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    São Miguel
    Island

    Portugal

    São Miguel

    São Miguel is the largest and most densely populated island of the Azores. To the west lie the crater lakes of Sete Cidades, in the centre Lagoa do Fogo, to the east the Furnas Valley with its hot springs and steaming fumaroles.

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    9. São Miguel
    São Miguel is the largest and most densely populated island of the Azores. To the west lie the crater lakes of Sete Cidades, in the centre Lagoa do Fogo, to the east the Furnas Valley with its hot springs and steaming fumaroles. Between these stretch pastures, tea plantations on the north coast, and the capital Ponta Delgada.
    São Miguel is the Azore's largest and most populous island. Ponta Delgada, capital with international airport, makes most destinations 1-2 hours by car. The west features Sete Cidades crater caldera, the center Lagoa do Fogo, the east Furnas' volcanic valley with hot springs and fumaroles. Also discover north coast tea plantations, greenhouse pineapples, and south coast whale watching. Weather changes fast: plan viewpoints flexibly, check morning webcams before setting out.
    Ponta Delgada
    Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    District 1 of 3

    Ponta Delgada

    Ponta Delgada is the largest city in the Azores and your likely arrival point. Its center, with black-and-white pavement, basalt churches, and the city gate Portas da Cidade, is right on the harbor promenade.

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    Sete Cidades

    District 2 of 3

    Sete Cidades

    In the west of São Miguel is a large volcanic crater with two connected lakes, Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde. You'll get the most famous view from the Miradouro da Vista do Rei on the crater rim.

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    Furnas
    The Cosmonaut / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    District 3 of 3

    Furnas

    Furnas lies in a volcanic valley in the east of São Miguel. Fumaroles and hot springs steam right in the village, smelling of sulfur.

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    Restaurants in São Miguel

    On the Road in São Miguel

    A rental car is the most practical solution, as buses are infrequent and mainly operate on main routes. Roads are good, but narrow and winding in the mountains. Some popular destinations like Lagoa do Fogo have small car parks that fill up by midday.ExcursionsSete Cidades: Crater lake with views from Miradouro da Vista do Rei, about 30 minutes from Ponta Delgada.Lagoa do Fogo: Crater lake in the centre of the island, with a hiking trail down to the shore.Furnas: Thermal baths, fumaroles, and Cozido cooked in the ground, about one hour east.North Coast: Tea plantations Gorreana and Porto Formoso.

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    Ponta Delgada

    Ponta Delgada

    Ponta Delgada is the largest city in the Azores and your likely arrival point. Its center, with black-and-white pavement, basalt churches, and the city gate Portas da Cidade, is right on the harbor promenade. The city is an excellent base for day trips to Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo, and whale watching tours depart from the harbor.
    Furnas

    Furnas

    Furnas lies in a volcanic valley in the east of São Miguel. Fumaroles and hot springs steam right in the village, smelling of sulfur. On the shores of Lagoa das Furnas, Cozido das Furnas is cooked in earth pits, a meat and vegetable stew served by many local restaurants. In Parque Terra Nostra, you can bathe in a warm, iron-rich thermal pool; old swimwear is advisable because the water stains.
    Sete Cidades

    Sete Cidades

    In the west of São Miguel is a large volcanic crater with two connected lakes, Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde. You'll get the most famous view from the Miradouro da Vista do Rei on the crater rim. Below in the basin lies the village of Sete Cidades, with hiking trails leading around the lakes and up to the crater rim. If cloudy, you often won't see anything from the top, so it's worth driving up again later.
    Terceira

    Terceira

    Terceira ist die drittgrößte Insel der Azoren. Ihre Hauptstadt Angra do Heroísmo mit Renaissance-Grundriss, Kirchen und Stadtpalästen ist seit 1983 UNESCO-Welterbe. Im Inselinneren kannst du in den Algar do Carvão hinabsteigen, einen erloschenen Vulkanschlot, der in eine Höhle mit kleinem See führt. Im Sommer finden in vielen Orten Stierfeste auf der Straße statt, die Touradas à Corda.
    Azores

    Azores

    The Azores are a group of nine volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic, about 1,400 kilometers west of Lisbon. Crater lakes, hydrangea hedges, hot springs, pastures, and steep cliffs characterize the landscape. The islands are a destination for hiking, whale watching, and for quiet days away from large resorts.