Visiting São Miguel in 3 Days – Guide, Tourist Attractions, and Points of Interest
Visiting São Miguel in 3 Days is an excellent option for a weekend getaway, essentially comprising 3 days and 2 nights on the largest island of the Azores.
With affordable travel options available, you can easily find a trip departing on Friday and returning on Sunday. See this example.
This way, you can explore the Azores without needing to take time off work. It’s a unique destination to enjoy a weekend amidst the nature and beauty of the archipelago, which consists of nine fantastic islands.
Enjoy your short stay in São Miguel with this guide. This guide is based on: Staying in Ponta Delgada and arriving on a Friday afternoon/evening and departing on Sunday midday/afternoon.
We highly recommend arranging a rental car before your trip, so you have a vehicle waiting for you at the airport. Having a car is essential for your weekend adventure.
Another important recommendation: before your trip, ensure you have activities planned to enjoy the island, especially given the short 3-day stay. You can find a list of activities on GetYourGuide (including prices and reviews) and throughout the article, we highlight the best ones. Use GetYourGuide to discover new things to do in the Azores that might not have been on your bucket list! Quality certified.
Índice de conteúdos
Day 1 – Visiting São Miguel in 3 Days
After arriving at João Paulo II Airport and picking up your rental car, consider a quick stop at your chosen accommodation for check-in.
Ready? Let’s start the adventure! After completing the previous steps, it will likely be getting dark, but that’s no reason not to explore the island’s beauty.
Discover the city of Ponta Delgada and explore the historic center and a nice walk by the sea at Portas do Mar or Avenida Marginal. Check out the points of interest in Ponta Delgada.
Fotografia de Helena Botelho
After the city tour, relax with a bath in the thermal waters of Poça da Dona Beija. This relaxing spot is in Furnas, 46 km from Ponta Delgada, and is open until 11 pm, allowing you to make the most of your first day in the pools at night.
Fotografia de Susana Martins
After fully relaxing, it’s time to taste the regional cuisine. Choose a restaurant and enjoy the unique and typical flavors. Don’t forget to try the fantastic limpets and cheese with pimenta da terra. After dinner, take the opportunity to experience the city’s nightlife with its fantastic bars and nightclubs.
Fotografia de Liliana Borges
It’s time to rest. The 2nd day will start early as there is much to see and explore in a short time.
Day 2 – Visiting São Miguel in 3 Days
“The morning is the start of the day,” says the saying, and it’s true. This will be the most intense day of your stay, so start early to make the most of it.
Ribeira Grande
Let’s start the tour by heading to Ribeira Grande. Explore the area and take a short break at the fantastic Praia de Santa Bárbara.
Fotografia de Henrique Faria
While in Ribeira Grande, make a small “detour” to admire the majestic Lagoa do Fogo! On the way, you’ll pass by Caldeira Velha, where you can also bathe in thermal waters and enjoy the existing waterfall.
Fotografia de Sónia Almeida
Fotografia de Helena Botelho
Heading towards Nordeste – the well-known most floral area of the Azores – the first stop should be at Miradouro de Santa Iria. Here you’ll have a stunning view of the island’s northern coast.
Fotografia de Ana Serpa
Next, a little further ahead, you can choose to visit one of the two tea factories on the island: Porto Formoso Tea Factory or Gorreana.
Fotografia de Bruno Sousa
Fotografia de Carla Dias
Nordeste
Continuing towards Nordeste, there’s a must-stop spot where you can enjoy the fantastic waterfall of Ribeira dos Caldeirões in Achada, along with the natural park at this point of interest. Here, you’ll find watermills that were once used to grind corn.
Fotografia de Cristina Aires
Fotografia de Cristina Aires
Reaching your destination, the town of Nordeste, head towards Pedreira where you’ll find the most floral viewpoints of the Azores: Miradouro da Ponta do Sossêgo and Miradouro da Ponta da Madrugada. They are just a few kilometers apart, and both are worth visiting to appreciate their beauty.
Fotografia de Sónia Carina
Fotografia de Nuno
Fotografia de Hugo Sousa
Povoação
Continue along the coast towards the municipality of Povoação.
Here you’ll find fantastic spots and landscapes like the wonderful Faial da Terra (where you’ll find the Sanguinho and its beautiful waterfall. But given the short time of your stay, you won’t have time to hike the trail, which takes about 2 hours round trip. Save it for your next visit to São Miguel.
Fotografia de Cristina Aires
Fotografia de Nuno Vieira
Head back to Ponta Delgada. But before reaching your destination, there are still some spots to explore, starting with Furnas and its Lagoa das Furnas, where the famous Cozido das Furnas is made. Take a break to have lunch if you haven’t done so already.
Recommended Tours in Furnas
Fotografia de Mário Ramalheiro
Fotografia de Nuno Vieira
Vila Franca do Campo
Leaving Furnas towards Ponta Delgada, you’ll find the beautiful municipality of Vila Franca do Campo. Climb to the Miradouro de Nossa Senhora da Paz and enjoy the panoramic view over the town and the Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo.
Fotografia de Cristina Pinto
Fotografia de Nuno
Lagoa
In the municipality of Lagoa, make a mandatory stop at Caloura. Enjoy the return trip to Ponta Delgada by exploring Lagoa. Don’t worry about the time, as Ponta Delgada is just a few kilometers away.
Fotografia de Cristina Aires
Back in Ponta Delgada, it’s time to rest, have dinner, and once again enjoy all the nightlife spots.
Day 3 – Visiting São Miguel in 3 Days
It’s your last day, so we’ve saved the closer areas for you to easily combine sightseeing with your departure time.
Ponta Delgada / Sete Cidades
Leaving Ponta Delgada, head towards Sete Cidades. During the journey, we recommend taking the Covoada route. Along the way to Lagoa das Sete Cidades, you’ll find several viewpoints where you should stop to enjoy the scenery.
Recommended Tours in Sete Cidades
Fotografia de Bruno Sousa
Before reaching the destination, you’ll also find two points of interest: Lagoa das Empadadas and Lagoa do Canário. At the latter, you’ll find the famous Miradouro da Grota do Inferno.
Fotografia de Nuno Vieira
A few meters later, you’ll reach your destination: Sete Cidades. Explore the area and enjoy the peace near the Blue and Green Lagoons.
Fotografia de Nuno Vieira
After exploring Sete Cidades, it’s time to return to Ponta Delgada, making a few more stops to appreciate other points of interest. The first will be at Vista do Rei, the viewpoint where you can see the Lagoa das Sete Cidades panoramically, and where you’ll find the famous abandoned hotel, Monte Palace.
Fotografia de Ana Serpa
On the return journey along the island’s southern side, the next stop will be at Ponta da Ferraria, known for its fantastic warm sea waters. It’s time to put on your swimsuit and take a dip.
Fotografia de Bruno Salazar
Back in Ponta Delgada, once again, enjoy the scenery of the Atlantic Ocean and explore the viewpoints and landscapes along the way.
It’s time to depart, enjoy the last hours – if you have any – to say goodbye to the city and buy some souvenirs for your friends and family. Have a safe trip back!
We’ve reached the end of this 3-day adventure, but…
There’s so much more to see, explore, experience, and feel. São Miguel has many more points of interest and places to visit than those listed above! Unfortunately, given the short weekend trip, many of these locations weren’t included in this guide for Visiting São Miguel in 3 Days.
Still, a trip like this is great for whetting your appetite for a future return to explore the places you couldn’t visit this time with calm and time. We are sure you will quickly become addicted to the Azores and its beauty, and your return will be planned soon.
We hope your stay in São Miguel in just three days was an enjoyable adventure, and we look forward to your return.
This content will be updated regularly to facilitate your trip.
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