Guides › The Azores (Islands) › São Miguel Island
City guide

São Miguel Island

São Miguel Island, nicknamed "The Green Island", is the largest and most populous island in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. The island covers 760 km2 (290 sq mi) and has around 140,000 inhabitants, with 45,000 people residing in Ponta Delgada, the archipelago's largest city.

Type IslandPopulation 140,000

Why go

  • Island in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores.

History

São Miguel Island, nicknamed "The Green Island", is the largest and most populous island in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. The island covers 760 km2 (290 sq mi) and has around 140,000 inhabitants, with 45,000 people residing in Ponta Delgada, the archipelago's largest city.

Restaurants & places to go

Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-02:00 Features: takeaway, step-free access · Avenida de São Pedro, Ribeira Grande, 9600-170 · mcdonalds.pt
Indoor
Steak House, Regional, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 12:00-23:00 Features: step-free access · Recinto Da Feira, Campo Do Santana, Rabo de Peixe, 9600-096 · restauranteaasm.com
Indoor
Restaurant · Opening hours: Th-Tu 07:00-24:00 · 1 Rua do Ramal · restaurante-cantinhodocais.pai.pt
Indoor
Restaurant · Opening hours: 07:00-23:00 · facebook.com
Indoor
Cafe · Opening hours: May-Sep Mo-Sa 09:00-18:00, Oct-Apr 09:00-17:00; PH off · chaportoformoso.com
Indoor

50 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →

Airports

João Paulo II Airport (PDL) 21 km to the centre
Ponta Delgada, 20, PT — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 5 airlines (SATA International, SATA Air Acores, TAP Portugal, Air Berlin…) · direct flights to 17 destinations incl. Funchal, Boston, Lisbon, Porto, Toronto… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 5 airlines, 17 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor

Getting there by ferry

Ponta Delgada
Ferry terminal · 18 km from the centre
Outdoor
Vila Franca do Campo - Ilhéu da Vila
Ferry route
Outdoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping →
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. We do not yet hold airport or rail details for São Miguel Island — check the official tourism sources below for the best routes in. By water: 1 ferry terminal within 20 km (nearest: Ponta Delgada, 18 km); routes include Vila Franca do Campo - Ilhéu da Vila.

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for São Miguel Island. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Trains & rail

National rail

Private aviation

On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.

Fractional, jet card · Citation, Phenom, Challenger, Global · The European arm of NetJets, based in Lisbon.
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.

Tours & experiences

Sightseeing