I ‘m a sucker for obscure vacation destinations, and the Portuguese Azores were no exception. I spent about a week on the island of São Miguel and let me tell you, it’s a nature lover’s paradise with no shortage of awe-inspiring architecture, unreal landscapes, and pristine beaches. But enough about that. Let’s dive into why you should add the Azores as a top destination to your bucket list with this 5-day São Miguel Itinerary.
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A Basic São Miguel Itinerary
The tricky part about the Azores is that it’s actually nine different islands. The easy part is that each island is small enough to navigate with relative ease. For a 5-day São Miguel itinerary, just divide the island into three parts. And use Global Debauchery as your unofficial, virtual tour guide.
- Fly into Aeroporto João Paulo II in Ponta Delgada.
- Wander the capital city of Ponta Delgada.
- Head west for the day.
- Tackle central São Miguel for a day.
- Head yonder to the east side.
- If you have more time, get another island in!
Fly to the Azores with TAP Air Portugal from dozens of cities in the US and around the world.
Arriving in Ponta Delgada
Getting Around
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can walk the city of Ponta Delgada. It’s not easy but it’s also not impossible. But let’s be honest, most of us prefer the easy route. Here are some less demanding options to help you get around town.
- Ride the minibuses that operate on working days from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm (departing every 15 minutes).
- If you’re willing to drop some serious coin, take a taxi. A cab from Ponta Delgada to Furnas can run from 40-60 EUR. Don’t forget to negotiate the rate! (Yes, you can do that.)
- I highly recommend renting a car in advance. If you’re a serious planner like me, you’ll want full control over your island transportation.
Where To Stay
We stayed at the Octant Ponta Delgada, which – not to brag – was pretty fantastic. It’s a modern hotel that’s walking distance to the city center and the ocean. I’m all about the convenience. They also have a pool on the terrace and some pretty wild marina views.
PHOTO CREDITS: OCTANT PONTA DELGADA VIA HOTELS.COM
Sights of Ponta Delgada
Ponta Delgada offers a blend of natural beauty and eye-popping urban sights. The city exudes a unique charm, with its historic architecture, cobbled streets, and beautiful gardens. Fulfill your wanderlust by discovering quaint shops, bustling markets, inviting cafes, and diverse wildlife. And when I tell you there’s birds everywhere, I mean EVERYWHERE.
If you’re a foodie and enjoy local gastronomy, add the Mercado da Graça to your list. It wasn’t mind blowing, but the produce was ridiculously fresh and there seemed to be a decent fish selection. The street art also added to the ambience. This might be a small town but it has massive appeal. Whether you’re seeking historical landmarks, scenic vistas, or local culture, Ponta Delgada offers something for everyone.
If you’re wondering what you should check out here, I’ve got you covered:
| Portas da Cidade | Igreja Matriz de São Sebastião |
| Jardim Botânico António Borges | Mercado da Graça |
| Plantação de Ananás dos Açores | Gruta do Carvão Natural Monument |
| Forte de São Caetano | Museu Carlos Machado |
A West Side Story
The west side of São Miguel is known for its almost surreal landscapes and charming coastal towns. The best way to see the area is by car and driving through the Azores is just plain fun, but be prepared for narrow roads and some agro drivers. My dad said he felt like he was racing in Monte Carlo and was excited he’d picked up stick-shift driving so quickly again. I finally told him, “Relax, Mario Andretti.”
We were speeding around a curve and up the hillside when we almost missed the entrance to the abandoned Monte Palace. It was a luxury hotel and spa, opened only for a few years before it closed. It was totally dilapidated, completely in ruins, but made for a great photo op.
Just up the very serpentine road sits the town of Sete Cidades, nestled between the two lakes in a volcanic crater with all the greenery you could imagine. It’s probably the most famous Sao Miguel sight of all, very picturesque.
Here are some more highlights of this part of the island:
| Monte Palace | Sete Cidades |
| Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde | Ginetes |
| Mosteiros | Ponta da Ferraria |
| Capelas |
Moving Into Central São Miguel
This area of São Miguel has something for everyone, and I’m definitely not exaggerating. You can get the best of both worlds here, from urban towns with everyday conveniences to off-the-beaten path nature adventures. Just a side note: if you’re looking for cheap, you won’t find it here. The prices are pretty ridiculous so you might regret your decision if you’re a budget traveler.
Here are my top central São Miguel recommendations (I promise you won’t regret these):
| Caloura | Lagoa da Fogo |
| Cascata do Segredo | Vila Franca do Campo |
| Fábrica da Cidade |
The East Side Is the Beast Side
Where to start? We covered a lot of ground and most of it was amazing. This side of São Miguel is known for its unreal natural beauty and notable attractions. Obviously, this includes the uniquely landscaped Azores beaches, which are perfect for those mandatory travel photo ops. This part of the island is known for being rugged and remote, and of course, it’s the part I anticipated the most.
All the towns on this part of the island are beach towns except Vila Franca do Campo. This town has this cool little feature—a collapsed volcano island just off the coast called Ilheu da Vila. You can take a boat out to the center of it in the summers and go swimming. There is supposed to be great snorkeling. Obviously, we couldn’t get out to it in January, but it was cool to see it from a distance.
Take note of these other recommendations to explore:
| Ponta Garca | Povoacao |
| Furnas | Nordeste |
Too Many Islands, Not Enough Time
I SO wanted to visit the other islands but it just wasn’t in the cards for me during this trip. Each island in the Azores has its own unique attractions and hidden gems just waiting to be discovered.
If you’re able to, you should definitely tack on additional time to your São Miguel itinerary explore these amazing locations and report back so I can live vicariously through you:
| Pico Mountain (Pico Island) | Fajã de Lopo Vaz (Flores Island) |
| Angra do Heroísmo (Terceira Island) | Furna do Enxofre (Graciosa Island) |
Despedida, São Miguel!
I think I can say with absolute certainty that I’m now an official Azores lover. It was a gorgeous, fun adventure and I can’t wait to return one day and explore the other islands. Check out my other Portugal escapades and definitely follow me for future adventures (and some misadventures, of course).
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