Furnas is a village in a volcanic valley in the east of São Miguel, in the Azores, where the ground steams, mineral springs bubble up in the streets and the local stew, cozido, cooks for hours buried in the hot earth beside the lake. Walking the village is free; the lakeside cooking area costs €3 for non-residents, and the hot pools charge from €12 to €17 (as of October 2026). Come for a full day, or stay the night and soak after the day-trippers leave.
Right now in Furnas
- Wed16–20°C61–67°F2 mm rain
- Thu15–19°C59–66°FPartly cloudy
- Fri16–18°C60–65°F1 mm rain
Tickets and tours for Furnas
See all tours for Furnas →
From local operators, with prices and reviews; you check availability and book on Viator, our partner. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How we earn money
What it is and why it matters
Furnas sits inside the caldera of the Furnas volcano, the easternmost of the island’s three active volcanoes. The volcano is quiet but not extinct: its last eruption, in 1630, emptied the valley for a time, and the heat underneath still feeds dozens of hot springs, fumaroles and cold, fizzy mineral water springs. Settlers came back because the soil was rich, and by the nineteenth century wealthy families and foreign visitors were building summer houses and gardens here. About 1,400 people lived in the parish at the 2011 census.
The official Azores tourism site describes the valley as the island’s spa capital, so rich in springs that it is almost a natural bottling plant. For the islands as a whole, see our Azores travel guide.
What you’ll see
The cozido at Lagoa das Furnas
On the shore of Lagoa das Furnas, the lake just south-west of the village, the ground smokes and smells of sulphur. This is where Cozido das Furnas is made: a stew of beef, pork, chicken, sausages, cabbage, potatoes and other vegetables, packed into a pot and lowered into a hole in the hot ground. The council of Povoação runs the site: there are 56 holes, with temperatures of about 64–96 °C, and a pot cooks in six to seven hours. Pots go in from 6:00, and restaurants lift theirs out between about 11:00 and 13:00, which is the time to watch. Then eat it for lunch at a restaurant in the village (book ahead in summer). Rice pudding and other dishes are cooked in the holes too.
Entry to this part of the lakeside costs €3 per person for non-residents, free for children under 12 and Azores residents; parking is free (as of October 2026).
The village caldeiras and springs
In the village itself, boardwalks lead around the Caldeiras das Furnas, a field of boiling pools and steam vents. Around the streets there are fountains of naturally carbonated, iron-rich water; you can taste some of them, but read the signs, as not all are drinkable.
The hot pools
- Terra Nostra Park: a large, warm, iron-brown thermal pool and two smaller pools inside a historic botanical garden. Adults (18–64) pay €17; ages 6–17 and over-65s €14.50. Book online in summer.
- Poça da Dona Beija: small hot pools under ferns, open into the evening. Adults pay €12 until 17:30 and €16 from 18:00; tickets are online only, visits last up to 90 minutes and the last entry is 21:30.
Prices are as of October 2026. Iron-rich water can stain light swimwear, so bring a dark or old costume.
Around the lake
The official PRC6SMI Lagoa das Furnas trail is a 9.4 km, 3-hour easy loop from the village car park, via the church, Poça da Dona Beija and the Pico do Milho viewpoint, around the lake past the nineteenth-century Gothic-style Chapel of Nossa Senhora das Vitórias, the José do Canto woodland garden and the Furnas Environmental Interpretation Centre, to the cozido area and back. For a view over the whole valley, drive or walk up to the Pico do Ferro viewpoint above the lake.
When to go and how long to allow
A full day covers the cozido, the village caldeiras, a lakeside walk and one hot pool. Late morning is the time for the cozido lift; the hot pools are best in the evening, when it is cooler and quieter, especially at Poça da Dona Beija. Furnas is often cloudier and damper than the coast, which makes a warm soak even better. Summer weekends are the busiest days.
Getting there
Furnas is about 45 minutes to an hour by car from Ponta Delgada and its airport. Buses from Ponta Delgada run a few times a day, fewer at weekends, so check the return time. Many half-day and full-day tours include the cozido lunch. If you stay overnight, you can enjoy the pools after the tours leave.
Safety
- Stay on the boardwalks and paths around the caldeiras: the ground and water can be boiling, and the crust near the vents can be thin.
- Keep children close and do not touch the water in the steam vents.
- Hot pools are tiring: drink water, limit your time, and avoid them if you are pregnant or have heart problems unless your doctor agrees.
Combine it with
Combine Furnas with the Gorreana tea plantation and the north-coast viewpoints on the way back, or with the beach at Ribeira Quente just to the south. The crater lake of Lagoa do Fogo is on the road between Furnas and Ponta Delgada, and the twin lakes of Sete Cidades are the island’s other big day.
Furnas FAQ
How much does it cost to see the cozido in Furnas?
Entry to the cooking area by Lagoa das Furnas is €3 for non-residents, free under 12 and for Azores residents, with free parking (as of October 2026). Come between about 11:00 and 13:00 to see the pots lifted.
Where can I eat cozido das Furnas?
In restaurants in Furnas village and around São Miguel, usually at lunch. Book ahead in summer, as cooking starts early in the morning.
Which hot spring is best in Furnas?
Terra Nostra has the big warm pool in a botanical garden; Poça da Dona Beija has smaller, hotter pools and opens into the evening. Many visitors do one in the afternoon and one at night.
Do I need to book the Furnas hot springs?
Yes for Poça da Dona Beija, which sells tickets online only. Booking online for Terra Nostra is wise in summer.
Is Furnas worth a day trip?
Yes. With the cozido, the caldeiras, a lakeside walk and a hot pool, it fills a whole day, and staying overnight is even better.
Sources
Researched and last reviewed by TravelerCenter on 4 October 2026. The cozido area facts come from the Povoação council; the PRC6SMI trail from the official Trails Azores site; hot-pool prices from Terra Nostra Park and Poça da Dona Beija; the valley’s history and the 1630 eruption from standard references. Prices and opening hours change, so check the official sites before you go.
Data: Weather: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · Rates: ECB · Costs: World Bank ICP and price levels · Wikidata (CC0)