Must-sees on the best island in Portugal: Sao Miguel, Azores

I want to start off by saying this island might be my favourite place I’ve travelled to. Its nature and scenery make it a hidden gem off the coast of the mainland. Its relatively low population allows for the natural growth of palm trees, lots of wildlife, and its gardens are the most fun to explore. This trip was a bit more of a costly one because the distance between spots require a car, and lots of the things we saw, did have an associated entrance fee. Besides the car, if you’re looking to save money there are some amazing free entry locations I’ll point out along my journey.

Ribera Grande Beach

I stayed in Ribera Grande which was about a 20-minute drive from the main city Ponta Delgada. The beaches there were full of volcanic rock and black sand and some of the best surfing on the island. Although I am no surfer, it was really enjoyable to sit for an afternoon in the sun and watch the pros. Ribera Grande also is home to a really cool market, Mercado Municipal I’ve never seen anywhere else. Essentially there are around 10 vendors serving food in an openly spaced building where you could go 10 different times and try 10 different restaurants. It’s open late and families seemed to gather and hang out there each day.

Hotel at Sete Cidades

In the way of activities, the coolest view I have ever seen was at the top of Sete Cidades. This is a viewpoint for a pair of lakes located next to each other where one is bright blue and the other is green. It’s important to go on a clear day because you end up pretty high up and the Azores can get quite foggy. If you do view the lakes from Sete Cidades it’s right across from an abandoned hotel. This massive building has so much history with an artist in the past even coming to paint murals. The hotel was, unfortunately, unable to stay open with not enough business but now it’s a wonder to see. There’s a windy staircase you can take to the fifth floor where you’ll feel like you’re on top of the world when viewing the lakes. Definitely wear some protective footwear though. The floors tend to be wet and since it’s not maintained, walking through the hotel is similar to walking through a construction site. One thing to note, however, at least when I was there was the bathrooms at the viewpoint were out of order. So, if you’re planning on staying awhile, keep that in mind before venturing to the top of the mountain.

Jardim Botanico Antonio Borges

After exploring the Sete Cidades, depending on where you’re staying (for me this was convenient) after exploring the hotel my partner and I took a walk through Jardim Cafe in the botanical gardens. This beautiful garden was free entry and had lots of little caves and structures to explore. It had many plant species that were rare and had even been brought over in the 1800s. There were ducks and ponds and lots of rare and beautiful plants I had never seen before. It could easily take a couple of hours and there’s a little cafe with bathrooms and drinks to stop at. It’s definitely a worthwhile experience.

Caldeira Velha

My last experience that was 100% a must-see was the Caldeira Velha sulphur hot springs. This did involve an entrance fee and a time slot reservation but it was absolutely worth it. This man-made-esk wonder featured 4 levels of water hidden in the palm tree forest. At the top was a natural waterfall you can swim in and under. Being the coldest of the 4 locations it wasn’t very occupied at least when I went which was awesome for pictures and quietness. Lower down you can see the water boiling in a little pond which although a burn hazard you can’t enter, shows you just what feeds the lower hot tubs you can enter. There are two pools surrounded by jungle that are well worth spending some time in. The views are stunning and although you may be with other people, it’s so fun to hang back and meet other people exploring the island.

In order to keep this post sweet the last cool and free experience I think is a must-see is in the town of Ponta Delgada itself. (Earlier in the week I had done a boat tour to see whales from there if that is something you’re interested in I would really recommend finding a company. This varies between small and big boats so really just find your preference they all tend to hang out together looking for whales.) While exploring the beautiful city, there is a road off the coast across from the main square that brings you right to the water. You can’t see this strip from the mainland unless you’re looking for it but trust me, it’s worth looking for. Many people boat their docks but if you’re into any sort of nightlife, this is the place. There are arcades and bars, and even a nightclub all under the main road and right on the water. It’s a hidden gem unlike anything else. My partner even ended up playing some foosball with some local kids since again, everyone on the island is so welcoming.

Sao Miguel has many hidden gems and is a must-see for quite literally anyone. This is a sped-up version of what I would do if I was on the island for only a couple of days my absolute favourite activities, but, I could go on many tangents of things to do. This is one island worth investigating beforehand and even asking locals while there what they would recommend.