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Dona Beija is, without a doubt, one of the best hot springs in São Miguel, and a mandatory stop on your visit to this wonderful island. I particularly like exploring it on a Night-Time Experience with hot springs and Dinner. It is AMAZING to see Dona Beija hot springs at night, trust me!
Dona Beija consists of four small pools of thermal water, immersed in a lush garden that will make you feel as if you were, suddenly, in the middle of an Asian tropical jungle… but with all the comfort and safety. It is, undoubtedly, one of the best Hot springs in São Miguel.
There are always many questions in the air about Dona Beija so I decided to write this article to answer them all. If you have any additional questions, write them in the comments box.
Information about Dona Beija Azores hot springs
Opening Hours & Entry Slots
Open daily: 8:30 AM to 11:00 PM
Last entry: 9:30 PM
Exit from pools: 10:00 PM (you can use changing rooms until 11:00 PM)
Stay limit: 1.5 hours per visit
Night visits (after 5:30 PM) are the most popular—book early!
When you book your ticket, you need to pick already the 1h30 time slot when you’re going to be there (for instance, from 14h to 15h30).
Tickets & Prices (2025)
Daytime entry (before 5:30 PM)
• Adults (7+): €12
• Kids (2–6): €10
• Under 2: Free
Night entry (after 5:30 PM)
• Adults (7+): €16
• Kids (2–6): €14
• Under 2: Free
Stay limit: 1.5 hours per visit
Booking: Online booking required — no walk-ins allowed
You can buy the tickets online, and I strongly recommend doing so because Dona Beija is very popular and tickets sell out regularly. However, it’s important to note that once you purchase your ticket, there are no refunds or date changes. Therefore, I advise you only buy your ticket when you’re sure you’ll be able to participate in the activity on that date and time.
Extra Services (optional)
- Bath kit (shampoo, conditioner, gel, cap, lotion): €5.95
- Towel rental: €4 (+ refundable deposit)
- Locker rental: €2 (+ refundable deposit)
- Hot shower (5 min): €1 (coin-operated)
The ticket includes a basket for personal items, access to the changing rooms (with cold shower and toilet), and to the parking lot.
How to Get There
Located in the heart of Furnas, Poça da Dona Beija is a 5-minute walk from the village center. From Ponta Delgada, the drive takes about 45 minutes via the EN1-1A. A small parking lot sits next to the entrance, though it fills up quickly, especially at night.
To get to Dona Beija hot springs from Ponta Delgada by public transportation, take the Varela & C.ª Lda bus line that runs between Ponta Delgada bus terminal and Furnas – Largo das Caldeiras (service number 318), which operates about three times a day with a journey time of approximately 1h30. Upon arrival at the Furnas Largo das Caldeiras stop, Dona Beija is about a 10–15 minute walk through the town center, following local signs or asking for directions toward the hot springs.
What to do nearby
Pair your soak with a walk through Terra Nostra botanical Park (it’s AMAZING!) or a stroll around Furnas Lake. If you’re hungry afterward, Restaurante Tony’s is a 2-minute walk away and serves one of the best cozidos on the island.
FAQs about Dona Beija Hot springs in São Miguel
When is the best time to go?
Any time of the year is a good time to go to Dona Beija, but I like to go there on cold, misty and even rainy days. On those days, by definition, there are many things you can’t do on the island (such as testing yourself on one of the best hiking trails). On the other hand, nothing tastes as good on a cold day as diving into a pool of thermal waters. It’s divine.
Regarding the best time of day to go to Dona Beija, it depends on your personality.
If you want the place all to yourself, you should go there as soon as the doors open. At that time there are very few people there, because everyone is busy doing something else.
If you want to make the most of your day, I recommend going there as soon as you’ve finished a hiking trail (especially if it’s a tough one!), because you will feel completely reinvigorated afterwards.
BUT if you want to have a unique experience, I recommend going to Dona Beija at night. Yes, at night! The steam from the hot springs, combined with the lights, creates an unforgettable mystical atmosphere that you will never experience elsewhere. For this reason, it is also the most popular time among locals.
If you decide to go to Dona Beija at night but don’t feel like driving there (the road is quite steep and windy), you can book a tour of the Hot springs + Traditional dinner with pick up in Ponta Delgada. In my opinion it is a cheap tour, because it includes the entrance ticket to the Dona Beija hot springs, plus dinner (the traditional Furnas stew – it’s divine) plus transportation to and from Ponta Delgada.
It is a very popular tour so if it is already sold out, don’t worry – you also have this tour operator that provides the EXACT same service ;)
For how long can I stay?
You can stay at Dona Beija Hot springs in São Miguel for 1h30. It may sound like a short time but TRUST ME, the water is so warm that you will not feel like staying for longer than that.
My suggestion is to take small breaks outside the pools once and while (at least, I start feeling dizzy if I stay in the water for too long), and give yourself 20 minutes at the end to have a shower and to change clothes.
If you don’t feel like showering there, take some old shorts and a warm sweater and put them on in the changing room, so you can at least feel comfortable when driving to your accommodation. (When I go to hot springs and I don’t feel like taking a shower there, I don’t like to wear “good clothes” without having showered before, that’s why I take a change of old, comfortable clothes just for the drive).
What happens if I exceed my stay?
They will kill you and nobody wil ever find your body :P
First of all trust me, you will not feel like extending your stay because the water is very warm but in any case, you won’t be able to do so.
When you buy your ticket you are given a wristband of a specific color, that you have to use while you’re in there. Every 30 minutes, a Dona Beija employee goes around the pools checking the color of each person’s wristband. So they know your time is up and they will invite you to get the hell out 😀
Are there lockers at Dona Beija Hot springs?
Yes! There is an entire wall of lockers in Dona Beija Azores Hot springs (I was actually impressed by it, since the other thermal baths in the island don’t have it). It costs 2€ to use them.
Can I have a shower there?
Yes, you can shower there and I must say that the changing rooms are usually very clean.
If you don’t want to pay, you can take a bath in cold water for free (it tastes good after soaking in hot water for so long!).
If you prefer to take a hot shower, you have to pay 1€ for every 5 minutes.
Personally, I always prefer to have a shower back home because I really don’t like changing clothes in a public space (even when there is a changing room, which is the case), but you do you!
Is it suitable for children?
This is a somewhat controversial topic and I can only give you my personal opinion.
I personally don’t think that Dona Beija Hot springs in São Miguel island is a kid-friendly place, for several reasons:
– Security: the four thermal pools are kind of infinity pools, with water constantly flowing into the pool and water constantly falling into a pit, shared by all the pools (and that you can clearly see on the photos). There isn’t any barrier to the pit, so if you take children, you’ll always have to pay attention to make sure they don’t fall in there.
– Water temperature: one thing I’ve noticed several times is that children, precisely because they have less body mass than adults, get uncomfortable with the hot water temperature much more quickly than we do. That means they’ll start to get restless and want to get out of there much faster than you will.
– Comfort of other guests: Dona Beija Hot springs in São Miguel island are VERY small, and people go there mainly to relax. It’s not cool to get there and have to put up with screaming and jumping on other people’s kids. Be mindful of that – this is not your pool, it’s a shared space.
For these reasons no, I don’t think the Dona Beija Hot springs in São Miguel island are suitable for children. If you want to take your family for a swim, I suggest you take advantage of the fantastic natural pools in São Miguel island :)
Is there a car park near Dona Beija Azores Hot springs?
Yes, there is a parking lot right in front of the entrance to Dona Beija hot springs in São Miguel island but it is frequently full. The surrounding streets are very narrow, so if the car park is full, be prepared to have to park your car a little further away than desirable.
This is another reason I recommend getting the tour of the thermal waters + Traditional dinner with pick up in Ponta Delgada – you’re not driving, so you don’t have to worry about parking!
Can the Azores hot springs stain swimsuits, jewelry, or hair?
Yes, and they definitely will if you’re not careful. The iron in the water can stain light swimsuits and towels, change the color of silver or gold jewelry, and even turn dyed or light hair orange—sometimes permanently. Wear a dark or old swimsuit, skip the jewelry, and rinse your stuff before it dries. If you’ve got light or bleached hair, a swim cap is your best friend.
