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If you have read my guide about Where to stay in São Miguel island, you know that I avoided Ponta Delgada like the plague. With a growing population of homeless drug addicts, I felt unsafe there as a solo female traveler. However, I’ve been there a month ago (September 2026) and the situation seems much changed. So I’ve decided to write this guide of the Best things to do in Ponta Delgada :)
No time to read a long article? Here’s a summary
These are the best things to do in Ponta Delgada:
- For adventure junkies & animal lovers: Go Whale and Dolphin Watching.
These are the best things to do in Ponta Delgada:
Go Whale and Dolphin Watching
Go whale and dolphin watching is by far one of the best water activities to do in the Azores, right alongside doing a Glass Bottom Boat Tour with Snorkeling. I did it again this summer and oh boy, it did not disappoint! :)
The activity starts with a short safety briefing. Afterwards, you’re given your safety gear, and off you go into the ocean! And what a splendid day it turned out to be. We saw plenty of dolphins, who were super friendly and kept playing around our speedboat. We were also lucky enough to spot a sperm whale—a much more majestic, albeit shy, ocean creature. All of this was accompanied by insights from our guide, who I’m convinced was a marine biologist because he could answer every single question we threw at him!
Whale and dolphin watching is easily one of the best things to do in Ponta Delgada and an experience you won’t forget anytime soon. :)
Price: Around €70 per person. You can choose between a zodiac speedboat and a catamaran (the catamaran is a larger boat with an indoor bathroom, making it much more suitable for older adults, pregnant women, and young children).
How to book: You can book your Whale and Dolphin Watching Trip online.
Relax in a Botanical garden
One of the things I love about Ponta Delgada is that, for such a small city, it has a surprising number of fantastic botanical gardens. My absolute favorite is Jardim Botânico António Borges.
You step in from the street, and suddenly everything slows down—it’s quiet and completely detached from the urban noise. Giant trees create a natural canopy, while winding paths lead through dense vegetation filled with hidden corners, small grottoes, and fountains that give the garden a slightly wild, untouched character.
What stands out most is the diversity of plant life—exotic species blend with local greenery, making the whole space feel like it was gently shaped over time rather than just growing wild. Chickens, ducks, and cats roam around freely, adding to the relaxed, laid-back atmosphere.
Another great park to visit, which is literally right around the corner, is the Jardim Botânico José do Canto.
Price: free.
Schedule: every day from 09am to 8pm.
Have a drink (or two) at Louvre Michaelense
Originally opened in the early 20th century as a Parisian-inspired haberdashery selling fine fabrics and threads, Louvre Michaelense has since been transformed into one of the coolest restaurants and bars in town. What makes it so unique is that they preserved all the original floor-to-ceiling wooden cabinetry and vintage glass displays, allowing you to enjoy fantastic food, craft cocktails, and great music inside a beautifully restored piece of Azorean history.
Plus, it has these AMAZING fried chicken pancakes and killer cocktails that make for a perfect hangover brunch :P
Louvre Michaelense is part of São Miguel’s history, which makes enjoying a drink here one of the best things to do in Ponta Delgada.
Schedule: from Thursday to Tuesday, from 11am to midnight. It closes on Wednesdays.
Enjoy great sushi at Õtaka
If you think eating sushi in the middle of the Atlantic is predictable, think again. Õtaka isn’t your average sushi restaurant—it serves incredible Nikkei cuisine, a creative fusion of Japanese technique and Peruvian flavor, all elevated by fresh, locally caught Azorean fish.
Instead of standard rolls, expect mind-blowing dishes that combine local seafood with unique citrus, smoked accents, and even Furnas thermal water elements. Going for one of their tasting menus feels like a culinary journey where every single bite is a work of art. Combined with a sleek, intimate atmosphere and top-tier service, dining at Õtaka is easily one of the coolest food experiences in Ponta Delgada.
Now, full disclosure: this place is expensive. Ordering à la carte will easily stretch your wallet, and their flagship 10-course tasting menu comes in at over €100 per person.
Pro tip: Õtaka is very popular and table space is limited, so make sure to book your spot well in advance!
Schedule: from Tuesday to Saturday, from 6.30pm to 22pm. It closes on Sundays and Mondays.
Shop for Cheese at Mercado da Graça
Let me be brutally honest for a second: Mercado da Graça (the local market) pops up on basically every single guide of the best things to do in Ponta Delgada, but if we’re being real, the market itself is pretty small and not particularly mind-blowing. That being said, you should still put it on your list for one very specific reason: O Rei dos Queijos.
Tucked into a corner of the market, this legendary shop is absolute paradise for foodies. It’s a fantastic place to buy incredible regional cheeses, but it doesn’t stop there—it essentially packs the heart of the Azores into one little store. You’ll find traditional sweets from across all the islands, delicious jams, fantastic regional wines, and so much more. It’s hands down the best spot in town to pick up authentic, high-quality edible souvenirs to bring a piece of the Azores home with you.
Schedule: from Monday to Saturday, from 8am to 6.30pm. It closes on Sundays.
Browse Ponta Delgada’s Cute Concept Shops
If you love unique finds, head straight to what locals call “O Quarteirão”—Ponta Delgada’s vibrant arts district. It’s a community-driven artistic initiative that brings together local creators, neighbors, and independent business owners to breathe fresh life into the neighborhood.
My personal favorite spot here is INFORMAL Concept Gallery (Rua do Aljube, 38). It’s a cool gallery dedicated to promoting emerging local artists, making it the perfect place to pick up original paintings, prints, and quirky, irreverent ceramic pieces you won’t find anywhere else.
Schedule: from Monday to Saturday, from 10am to 20pm. It closes on Sundays.
Visit an Azorean Pineapple Plantation
Did you know the Azores are the only place in the world where pineapples are grown in glass greenhouses? Back in the 19th century, when orange exports collapsed due to a blight, local farmers shifted to pineapples. Because the island’s climate isn’t hot enough, they developed a unique method using whitewashed glass greenhouses and a special smoking process to force all the plants to bloom at the same time! It takes a whole two years to grow a single pineapple here, but the result is a smaller, intensely sweet fruit with almost no acidity.
Visiting a plantation is completely free and super fun. You can walk through the greenhouses to see pineapples at every stage of their two-year growth cycle, learn about the smoking technique, and—most importantly—sample the goods! Make sure to try fresh pineapple juice, local pineapple liqueur, or even pineapple-infused mustard and hot sauce.
Where to go:
- Ananás Santo António: Located right in Ponta Delgada, this is a fantastic, family-run plantation to visit. They have well-organized greenhouses where you can follow the step-by-step growing process, a lovely outdoor courtyard, and a great shop serving delicious pineapple treats.
- Plantação de Ananás dos Açores: Also super close to town, it offers a self-guided walk through the greenhouses and a small tasting room where you can try their artisan pineapple ice cream!
Take a selfie at Portas da Cidade
You can’t say you’ve been to Ponta Delgada without getting a photo at Portas da Cidade (the City Gates). Built back in the 18th century, these iconic three arches used to be the main gateway into the city from the sea. They were actually moved to their current spot in Praça Gonçalo Velho Cabral in the 1950s, and today they stand as the ultimate symbol of the capital.
The square itself is paved with classic black-and-white Portuguese calcada, surrounded by historical architecture, and overlooks the harbor. It’s super central, impossible to miss, and lit up beautifully at night. Snap your quick photo here to check it off your bucket list, grab a seat at one of the nearby outdoor cafés, and do some people-watching right in the lively heart of town!
Enjoy a traditional Steak
If you’ve read my Azores Foodie Guide, you already know that the Azores are famous for grass-fed cows—and that means the beef here is out-of-this-world tender. The regional specialty to order is Bife à Regional: a thick, juicy steak cooked in a garlic and white wine sauce, topped with a fried egg and sweet local red pepper (pimenta da terra), usually served alongside sliced house-made chips. If you’ve ever been to Lisbon, it actually resembles their steak as well.
When it comes to where you should actually eat one in Ponta Delgada, here are the top two spots:
- Casa do Bife O GALEGO: The most famous steakhouse in town, and for good reason. The meat quality is consistently top-tier, and the sauce is so good you’ll want to mop up every last drop with extra bread.
- Bar-Restaurante Aliança: A slightly lesser-known gem compared to the big tourist spots, but this is where the locals go when they crave a proper steak. It’s unpretentious, incredibly delicious, and gives you an authentic neighborhood dining vibe.
Pro tip: Order a glass (or bottle) of wine from Pico Island to pair with your steak—the volcanic soil gives the grapes a unique, salty flavor profile that goes well with the beef :)
Marvel at the Gilded Splendor of a Jesuit Church
Tucked away in the quiet Largo do Colégio—just a stone’s throw from Õtaka—lies the Igreja do Colégio dos Jesuítas (officially Igreja de Todos-os-Santos). While its plain whitewashed facade might look modest from the outside, stepping inside will leave you completely speechless. The entire altar is covered in elaborate 18th-century Portuguese talha dourada—intricate, hand-carved woodwork completely coated in gold leaf—making it one of the most breathtaking hidden gems and one of the best things to do in Ponta Delgada.
If you are a fan of historic architecture, there are a couple of other churches right in the city center worth popping into while you wander around:
- Igreja de São Sebastião: Located right near Portas da Cidade, this is the main parish church of Ponta Delgada. It features a stunning Manueline-style carved stone doorway and beautiful Azorean tilework (azulejos) inside.
- Igreja de São José: Set on a charming square near the harbor, this massive 16th-century church boasts impressive azulejos, high vaulted ceilings, and a peaceful courtyard.
Why it is worth visiting Ponta Delgada
Whether you’re sipping craft cocktails at Louvre Michaelense, hunting for artisan cheese at Mercado da Graça, or setting sail from the marina to spot wild dolphins and whales, Ponta Delgada is a city that easily charms every traveler. It manages to feel both like a cozy seaside town and a vibrant Atlantic hub—where incredible local food, rich history, and unforgettable ocean adventures meet.
Take your time exploring its winding streets, make those restaurant reservations in advance, and don’t forget to enjoy the journey. Ponta Delgada is the perfect starting point for your Azorean adventure!
