Açores, por isso prepare-se para a enchente.

As the day draws to a close, head back to the municipality of Ribeira Grande to watch a beautiful sunset from the Santa Iria viewpoint. Although the sun doesn't set over the sea, the golden colours creep across the verdant scenery. It's a spectacle not to be missed.

Where to sleep in Ribeira Grande: Casa del Rei

Itinerary for visiting São Miguel: Day 4

Today is the day to start driving towards the north-east on this route to visit São Miguel. But before that, there's still so much to see around Ribeira Grande. Start with a stroll around the town, discover it on foot, and you'll be amazed by its beauty.

Afterwards, get back in touch with nature at the beautiful Salto do Cabrito waterfall - 40 metres high. You can take your car right up to the "door" of the waterfall, but if you're physically fit enough, leave the seats for those who need them most and walk along the path, enjoying the lush green landscape. The waterfall is accessible via the Lagoa do Fogo road, on a dirt track.

When you leave Salto do Cabrito - back on the main road - turn left to head towards the Caldeira Velha Natural Monument.

There you'll find, as well as a beautiful waterfall (where you can go for a swim), the Caldeira Velha Environmental Interpretation Centre. The space invites you to embark on a journey through the volcanic origins of the Azorean islands, as well as information on geothermal energy, thermalism, biodiversity and geodiversity.

Follow the same road until you find Lagoa do Fogo viewpoint. Down below you'll see - if you're lucky with the weather - the astonishing Lagoa do Fogo. I went back there more than once because I didn't want to visit São Miguel without having this fantastic view. If on one of the days it was drizzling and foggy, the next day it was blue skies and we could see the lagoon and the whole landscape at its best.

I recommend hiking to the base of the lagoon. Not only is the trail and natural scenery incredible, but you'll also get a new perspective on the lagoon. 

There are at least two trails, one more direct, just in front of the viewpoint, and another for adventurers, following the left-hand slope. This is the one I did and it's much more daring, slippery, difficult, but appealing. As you go along this section you'll see the sea and even Ribeira Grande, before you start to descend towards the lagoon.

After walking, return to the car and continue further up the main road to reach the Barrosa Viewpoint. The view from here is as beautiful (or more so) than from the main viewpoint of Lagoa do Fogo.

After so much activity, you might want to make a short stop for a revitalising drink at the beautiful Praia dos Moinhos or a cup of tea at the Gorreana Tea Factory or Porto Formoso Tea Factory.

Towards the end of the day, we have two more special places left: Salto da Farinha and the Ribeira dos Caldeirões Natural Park. At the former, you'll have a viewpoint to see the waterfall in the distance, but you can also walk there. Nearby, you'll find the Padrão das Alminhas and the Pedra dos Estorninhos viewpoint.

Finally, take a look at the Ribeira dos Caldeirões Natural Park and the waterfall called Véu da Noiva. The area is very beautiful and, of course, very popular. The area is part of the Nordeste Water Route and is part of the Nordeste Volcanic Complex, considered to be the oldest on the island of São Miguel. The water that flows through it feeds the green hillside and flows under a granite bridge.

Where to sleep in the north-east: Azores Casa Atlantis

Itinerary for visiting São Miguel: Day 5

We start this new day visiting São Miguel at the Foz da Ribeira do Guilherme swimming pools. There I suggest you take your clothes off (literally), but keep your swimsuit on to dive into these fantastic pools. The water is renewed by each wave of the sea. 

Exposed to the force of the sea waters, the pools are both relaxing and challenging. For a wider view, stop at the Boca da Ribeira viewpoint.

The pool has a car park, toilets and changing rooms. From here you can see a vast expanse of coastline and the Arnel Lighthouse. And that's precisely where we're heading next. The lighthouse is one of the most photographed spots in São Miguel and the Azores.

This is a symbolic place, as it was the first lighthouse to operate in the Azores - in 1876. Throughout the year, you can visit the Arnel Lighthouse to learn more about the workings of this important navigational aid in Portugal.

Enjoy a refreshing lunch in the town of Nordeste, before taking the next steps to some of the best viewpoints in São Miguel, such as Miradouro da Ponta do Sossego and Miradouro da Ponta da Madrugada.

A short distance apart, they allow you to see the coast in unrivalled beauty. At Ponta do Sossego, the landscaped area gives the viewpoint an even more superior touch. Then pass by Cu de Judas and continue your journey to Furnas. Before you get there, you can also take a look at Salto do Cagarrão and Salto do Prego.

Where to sleep in Furnas: Victória Guest House

Itinerary for visiting São Miguel: Day 6

On the penultimate day of the itinerary to visit São Miguel, start by exploring Furnas and the Terra Nostra Park. Here - the most popular town in São Miguel - you'll be able to smell the sulphur coming from the steaming boilers.

Bathe in the Poça da Dona Beija, watch the stew pots being removed from the volcanic soil and taste the Furnas stew, of course. After lunch, burn off some calories walking along the banks of the Furnas Lagoon and admire the Chapel of Nossa Senhora das Vitórias - a neo-Gothic work dating from 1886.

Before you say goodbye to Furnas, buy a handful of cakes and Queijo do Vale, because in Furnas the cakes are excellent and the combination with the cheese is irresistible. You'll thank me if you do...

Then stop at the Pico do Ferro viewpoint to see the lagoon from a privileged vantage point. At around 500 metres above sea level, the viewpoint offers a vast view of the water table and the surrounding mountains.

Follow the same road (the EN2-1A) towards one of the most beautiful lagoons in the Azores: Lagoa do Congro. Located in the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo, the lagoon is extraordinary, as is the entire walk (about 20 minutes) through the damp forest.

Where to sleep in Furnas: Victória Guest House

Itinerary for visiting São Miguel: Day 7

The seventh day of the itinerary to visit São Miguel is an extra day to revisit some of the island's sights and, above all, to make up for any that you didn't get to see because of the bad weather. The weather is always a major uncertainty when planning a week-long itinerary on any island in the Azores.

So take the opportunity to revisit the lagoons, viewpoints and beaches, or extend your stay in Furnas or Capelas. Go for a walk, take another dip in the Caloura bathing area or in the thermal springs and hot springs of Ponta da Ferraria.

Map of places to visit in São Miguel