Sete Cidades, Azores: The Magical Lakes of São Miguel

Things to do in Sete Cidades, Azores

Sete Cidades isn’t just a town, it’s an entire natural area on the west side of São Miguel, Azores. It’s most famous for its twin lakes, one blue and one green, nestled inside a mammoth green crater valley. Read on for our top tips for a day of adventure!

Boca do Inferno Viewpoint

Miradouro Boca do Inferno (also known as Grota do Inferno) is the most famous viewpoint on São Miguel, and for good reason! Walk the easy 1.2 km trail and you’ll reach the most incredible panoramic viewpoint; there’s only one slightly steeper bit towards the end.

As you straddle the ridgeline, you’ll have a fantastic view over Sete Cidades Lake and its blue and green waters.  

Top Tip: We arrived just after sunrise, and we had the viewpoint almost to ourselves! Select this parking location in your Google Maps, and follow the signs from here. 

Alternative Viewpoints

Boca de Inferno blew us away, so we were eager to find more amazing viewpoints in the area. 

• Miradouro da Vista do Rei: Beautiful views of the twin lakes and Sete Cidades town. This viewpoint doesn’t require much walking as it’s right by the parking. Note: it’s a strict 20-minute limit, so it’s only a quick stop. Here is the location.
• Miradouro do Cerrado das Freiras: We loved the different perspective of Sete Cidades lake from here; the view is directly onto the bridge that separates the two ‘lakes’, so you can see where the colors begin to change. Park along the road and walk to the viewpoint located here.

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Twin Crater Lakes

After getting a bird’s eye view of the lakes, it’s time to explore the crater itself. There are a few hikes you can do around the shoreline. However, we took a moment just to relax and soak up the peaceful atmosphere. In some spots, there’s complete silence!

São Nicolau Church

After the lake, we drove towards Vila Sete Cidades, São Miguel’s cutest lakeside village. While the town is pretty, the local church, Igreja de São Nicolau, was what surprised us most. It had lovely traditional Azorean architecture and a charming garden to stroll around; it’s definitely worth a quick stop! 

Note: We saw that the e-bike tour of Sete Cidades also includes the church on the route.

Grab a Slice of Cake at the Tea House

Hungry? We recommend enjoying a nice meal or a delicious slice of cake at Casa da Cha. They’ve got a lovely garden, where you can sit and enjoy the sunshine. If you’re visiting during the fall or winter, they have a fire inside — super cozy!

Have a Picnic at Jardim da Lagoa Azul

The Azores are called ‘the Hawaii of Europe,’ and a visit to these beautiful gardens certainly showed us why! Set on the shores of Sete Cidades Lake, Jardim da Lagoa Azul features meandering paths to explore and peaceful spots where you can sit and take in the serene blue waters. Enjoying a lunchtime picnic here was one of our favorite things to do in Sete Cidades.

Note: The road to reach this spot can be muddy and bumpy, so take it slow, especially if you’re in a rental car.

Muro das Nove Janelas

Looking for a unique thing to do in Sete Cidades, Azores? Muro das Nove Janelas is an ancient aqueduct that stretches across luscious farmland. The stone arches are overgrown with plants and set against a backdrop of rolling green hills and mystical forest; it really felt like something out of The Lord of the Rings! 

Muro das Nove Janelas is also the start point of the beautiful PR4SMI hike: an in-and-out trail along the eastern ridges of the lake crater. How long is the Sete Cidades Hike? The trail is 11.8 KM one way and ends in the village, where you can arrange transport back to the parking.

Estrada Hortênsia 

Picture this: a winding road bordered by hundreds of blue Hydrangea flowers. And in the background, the greenest crater mountains — absolutely breathtaking! 

We’d seen images of Estrada Hortensia online and were so excited to visit, but unfortunately, when we came at the end of May, the flowers weren’t in bloom yet. If you’re visiting anytime from July to September, this is definitely the most beautiful drive on the island.

Tip: It’s good to know that you can’t park along this road, so it’s only possible to get photos through your window.

Sete Cidades Hotels

While you could enjoy all the best things to do in Sete Cidades in one day, it’s also a beautiful place to stay for longer on your São Miguel itinerary. We booked a hotel in Ponta Delgada and did a day trip to the area, but we wished we could have extended our stay.

Our favorite hotels in Sete Cidades 😴

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Sete Cidades Lake Lodge

Sete Cidades

Quinta Da Queiró

Sete Cidades

SENSI Azores Nature and SPA

Sete Cidades

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Favorite Restaurants & Cafés

• Casa da Cha: Cozy tea house with yummy cake
• Food & Friends Food Truck: A casual spot serving delicious burgers (with veggie options, too!). You’ll find it right next to Miradouro da Vista do Rei. 
• Carioca Breezy: An eco-conscious food truck and community initiative. They sell light bites and healthy bowls.

How to Visit Sete Cidades, Portugal

We recommend renting a car if you want to visit the remote things to do in Sete Cidades, like viewpoints or lakeside picnic spots. It’s an easy 40-minute drive from Ponta Delgada. Note: Public transport links aren’t great in the area (check the schedule here).

Tour: If you don’t have a rental car, don’t worry! There are plenty of companies that offer tours in Sete Cidades.

Best Time to Visit Sete Cidades, São Miguel

We visited Sete Cidades at the end of May/beginning of June, which was a beautiful time on the island. Most days were sunny and clear, with good visibility from the viewpoints. But we missed the hydrangea flowers in bloom, if that’s your goal, we recommend the late summer months.

Tip: Always check the live webcams before your visit. It’s the best way to assess the weather, especially at the viewpoints.