Anyone ever visit Sao Miguel island in the Azores? Looking for lodging, restaurants, and activities.
Thanks in advance!
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We were there in 2017, it was fabulous and on our list of places to return to. We stayed at what is now the Octant Hotel. It was a great place to stay then, and it looks like they have had some interior renovations. The food was great. We ate breakfast and dinner there. Lunch out and about at any random place we stumbled upon.
Went back in 2019. We stayed at an Airbnb on the water that was great. I can send you the info if you’d like, the host is awesome, it’s their guest house.
Restaurante SĂŁo Pedro in Ponta Delgada was a place we went twice for dinner.
Definitely stay a couple nights in Furnas as a spa portion of the trip. Highly recommend Terra Nostra Garden Hotel and have dinner there one night and get the cozido. The plus is that you get access to all of their hot spring pools on the property 24/7. So you can avoid the crowds and go at night after dinner. Bring cheap bathing suits, the iron in the water will stain.
Alabote in Ribera Grande has a nice view of the ocean and good food.
We rented a car and didn’t have much of a plan. The island is small probably an hour and a half east to west. We just drove to the different view points each day and would find somewhere to eat.
What time of year are you going? We went in the shoulder season (May) and I heard it can get super crowded in the summer months.
My family vacationed there last year over spring break for 5 nights. We absolutely loved it! We also stayed at Azor Hotel which has been rebranded as the Octant as stated above. Loved every aspect of the hotel. 5 star with the most amazing breakfast buffet that’s included in your rate! Had dinner at the hotel one night which was also fantastic. Splurge for a suite if you can. Our suite was less than $350/night and we were appreciative of the extra space. Great rooftop bar with a pool, which we never used as it was cold when we went.
Ate dinner in Ponta Delgado most nights and highly recommend Otaka. It’s Portuguese/Japanese fusion/sushi. Book in advance. We had others dinners that were very good but Otaka stood out in the city. Suplexio was great for burgers and a beer for lunch. I assume you will have a car and one of the very best and memorable dinners I have ever had is a 15 min drive north to a little farmhouse called Quinta dos Sabores. Literally true farm to table. Restaurant is run by the family that owns the farm and it’s 5 course prefix for some crazy low price, I think it was 40 Euros. Thank me later and go here on your last night. One of the great aspects of the Azores is how cheap and great Portuguese wine is. I remember looking at a wine list in Portuguese thinking that the by the glass was kinda pricey but the prices were for the bottle! Never had so much Portuguese wine and all were really good to great.
In terms of activities, it really depends on when you’re going as some things like Ilheu de Vila Franca are seasonal. Our family concentrates in outdoor activities especially hiking. We visited the usual must do spots like Sete Cicades, Furnas, Lagoa do Fogo, Gorreana tea plantation, and Nordeste light house. Nothing is more than 1.5 hours away from Ponte Delgado so the whole island is drivable in a day. I recommend concentrating on one part of the island per day to reduce driving. Our favorite hike was the Faial de Terra but it’s a long drive to get there but 100% worth it! We hiked around Sete Cicades and down to Lagoa do Fogo as well as many other off the beaten path stuff, pm me if you’re into that stuff.
Fair warning, you should be prepared for weather quickly changing. Four season in a day is possible. Always have rain gear ready and don’t be discouraged if it’s raining as it can suddenly stop. Or vice versa, a great sunny day can turn into a miserable cold downpour instantly. But if you’re prepared and have correct gear, just roll with it and embrace the unpredictable.
You’ll save money if you know how to drive a manual. I used discover cars for my rental and rented from Guerin which was a bit more expensive but had better reviews and loved my decision. Guerin was literally 50 yards from the entry/exit of the airport and super easy to get into and out of the car. And no lines like the bigger airport companies had.
You will love the Azores. Such a great place to visit.
Thanks for all the info! Planning a few days stop over before heading to the vineyards of Pico.
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