If you're thinking of planning a trip to the Azores islands, chances are you're trying to figure out which island(s) to visit. Because this is exactly what I did once I decided I wanted to visit this Portuguese island chain.

The thing about visiting the Azores is that its 9 volcanic islands are all quite different – but they're NOT all grouped close together like you might imagine. I initially thought my husband Elliot and I could easily visit 2 or maybe even 3 islands during a short trip to the Azores. But, upon doing more research, I soon realized that would require internal flights, multiple car rentals, and overall more of a headache to plan.

So instead we decided to focus just on ONE island in the Azores for our first, short trip.

We decided to visit São Miguel, the largest and most populated island in the Azores. And it ended up being the BEST choice! We had the freedom and time to fully explore the whole island, and didn't have to stress about flights or ferries or multiple car rentals.

This itinerary will cover my ideal trip to São Miguel island in the Azores!

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Why choose São Miguel in the Azores?

If you're only going to visit one island in the Azores, I think there's a great argument to be made for it being São Miguel. A few reasons why we personally chose it:

• São Miguel is well-connected by international flights to both mainland Europe (mostly with flights to Portugal) as well as the US east coast. We hopped on a direct flight to Ponta Delgada, the largest city on São Miguel, from New York, and were there in just about 5 hours.
• It's the largest island in the Azores, meaning there's LOTS to see and do. Even if you're planning a longer trip in the Azores, you really should devote at least 3 days to São Miguel to see all the main attractions.
• And speaking of that, there are a lot of attractions on São Miguel, from scenic lakes to hot springs to beaches to geothermal areas to even a tea plantation! It's a great island to get an overall taste of the Azores.
• Lastly, since it's also the most populated island in the Azores, there are also more hotels, restaurants, and tourist services on São Miguel when compared to some of the other islands. If you're visiting during high season (which, it's likely that you will be), this means you should still be able to find a place to sleep and a car to rent without needing to book 6 months in advance.

We paired up a visit to São Miguel with some time in Porto and the Douro Valley on mainland Portugal, and it was such a fun trip. My suggested 5-day Azores itinerary just focuses on São Miguel, and could either be done on its own, or paired up with a visit to another island or another city in Portugal, depending on how much time you have.

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5 day Sao Miguel Azores itinerary

Again, this Azores itinerary is just going to focus on the island of São Miguel. And I've gone with 5 days, as it's enough time to truly explore the whole island without rushing at all. You could of course spend less or more time, but this is the itinerary I personally suggest, based on my own travels to São Miguel.

Sao Miguel is not a small island, covering 287.5 square miles. But it's small enough that you'll never be driving for hours at a time; in fact, it only takes a little over an hour to drive across the whole island.

Who is this itinerary for? This itinerary is for the traveler who loves beautiful scenery, local culture and history, trying traditional food, and a very light smattering of outdoorsy adventure (think: easy walks, hot springs, and boat tours). This is NOT a hiking-focused itinerary, as I'm not that kind of traveler!

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Day 1: Arrival and western Sao Miguel

Highlights today: A pineapple farm, the lakes and views around Sete Cidades (with an optional short hike), and a black sand beach

Total driving time today: 2 hours (84 km) (map link)

I'm going to assume that you'll be arriving on São Miguel at the Ponta Delgada airport (PDL, officially the Aeroporto João Paulo II) in the morning. Flights from the US are short overnight flights, usually arriving to Ponta Delgada before breakfast.

I recommend grabbing a coffee at the airport, and then picking up your rental car ready to hit the road. (You *could* try to check into your hotel, but it will likely be too early, and you're better off doing some sightseeing first and checking into your hotel later.)

Late morning: Pineapple farm

For a late morning pick-me-up, drive into Ponta Delgada (it's a very short drive from the airport) and visit a pineapple farm! The Azores grow sweet, delicious pineapples inside greenhouses, and there are several pineapple “farms” right on the outskirts of the city.

The farm Elliot and I visited was Plantação de Ananás dos Açores, which offers a free self-guided tour you can take to learn all about growing pineapples. They also have a little cafe here where you can try a bunch of pineapple foods and drinks, including even a pineapple beer!

Other pineapple farms nearby you can visit include Ananás Santo António and Plantação Ananases A Arruda – but I really recommend the one above with the cafe!

Afternoon: Sete Cidades

Once you have a pineapple-infused meal in you, it's time to explore some of the best spots on the western end of Sao Miguel. Make for Sete Cidades, a little parish in an ancient volcanic crater that's now home to some of São Miguel's most famous lakes and views.

Head to Miradouro da Vista do Rei first, a very popular lookout with views over both Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul. In July and August, there will also be a TON of hydrangea buses blooming in this area.

The parking area around the viewpoint (alongside an abandoned hotel) can get very busy during high season, but it is worth being patient for a spot, as the views are iconic and spectacular!

From the viewpoint, IF you want to squeeze in a little hike, head next to Miradouro da Boca do Inferno. You used to be able to drive right up to this viewpoint, but now you have to do a little walk through a forest first (park where “Parque estacionamento Lagoa do Canário” is marked on Google Maps, and the trail starts right across the street).

This hike is mostly flat and easy, save for the last maybe 10 minutes, where you do have to climb a hill to get to the views. Once up there, follow the trail out to the viewpoint over two separate crater lakes. Again, the views are very much worth it!

After your little hike, you can follow the main road back and down into the town of Sete Cidades (when the hydrangeas are blooming, this drive is especially stunning). If you'd rather skip the hike above, another thing you can do is rent a canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard to use on the lakes for up to an hour (more info here.)

In Sete Cidades, be sure to stop to see the Igreja de São Nicolau, a cute church that's very photogenic.

Late afternoon: Black sand beach

From Sete Cidades, it's not a far drive to the parish of Mosteiros on the northeast coast.

One of my favorite beaches on São Miguel is Praia dos Mosteiros, a small-ish black sand beach with views out towards some sea stacks and rock formations. The beach is dramatic, has parking nearby, and even has restrooms and a little snack bar. This is a great spot to grab a drink, or even go for an afternoon dip if you can stand the chilly water temp.

Evening: Ponta Delgada

By now, you'll be able to check into your hotel, get dinner, and probably have an early night if you spent the previous night on a plane!

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Where to stay on Sao Miguel

The most convenient place to stay on São Miguel is in Ponta Delgada, the largest city on the island. It's located on the southwestern coast of the island (near the airport), and makes a good base since it has a good number of hotels and restaurants when compared to some other towns.

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Day 2: Ponta Delgada

Highlights today: Exploring Ponta Delgada and a food tour

Total driving time today: 20 minutes (15 km) (map link)

Have a leisurely morning today. Perhaps pop over to Intz48 Coffee Roasters for a really nice cup of coffee – but don't eat a heavy breakfast, because your first activity today is a food tour!

Morning: Food tour

Start your day off with a food and culture tour around Ponta Delgada with Hungry Whales. This food tour is one of the best tours in the Azores, and will have you visiting a local market and learning a lot about Azorean food culture and how it's been influenced by the islands' history.

The food tour starts at 10 a.m. and lasts roughly 3.5 hours and will fill you up with 8-10 food samples and some drinks. I LOVE food tours as a way to learn more about local culture when I travel, and this is a good one! (Book your spot here.)

Afternoon: Explore Ponta Delgada

You will wander around the center of Ponta Delgada on your food tour, but you might want to return to a few spots for photos, or maybe devote some time to visiting a local museum or church this afternoon. (You won't need lunch after the food tour!)

Or you could go for a little nature walk in the Jardim Botânico José do Canto or Jardim Botânico António Borges, both lovely botanic gardens/parks.

Late afternoon: Optional Gin Library visit

If you're looking for a unique spot to enjoy a drink this afternoon/evening, I can highly recommend making the 10-minute drive to the Solar Branco Eco Estate & Boutique Hotel where you'll also find the Gin Library.

The Gin Library is exactly what it sounds like: an incredible collection of gins from around the world. Currently there are 1800+ bottles of gin, making it the largest collection in all of Europe! They make their own gin here, too, inspired by the flavors of local nature and the sea.

You can book a time for a short demonstration and tasting, which are offered daily on the hour in the evenings (after 4 p.m.). More info on booking here (a visit costs €15, and includes one gin and tonic).

Evening: Wine bar

OR, if you don't want to leave the city this evening, a good option in Ponta Delgada is to stop in for a wine tasting at Wine & Art by 1001 Garrafas. A 40-minute tasting here pairs Azorean wines with local cheeses, and comes very highly recommended.

Evening: Nice dinner

Go out for a nice dinner tonight in Ponta Delgada. I would recommend making a reservation at A Terra, the upscale restaurant inside the Octant Hotels Ponta Delgada.

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Day 3: North coast

Highlights today: Coastal viewpoints, visiting a tea plantation, natural pools, and a beachside dinner

Total driving time today: 2.5 hours (140 km) (map link)

Morning: Gorreana Tea Plantation

We're headed out of the city today for a day exploring beautiful viewpoints, gardens, natural pools, and beaches, so enjoy breakfast at your hotel or in town.

The first stop I recommend today is at the only working tea plantation in Europe!

On the way, however, make a stop at Miradouro de Santa Iria, a beautiful viewpoint overlooking a long stretch of Azores coast. From here, this might remind you of another European island – maybe like Ireland because of all the green hills.

Then make your way down the road to the Gorreana Tea Plantation, or Chá Gorreana. This tea plantation dates back to 1883, when it was started by Ermelinda Pacheco Gago da Câmara (we love a female entrepreneur!). The tea thrives here on São Miguel because of the island's humid, wet, and mild climate, along with the acidic volcanic soil.

When you visit Chá Gorreana, you can explore inside the tea production facility (there are guides in certain rooms if you have questions), enjoy some samples of their green and black tea, and also explore the tea fields themselves. The plantation covers 79 acres (32 hectares), and there are some trails through the fields that you are free to walk through on your own.

I highly recommend walking up into the fields, as the views are incredible!

Optional late morning: Natural pools

From the tea plantation, you have a couple options for what to do next. One option is to head into the nearby parish of Maia to swim in the Piscinas Naturais das Calhetas da Maia, which are natural ocean pools. IF the ocean is calm enough, you can climb down to the pools and go for a swim (this is best done at low tide, or on calmer days, and I'd recommend water shoes or sandals for the rocks).

For lunch, Oestrela Bar & Restaurante overlooks a local beach here, or you can drive a little further to Moofana to get a bifana sandwich.

Optional late morning: Waterfall hike

Another option along the north coast is to see the Cascata do Salto da Farinha, or Salto da Farinha waterfall. This involves a hike, so make sure you come prepared!

You can first stop at the Miradouro do Salto da Farinha, which offers up some nice coastal views. Grab some lunch on the way (maybe a sandwich from Moofana), and you can enjoy it at a picnic table here. From this viewpoint, you can actually take a quick trail down to the waterfall if you just want to get some photos.

OR, you can do a bit of a longer hike by continuing down the (windy, unpaved and very steep) road to a parking area near a rocky beach (it's marked on Google Maps as Pequena Rota PR21 SMI – Salto da Farinha – Podrão das Alminhas). From this parking area, there's another trail that takes you to the waterfall that is longer. (Many people will park their cars further up this road and walk down, as it is a bit of a scary drive!)

Note that the waterfall is best viewed after the island has had some rain; during less wet stretches, it sometimes dries up.

Afternoon: Nature park

After swimming or your hike (or maybe both, depending on how much you want to pack in!), the other stop I recommend making on the north coast is at Parque Natural da Ribeira dos Caldeirões, a small nature park with beautiful landscapes, tons of hydrangea bushes, and even some small waterfalls.

There are paved trails leading down into the park, along with a small cafe and restroom facilities. This spot is free to visit with plenty of parking, so it really should be a must-stop!

Optional late afternoon: More natural pools

If you skipped the natural pools this morning, there's one more chance to enjoy some on the north coast in the town of Nordeste, on the far northeastern corner of São Miguel. The Piscina Natural Da Boca De Ribeira is a natural swimming pool fed by ocean waves but set up more like a real swimming pool.

There's free parking and restrooms nearby, and this is another beautiful place for a swim on a nice day.

Evening: Beach dinner

From Nordeste (or from Parque Natural da Ribeira dos Caldeirões if you skipped Nordeste), it's a relatively easy and short drive back the way you came (40 minutes' drive at most) to Praia do Areal de Santa Bárbara, or Santa Barbara Beach.

This wide, long beach has dark sand and lots of lava rocks and is popular with surfers. There's a beachside restaurant near the beach's main parking area called TukáTulá Beach Bar that is excellent for dinner – but you need to book ahead (call or email), or be willing to put your name on the list and wait. Waiting is actually lovely, though; you can enjoy a drink on the rooftop, or maybe grab a fresh piña colada and enjoy it beachside.

The other option for a quicker dinner at this beach is to head to the far end to a spot called Beach Club – Surf & Snacks. Here you'll find picnic tables overlooking the beach, and a more laid-back menu with things like drinks and pizzas.

Either way, this is a great beach to watch the sunset from!

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Day 4: Central Sao Miguel

Highlights today: Boat trip, a lake adventure, and hot springs

Total driving time today: Up to 1.5 hours (83 km) (map link)

Morning: Whale watching or boat trip

Start today by getting out on the water!

The first option is to go on a whale watching tour. This whale tour runs from Ponta Delgada, and will take you out to look for whales, dolphins, and other marine life. You can book a tour either on a catamaran (more stable and comfortable, with toilets onboard) or on a zodiac-style boat (more exciting and you can get closer to wildlife, but zero protection from the elements).

You can also book a whale watching tour from the town of Vila Franca do Campo on the south coast. A tour like this includes whale watching and also a short tour around Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo, an island formed by an ancient volcano eruption. These ones are ONLY offered on the small zodiac-style RIB boats.

Whichever you choose, book the earliest tour time for the best weather/sea conditions and a better chance of seeing whales.

If whale watching isn't your jam but you still want to get out on the water (hi, it's me! I honestly don't love whale watching 90% of the time), there's still an option for you!

Head to Vila Franca do Campo and book a quick zodiac tour around the islet. You'll get to see São Miguel from the water and learn all about the little volcanic island of Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo, which actually used to be privately owned, and has more than once hosted the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series.

This boat tour won't let you out of the boat at all, but is a fun way to get out on the water for a bit.

(You CAN swim in the lagoon at Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo, but you have to buy tickets for a boat to take you out there at the harbor, at Bilheteira Ilhéu de Vila França do Campo. These tickets can only be bought in-person day-of, and the boats run to/from the islet hourly.)

Lunch: Bar Carloura

If you opted to head to Vila Franca do Campo for a tour, then having lunch at Bar Caloura is must. This is a highly recommended local spot serving up seafood dishes and ocean views. There's also another natural swimming pool here, which you can see from the restaurant.

If you did a tour from Ponta Delgada, then you'll probably just want to have lunch in town.

Optional afternoon: Lagoa do Fogo

Lagoa do Fogo, or the “Lake of Fire,” is a large lake located in an old volcanic caldera in the center of São Miguel island. The lake is very often shrouded in clouds and fog, which is why I'm adding this as a optional activity today. Going up the mountain to only look at fog probably isn't worth it.

BUT, if you manage to hit a clear day, then you might want to try this. (Elliot and I did hit a clear day, but we did not know the next bit of info at the time…)

As of 2024, you can no longer drive the road EN5-2A to the Lagoa do Fogo viewpoints in your own car during the high season (even if Google Maps tells you you can, you cannot!). Instead, from mid-June through September, the island now offers a shuttle service to take you up to the lake and its viewpoints.

Buses run circular, hop-on hop-off style routes between two parking areas: one at the Caldeira Velha parking lot, and another at the Casa de Água lot. However, it's worth noting that once you get off the bus (like, at a viewpoint), another bus won't come around for about 30 minutes. Meaning you probably need to allow 2+ hours even if you just want to visit the two main lake viewpoints.

Personally, if you're visiting during the mandatory shuttle season, I'm not sure visiting Lagoa do Fogo just for the viewpoints is worth it on your own.

Another option: If you don't mind a very busy day, you could book this half-day tour that includes visiting Lagoa do Fogo plus entry to the hot springs I mention below! It leaves from either Ponta Delgada or Vila Franca do Campo in the early afternoon.

Late afternoon: Caldeira Velha hot springs

A spot I consider to be a must-visit is the Centro de Interpretação Ambiental da Caldeira Velha, a nature preserve with a series of naturally-fed hot springs. This spot gives major Jurassic Park vibes with big ferns and lush greenery, and there are three main pools at varying temperatures to soak in.

The coolest pool is the largest and has a small waterfall cascading into it, while the hotter pools are smaller. Entry to Caldeira Velha is ticketed and timed, though, to ensure it doesn't get *too* overly crowded.

You can pre-book tickets yourself online here (you MUST book more than 24 hours in advance), but keep in mind the timing if you plan to try to visit Lagoa do Fogo on your own. (The Lagoa do Fogo bus has a stop right at the Caldeira Velha parking lot, though, which is handy!) The latest entry times are either 4:30 p.m. (in spring and fall) or 6 p.m. in summer, and you buy tickets for a 90-minute visit.

(OR, like I mentioned above, this half-day tour includes visiting Lagoa do Fogo AND entry to Caldeira Velha.)

Return to Ponta Delgada (or wherever you're staying) tonight and have dinner there.

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Day 5: East end of Sao Miguel

Highlights today: Lots more coastal viewpoints, plus visiting two geothermal parks

Total driving time today: 2.75 hours (144 km) (map link)

You can have a more leisurely morning today and enjoy breakfast at your hotel or in town. Then hit the road and head east towards Furnas, which is the most geothermally-active part of São Miguel island.

Morning: Furnas viewpoint

On your way into the town of Furnas, take a quick detour to the Miradouro do Lombo dos Milhos. From this viewpoint you'll get excellent views over Furnas, surrounded by green mountains and colorful hydrangea bushes.

Morning: Fumaroles at Lagoa das Furnas

From the viewpoint, head down to Lagoa das Furnas and the fumaroles and boiling mud alongside the lake at Antigo Pomar das Caldeiras da Lagoa das Furnas (free to visit, but you have to pay for parking). There's a very short series of boardwalks here to get closer to the vents and boiling mud, and you can also see where they are cooking Cozido das Furnas, a local dish of meat and root veggies that's cooked underground using the volcanic heat.

There's a small bar/cafe right next to the fumaroles tucked into some tall trees that's a great spot to grab a drink (though I wouldn't have the cozido here).

There's also a nature park here with some walking trails, though I would skip it since we're going to visit a better one in a bit!

Afternoon: Lunch in Furnas

Have an early lunch in Furnas town. We had an excellent meal of local beef at Queijaria Furnense, but if you want to try the Cozido das Furnas dish, the place to go in town is Tony's.

Afternoon: Terra Nostra Park

Next up is the large Parque Terra Nostra, which has lots of walking trails through native flora, plus a huge thermal pool. An entry ticket gets you access to everything, so bring a swimsuit if you want to go for a dip!

If you plan to swim here, allow at least a couple hours to enjoy everything. If you just want to walk the trails, allow perhaps one hour.

Late afternoon: More viewpoints

There are LOTS of excellent miradouros along the southeastern coast of São Miguel, so I recommend stopping to see a few before you return to your hotel for the night.

Stop at Miradouro do Pôr-do-Sol for beautiful inland views, Miradouro de Água Retorta for views over a cute Azorean town, Miradouro da Ponta da Madrugada for a dramatic view of lush coast, and Miradouro da Ponta do Sossego for a garden-like setting with even more views.

Miradouro da Ponta do Sossego is one you've perhaps seen in photos, with a “trail” along a cliff lined with hydrangea bushes. This trail does exist here at this viewpoint (just below the picnic area), but just note that it's not actually a hiking trail and is very short in reality! It does make for incredible photos, though, even when the bushes aren't really in full bloom.

Also don't be surprised to find lots of cats at some of these miradouros! Locals feed the cats here and provide them with little houses and shelters.

Then it's time to head back to your hotel for one more night, and prepare to head home (on onwards to another island or elsewhere in Europe) tomorrow.

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How to do Sao Miguel in 3 days

If you're planning a longer trip to the Azores and want to visit Sao Miguel alongside more islands, then you might want to shorten your visit here to just 3 days. If that's the goal, here's what I would do with just 3 days:

• Day 1: Arrival, pineapple farm, Sete Cidades, Praia dos Mosteiros, dinner in Ponta Delgada
• Day 2: Tea plantation, Caldeira Velha hot springs, Santa Barbara beach
• Day 3: Optional morning around Ponta Delgada, Furnas/Terra Nostra Park, all the viewpoints in the southeast

So basically I would cut the day in Ponta Delgada (sorry, food tour!), cut the whale watching, and cut Lagoa do Fogo. This would still allow you to hit all the highlights on Sao Miguel in just 3 days.

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When to visit the Azores

The Azores are fairly mild and humid year-round, but do have a distinct high and low season. High season falls during the European summer months, generally June-August, when temperatures average between 70-80 degrees F and you'll definitely want to book things like hotels and rental cars in advance.

Low season in the Azores is the European winter months, when temperatures hover in the 55-60 degrees F range, and some tourist services might not be open.

Personally, I would go for shoulder season travel in the Azores and on São Miguel. The months of April-May and September-October will still generally have nice weather, but you'll face smaller crowds at the main tourist sites.

All of my photos in this post were taken during a mid-September trip!

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Who's ready to plan a trip to Sao Miguel in the Azores?