Last Updated on April 1, 2023
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Ponta Delgada is the largest city in São Miguel and in a way serves as a gateway to the Azores islands. The city has the biggest airport and that’s where you’ll most likely land when you visit. Many use the city as a base for exploring the island, especially the west, but the city itself deserves some attention as well. There are a few attractions and things to do in Ponta Delgada and one day is probably enough to see all the highlights.
Ponta Delgada, once a fishing village, became São Miguel’s capital in 1540. After devastating earthquake almost completely destroyed the island’s first capital Vila Franca do Campo in 1522, Ponta Delgada was granted a city status, and later became the capital.
Things to do in Ponta Delgada, Azores
The city is not big, very compact and you can pretty much walk to most of the attractions mentioned below. Except for Arruda Pineapple Plantation, which is located a bit outside of the city, everything else is within walking distance. On top of that, with the exception of whale watching excursion, most of the things to do in Ponta Delgada are either free or really cheap.
Portas da Citade ( Gates of the city )
The biggest symbol of the city is Portas da Citade, the three-arched monument in Praça de Gonçalo Velho. Built in 1783, it represents the entrance to the city. Originally located next to the old quay, it was later moved to the square during the construction of the seaside promenade Avenida Infante Dom Henrique. Similar to a lot of the builings in Ponta Delgada, Portas da Citade is white with black basalt.
Climb the City Hall Bell Tower
Steps away from the City Gates is Ponta Delgada’s City Hall. Visiting this Baroque building is a must, mostly because of the bell tower, and more specifically the views from it. If you are anything like me and enjoy great panoramic views, this will definitely be one of the best things to do in Ponta Delgada.
The entrance to the bell tower is on the side of the building and the visit is completely free. Before you can enjoy the views from the top, you need to climb what I counted to be a little over 100 steps. The tower is not open on the weekends, so plan accordingly.
Open: Monday – Friday 9.30 am – 5.30 pm
Cost: FREE
Explore the streets
Even though Ponta Delgada is the biggest city in the Azores archipelago, it’s still pretty small and best explored by foot. It’s very charming with beautiful architecture and narrow streets, all that in the most beautiful surroundings. Even though I felt like the Azores have a character of their own, I definitely felt the Portuguese influence.
A lot the churches and buildings are white with black volcanic basalt rock accents on the edges, which is very characteristic for Portugal. As you walk through the city, don’t forget to look down and check out what’s called the Portuguese pavement ( Calçada Portuguesa ). Covering side walks and pedestrian areas in black and white lime stones is very common in Portugal and can be found in many cities on the mainland as well. Warning: be careful when it’s raining. As much as the sidewalks are visually appealing, they’re also pretty slippery when wet.
Visit Mercado da Graça
Whether you want to pick up some produce or just stroll through, this is one of the fun and free things to in Ponta Delgada. Mercado da Graça is the city’s market with farmers selling local produce and other products like honey and jams. You can also find a cheese shop and some souvenir stores on the side.
Open: daily except for Sundays
Walk along waterfront
The main promenade Avenida Infante Dom Henrique stretches for quite a few miles. It’s a very pleasant walk along the waterfront, with a marina and many restaurants along the way.
Swim at the one of the outdoor swimming pools
Ponta Delgada has a few swimming areas, where for a small fee you can take a dip with the ocean as a backdrop. It makes for a great and cheap activity, especially on a hot day ( and if your hotel doesn’t have a pool ). This is of course open only in season, from June through the end of September.
- Piscina Portas do Mar – located right in the port, across the street from the Azor Hotel.
- Complexo de Piscinas de San Pedro – a large swimming complex . A great combination of nature and man made pool , where you can swim surrounded by natural beauty.
Go Whale watching
The Azores are among the world’s best destinations for whale watching. One third of them can be spotted in the middle of Atlantic, which is quite impressive. Since we are dealing with animals in their natural habitat, you can never have a 100% guarantee of sightings, but in this case chances are pretty high.
The prime season for whale watching is from May – June. That’s when the chances of spotting many different whale species are the highest. While sperm whales are around most of the time, other kinds like fin whales, blue and sei whales can only be spotted during certain times of the year.
It’s worth noting that the Azores underwent an amazing transformation from commercial whaling to ethical whale watching. What’s more, the operators pride themselves in offering excursions, that are as ethical and least disturbing to the animals as possible. One of the most popular and praised companies is Futurismo, that offers various whale watching trips, as well as swimming with dolphins excursions. If you like seeing wild life in their natural habitat, this is without a doubt one the best things to do in Ponta Delgada.
Visit Arruda Pineapple Plantation
The Azores are probably not a place where you’d expect to find a pineapple plantation. It is in fact the only place in Europe where pineapples grow. Since the climate in the Azores is less than ideal ( frequent rain and not enough sunshine ), the pineapples are grown in greenhouses to ensure the favorable conditions.
Pineapples from the Azores are slightly different from the ones grown in Latin America, both in size and taste. They are noticeably smaller, less sweet with a more acidic taste. They also take much longer to grow, as it takes approximately 18-24 months for them to mature and be ready for harvest.
There are many pineapple plantations on São Miguel, but if you are in Ponta Delgada, the most convenient to visit is Arruda Plantation in Faja de Baixo. In the 19th century Augusto Arruda imported large amounts of pineapples and turned an old orange farm into a pineapple plantation. The place continues to be run by the same family and it’s open to visitors, who want to see the unique process of growing the fruit in the Azores.
You can visit the Arruda Plantation on a self guided tour, which doesn’t take very long. You walk through and peek into the green houses to see pineapples in various stages of growth. They do give out a flyer when you arrive, explaining the history and process of pineapple growing. Make sure to visit the gift shop on site to sample their pineapple liquor. There is also a little cafe on site selling various pineapple drinks.
Open: daily April – September 9 am – 8 pm/ October 9 am – 7 pm /November – March 9 am – 6 pm
Cost: FREE
Things to know before you visit Ponta Delgada
- Sundays are really quiet in Ponta Delgada. Most stores are closed and so are many of the mentioned above attractions. Quite a few restaurants are open, but I would definitely recommend making a reservation a couple of days before. Especially if you plan on dining at one of the most popular joints ( more on that below ).
- Be careful driving through the city! – most of the roads are really narrow. Many allow parking on one side, making those streets even more narrow. Exercise extreme caution while making turns. There is a reason, that there are many mirrors on the buildings to help you monitor the traffic. On top of that, lots of people speed down the street, which means this and all of the above are a recipe for a disaster.
Where to eat in Ponta Delgada
Getting to know a destination through local food is always one of the highlights for me. So naturally, eating was one my favorite things to do in Ponta Delgada. Seafood and meat dominate Azorean cuisine and there is no shortage of good restaurants to indulge in both. Below are some of my favorite places, and judging by long lines to get it, others enjoy it as well. For the first 3, make sure to get a reservation at least a couple of days before, especially on the weekend.
- A Tasca – it’s one of the restaurants everyone recommends and it actually lives up to the hype. Reservations are a must, especially for dinner.
- Taberna Acorn
- Supléxio – best place in town to get a hamburger. Great selection of beers.
- Café Central – a great little cafe right in the Praça de Gonçalo Velho. Perfect for a cold drink or a snack.
- Cervejaria Melo Abreu – if you appreciate great craft beer, you will like this place. Even though Super Bock and Sagres from the mainland are the two beers you’ll see in most places, the Azores do make their own craft beer. Melo Abreu is one of them and you can visit their brewery on Ponta Delgada.
Where to stay in Ponta Delgada
Hotel Do Colégio – steps away from the City Gates and waterfront. A great feature is the underground parking lot with 6 spots on a first come first serve basis.
Azor Hotel and Grand Hotel Açores Atlântico – both are great choices, if you are looking for a waterfront hotel in Ponta Delgada.
How to get to Ponta Delgada
Getting to Ponta Delgada from United States couldn’t be easier thanks to direct flights via Azores Airlines and United, which are at the time the only airlines offering direct flights. Coming from the East Coast of United States, you can find direct flights from Boston ( 4,5 hr ) and New York.
Coming from mainland Portugal, there are direct SETA flights from both Porto and Lisbon.
How to get from Ponta Delgada airport to the city center
The João Paulo II airport is located 5 km ( 3 miles ) from the city center and it takes about 10 minutes by car. Most people who come to São Miguel rent a car, as it’s really the only way to see the island. Some of the car rentals are located in the arrivals hall, and if you use one of the smaller, local companies, they will meet you at the airport as well. ( Search for a car rental here ).
As of recently, there’s also a shuttle service that runs from the airport to the city. It takes 20 minutes with 21 stops along the way. The shuttle runs every day from 5 am – 10 pm and it costs €8 one way or €14 round trip. The shuttle is operated by ANC Aerobus, and they have a desk at the airport, where you can purchase the tickets.
If you choose to take a taxi, the journey from the airport to the city center will cost €10-15.
READ NEXT:
- Best things to do in São Miguel, Azores – 5 day itinerary
- Furnas, Azores – a guide to São Miguel’s most charming town
- Renting a car in the Azores
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Woooah! I have never seen pineapples growing before! I would find that totally fascinating! The whole of Ponta Delgada looks fun to explore, but I would be sooo excited by those pineapples!
Is it bad that I never knew pineapples grew that way? I always thought they grew on trees. Such a wonderful and descriptive post and I am now adding the Azores to my list
Ha ha, that makes the two of us:)