General Info

Country: The Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal | Language: Portuguese | Currency: EURO (EUR) | Flag: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_Azores | When visited: April 2026

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🗺️ Check out the post about the cruise https://text.tchncs.de/yulko-polo/transatlantic-repositioning-14-days-cruise-expectations-vs and our full cruise tracking with pics as well as other trips: https://www.polarsteps.com/vlgk/24904509-cruise

As we've been to the SĂŁo Miguel island only 1 day during the transatlantic cruise, the information below will be not full and more relevant for someone going on a cruise, not a proper visit.

đźš— How to commute

There are few various options how to get to the city center or port from the Ponta Delgada international airport as well as to move around the island: taxi, a rental car or a local public transport – buses. Alternatively within Ponta Delgada city you can always go for a walk, even from the airport to the city center itself :) We've been moving around by foot and by taxi: Bolt turned out to be available and pretty cheap there. It's also possible to travel pretty everywhere around the island by bus (you can buy tickets on board), but there is no single public transportation company, and most of them have pretty poor information on their websites (the most detailed info is available at CRP webpage). So it's better to check the route, available options and schedule with Google maps.

🏨 Where to stay

This time we've been visiting the island just briefly as 1 of the ports of our transatlantic cruise. That's why we haven't been staying overnight there and can't share any recommendations.

🍽️ What and where to eat

Multiple options to eat tasty, but with affordable prices are available: cafés and restaurants serving Portuguese dishes, appetizers, seafood and pastries, as well as more budget options like to buy a ready-made food or eat at the canteen at Pingo Doce supermarkets. We would recommend avoiding restaurants in the very city center – we witnessed how some of them unfortunately tried to make money on tourists by charging higher prices than local menu indicated or serving food with lover quality than usually.

We would definitely recommend few things:

  • try The Octopus Ă€ Lagareiro anywhere you wish.

  • check any small local cafĂ©s with “Delta cafes” sign and drink coffee or beer with local prices. a

  • get something to eat from Pingo Doce: either Ready-made food and pastry or some local dishes at their canteen. The food is tasty and prices are low.

đź‘€ What to do and what to see

  • Check how pineapples grow at one of pineapple plantations such as Plantação Ananases A Arruda or Ananás Santo AntĂłnio located right in the city and available publicly without any entry fees. a a a

  • Walk around the Ponta Delgada, and it's old town including Portas da Cidade, Largo da Matriz etc. to enjoy a beautiful Portuguese architecture a a a a a a a a a a a

  • Enjoy the stunning nature of the volcanic island by either just going to one of remote cities like Ginetes or Furnas by bus or visiting various viewpoints (Miradouro), volcanos craters (Caldeira) or lakes (Lagoa) with a rented car or an excursion. a a a

  • Go shopping at Pinga Doce or Continente to buy and bring home with you high-quality Portuguese wine, olives, olive oil, seafood conserves, honey, coffee, tea etc. with really affordable prices.

Other possible things to do include: – enjoy thermal baths Poça da Dona Beija and Furnas district. – if you are visiting the island during late spring, summer or early autumn you should go swimming in natural pools like Ponta da Galera, and Ponta da Ferraria or at the local beaches like Piscinas do Pesqueiro, and Praia das Milicias. a – visiting breathtaking viewpoints like Miradouro do Pico do Carvão, Miradouro do Pico do Ferro or Miradouro da Ponta do Sossego.

đź’ˇ Some highlights

  • People at Azores especially beyond the tourist areas are incredibly friendly, hospitable and open to chat and help anytime. Make sure to visit some small local bars/cafes on the city outskirts and drink Delta coffee: it usually costs like 1-2€, is tasty, but strong. If you get lucky as we did, you will even get some complimentary snacks from the owner ;)
  • Azores just like Madeira have cheaper prices than Portuguese mainland, and a lot of fresh and tasty fruits and seafood as well as locally produced products with totally affordable prices.