Sete Cidades is one of the most photographed spots in the Azores, and for good reason! It is absolutely stunning with striking blue crater lakes and green luscious landscape. It is a spot that you cannot miss and was my favourite stop on São Miguel.

You can definitely see the highlights in a few hours, but to truly enjoy the area I think you need a good full day. This Sete Cidades itinerary gives you the best hikes, viewpoints, and hidden gems for an unforgettable day. Get ready to fall in love with São Miguel. 

Sete Cidades Quinta Da Queiró

If you are wanting to stay in the village of Sete Cidades, the options are limited. However, this collection of holiday homes is a great choice. You can choose your size of house depending on your group size, with either 1, 2, or 3 bedrooms. Enjoy great views from the terrace and an on-site restaurant. Check pricing and availability here.

Moinho das Feteiras

You could stay in a windmill! Moinho das Feteiras is a charming rural retreat on the cliffs of São Miguel, offering a unique stay in a converted windmill with a 360 sea view. The windmill has a swimming pool, sun terrace and a garden. Check pricing and availability here. 

SENSI Azores Nature and SPA

Stay in this restored 19th century Azorean farm transformed into a stunning boutique hotel spa. A few of the rooms have private plunge pools. The spa features an outdoor pool, heated indoor pool, Turkish bath, and sauna, and the restaurant focuses on locally sourced Azorean ingredients. Check Pricing and Availability here. 

The weather on São Miguel is very temperamental. The weather can completely change within twenty minutes. In some cases, one side of the island can have thick fog and rain while the other side is in full sunshine. It genuinely feels like two different days happening at once.

The climate stays mild year-round, ranging from around 14°C (57°F) in winter up to 24°C (75°F) in summer. That said, expect some rain and fog no matter when you visit, especially at higher altitude spots like Sete Cidades.

I would recommend using the SpotAzores website or app. It shows live camera feeds from different parts of the island. Check the Sete Cidades camera before you visit to guarantee clear skies.

Day Trip Tours

If you are not able to rent a car, day trip tours are a great alternative. Several operators run tours out of Ponta Delgada that cover the island’s main highlights. It is a stress free way to see the best of São Miguel without worrying about parking or navigation.

Here are three day trip tours I recommend:

Renting a Car

If you can rent a car, I would genuinely recommend it. The roads are narrow but easy to navigate. Having a car gives you more freedom of places to visit and your schedule. The main downside is parking.

The island is small, meaning parking spaces are limited. It is especially bad in summer. My advice is to arrive early at popular spots to beat the crowds. 

Start your day with this gorgeous view of the island. You will pass it on your way to Boca do Inferno, and it is definitely worth the stop. On a clear day you can see almost the entire island from this viewpoint. It is truly stunning. Rolling green hills stretch out below, dotted with small villages across the landscape. Truly a great way to start the day. 

This viewpoint is easily one of the most famous spots on the entire island. It is the exact photo you probably saw when you searched for Azores travel inspiration online. The views over the caldera are absolutely incredible, and the visit is completely worth it. From here, you can see the whole caldera of Sete Cidades along with all three lagoons.

This viewpoint is along the Boca do Inferno hike, which is a short and easy trail. Make sure to wear tennis shoes or hiking boots because the path can get a bit muddy, especially after rain.

If you want to beat the crowds, arrive early, because this spot fills up fast as the morning goes on. There is a decent amount of parking for this hike, but even by 10am in the shoulder season, it was hard to find a parking spot.

It might seem out of order to go to Boca do Inferno first and then head back to Muro das Nove Janela. However, because Boca do Inferno gets crowded quickly, I would recommend going there first to beat the crowds and then heading to Muro das Nove Janelas after. 

This is a beautiful old aqueduct tucked back in the forest. Its name means, ‘wall of the nine windows’, which is a nod to the nine archways that look like windows. It is a great spot for photos and a bit of a hidden gem.

If you have extra time or energy, I recommend adding a scenic hike to your itinerary. Pico da Cruz is a popular out-and-back trail, roughly about 4km and 1 hour round trip. The route goes past the Muro das Nove Janelas and up along the rim to a panoramic view of the caldeira.

Another great option is route PRC5 Serra Devassa which is about a 4.2km loop up to Pico das Eguas and around the Eguas lakes.

If you are looking for a full day hike then I would recommend the Caldeira de Sete Cidades rim trail. This 20.6km loop takes around 6.5 hours and goes around the entire caldeira with endless views. 

Just a short drive from Boca do Inferno, this viewpoint gives you a completely different perspective over the caldeira. It is a quick stop, but well worth it.

There is also an abandoned hotel at the viewpoint called Monte Palace, which is very interesting. We spotted a few people exploring inside despite the “do not enter” signs. We decided not to visit inside, but it was interesting to walk around.

Near the back of the abandoned, a couple artisan vendors sell handmade goods and fresh treats. Summer months likely bring even more vendors than the two we saw. 

We nearly skipped this one, assuming it would be the same view as the others, but it ended up being my favourite viewpoint of the entire day. The views of the lagoon are amazing and the angle is perfect for photos. It is a quick stop on the side of the road, but worth it. 

Make your way down into the caldeira towards the city of Sete Cidades. For lunch, I recommend stopping at the food truck called, O Rei das Bifanas aka “the king of bifanas”. It absolutely lives up to the name. It was by far the best bifana that we had in the Azores.

A bifana is a Portuguese sandwich of thin marinated pork on a simple white roll. You will find versions of it all over the island. The food truck also sells burgers, which are incredible as well. Arrive before 2pm, since they often sell out of food, and you do not want to miss it!

I genuinely thought every photo of this church had been edited. The tree lined walkway leading to the front door looks almost impossibly picturesque. I am here to report that it really looks like this in real life. Definitely worth the visit to get a few photos here. Inside the church is less picturesque, but a nice quiet place to visit.

Take a walk around the lagoon, or simply grab an ice cream from Sete Cidades Sorveteria and relax by the water. Either way, I highly recommend taking a rest by the lake.

Earlier in the day, you stood at the top of the caldeira looking down, and now you sit inside the old volcanic crater itself. That shift in perspective feels genuinely special. For something more active, book a kayaking tour and paddle around the stunning blue lagoon.

This miradouro is along the way to the next stop in the itinerary, so it is hard to miss. Honestly, after the jaw dropping views of Sete Cidades, I found it a little underwhelming.

That said, I think coming here in August when the hydrangeas are in full bloom would make it a completely different experience.

This spot is technically not in Sete Cidades, but it is very close. If you have time in your itinerary, I recommend ending your day at the beach. If you are visiting in the summer, you can swim in the water. If you are visiting during the off season, then it might be too cold to swim but the views are still worth it.

There are two fantastic swimming spots in this area and if you have time I recommend visiting both. Praia dos Mosteiros is a black sand beach with dramatic views. There are proper facilities there with bathrooms, a foot wash station, and a small café. Walk along the beach and you will find large volcanic rocks you can explore and scramble around on.

A little further down the road is Ponta da Ferraria. It is a little less of a beach and more of a natural thermal pool carved right into the ocean. Swimming in warm water as the cold sea waves crash onto you is genuinely surreal. Make sure to bring sturdy shoes to walk across the volcanic rock.

Also, please note that the thermal pool is only accessible at low tide, so check the tide times before heading out. We ended up not being able to visit due to high tide. 

I hope you enjoy this Sete Cidades itinerary and all the incredible views and nature this place has to offer. Let me know in the comments if you did this itinerary or any places you would add to this list!

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