São Miguel or Terceira: Which Azores Island Should You Choose?
- Aina & Dani
- Nov 9, 2025
- 6 min read
São Miguel or Terceira? It’s normal to wonder this if you’re traveling to the Azores for the first time. Both islands are different from each other and, even though they both share that green, natural, and Atlantic vibe that defines the archipelago, the experience you’ll have on each can be quite different.
That’s why here we’ll explain in a simple and direct way the main differences between São Miguel and Terceira, so you can decide which one fits you better.
Let’s go!
São Miguel vs Terceira – Contents:
Size - São Miguel vs Terceira
São Miguel is the largest island in the Azores, with about 744 km² and around 62 km in length. While it’s not huge and can easily be explored by car, it’s better to plan daily outings to make the most of the drives and optimize your time. That’s why we created our São Miguel travel guide by regions.
Terceira, on the other hand, is smaller and more compact, with about 402 km². Everything is really close, so even though we also recommend exploring it by regions, you could cross the island from one end to the other in the same day without any problem, which gives you more flexibility when organizing your outings.
In other words, each island has its own “pace.” In São Miguel, it might be necessary to plan daily itineraries a bit more, while in Terceira you can improvise without it affecting your trip too much. That said, on both islands it’s essential to rent a car to explore at your own pace and truly see everything.
Nature and landscapes - São Miguel vs Terceira
São Miguel is famous for its volcanic lagoons, which are the island’s main highlights. The best part is that in many of them you can swim, and the water is usually at a pleasant temperature. Sete Cidades and Fogo Lagoon are two of the most impressive ones. Also, something unique to São Miguel is its tea plantations—the only ones in Europe with industrial purposes.
Terceira, on the other hand, stands out for being almost entirely green and rolling, with open fields full of cows and much gentler landscapes. While it’s not known for its lagoons, it does have other unique places, such as Algar do Carvão, where you can visit the inside of a volcano, and the Gruta do Natal, a solidified lava tunnel that’s amazing.
Time needed to visit - São Miguel vs Terceira
In our opinion, the amount of time you have available can be one of the most important factors when choosing between the two islands.
São Miguel is quite complete and offers many landscapes and excursions, so ideally you should spend at least 7 days to explore it at a relaxed pace. Here are our itineraries to help plan your trip:
Terceira, on the other hand, is smaller and more compact, so with 3 or 4 days you can explore the island and visit its main sights. That said, if you want to go hiking or enjoy its natural pools at a slower pace, you’ll need a bit more time.
Hot springs - São Miguel vs Terceira
One of the main activities in São Miguel is enjoying its hot springs, such as Poça da Dona Beija, Terra Nostra Park, or Caldeira Velha, where you can relax for a good while in a beautiful setting. This is also one of the highlights of visiting São Miguel in winter, since the contrast between the hot water and the cooler air is very pleasant.
Terceira, on the other hand, doesn’t have comparable natural hot springs. The hot spring experience is practically exclusive to São Miguel, so if this type of activity is important to you, that’s definitely a point in São Miguel’s favor.
Beaches and ocean swimming - São Miguel vs Terceira
São Miguel has more sandy beaches, like Santa Bárbara Beach, Fogo Beach, or Pópulo Beach, where you can surf or simply lie on the sand and enjoy the scenery. There are also natural pools, like the ones in Mosteiros, which are a good option when the ocean is rougher.
In Terceira, sandy beaches are less common, though you’ll find some, like Vitória Beach. What Terceira does have is lots of natural pools all along the coast, with the Biscoitos pools being the most famous. In general, you’ll come across natural pools all over Terceira’s coastline, and some aren’t even on maps. The best part is that almost anywhere along the coast you can swim safely, although the ocean is usually rougher than in São Miguel.
Cities - São Miguel vs Terceira
São Miguel has Ponta Delgada, its capital, considered the gateway to the Azores. While Ponta Delgada has plenty of history and culture, we’d say that in our opinion, the capital of Terceira, Angra do Heroísmo, is the more striking one.
In Terceira, Angra do Heroísmo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city has a rich naval history and colonial architecture that, in our opinion, is one of the island’s great attractions and deserves a relaxed visit to stroll its streets and soak up the atmosphere.
A good way to get to know these cities is through guided tours:
Festivals and traditions - São Miguel vs Terceira
In São Miguel, several festivals and events take place throughout the year, as we explain in this article. But one thing is clear: Terceira is famous for its festivals. What we’ve heard most often from locals in Terceira is that “Terceira is the amusement park of the Azores”—and we can confirm that. The festivals that surprised us the most for their atmosphere were the ones in Praia da Vitória, so if you visit the island in August, don’t miss going one night.
Tourism - São Miguel vs Terceira
São Miguel is the most visited island in the Azores, but in our opinion, that doesn’t mean it feels overcrowded. The island is still authentic, with many lesser-known spots and hiking routes where you might not see another person the entire way. Plus, its size and range of services make it more convenient to visit, with more hotels, restaurants, and facilities in general.
Terceira is also very authentic and has more of a “less explored island” vibe. While it has fewer services than São Miguel, it’s not lacking—especially in Angra do Heroísmo—and its compact size makes it easy to reach areas with more services if needed.
Food and gastronomy - São Miguel vs Terceira
You’ll eat amazingly well on both islands, so we don’t think gastronomy should be a deciding factor. Still, here are the standout dishes from each island, in case that helps you choose.
In São Miguel, you can’t miss the cozido das Furnas, a stew cooked underground with volcanic heat from the Furnas calderas. If you want our recommendation, our favorite restaurant to try it is Tony’s Restaurant.
In Terceira, the most famous dish is alcatra, a slow-cooked meat stew made in a clay pot, with very traditional flavors. To try alcatra, we recommend Caneta Restaurant—one of the best meats we’ve ever had in our lives.
And now… which one to choose?
In our opinion, both islands are worth visiting. For a first trip to the Azores, we’d probably choose São Miguel, but we don’t think that’s a one-size-fits-all answer: Terceira also has plenty of charm and things to do.
In the end, choosing between São Miguel and Terceira depends on what you’re looking for in your trip. São Miguel is bigger and more varied, with lagoons, beaches, and hot springs, while Terceira has a calmer, greener, and closer charm, with historic towns and natural pools all along the coast.
Neither is better than the other—each island has its own character and magic—and either one can offer you an unforgettable trip to the Azores. So whichever you choose, we’re sure you’ll enjoy it a lot.
Are you planning your trip to São Miguel?
Get organized with our complete TRAVEL GUIDE TO SÃO MIGUEL, where you will discover all the places to visit by areas.
