Azores 7-Day Itinerary: São Miguel and Terceira, from Sete Cidades to Angra

Half an hour in the late afternoon, free. The airport is 3 km from the centre, ten minutes by taxi, and it is where you pick up your rental car: without one, you only see half of São Miguel. After check-in, walk down to Gonçalo Velho Cabral square.

The three 18th century basalt arches were the town’s entrance from the quay, before the seafront avenue was built on reclaimed land. Across the avenue, Portas do Mar has restaurants facing the marina, good for a first dinner.

Fifteen minutes, free, 60 metres from the Gates. The 16th century church has a Manueline portal in limestone shipped from the mainland and gilded woodwork on the altar. At night the facade is lit, and the black and white cobbles around it make the best photos.

One hour, free, 35 minutes by car from Ponta Delgada. Park at Lagoa do Canário and walk 15 minutes along the ridge to the end of the path. Go early: clouds often fill the crater by mid-morning.

From the top you see green craters, Lagoa de Santiago, Lagoa Rasa and, behind, the Sete Cidades lakes. If it is cloudy, wait half an hour: the mist moves fast.

Twenty minutes, free, 3 km from Boca do Inferno along the same rim road. This is the classic photo of the two different coloured lakes. Behind the viewpoint stands the Monte Palace, a luxury hotel abandoned since the 1990s.

Two and a half hours, with lunch in the village. Drive down to the bridge that separates the Blue Lake from the Green and walk along the shore. In summer there are kayaks and bikes for hire near the bridge.

The village has the 1857 church of São Nicolau, with its avenue of cryptomeria trees, and a few simple restaurants. With more time, the 12 km crater rim trail loops around the top.

Two hours in the late afternoon, free, 20 minutes from the village along the west coast. A thermal spring rises between the lava rocks and warms a sea inlet fitted with ropes, which you hold on to while you bathe.

Go at low tide, when the water is warmest; at high tide the ocean cools it down. Check the tide table first. The spa next door, with thermal pools, charges a fee and works at any tide.

An hour and a half, leaving at 7:30am. The road climbs from Lagoa through the Serra de Água de Pau to the viewpoints, 30 minutes from Ponta Delgada. In summer, car access is restricted from 9am to 7pm and you go up by shuttle for 5 euros; arrive before 9am and you can park at the viewpoint without it.

The trail from the viewpoint down to the lake beach takes 40 minutes going down and twice that coming back. The nature reserve has no bar or toilets: bring water.

An hour and a half, with a timed slot. Entry costs 3 euros to visit and 8 to bathe, booked on the Azores Natural Parks website in slots of up to an hour and a half. It is 10 minutes below Lagoa do Fogo, on the way down to the north coast.

There are two warm, iron-rich pools and a waterfall. Wear a dark swimsuit: the iron stains light fabric.

An hour and a half, free, 25 minutes along the north coast. The factory has run since 1883 with 19th century machinery, and the visit to the drying rooms and the green and black tea tasting cost nothing.

A short trail climbs through the tea rows to a viewpoint over the sea. The shop sells tea at factory prices, and the café next door serves cake and iced tea.

Two and a half hours, free, leaving at 8am: Faial da Terra is 1h10 from Ponta Delgada. The PRC9 SMI trail is 4.5 km return, climbing gently through forest to the waterfall and an ice-cold pool.

On the way back, continue to Sanguinho, an abandoned stone village being restored. Wear shoes with good grip: the path is stony and slippery after rain.

An hour and a half, around noon, 25 minutes from Faial da Terra. On the north shore of Lagoa das Furnas, the village restaurants bury their cozido pots in the hot ground before dawn, and around midday staff come to dig them up.

Cozido das Furnas mixes pork, beef, chicken, sausages, cabbage, potato and taro, steamed for six hours. Book lunch at a village restaurant the day before: it sells out early.

Two and a half hours in the afternoon, 17 euros per adult. The 18th century botanical garden has ponds, tree ferns, camellias and a cycad collection. The iron-rich thermal pool, reopened in 2025 after renovation, stays around 40 degrees.

The water stains light swimwear yellow, so bring a dark one. There are changing rooms and showers at the entrance.

Twenty minutes, free, 700 metres from Terra Nostra. The springs boil right on the street, and stalls cook corn cobs in the hot water. Try bolo lêvedo, the flat sweet bread of Furnas. For one more hot soak, Poça da Dona Beija is nearby and open into the evening.

Twenty minutes, free. The flight from Ponta Delgada to Terceira takes 40 minutes and lands at Lajes, 10 minutes from the viewpoint. From the rim of an ancient caldera you see the island’s interior split into pastures by stone walls, with Praia da Vitória bay on one side. Then drive on to check in at Angra, 30 minutes away.

Forty-five minutes, 10 euros, 20 minutes from Angra. It is one of the few volcanic chimneys in the world open to visitors: a staircase drops 90 metres to a rainwater lake, between lava walls with silica stalactites.

It only opens in the afternoon. From June to September, daily from 2pm to 6pm; in April and May, 2:30pm to 5pm; from October to December, only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. There are no bookings: tickets are sold at the entrance. Work on the new visitor centre can close it without notice, so check the Montanheiros website.

One hour at sunset, free. The terraced garden in central Angra climbs to the Alto da Memória obelisk, raised in the 19th century in honour of King Pedro IV. From the top you see the old town rooftops and Monte Brasil.

Angra has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, and the whole centre is walkable. Head down Rua da Sé for dinner.

Twenty minutes, free. The 16th century cathedral, seat of the bishop of the whole archipelago, stands on Rua da Sé in the middle of the old town. Inside it has a cedar wood ceiling.

Three hours, free, starting a 15 minute walk from the Cathedral. The 7 km loop climbs the extinct volcano to Pico das Cruzinhas, with views over the town and bay, and passes viewpoints over the sea.

At the entrance stands the São João Baptista fortress, still an army barracks, with guided visits at set times. Bring a snack: at the top there are only picnic tables.

The afternoon, free, 30 minutes from Angra on the north coast. The seawater pools sit between black lava rocks, with ladders and concrete platforms; in summer there are lifeguards and a bar.

Next door, the Biscoitos Wine Museum shows how vines are grown inside loose stone walls, the currais, and pours the house Verdelho at the tasting.

Twenty minutes, free, 25 minutes from Angra. The hill south of town has a statue of Our Lady and a view over the bay, the marina and the beach. It is the last viewpoint of the trip, on the way to the airport.

One hour, free. The sandy beach is the largest on Terceira, with a promenade, cafés and calm water in the bay. Lajes airport is 10 minutes away: return the car two hours before your flight.

Most departures go to Lisbon, with same day connections onward.