Things to do in Ponta Delgada

Ponta Delgada is the capital of São Miguel and the arrival point for almost every flight into the Azores through João Paulo II airport, a few minutes from the centre.

The old town is paved in black-and-white basalt cobbles, built around the 18th-century Portas da Cidade gate and the marina, with a walkable core you can cross in under 20 minutes on foot. It is a good base for two or three nights, with hotels covering a wide range from around 70 EUR to over 200 EUR a night in summer.

What it is not is a preview of the island's main draws: Sete Cidades, Furnas and its thermal pools are all a separate drive of 30 to 50 minutes away, not something you find within the city itself.