Azores Travel Guide: A One-Week Itinerary for São Miguel & Faial Island
Lagoa das Sete Cidades on São Miguel
Why You Should Visit the Azores
The Azores are an enchanting Portuguese archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic offering a breathtaking mix of dramatic volcanic landscapes, lush greenery, stunning coastlines, and charming villages. Whether you're an adventure enthusiast, a nature lover, or a foodie, the Azores provide the perfect getaway with unique hikes, delicious cuisine, and stunning ocean views. The Azores are a gorgeous chain of 9 volcanic islands, each offering something unique. This European hidden gem is one you will want to definitely add to your bucket list and with direct flights from New York’s JFK, it is becoming more accessible than ever.
Things to Know Before You Go
Sim Cards & WiFi: It’s best to get a SIM card upon arrival at the airport or a local store. Consider getting a Vodafone SIM card. We found Vodafone to offer the best coverage and service and is really easy to top off if you need to buy extra data. There are also some great eSIM options available as well, if your phone supports eSIMs. Some hotels and cafés offer free WiFi, but having mobile data is useful for navigation and trip planning, especially if you plan on using Google Maps for driving around. We also always recommend downloading offline Google Maps, just in case you lose service.
Do You Need Cash? We rarely used cash in the Azores. Most places accept credit cards, but carrying some euros is helpful for small vendors and rural areas.
Plug Type: Type F (same as in mainland Europe). If coming from the US or UK, you’ll need an adapter.
Restaurant Reservations: While many places allow walk-ins, it’s a good idea to book in advance for popular spots, especially during peak seasons. While we did not have any issues getting into restaurants, during peak hours they could fill up pretty quickly.
Language: Portuguese is the official language, but many people speak English, especially in tourist areas.
Affordability: For an island chain, the Azores are very affordable. The main island of São Miguel sees the most visitors so is in turn the pricier of any of the islands (think $200/night for a nice hotel, $300 range for a wellness resort in popular areas on the island). In Horta, you can get a nice hotel for $100/night or less in the port area.
Drinking water: Tap water is perfectly safe to drink in the Azores.
Weather in the Azores
The Azores have a mild, temperate maritime climate, making them a year-round destination. Summers (June to September) are warm but not too hot, averaging around 24°C (75°F). Winters (December to February) are cooler but still pleasant, with temperatures hovering around 14°C (57°F). Be sure to watch the wind as well. Remember the Azores are in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, meaning storms are possible year round. Also, rain can be frequent, so packing a rain jacket is always a good idea!
Getting Here
The main gateway to the Azores is João Paulo II Airport (PDL) in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel. Most flights will bring you to São Miguel. The Azores are adding more flights, with direct flights available from Lisbon, Porto, and various European and North American cities. If you're planning to travel to the other islands in the Azores, such as Faial, you'll need a short domestic flight from Ponta Delgada or Terceira or you can opt to take the ferry line to the different islands (just be sure to plan your trip around the ferry service times!).
Getting Around
São Miguel: Renting a car is the best way to explore at your own pace. Public buses are available but we appreciated having the freedom to go at our own pace. There are so many amazing places to explore throughout São Miguel and a rental car is almost a must. You can take tours around the island as well, but we think the best way to experience this island is to find the hidden hiking trails and lakes and enjoy the scenic hydrangeas all around you while you cruise around the island.
Faial Island: The town or Horta is walkable and there are nearby beaches and hikes so renting a car isn’t necessary. If you want to explore the island further then you can definitely opt for a car to explore and take in the islands beautifully lush scenery.
If you are planning to visit multiple Azores islands (we would recommend it!) – You have two primary options. You can either fly between the islands or you can take the Atlantico Line ferry service. If you plan on taking the ferry, make sure you plan your trip based on the ferry service schedule. Also note that some of the ferry routes are seasonal.
Travel Itinerary Ideas
5 Days in São Miguel
São Miguel simply has natural charm. From the stunning port city of Ponta Delgada to the sweeping views of the crater lakes to the rugged beaches and stunning cliffs. We really enjoyed exploring and driving around this island. You feel like you have been transported to another world. The island offers so much diversity in such a small space. That is what impressed us the most about visiting São Miguel.
Lagoa das Furnas
Driving in São Miguel
Where to Stay & Vibes Around São Miguel
Here is where we stayed during our 5 day stay:
Hotel Marina Atlântico (1 Night in Ponta Delgada): A great place to experience the lively, beautiful port city. Strolling along the marina, enjoying waterfront dining, and exploring historic streets set the tone for an exciting start to our trip. This hotel is conveniently located near the main city sights and is an easy walk to the city center.
Terra Nostra Garden Hotel (1 Night in Furnas): A haven for relaxation and tranquility. This stay is all about wellness, with access to the lush botanical gardens and the famous thermal spas, where you can soak in warm, mineral-rich waters. This was one of our favorite hotels. The restaurant was incredible and is a must try. I had the Cozido Das Furnas and it was delicious. The best aspect of this hotel is the access to the thermal spas and the walking trails through lush vegetation. We have fond memories wandering around in our bathrobes on the way to jumping into the thermal hot springs. This was an incredible experience. If we could do it again, we would spend an extra night here. Please note that this wellness hotel has recently increased the minimum stay to 3 nights. If you have the time to do it, it’s worth the stay to enjoy the hot springs and lush rain forest.
Hotel Pedras do Mar (2 Nights): Perfect for a peaceful retreat with ocean views. Located away from the bustling towns, it offers a balance of serenity and adventure, with access to coastal walks and scenic drives. This hotel is set up more like a resort with a beautiful pool, great breakfast included, and a beautiful beach walk. If you want to explore the north part of the island this hotel is a great centrally located place to use as a base as well as to get back early and relax.
Top Restaurants & Must-Try Food
Taberna Açor (Ponta Delgada) – Really good Azorean pub food and seafood.
A Tasca (Ponta Delgada) – A favorite for local seafood and tapas.
Terra Nostra Hotel Restaurant in Furnas – Try the famous Cozido das Furnas, a stew slow-cooked underground using volcanic heat.
Gorreana Tea Plantation – Sample locally grown Azorean tea. One of it’s only kind! The tea is really delicious and the tea plantation offers amazing views. We really enjoyed sampling the tea at this plantation.
Azores Pineapples — The growing process is intense, but the result is delicious. Since pineapples are not indigenous to the Azores, the growing process requires a lot of tender loving care requiring greenhouses and a multi-growing process and rotation. The Azorean pineapple tastes sweeter than a traditional pineapple but also a little tart. Be sure to take a tour of one of the pineapple plantations for an in depth look into the growing process and to try a pineapple (or pineapple jam!) from the Azores. We visited Ananás Santo António and it was such an interesting tour to learn about the history and growing process.
Best Beaches
Praia do Areal de Santa Bárbara– A stunning black sand beach popular for surfing and relaxing.
Praia dos Moinhos – A quieter beach with scenic cliffs and great swimming conditions.
Ilheu de Vila Franca – A natural swimming area in the crater of a submerged volcano. You’ll need to take a tour or a boat to get to this area, but definitely worth it if you have some time!
Praia de Mosteiros – A beautiful black sand beach. This was one of our absolute favorites in São Miguel. This west coast beach has amazing scenery and is a great place to relax and take in the beautiful cliffs.
Praia dos Mosteiros
Best Viewpoints & Natural Wonders
Miradouro da Boca do Inferno – Iconic panoramic view over Sete Cidades. This is THE iconic spot. If you do one thing on São Miguel, make it this hike to the overlook over the iconic crater lakes. This was the highlight of the trip for us.
Lagoa do Fogo – A stunning crater lake with amazing viewpoints and some hiking trails. This area was another one of our favorites to take in the crater lakes.
Sete Cidades – Picturesque twin lakes with hiking trails and photo ops. This was one of our absolute favorite photo places. Driving between these two crater lakes is unreal. There are beautiful hydrangeas everywhere as you drive down into the Sete Cidades.
Ponta da Ferraria – A natural hot spring in the ocean where you can swim.
Miradouro de Santa Iria – Another one of our favorite viewpoints overlooking the rugged north coast of the island with dramatic sea cliffs.
Best Hikes
Miradouro da Boca do Inferno – This is a relatively easy 20 minute hike. Completely worth the sweeping views. You can also make a quick stop at Lagoa do Canário to see a picturesque small crater lake.
Lagoa do Fogo Trail – A moderate hike leading to a breathtaking crater lake.
Salto do Prego – A short but stunning trail to a waterfall in Faial da Terra.
Sete Cidades Rim Trail – A scenic hike along the crater rim offering panoramic views.
Wellness
In addition to the amazing hiking, view points, and exploring around São Miguel, sometimes you want to slow things down and take some time to relax. While plenty of the coastal hotels offer wellness activities, we recommend exploring the interior of the island. The interior of São Miguel contains beautiful lush rain forest full of lakes and volcanic hot springs. The interior is a place where you can relax in natural beauty and reconnect. We spent 1 night in Furnas, located in the interior of the island, but we wish we would have spent even more time here. The hotel where we stayed, Terra Nostra Hotel, was a great place to relax and unwind. The hotel property was situated along the Parque Terra Nostra with miles of walking paths, koi fish ponds, and a large natural hot spring. The hot springs are said to have healing properties and we could feel the tranquility as we soaked in these warm waters surrounded by nature. What we enjoyed the most, was wandering around in our bathrobes after finishing soaking in the hot springs and meandering through the footpaths in the rain forest. Later we enjoyed traditional Azorean Portuguese food at the hotel. If you have some additional time, you can also opt to get a massage at the spa.
Even if you are not looking for a wellness retreat, Furnas and the interior offers a completely different experience from the rugged coast and city of Ponte Delgada and is definitely worth a stop during your trip.
Soaking in the hot springs in Furnas. Tip: Opt for a darker color swimsuit/towel as the waters are rich in iron and can stain.
Other Must-Do Activities
Whale Watching – The Azores, particularly São Miguel and Faial Island (Horta) are some of the best places for whale and dolphin spotting. You can spot fin, blue, and Sei whales at their peak from April to May during their migration. Whale watching tours depart from Ponta Delgada.
Terra Nostra Park – Relax in the famous iron-rich hot springs.
Visit Furnas – Witness the geothermal activity and soak in thermal pools. The Thermal pools are a must in the scenic surrounding. You feel transported to a whole different place.
Pineapple Plantations – Tour a local plantation and taste Azorean pineapples. Our favorite tour was Ananás Santo António . Try the pineapple jam!
Boat Tour to Ilheu de Vila Franca – Take a short boat ride to this picturesque islet, perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
Monte Palace Abandoned Hotel — This old hotel is easy to get to and offer sweeping views of the crater lakes. The history behind this abandoned hotel was very intriguing to me. Check it out near the Miradouro da Vista do Rei.
If you don’t plan on renting a car to get around the island then consider a few of these day tours to take in the natural wonder that is São Miguel:
2 Days in Horta (Faial Island)
Faial is a completely different vibe than São Miguel. São Miguel is a more built up, with medium size port city in Ponta Delgada and many small towns to explore. The city of Horta feels like an off the grid, adventurers islands. You can imagine the old planes stopping over crossing the Atlantic. The boats stopping here to replenish before heading out for grand adventure. The town and island feel raw and authentic. We found Faial to be a wonderful little island to explore. The main attractions being whale and dolphin watching & island views, especially the view of the imposing island of Pico. The massive volcano rising up is such an impressive sight. If you have the chance, be sure to take a trip across the water to explore this volcano and the island of Pico as well. Both of these islands are extremely safe boasting a near zero crime rate!
Where to Stay
Luxury: Pousada Forte da Horta – A historic hotel with stunning harbor views.
Mid-range: Hotel do Canal – Centrally located in the port town, we loved the access to the port amenities, access to Praia de Porto Pim, and a short walk to Monte da Guia. This hotel offered great restaurants and views. We would highly recommend staying here if you visit Horta.
Budget: Largo Bispo Boutique Hostel– A cozy and affordable hostel close to the beach.
Best Beaches
Praia do Almoxarife – A beautiful black sand beach with views of Pico Island.
Praia de Porto Pim – A sheltered bay with calm waters, perfect for swimming.
Other Must-Do Activities
Visit Peter Café Sport – A legendary stop for sailors and travelers. This is a must stop while you are in Horta. The different naval flags and wooden paneling make this feel like an old capitan’s quarters. You can just feel the rich maritime history while grabbing a beer.
Hike up Monte da Guia — This short hike right off the port of Horta provides beautiful views of Faial, the two caldeiras partially flooded by the sea called Caldeira do Inferno (Hell’s Cauldron), and Pico.
Whale Watching – Faial is another great location for spotting marine life and was a large area for whaling back in the day. There are small museums with more information on whaling the the lives of whalers if you wish to find out more.
Horta Marina – Admire the colorful murals left by passing sailors. We really enjoyed wandering around the marina and the port. The colorful buildings and cool cafes are definitely worth exploring.
Capelinhos Volcano - Stunning black ash landscape and cliffs overlooking the sea. This area includes a small museum/interpretation center and lighthouse. There are natural pools where you can swim in but go early before the tide rises.
Take a Boat to Pico Island – A short ferry ride takes you to Pico, home to Portugal’s highest mountain.
If you don’t have a whole lot of time, consider booking one of these excursions:
Final Thoughts
The Azores offer an unforgettable adventure filled with dramatic landscapes, vibrant culture, and mouthwatering cuisine. With at 5 days in São Miguel and 2 days in Faial, you’ll be able to experience the best of what these islands have to offer. Whether you’re hiking volcanic craters, soaking in hot springs, lounging on beautiful beaches, or savoring fresh seafood, this itinerary ensures a perfect balance of relaxation and adventure. This is a place we can’t wait to go back to. We hope you enjoy exploring the wonder of these Atlantic islands.
Overlooking Praia de Porto Pim from Monte da Guia on Faial Island