The Azores aren't a destination to power through like someone ticking off "the main spots" and coming home with a handful of photos. They're a place to slow down. To drive easy, stop without guilt and accept that a single cloud can rewrite the day's plan without asking permission. If you go in with that mindset, São Miguel rewards you generously. If you go in full military checklist mode, the archipelago hands you a humility lesson on the first morning.
This 5-day itinerary is built for travellers who want to see plenty without turning the trip into an obstacle course. There are obvious landscapes, but also rhythm, room for the weather to shuffle your schedule and space to do what the Azores ask for: breathe deep and don't overthink it.
Day 1 — Ponta Delgada, settling in and zero heroics
On the first day, the smart play is to land, get to your accommodation and resist the urge to see half the island before dinner. Ponta Delgada works well for this gentle start. You can stroll the centre, see the Portas da Cidade, eat something proper and get a feel for the real scale of distances on the island.
The big advantage of a lighter first day is simple: you take pressure off the rest of the trip. When you don't immediately start sprinting, you make better decisions in the days that follow and stop treating any twenty-minute detour like a logistical disaster.
Day 2 — Sete Cidades done right, no fog of the soul
Sete Cidades is a classic for a very simple reason: it works. But it works better if you go early and stay flexible. The ideal is to catch the viewpoints with good visibility, stop wherever it makes sense and not just at the spots with the most parked cars.
The Miradouro da Boca do Inferno and the Vista do Rei area tend to be the most repeated names, but the magic lies in mixing the high points with calmer moments by the lagoon or small stops along the way.
For lunch, avoid leaning too heavily on the most touristy spots and always leave a margin of time. In São Miguel, the day flows better when you're not constantly fighting the clock.
Day 3 — Furnas: fumaroles, cozido and proper hot water
Day three is almost mandatory. Furnas combines nature, food and that delicious feeling of being somewhere where the earth boils without apology. It's worth seeing the fumaroles, trying the cozido and closing the day with a thermal experience, because there are trips where the words "hot bath" instantly solve half of life's problems.
If you can, split the day between the most-visited core and small detours around the area. The zone isn't limited to the main postcard, and many of the best memories show up precisely at the less obvious stops.
Day 4 — Nordeste, beautiful road and excessive scenery
This is the road-trip day. Nordeste offers green roads, viewpoints, cliffs and that very particular feeling of a large, empty island all at once. It's a route to do without rush, with water in the car and a willingness to stop several times just because.
This is where you understand something important about São Miguel: the pleasure isn't only in the final destination. It's in the journey, in the changing light, in the absurd green and in that moment when you pull over and say "ok, so there are still normal places left on this planet".
Day 5 — A smart reserve day to repeat what was worth it
The last day should stay flexible. You can use it to revisit a zone you caught with bad weather, hit any spot you missed, or simply live the island with no firm plan. In the Azores, that's not a lack of organisation. It's pure intelligence.
A good trip doesn't always need to end with one more pin on the map. Sometimes it ends better with a long breakfast, one last drive and the feeling that you didn't do everything — but you did well by what you chose.
What you should know before you go
Pack clothes for several seasons in the same day, accept that the weather is in charge, and don't schedule every hour like you're producing a conference. In São Miguel, moderate improvisation usually beats obsessive control.
It also pays off to think early about the flight logistics, especially if you have an early departure or a tight return. It's the boring stuff no one puts on the trip moodboard, but it decides whether the experience ends in serenity or a ridiculous sprint.
Where Multipark fits in
When the flight leaves early or comes back late, sorting out parking ahead of time peels off a layer of stress immediately. If you're starting the adventure with luggage, sleep deprivation and urgency, the last thing you need is to be circling for a spot or waiting on a shuttle while your body is already in airplane mode.
Conclusion
Five days in the Azores can cover a lot, as long as you accept playing by the island's rules: human pace, flexibility and attention to detail. São Miguel isn't a place to skim. It's a place to absorb slowly, with stops, good food and room for the landscape to do its job.
Book your spot with Multipark and take care of the whole trip without one last headache.
