Explore the best of São Miguel’s capital with our curated one-day walking tour. Discover Ponta Delgada’s artistic streets, historic plazas, and scenic waterfront at your own pace.
This guide covers all the essential stops for an unforgettable day in the heart of the Azores.
Table of Contents
Ponta Delgada Itinerary
People arrive in Ponta Delgada Azores by both cruise ship and air. We have itinerary options to help you make the most of your time no matter whether your cruise ship is docked for the day or you are on a longer visit to the Azores.
Ponta Delgada in One Day
Our self-guided walking tour is the perfect way to see Ponta Delgada in one day.
- Start at the Fortress of São Brás and the Azores Military Museum.
- Enjoy the beautiful Campo de Sao Francisco square with its 2 churches and stunning cobblestone designs.
- See Ponta Delgada from the City Hall Bell Tower.
- Visit the City Gates.
- Enjoy lunch at one of the many area restaurants.
- Learn about the city’s history one of the Carlos Machado Museums.
- Visit Ponta Delgada’s largest gardens, the Jose do Canto Garden and the Antonio Borges Garden.
The city’s must-sees are found near the pretty waterfront. For cruise passengers who are in port for the full day, consider touring the harbour area in the morning and then enjoying a Whale Watching Tour in the afternoon.
Additional Days in Ponta Delgada
If you have more than one day in Ponta Delgada, consider enjoying the walking tour over 2 days to visit all the museums and gardens. On another day, visit the cave at Gruta do Carvao and the Azores Pineapple Plantation.
Map of Ponta Delgada
Ponta Delgada Walking Tour
The city began as a small fishing port and has kept its quaint, small town atmosphere.
Enjoy the black and white cobblestone streets. It’s like walking on artwork with designs in stripes, stars, chains and other eye-catching patterns. Many houses and public gardens have planters and flowering bushes adding splashes of colour along the way.
Our walking route is about 3.5 kilometres long. Find gardens, museums, churches and lots of history. There are many restaurants, cafes, shops and bars along the way and around the harbour to enjoy.
Below, we describe Ponta Delgada’s attractions as you will find them along our route.
Start at the Fortress of São Brás.
Fortress of São Brás and Azores Military Museum
São Miguel’s largest fortress, Forte de São Brás, protected the early port of Ponta Delgada from attacks by pirates and privateers. It was constructed in the late 16th century in a style typical of Renaissance military architecture.
Visit the Azores Military Museum in the fort. It has a significant collection of weaponry, uniforms and communication equipment. The displays discuss many aspects of Azorean military history.
Walk to the square steps north of the fortress.
Campo de Sao Francisco
This lovely town square acts as the city’s gathering spot for events. Two churches and a monument are adjacent to the square.
On the south side, the Emigrant Monument commemorates the large emigration of Azoreans to Hawaii for work on sugarcane plantations in the last quarter of the 19th century.
The Sao Jose Church sits on the west side of the square. Five small, limestone carvings of the life of Saint Francis adorn the front of the 18th-century church above the three arched doorways. Note the lava statue of the patron saint below the roof peak.
On the north side is the Sanctuary of the Lord Holy Christ. It is part of the Convent of Our Lady of Hope which has been on Sao Miguel since 1540. Mid-17th century tiles and carvings decorate the sanctuary’s chancel.
Walk east, out of the square, along the main avenue, to Vasco de Gama Square. De Gama, a 15th century Portuguese explorer, was the first to sail from Europe to India by rounding Africa’s Cape of Good Hope. Take care crossing to the pretty cobblestone-square with its central fountain. The square is essentially the centre of a roundabout.
From the north end of the square, walk east on Santa Luzia Street to City Hall.
City Hall Bell Tower
See beautiful Ponta Delgada from the top of the almost 30-metre-tall, early 18th-century bell tower (torre sineira). It offers the only 360-degree unobstructed view of the city’s red-tiled roofs and the harbour, unless you own a drone.
It is free to climb to the top but access is only on weekdays during city hall operating hours. There is a small entrance door on Rua do Açoreano Oriental. The final spiral staircase at the very top is extremely tight. Bulky backpacks could be a big problem.
A warrior statue of the archangel Saint Michael stands in the plaza in front of city hall. The City Gates are on the right as you walk to the next intersection.
City Gates
The 18th-century ‘Portas da Cidade’ dominate the pretty public square. Note the royal coat of arms above the three, ornate, round archways. The gates were originally at the waters’ edge. Construction of the wide, Avenida Infante Dom Henrique along the waterfront forced the relocation of the gates.
In front of the gates, the Goncalo Velho Cabral Statue honours the first governor of the Azorean islands of Santa Maria and Sao Miguel.
After admiring the gates, continue to the intersection and turn left on Largo da Matriz. Admire the beautiful clock tower of the 16th-century Sao Sebastiao Church.
This area has lots of restaurants.
Turn right on Largo Visconde Bensaúde and left at the second street to walk north on Rua Manuel Inácio Correia which becomes Rua dos Manaias.
Carlos Machado Museums
The Carlos Machado Museums are in three different buildings. If you are visiting all 3 get the combo ticket. The ticket is valid for the same day of purchase and covers all three main branches. All three museums are closed on Mondays.
The first is just before the 3rd street on the right. The Santa Barbara Museum (Núcleo de Santa Bárbara) showcases the artwork of Azorean artists. The building housing ‘’ was built in the 17th century.
The main building of the museum is one block north and a few steps east on Rua do Dr.Guilherme Poças. The Carlos Machado Museum opened in 1930 in this former 16th century convent . This location concentrates on the natural history, farming and fishing in the Azores.
Walk west until just before a pretty green park. The dark stone building on the right is College Church and the Sacred Art Centre. A stunning altarpiece and 17th century tile panels are among its many religious artifacts. The baroque ‘Igreja do Colégio’, also called All Saints Church, is built on the site of a former Jesuit College church.
The pretty green park is the Antero de Quental Garden. It honours Antero de Quental, an influential 19th-century Portuguese poet born on Sao Miguel. The building to the north of the park is the Public Library and Regional Archive. It often hosts temporary exhibits.
Walk back 1 block to Rua de Sant’Anna. Follow it north to Rua Jose Jacome Correia. Walk east to the entrance to the Jose do Canto Garden.
Ponta Delgada Gardens
The city has many public gardens. Some are small and just cover street corners. The next two are large tranquil places originally planted in the mid-19th century.
The Jose do Canto Garden (Jardim José do Canto), the largest garden in Ponta Delgada, is open year-round. It has a wide variety of plant species collected from around the world. The wealthy Jose do Canto created the original garden plan which is still the base for today’s 6-hectare garden.
See the well-preserved 17th century Saint Anne’s Chapel at the front of the garden. It is not always open to see inside.
Wander the shady paths of the garden to find the Pavilion, a Victoria greenhouse, often used for events. The Palace, built by Jose do Canto is in the upper part of the garden. It is a private residence and a hotel/B&B.
Next door to the garden is the Palace of Saint Anne. The large residence and gardens were built in the mid-19th century and became the seat of the presidency of the Azorean Government in 1980.
Continue walking west on Rua Jose jacome correia. Pass a large cemetery and the Parque Atlantico shopping mall. Turn left and walk south for a long block on Rua Agostinho Pacheco.
The Antonio Borges Garden (Jardim António Borges) is down the first street to the right. It’s a quiet public garden, with grottos and rare plants. It was first planted in the mid-19th century as the private garden of a wealthy member of the island’s elite.
Any of the streets from here going south lead to the green square of Father Sena Freitas Park. The Conceicao Palace is on the north side of the park. This large colourful building was originally the Convent of Our Lady of Conception. It’s been the seat of Azores regional government since 1976.
The street on the southwest side of the park will take you back to your starting point on the waterfront.
Ponta Delgada Whale Watching Tours
Whale watching is a popular activity around many of the Azores Islands. These deep waters are home to a large population of both resident and migrating species so whales are seen year-round. Whale watching tours leave regularly from the marina.
The 3 most popular whale watching companies in Ponta Delgada offer slightly different tours. Click on the company name below to learn more and book your tour.
| Whale Watching Company | Description |
| Futurismo Azores Adventures | A marine biologist on board will help you spot mink whales, dolphins, turtles and more. |
| Picos de Aventura | Travelling in a nimble, open boat, you’ll have a great chance to see bottlenose dolphins and whales. |
| Terra Azul Azores | An exciting marine wildlife tour to learn more about whales, dolphins and the marine biodiversity of the Azores Islands. |
Attractions near Ponta Delgada
Both of these places are about two kilometres from the waterfront and easy to reach by taxi.
Gruta do Carvao (Cave)
The cave system, about 2 kilometres long, is the largest lava tunnel on Sao Miguel and one of the largest in the Azores. There are 4 main caves. In the past, sections of the tunnels were used by the military and for commercial purposes.
The section between caves Gruta do Carvão and Troço do Paim is a single branch running generally north-south. These caves show lava stalactites and stalagmites, lava bridges and other cave formations unique to this type of cave system.
Protected as a Regional Natural Monument, parts of the caves are open daily by guided tour. The visitor centre explains the volcanic activities and processes which created these tunnels. Check the Gruta do Carvao website for more information about the caves and types of tours offered.
Azores Pineapple Plantation
Pineapples, introduced to Sao Miguel in the mid-19th century, are grown in glass greenhouses using traditional techniques.
Free guided tours through the plantation explore the traditional glass and wood greenhouses where the pineapple is grown over an almost 3 year period.
Guides explain the history of pineapple production. And of course let’s not forget a chance to enjoy delicious food and drink made from pineapple and purchase some to take home. Visit the Azores Pineapple Plantation webpage for full details.
Ponta Delgada Hotels
Check out these great options.
- Charming House – We stayed at this exceptional Bed and Breakfast.
- Sao Miguel Park Hotel – Another fine hotel that we stayed at.
- Here are other great hotels in Ponta Delgada.
Ponta Delgada Restaurants and Food
The city has several fine restaurant options. Here are 8 of the most popular restaurants in Ponta Delgada.
| Restaurant | Known for |
| Supléxio | Yes, it’s a hamburger restaurant. But, with their amazing craft burgers, it is one of the most popular places to eat in town. |
| O Galego | The best sirloin steak in town. Reasonably priced. Not downtown, but worth the drive. |
| Gastrónomo | Seafood & Mediterranean fare. Great family run restaurant. |
| A Tasca | Generous portions, seafood and steak to go with nice selection of wines. |
| Taberna Açor | Traditional Azorean tapas. Try the tuna steak. Downtown. |
| Ta Gente | Casual tapas and cocktails in a vibrant atmosphere. |
| Restaurante Alcides | Fresh fish & seafood in this hotel restaurant. |
| Cais da Sardinha | Fresh seafood on the menu. Beautiful location on the waterfront. |
For lunches or snacks, there are shops and cafes everywhere in the harbour area. For fresh market produce, visit the Mercado da Graca, open Monday to Saturday. (Get there early Saturday as it’s always busy.) It is back in its original spot after an extensive renovation. Grab some Azorean cheese and a cup of pineapple for the perfect snack!
Ponta Delgada Shopping
Parque Atlantico, a modern shopping mall has clothes stores, a full food court and even a movie theatre. Find anything you’re needing.
There is a cellphone store to pick up a SIM card. Its grocery store was great to stock up items for our Sao Miguel road trip.
Ponta Delgada Arrival Points
Ponta Delgada Airport
The Ponta Delgada Airport (PDL) is located 2 kilometres west of the city. Taxis to get into town are plentiful. Car rentals are also available at the airport.
North American visitors can catch daily flights from Boston or Toronto to the Azores. For European visitors, there are plenty of flight options from both the United Kingdom and mainland Portugal.
Ponta Delgada Cruise Port
The cruise port, Portas do Mar (Gateway of the Seas), is the first place that cruise passengers will see when they disembark. Located beside the Ponta Delgada Marina, the sea terminal complex includes a shopping mall and restaurant areas.
Know Before You Go – Visiting Ponta Delgada
What is the best time to visit Ponta Delgada Azores?
Summer is the most popular time to visit and the city can get quite crowded. Shoulder season, spring and autumn, is enjoyable with fewer visitors.
What is the weather like in Ponta Delgada Azores?
With the nearby Gulf Stream, temperatures don’t show a lot of variation so visit anytime. In the summer, you’ll have lots of sun and drier weather. The average summer temperature is about 23C. In spring and autumn the weather is cooler and wetter. Winter’s average temperature is about 13C and it rains frequently.
What can we do on a rainy day in Ponta Delgada?
When the rain arrives, visit one or all of the Carlos Machado Museums. You can also go see a movie at the movie theatre at the Parque Atlantico.
Does Ponta Delgada have a beach or swimming area?
Fisherman’s Pools and tide pool is a public swimming pool with an ocean tide pool beside it. It is just to the east of the marina.
Explore All of our São Miguel Island Travel Guides
Discover our complete series of detailed São Miguel guides to help you plan your perfect 5 to 7-day adventure on the largest island in the Azores.
Main Article: São Miguel Island
Part 1: Ponta Delgada – Cobblestone streets, beautiful gardens and harbour promenade (You’re reading this guide now!)
Part 2: Sete Cidades – Twin crater lakes, with blue and green waters
Part 3: The Abandoned Monte Palace Hotel – Ghostly luxury hotel and panoramic crater views
Part 4: Furnas – Steaming fumaroles, relaxing mineral hot springs
Part 5: Lagoa do Fogo – Hidden crater lake and dramatic viewpoints
Part 6: Caldeira Velha – Forest hot springs and thermal bathing pools
Part 7: Ribeira and the North Coast – Tea plantations, waterfalls, and rugged coastline
