Ponta Delgada - municipality and city in Azores, Portugal

Ponta Delgada is the largest city in the Azores archipelago. It is on the island of São Miguel, and was home to 69,000 people in 2011. It is an important administrative, industrial and agricultural centre, and the home of the University of the Azores.

Understand

Largo 2 de Março

undefined

Ponta Delgada (POHN-tuh dehl-GAH-duh, /ˈpõ.tɐ dɛɫ.ˈga.dɐ/), the city on São Miguel island, is not to be confused with Ponta Delgada, the rural civil parish on the north coast of Flores island.

Get in

By plane

Major carriers serving Ponta Delgada Airport include:

By boat

Sao Pedro marina Several cruise lines make Ponta Delgada a waypoint when journeying across the Atlantic. Some cruise ships spend a day at the port, often as they reposition themselves between cruising Europe and the Western Hemisphere.

  • The marina 📍 has a cruise ships’ quay, a pavilion, and a hallway of shops. The marina also has pools, including a big natural pool.

Get around

By taxi

There are taxi services at the airport.

By bus

There is an airport bus that sells only roundtrip tickets (€5).

Buses run the main avenue and are conveniently accessible from major sites in Ponta Delgada. In-town bus services are handled by smaller mini-buses with the larger touring buses handling community-to-community travel on the island. Both services are accessible along Avenida D. Infante Henriques and can confuse the unfamiliar traveler. Schedules are available at bus stops and the tourist office.

On foot

It's possible to walk into town from the airport but it's not fun if you have much luggage.

Visitors can best experience the city on foot, as travel distances are relatively short. For day trips to other parts of the island, consider buses, taxis, or a rental car.

See

Câmara Municipal (town hall)

Do

  • Ponta Delgada Marina, 37.739448°, -25.665396°. Visitors can go speedboat racing and big game fishing here. 2021-03-18
  • Organised whale- and dolphin-watching from small boats operating out of Ponta Delgada is increasingly popular. Also whale watching at Blue Talassa.
  • CD Santa Clara, 37.763708°, -25.622589°. Watch football at CD Santa Clara, who play in Primeira Liga, the top tier of Portuguese football. Their home ground is Estádio de São Miguel (capacity 13,000), 3 km east of town. 2021-03-18

Events

The flower carpet that covers some streets in Ponta Delgada during the Festa do Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres

  • Festa do Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres. yearly on the fifth Sunday after Easter. One of the many religious festivities held in the Azores. The town of Ponta Delgada is transformed into a town of color and lively celebration, decorated with colourful flowers and decorative bedspreads hung from balconies. The celebration starts with the blessing of the bread and meat, and the distribution of food among the needy. The festival then continues with a procession, music and fireworks.

Buy

The islands produce surprisingly good wines and cheese.

Ponta Delgada's locals produce handmade crafts that are sold on the street and in small markets and boutiques along the main avenue. Visitors will find small ceramic bowls or plates, woven jewellery, and other one-of-a-kind items. The most common souvenirs are scrimshaw, wicker products, lace, embroderies, liqueurs, and flags.

Eat

Ponta Delgada is known for its pineapple harvest, so trying fresh pineapples from a local market is a must.

Budget

All these are in the city centre:

  • Casa de Pasto Tavares, R. do Melo 74, 37.7389160°, -25.6703908°. Authentic Portuguese restaurant. Humble and tasty food. Great authentic location. 2022-05-01
  • O Giro, R. Diário dos Açores 35, 37.7391637°, -25.6727981°. Cool atmosphere with great tasting food. The place looks really fancy. Well manniered waitress. 2022-05-01
  • Lan's, R. Manuel da Ponte nº41, 37.7403605°, -25.6696418°. Very nice pizzeria. It doesn't look that inviting from outside, but surprisingly good food for such a modest, small restaurant. 2022-05-01
  • DONDUÉ, Nº, R. do Melo 12, 37.7397700°, -25.6689884°. Small cute store that offers many great dishes and drinks. Also very good place for a great breakfast. Vegetarian option cooked with care and served with sympathie. 2022-05-01
  • Apito Dourado, Rua do Peru 17 A, 37.7423042°, -25.6625440°. Authentic local restaurant. The dishes are a delight. 2022-05-01
  • Açores Grill, Rua do Calhau, 37.7407852°, -25.6616841°. Restaurant with a brilliant concept: You prepare the food yourself on your own grill. Cozy, chic and simple. 2022-05-01
  • Azores Forever, R. do Melo 10, 37.7398451°, -25.6688610°. Best fish and chips on the island. Also simple, yet delicious breakfast. Very LGBTQIA+ friendly. 2022-05-01

Mid-range

Splurge

Drink

  • Ponta Delgada is known for its different types of liqueurs and alcohols, particularly Passion Fruit Liqueur.
  • For unusual drinks, visit Baia dos Anjos, one of the more interesting bars that serves theme-based drinks and food based on local festivals and cultural events.
  • Portas do Maris Marina by the port has a number of bars with live bands almost every night.
  • Another good place for mixed drinks and local wines is San Miguel Park Hotel.

Nightlife

  • Bombom Bihlares, 37.75999°, -25.65035°. This nightclub is a great place to hang out, especially on rainy days. 2018-06-15

Sleep

Go next

Visit Terceira island/city of Angra, a World heritage patrimony.

Ponta Delgada

cm-pontadelgada.pt
Postal code:9504Date Time:Please wait...Timezone:Atlantic/AzoresPopulation:68,748Coordinates:37.74, -25.67

Azores

Primary administrative division

Portugal

portugal.gov.pt/en/gc21
Population:10.3 MDial code:+351Currency:Euro (EUR)Voltage:230 V, 50 Hz