Seven days is just the right amount of time to see São Miguel at a relaxed pace: the lakes of Sete Cidades, Lagoa do Fogo, the hot springs of Furnas, the natural pools along the coast, the viewpoints of Nordeste and, if the sea cooperates, whales and dolphins. This is the itinerary we suggest in our Azores PDF travel guide, broken down day by day with the practical info you'll want to know before you go in 2026.
If what you're wondering about is where to eat in each area, check out our post where to eat in São Miguel: our favorite restaurants.
São Miguel at a glance: the island's five areas
São Miguel is long and narrow and easy to explore by car. To plan your days, think of it in five areas:
- West (Sete Cidades): the crater with the Green and Blue lakes, the Vista do Rei viewpoint, the fishing village of Mosteiros with its natural pools, and the hot springs in the sea at Ferraria. About 30-35 minutes from Ponta Delgada.
- Center (Ponta Delgada and Lagoa do Fogo): the capital, with the harbor, the historic center and most of the restaurants, plus Lagoa do Fogo up in the mountains.
- East (Furnas and Nordeste): the hot spring area par excellence (Terra Nostra, Poça da Dona Beija, cozido) and Nordeste, the wildest and least visited part. Furnas is about 45 minutes from Ponta Delgada, and Nordeste a little over an hour.
- South (Vila Franca do Campo, Caloura, Ribeira Quente): coastal villages, the Vila Franca islet and volcanic natural pools.
- North (Ribeira Grande): surfing, Caldeira Velha and the tea plantations of Chá Gorreana and Porto Formoso, the only ones in Europe.
Times are approximate and without stops; with the viewpoints along the way, always allow for more.
7-day São Miguel itinerary
Day 1: Ponta Delgada and the south coast to Caloura
Morning: arrive in Ponta Delgada and stroll around the historic center. Stop by the Mercado da Graça to try local fruit or a bolo lêvedo, the island's typical sweet bread.
Afternoon: drive along the south coast to Caloura and swim in its volcanic natural pools. If you're in the mood for fish by the sea, Bar Caloura is right there.
Evening: dinner in Ponta Delgada (we recommend A Tasca or A Terra) and, if you still have energy, a walk around the harbor.
Day 2: Sete Cidades and the west coast
Morning: start at the Vista do Rei viewpoint, with both lakes at your feet. Then head down to Lagoa Azul for a walk or some kayaking. If you like hiking, the Miradouros de Sete Cidades trail (Serra Devassa) runs along the top of the crater: about 10 km and 3-3.5 hours, moderate difficulty.
Afternoon: continue to Mosteiros and its natural pools and finish with a thermal soak in the sea at Ferraria, where hot volcanic water mixes with the ocean. Go at low tide, when the water is warmest.
Evening: sunset on the west side (Mosteiros is perfect) and back to Ponta Delgada.
Tip: before heading out, check the SpotAzores webcams. Sete Cidades is often covered in fog and, if it's socked in, it's better to switch the order of your days.
Day 3: Furnas and the hot springs
Morning: head to Furnas along the south coast. Visit Lagoa das Furnas and the fumaroles. The Volta à Lagoa trail loops around the whole lake (9 km, easy) and you can do it in sections.
Afternoon: lunch with cozido das Furnas, the stew cooked underground with volcanic heat (Tony's or Caldeiras & Vulcões). Book it at least a day in advance. Then, hot springs: Terra Nostra park, with its big iron-rich pool and botanical garden, or Poça da Dona Beija, with several small pools.
Evening: a quiet dinner in Furnas or back to Ponta Delgada. If you can, spend a night here: Furnas at dusk, without the day-trippers, is something else.
Day 4: Lagoa do Fogo, Ribeira Grande and Caldeira Velha
Morning: hike to Lagoa do Fogo, one of the most spectacular trails on the island. You can stay at the viewpoints or go down to the shore. The full trail is about 11 km round trip (2.5-3 hours, moderate). Wear good shoes and bring water.
Afternoon: head down to Ribeira Grande and visit Arquipélago – Centro de Artes Contemporâneas, in an old tobacco factory. Finish at Caldeira Velha, with thermal pools and waterfalls surrounded by lush vegetation.
Evening: dinner in Ribeira Grande or on the north coast.
Watch out for two things on this day. From June to September (9:00 to 19:00) you can't drive your own car up to Lagoa do Fogo: you park at Caldeira Velha or Casa da Água and take the shuttle up (info at lagoadofogo.pt). And Caldeira Velha works by time slots: you have to book by the day before at the latest (€10 with bathing in 2026).
Day 5: whales, Vila Franca do Campo and downtime
Morning: a boat trip to see whales and dolphins in the wild, from Ponta Delgada or Vila Franca do Campo. Afterward, stroll around the Vila Franca marina and try its queijadas.
Afternoon: if it's summer, cross over to the Vila Franca islet, a flooded volcanic crater perfect for swimming and snorkeling. It can only be visited in season and you get there by boat from the harbor, with limited spots, so buy your ticket early. Otherwise, a relaxing afternoon at Praia dos Moinhos or one of the natural pools.
Evening: dinner in Ponta Delgada (we recommend Atlântico Grill & View).
Day 6: Nordeste and its viewpoints
Morning: a scenic drive to Nordeste, the wildest part of the island. Stop at the Ponta do Sossego and Ponta da Madrugada viewpoints, among flowers and cliffs (the latter is famous for its sunrises).
Afternoon: visit Parque Natural da Ribeira dos Caldeirões, with waterfalls and old watermills, stop at a local café and head back enjoying the eastern road. If you want to hike, this area has the Salto do Prego and Sanguinho trail (4.5 km loop, easy to moderate), with a waterfall in the middle of the forest.
Evening: last dinner in Ponta Delgada with local fish or seafood.
Day 7: one last stroll and souvenirs
Morning: shop for local products (cheese, tea, liqueurs) and visit the António Borges Garden or Forte de São Brás.
Afternoon: check out and head back to the airport, which is about 10 minutes from downtown Ponta Delgada.
Where to stay in São Miguel
For a week, the easiest option is to base yourself in Ponta Delgada or the neighboring areas of Relva and São Roque, with ocean views and everything less than an hour away. If you can, split it up: 4-5 nights in Ponta Delgada and 1-2 in Furnas or on the north coast.
- Ponta Delgada: Octant Ponta Delgada or Hotel do Colégio, among others on our list.
- Furnas: Octant Furnas or 9 Furnas Villa, to wake up right by the hot springs.
- North coast: Santa Bárbara Eco-Beach Resort, above the Ribeira Grande surf beach.
- West: Mosteiros Place, for anyone who wants sunsets on the west coast.
The guide has the full list of places to stay we recommend, which you can find on Booking and Airbnb.
Practical info for your trip
Getting around: a car is a must
The best way to explore São Miguel is by rental car, which you can pick up right at the airport. The roads are in good shape. Book ahead, especially in high season. Public buses exist, but they don't reach every tourist area and have limited schedules. If you don't drive, there are daily organized tours to Sete Cidades, Lagoa do Fogo and Furnas, or you can hire a taxi for the day.
Hot springs: reservations and tips
- Terra Nostra and Poça da Dona Beija: in summer, book online.
- Caldeira Velha: by time slot, with a reservation by the day before at the latest.
- Ferraria: go at low tide and, if you can, at sunset.
- Bring a dark or old swimsuit: the iron-rich water in Furnas stains light-colored clothes.
When to go and what the weather is like
The weather changes fast, even within the same day, and each part of the island can have a different climate. In summer (June to September) temperatures range from 20 to 26 °C, it's the driest season and the sea is warmest. Spring (14-20 °C) and fall (16-23 °C) are great times for hiking with fewer crowds, and in winter (12-18 °C) there's more rain and fog, but the hot springs make up for it. Always bring a rain jacket and a sweatshirt.
Useful apps
SpotAzores to check the webcams before heading out, Wikiloc for hiking trails, VisitAzores (the official guide) and Google Maps with the map downloaded for offline use, because coverage drops in the interior and in Nordeste. To have everything on your phone, our Azores Google Maps map has every place in this itinerary saved: viewpoints, hot springs, trails, restaurants and hotels.
Have more days? Which other islands to visit
With two weeks, we recommend combining São Miguel with Pico and Faial, two very different islands very close to each other. This is how we lay it out in the guide's two-week itinerary:
- Days 1-6, São Miguel: the itinerary above, a bit more condensed.
- Days 7-10, Pico: fly to Pico and explore Madalena and the vineyards among the lava. Climb Pico volcano (if you're up for it) or visit Gruta das Torres, natural pools, whale watching from Lajes and a route through the wineries and the lava fields declared a World Heritage Site.
- Days 11-13, Faial: ferry to Faial and stroll around Horta, the legendary Peter Café Sport and the marina with the sailors' murals. Hike up to the Caldeira and visit Capelinhos volcano, with its lunar landscape.
- Day 14: back to São Miguel (flight, or ferry and flight) and departure from the airport.
If you only have 4 or 5 days, stick to São Miguel and prioritize Sete Cidades, Furnas and Lagoa do Fogo.
Before you go
Our Azores PDF travel guide has this itinerary and the two-week one, the seven hikes we recommend with distance, duration and difficulty, the list of restaurants and hotels, local info, weather, recipes for picnic days and every spot in Google Maps. And if you want to plan each day's meals, don't miss where to eat in São Miguel by area.
We always recommend getting travel insurance; we always use IATI Seguros.
