The Azores are a beautiful archipelago in the Atlantic ocean known for their beautiful green landscapes, amazing views and all around beauty. They’ve become known as the “Hawaii of Europe” and truly live up to the name. When visiting the Azores, Portugal for the first time, a great place to check out is the island of Sao Miguel. There are direct flights from the USA and mainland Europe and the island is stunning. Ready to plan your trip to the Azores? Keep reading for 10 amazing things to do in Sao Miguel!
Amazing Things to do in Sao Miguel
1: Viewpoints, Viewpoints, Viewpoints
In almost every single place you visit on the island of Sao Miguel, there will be absolutely stunning viewpoints.
You’ll find views of the ocean from beautiful cliffsides, stunning lakes, expansive open fields and picturesque towns, just to name a few. Whenever you see a sign for a “miradouro,” it is almost certainly worth pulling over and taking a look.
There are so, so many viewpoints (or miradouros) on the island, and they’re all worth a visit; but there are some that cannot be missed:
Northeast Side of the Island:
- Miradouro da Ponta da Madrugada
- Beautiful, lush and green cliffside forest and ocean views
- There are also tons of cats that live and are cared for at the viewpoint
- Miradouro da Ponta do Sossego
- Beautiful ocean views and a cliffside path lined with hydrangeas
Northern Side of the Island:
- Miradouro de Santa Iria
- Located near Ribeira Grande, this viewpoint offers spectacular views of cliffs jutting into the Atlantic Ocean
- Viewpoint of Ponta do Cintrão
- Not far from Miradouro de Santa Iria you’ll find another gorgeous view of cliffs and the Atlantic Ocean
- The water is so blue and you’ll often find horses and cows grazing nearby
- Miradouro do Frade
- While this viewpoint itself isn’t necessarily spectacular, if you walk down the rainbow stairs at the side of the viewpoint you’ll find rock protected tidal pools/swimming holes that are free to visit. There are also bathrooms and outdoor showers.
- These are tidal pools and not hot springs, so you’ll want to go during warm weather.
Eastern Side of the Island:
- Miradouro do Pico do Ferro
- Panoramic views of Furnas Lake
- This is a great place to visit on the way to Parque Terra Nostra in Furnas
Center of the Island:
- Miradouro do Pico da Barrosa
- My absolute favorite viewpoint on the island: amazing, amazing views of Lagoa do Fogo
- Try to go on a clear day, or a day with minimal cloud cover to the get the best views
- Even if it is foggy, be patient and wait it out, the fog often blows over uncovering stunning views of the lake from above
- Miradouro da Lagoa do Fogo
- Another great place for views of Lagoa do Fogo crater lake
- This viewpoint is located just 4 minutes by car from Miradouro do Pico da Barrosa
Western Side of the Island:
- Miradouro da Boca do Inferno
- This is one of the most famous views on the entire island, and on a clear day the views are magnificent. You can see the Sete Cidades lakes and town from high above.
- However, do not go on a foggy day – you’ll walk almost a mile from the road to the top of the viewpoint and you won’t be able to see anything at all.
- If you want the postcard worthy views that the miradouro is so famous for, it is essential to wait for a day with few clouds.
Beautiful, but not must-visits:
- Miradouro da Ponta do Arnel
- Located on the Northeast side of the island, this picturesque lighthouse is a beautiful site to see.
- Miradouro do Cerrado das Freiras
- Located on the Western side of the island, this viewpoint offers a lookout over Sete Cidades lakes.
- While it is very beautiful, this is a very common route for day trips/tours and it’s often quite busy. The views are lovely, but not the best I’ve seen on the island.
- Located on the Western side of the island, this viewpoint offers a lookout over Sete Cidades lakes.
- Miradouro da Vista do Rei
- Another viewpoint not far from Miradouro do Cerrado das Freiras offering views of Sete Cidades lakes and towns.
- This viewpoint also features the abandoned Monte Palace Hotel. While it is technically prohibited to visit this hotel, many people still sneak in to explore it and it’s become known as a popular tourist attraction.
- We chose not to explore the hotel as we were concerned with the safety of it, and Miradouro da Vista do Rei was so crowded we couldn’t find a parking space.
Overall, I enjoyed the views on the North/Northeast sides of the island much more than the West. This is probably, in part, due to the weather and also due to the huge crowds on the Western side.
If you have time, visit both, especially if it’s the off-season and the island is less crowded.
2: Visit Terra Nostra Park and Hot Springs
Parque Terra Nostra, in Furnas, is a must visit. Most people visit for the geothermal hot springs. They’re well known for their deep orange color due to all of the minerals in the water.
While the hot springs are definitely a draw, and they’re a great place to lounge, what I really love about Terra Nostra Park are the immaculate gardens. I could have spent the whole day wandering through the gardens, looking at the different plants and flowers. The gardens are planned and organized so beautifully and you really feel like you’re in an enchanted forest.
This is a fun place for all ages and for 10 euros (5€ for kids) you can spend the entire day in the gardens and hot springs.
If you really want to treat yourself, have lunch at Terra Nostra Garden Hotel, on site, and spend the night! The hotel is beautiful and it’s a great place to relax surrounded by a beautiful, natural setting.
3: Explore Ribeira dos Caldeirões
If you love visiting waterfalls, but don’t necessarily want to hike to get to them, then Ribeira dos Caldeirões is a great place for you! This natural park is a great place to visit to check out some of the prettiest waterfalls on the island.
While there are trails if you would prefer to hike/walk around the area, there are two beautiful waterfalls that can be visited with just a few minutes’ walk. The park is nicely landscaped and organized, making it a great place for families. There are picnic areas, a little snackbar, a gift shop and restrooms.
The best part, entrance is free!
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also go canyoning while at Ribeira dos Caldeirões.
Check out these great tour options:
4: Hike to Salto do Cabrito Waterfall
Cascata do Salto do Cabrito is a picturesque waterfall located not far from the town of Ribeira Grande.
When visiting Cascata do Salto do Cabrito you have two options. The first is walking from the first parking lot down a very steep hill (you’ll have to walk back up, too) all the way to the waterfall. It takes about 15 minutes to get down, and a little longer back up.
The easier option is to drive all the way down to the second parking lot next to the waterfall, and to simply walk over to Cascata do Salto do Cabrito from there.
NOTE: When you get to the first parking lot it will look like you can’t drive any further, but you can. Most cars park at the top, but some do drive all the way down the winding road to the bottom parking lot. Just be sure to drive slowly, as there will be people walking up and down the road.
5: Check out the Tea Factories
Gorreana Tea Factory
São Miguel is known for the famous Gorreana Tea Factory, the oldest tea factory in Europe. It has been in operation since 1883 and it’s really interesting to walk through the tea fields and tour the factory.
The tours are free and you can also sample a wide selection of different teas!
Porto Formoso Tea Factory
Located not far from Gorreana Tea Factory you’ll find the much smaller Porto Formoso Tea Factory and Museum. What makes this tea plantation special are the amazing views over the town of Porto Formoso and the Atlantic Ocean.
Porto Formoso Tea Factory is free to visit, and if you watch their informational video, you get a free cup of tea. However, you can also purchase pots of tea for just over 1 euro, and enjoy your drink outside with the beautiful views.
Both of these tea factories are relatively quick stops – I spent around 45 minutes at each.
6: Explore Ribeira Grande
Ribeira Grande is the second largest town in São Miguel, located on the Northern Coast of the island, about 20 minutes by car from Ponta Delgada.
While there is less to do in Ribeira Grande than Ponta Delgada, there are many beautiful viewpoints in the area, and the town itself is a nice place to walk around and grab lunch. There’s beautiful ocean views and it makes a great stop.
When in Ribeira Grande be sure to check out:
- A Merenda for coffee and pastries
- O Chocolatinho for delicious specialty chocolates
We spent a few nights in Ribeira Grande and stayed at Hotel Verde Mar & Spa. The hotel is beautiful, right on the ocean, and there is a pool and spa on site!
7: Check out the Pineapple Plantation
The Azores Pineapple Plantation is quite small and is a very quick stop near Ponta Delgada. That being said, it’s still cool to see and to sample “the best pineapples in the world.”
Visitors to the Azores Pineapple Plantation can take a free self-guided tour with QR codes through the greenhouses to see pineapples at different stages of growth. Afterwards, you can visit the cafe for free samples of pineapple liqueur and jam.
It’s important to note that this isn’t a huge farm with large fields of pineapples, but is instead a collection of greenhouses. Still, I think it’s worth a stop.
8: Visit Islet of Vila Franca do Campo
If you enjoy swimming or snorkeling, it’s worth checking out Islet of Vila Franca do Campo. To get to this islet, you’ll board a boat at the wharf in the town of Vila Franca do Campo, and in 10 minutes you’ll arrive at the picturesque little island.
The little island is a nature reserve and there is a stunning natural crater lake!
Book tickets in advance (8 euros) if you can, as they do sell out. If you can’t book in advance, or want to make sure it will be a nice day, arrive at the ticket booth in Vila Franca do Campo early.
9: Check out the Beautiful Churches
São Miguel is home to dozens of beautiful churches and you can find them in just about every town on the island.
Many of the churches are built in the same architectural style, featuring a white stucco exterior with dark trim. The churches vary in size, but they are definitely focal points of the towns, and often the interior and exterior are equally beautiful.
A few of the most popular and beautiful churches on the island include:
- Igreja do Santo Cristo – Ponta Delgada
- Beautiful golden altar and azulejos tiles
- Igreja Matriz de São Sebastião – Ponta Delgada
- Nossa Senhora da Paz – Vila Franca do Campo
- Very unique and postcard worthy
- Igreja de São Nicolau – Sete Cidades
- The tree-lined entrance is so beautiful
10: Whale Watching
Okay, so this comes with a huge caveat. I did not have fun on this tour because I got extremely sea sick and it was a very unpleasant three hours.
However, if you don’t get seasick (or want to try taking Dramamine,) and you’d like to see dolphins and maybe even some whales, then this is a great tour for you!
You can book tickets for whale watching in kiosks down by the São Miguel marina, or book in advance online. Most tours are around 60 euros per person, and last about three hours.
On our tour with Futurismo, we saw a bunch of dolphins and even a sperm whale! While I definitely wouldn’t go again, most people on the boat seemed to be having a good time.
Whale Watching Tours with Great Reviews:
- Half-Day Whale and Dolphin Watching Tour in Ponta Delgada
- Azores Whale Watching & Islet Boat Tour
- Azores Swim with Dolphins Atlantic Experience
A few things I don’t recommend doing in São Miguel
The Black Sand Beach in Mosteiros
While the scenery in the area is very pretty, I did not enjoy my time in Mosteiros. I didn’t think the area was as picturesque as the rest of the island, and because it’s so far away from Ponta Delgada and Ribeira Grande, it takes up a large portion of a day to visit.
Additionally, it was extremely difficult to find a place to eat in the middle of the day. Everything was either closed or full, and it was very difficult to make reservations.
If we would have brought a picnic, and came for sunset, I think it would have been a much better experience. Try a sunset-picnic-trip, instead of visiting in the morning or afternoon.
Lagoa do Congro
Lagoa do Congro is a green lake that you can hike down to visit. While the lake was kind of cool to see, in my opinion, it was not worth the 1.5 hour round trip hike. The trip down will take about 30 minutes, but back up is longer because it’s uphill the whole way.
While in the Azores you’ll see other green lakes from beautiful viewpoints, and unless you have extra time and need a way to fill it, I don’t recommend this hike.
If you do choose to visit Lagoa do Congro, park on the main road and do not try to drive up the dirt road to the parking lot. The lot is small and full of potholes and we saw multiple cars get stuck or have to back out to the main road to park. Parking on the main road will only add 5 minutes to your total hiking time – and it’s worth it not to have to get stuck in the tiny parking lot.
Hotel Recommendations in Sao Miguel
Ponta Delgada
- Passal Hostel ($)
- The Lince Azores Great Hotel ($$)
- Casa da Ilha ($$)
- Azoris Royal Garden ($$)
Ribeira Grande
Q&A: Things to do in Sao Miguel
- What do you do in Sao Miguel in the rain?
- The weather in the Azores is pretty unpredictable and changes often. Before I went, the weather app said it was going to rain all day everyday. But while I was there, it only rained a few times for a less than half an hour at a time.
- If you do get a rainy day, it’s a good time to visit churches and check out the cafes around Ponta Delgada. In the summer, at least, the rain most likely won’t last all day – so you’ll still be able to visit viewpoints, tea plantations, etc.
- The weather in the Azores is pretty unpredictable and changes often. Before I went, the weather app said it was going to rain all day everyday. But while I was there, it only rained a few times for a less than half an hour at a time.
- How many days do you need in the Azores?
- I spent 6 days in Sao Miguel (the largest island in the Azores) and I was definitely able to do everything I had planned and more! I would say 4-5 days in Sao Miguel is ideal, although in 3 you can see most of the major highlights.
- How long does it take to drive around São Miguel, Azores?
- The island is relatively small, so you can drive around the whole thing in about 4 hours. However, there are so many amazing viewpoints and stops along the way that you’ll definitely be pulling over every few minutes. Additionally, many of the major gems of the island are in the interior.
- Do you need a car in Azores?
- Yes! Absolutely. A car is a must. While there are guided day tours, it’s not the same as having your own car, visiting the places you want to see, and making your own schedule.
- Also, the islands remain very rural, so you need to drive almost anywhere – with the exception of Ponta Delgada.
- There are no Ubers on the island, but there are taxis if you need them.
- There is a bus system – but again, I highly recommend a rental car.
- Yes! Absolutely. A car is a must. While there are guided day tours, it’s not the same as having your own car, visiting the places you want to see, and making your own schedule.
- Is it expensive to visit Azores?
- Sao Miguel, specifically, is one of the most affordable destinations I’ve ever visited. I was so surprised by how affordable everything was.
- For example, lunch for three people at a cute cafe (including two beers, water and tea) was under 17 euros.
- You can get drinks at bars and restaurants for 1.5-3 euros and hotels are affordable as well.
- Additionally, many of the sites, like the tea plantations and pineapple farm, are free to visit!
- What is the best month to visit the Azores?
- I recommend visiting in the summer: June, July or August. These months are the driest and warmest.
- How do you get to Sao Miguel, Azores?
- There are direct flights from the East Coast of the USA (Boston and NYC) and you can also easily fly from mainland Portugal and other European cities.
Sao Miguel, Azores is one of the most stunning and unique places I’ve ever been, and I can’t recommend it enough! Although it’s a quick flight from mainland Europe and the East Coast of the USA, it really feels like a magical, lush paradise.
I hope you found this guide for the best things to do in Sao Miguel to be helpful! If you have any questions, or anything you’d like to add to this post, let me know in the comments!
Lastly, I appreciate you sharing this post with someone you know who’d love a trip to Sao Miguel, Azores, Portugal.
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♡Kate
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Great read! Can’t wait to visit Azores one day for ourselves!
As a Portuguese traveler and travel blogger, I have to say this: your post is one of the best I’ve seen about São Miguel Island (and trust me, I’ve seen A LOT)! So congrats, girls! 🙂
Thank you so, so much Daniela! That means so much to us!
Whale watching is one of our favorite things–but can definitely be miserable. So sorry to hear. But despite that the photos look amazing–so lush and green.
Wow, absolutely beautiful places. I really want to go to the Azores now.
Sao Miguel sounds incredible – and your photos are stunning too! Thanks for sharing – hoping to visit the Azores soon!
WOW! Beauty in every direction – truly amazing. And so nice to know there is still such a paradise left on planet earth! I would LOVE to visit the tea factories. I’m adding Sao Miguel to my Petsitting Bucket List for sure! Thanks for the inspiration!