Top Things To Do in Ponta Delgada, Azores

On the southern coast of São Miguel Island — which Forbes has called one of the world's best islands — you'll find Ponta Delgada, the capital of the Azores autonomous region. It's also the largest city in the Azores and the heart of the region's tourism industry, making it the ideal setting for a day at port on your next cruise vacation through Europe.

It suffers no shortage of fantastic sights and activities, so if you're having a bit of choice overload, consider our recommendations below for the top things to do in and around Ponta Delgada, Azores.

Tour the City's Historic Center

Ponta Delgada was founded in the 15th century, so you can expect that its historic center offers plenty to see on your day at port. Beginning in Gonçalo Velho Square, which is the city's central square, you'll catch sight of some stunning art and architecture, such as the Portas da Cidade (ornate monumental gates and symbols of the city) and the statue of Praça de Gonçalo Velho, the explorer after whom the square was named.

From there, you might move on to any number of the city's main public centers, such as:

• Town Hall Square, which houses the Baroque-style town hall and the Torre do Relógio clock tower.
• Largo da Matriz, location of the city's main church, Igreja de São Sebastião.
• Praça 5 de Outubro, where you'll encounter not one but two extraordinary churches, Igreja de São José and Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Esperança.
• Forte de Sao Brás, a well-preserved 17th-century maritime fort replete with ramparts, cannons, and a memorial to the lives lost in the First World War.

Visit the Botanical Gardens

Ponta Delgada's historic center is far from the only part of the city with interesting sights. About 20 minutes north of the port is the Palácio de Sant'Ana, the presidential palace. The palace itself isn't open to visitors, but two botanical gardens around the palace are. One is the Jardin du Palais Sant'Ana, the palace's official gardens, and the other is Jardim Botânico José do Canto. For a small entry fee, these gardens offer verdant tranquility amid the metropolis, as well as terrific photo opportunities.

Below are some other botanical gardens that might interest you, all of which are within easy walking distance from one another:

• Jardim Antero de Quental
• Jardim Padre Sena Freitas
• Jardim Botânico António Borges

However, if you want to see what the nature outside of Ponta Delgada are like, we recommend our Hot Springs & Botanical Gardens shore excursion, which takes you across the island to the beautiful Ribeira Grande. The excursion includes stops at breathtaking viewpoints, a tea factory, and São Miguel's phenomenal hot springs.

RELATED CRUISES:
14-Day Transatlantic from Miami to London: France, Spain & Portugal
12-Day Transatlantic from Lisbon to San Juan: St. Thomas & Philipsburg
13-Day Transatlantic from Rome to Orlando: France, Spain & Azores

Get a Taste of Mercado da Graça

Public markets are often the best way to get an intimate view of life in a particular city, as they reflect what the locals eat and how they interact with one another. Maybe that's why, according to the city of Ponta Delgada, Mercado da Graça is "one of the most visited touristic points in the city."

At Mercado da Graça, vendors sell a dizzying array of local fruits and vegetables, many of which grow exclusively on the island because of its rich volcanic soil and distinctive climate. These include annonas, araçal, and São Miguel's distinctive pineapples. Elsewhere, you'll also find souvenirs, crafts, cheeses, and liquors.

(By the way, if you want to learn how pineapples are grown on São Miguel, consider our Go Green: Sustainable Pineapple & Cosmetics shore excursion, which takes you to a greenhouse pineapple farm, a cosmetics laboratory, and finally a workshop where you can make your own cosmetic products.)

Mercado da Graça is open six days a week, starting at 7 a.m. every day of operation. It closes at 6 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, 7 p.m. on Friday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Explore Sete Cidades

A day at port in Ponta Delgada places you within easy travel distance to Sete Cidades, a village located toward the northwestern coast of São Miguel Island. Sete Cidades is an area that exhibits exceptional natural beauty. Among the most breathtaking of its well-known landscapes is Lagoa das Sete Cidades ("Lagoon of the Seven Cities"), a twin lake formed in the crater of a dormant volcano. You can get an up-close view of the lakes by way of a bridge that crosses directly between them.

Be sure to sign up for emails to get Norwegian's latest cruise deals and special offers.