What to see in São Miguel

Lake

Lagoa do Fogo, the Lake of Fire, fills the now extinct and green crater of the Água de Pau volcano and with an altitude of 580 metres is the highest lake in the Azores. Lagoa do Fogo is generally considered the most beautiful lake in the whole of Portugal. [btn "Choose a hotel in São Miguel with a discount" https://www.booking.com/region/pt/sao-miguel.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-saomiguel-lagoafogo] The lake was formed by an eruption in the…

Lake

The huge crater of the dormant volcano, more than 2 km wide, called Sete Cidades (Seven Cities), is one of the most popular and beautiful places in the Azores. About half of the crater's floor area is filled by the largest Azores double lake, Lagoa das Setes Cidades. [btn "Choose a hotel in São Miguel with a discount" https://www.booking.com/region/pt/sao-miguel.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-saomiguel-lagoasete] A visit to the lake is one of…

Lookout

The viewpoint called Miradouro da Boca do Inferno is one of the most famous and beautiful not only in the Azores, but in the whole of Europe. The landscape of all shades of green, the showpiece volcanic lake Lagoa de Santiago in a small crater and one of Portugal's largest lakes Lagoa das Sete Cidades, which visually consists of two different lakes connected only by a narrow strait, are all right in the palm of your hand. [btn "The 10 best…

Lake

The third of the large volcanic lakes, Lagoa das Furnas, may not look as spectacular at first glance as Lagoa das Setes Cidadesor Lagoa do Fogo, but a trip to the Furnas thermal area, near which it is located, should not be missed on your itinerary. [btn "Book accommodation in the countryside" https://www.booking.com/region/pt/sao-miguel.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-saomiguel-furnas] An interesting feature of Lagoa das Furnas is the dark…

City

The island's capital offers a historic centre, an impressive harbour, many shopping opportunities, parks that are more like botanical gardens (e.g. Jardim Antonio Borges) and many other attractions. [btn "Choose a hotel in São Miguel with a discount" https://www.booking.com/region/pt/sao-miguel.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-saomiguel-pontadelgada] With an international airport, Ponta Delgada will be your first contact with the island and…

City

The second largest city in the Azores, Ribeira Grande, a city of 30,000, is the main starting point for exploring the north and east of São Miguel and a good place to stay. [btn "The 10 best hotels in São Miguel" https://www.booking.com/region/pt/sao-miguel.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-saomiguel-ribeiragrande] Ribeira Grande offers a beautiful historic centre, many restaurants, a commercial centre and great conditions for surfing and…

Tourist town, Lake

The small town of Sete Cidades lies at the bottom of a huge volcanic crater at the Lagoa das Sete Cidades. The whole area is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Azores, especially for its peaceful, lush green landscape of meadows, forests, fields and volcanic lakes. [btn "Choose a hotel in São Miguel with a discount" https://www.booking.com/region/pt/sao-miguel.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-saomiguel-setecidades] Sete Cidades…

Museum, Garden

The tea plantations in the north of the island offer not only stunning views, but also a museum of tea production and tasting. The word "Chá" means tea in Portuguese and Gorreana is the name of the company that owns the tea plantation. [btn "The 10 best hotels in São Miguel" https://www.booking.com/region/pt/sao-miguel.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-saomiguel-chagorreana] A visit to this picturesque area should definitely not be missed. In…

Waterfall, Hot Spring, Swimming pool

Caldeira Velha is a small nature reserve with waterfalls, a geological exhibition and thermal lakes for swimming. Stop here ideally for an hour to an hour and a half on your way to, say, nearby Lagoa do Fogo. [btn "Top hotels in the São Miguel countryside" https://www.booking.com/region/pt/sao-miguel.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-saomiguel-caldeiravelha] The reserve is relatively small and the local walking trail through the dense Azorean…

Hot Spring, Tourist town

The town of Furnas, situated by the lake of the same name, is a popular volcanic tourism destination. On the shores of Lagoa das Furnas you can walk among the sulphurous steaming fumaroles, while in Furnas don't miss a visit to the hot springs. [btn "Choose a discount hotel in São Miguel" https://www.booking.com/region/pt/sao-miguel.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-saomiguel-furnas] The city itself is really beautifully landscaped, with many…

Botanical garden

This stunning site, which is a combination of botanical garden, open-air museum and mountain valley, is located near the village of Achada. [btn "Choose a hotel in São Miguel with a discount" https://www.booking.com/region/pt/sao-miguel.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-saomiguel-caldeiroes] The Ribeira dos Caldeirões Natural Park will captivate you with its wild yet manicured nature, the rich green colours of the trees and grass, and the…

Skanzen, Hiking trail, Waterfall

The tiny village on the southeastern tip of the island is squeezed into a narrow valley and on a small piece of flatter coastline. Apart from the beautiful wooded hilly surroundings, tourists are especially attracted to the marked trek up the hills to the half-abandoned picturesque village of Sanguinho. [btn "The best outdoor accommodation on the island" https://www.booking.com/region/pt/sao-miguel.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-saomiguel…

Stony Beach, Black sand beach

The wild, rocky coastline of the northwest of the island offers beautiful scenery, sunsets and interesting beaches and sea water swimming. The centre of this tourist area is the small town of Mosteiros with its pretty church in the square. [btn "Choose a hotel by the sea in São Miguel" https://www.booking.com/region/pt/sao-miguel.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-saomiguel-praiamosteiros] Black sand beach One of the main destinations is…

Mill

In the small town, you can see the Nossa Senhora da Ajuda church and the restored Moinho do Pico Vermelho windmill. [btn "Choose a hotel by the sea in São Miguel" https://www.booking.com/region/pt/sao-miguel.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-saomiguel-bretanha] Bretanha lies on the northwest coast of the island and is the perfect place for a short one-hour stopover on your way around São Miguel. The main point of interest is the beautiful…

Church, City

One of the largest towns on the island, Vila Franca do Campo, lies on the south coast and is one of the very popular attractions but places to stay. The settlement, built in the 15th century, was for a time the largest and capital city of the island, but after the great earthquake of 1522 all offices were moved to Ponta Delgada. [btn "Choose a hotel in São Miguel with a discount" https://www.booking.com/region/pt/sao-miguel.en-gb.html?aid…

Lake

A pleasant stop on the way to the Sete Cidades lakes area will be the small Canario lagoon surrounded by dense macaroni forests with predominantly Japanese cryptomeria. The trees form a dense wall against the outside world, creating an idyllic setting that exudes a divine peace and tranquility at first sight. [btn "Choose a hotel in São Miguel with a view" https://www.booking.com/region/pt/sao-miguel.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-saomiguel…

Botanical garden

A large botanical garden with a thermal iron bathing lake. Entrance is charged at 10 eur, see the details of the town of Furnas where the park is located.

Hot Spring

The westernmost point of São Miguel is also one of the most beautiful spots, overlooking the stormy ocean and the wildly jagged rocky coastline of high cliffs. In addition to the breathtaking views, at a place called Punta de Ferraria you'll also come across thermal springs with a small bathhouse called Termas da Ferraria. [btn "Choose a hotel by the sea in São Miguel" https://www.booking.com/region/pt/sao-miguel.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p…