Lagoa das Sete Cidades is the twin lake in the giant volcanic crater at the western end of São Miguel, the Azores’ main island: one side green, the other blue, joined by a shallow channel under a low bridge. Seeing it is free. The best views are from the crater rim at Vista do Rei and Boca do Inferno, and the walking trails down to the village are free to use. Go early in the morning, before the clouds settle on the rim, and allow half a day.
Right now in Lagoa das Sete Cidades
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Tickets and tours for Lagoa das Sete Cidades
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What it is and why it matters
Sete Cidades is a volcano whose summit collapsed into a caldera about 5 km across. Its floor holds several lakes, the largest being the joined Lagoa Azul (blue) and Lagoa Verde (green), with the small village of Sete Cidades on the shore. From the rim the two lakes really do look different colours, especially on a sunny day. Local legend explains it as the tears of a princess and a shepherd who were forbidden to marry, one with green eyes and one with blue.
Together the lakes cover a little over 4 square kilometres, making this the largest body of fresh water in the Azores. The area is protected under the São Miguel Natural Park and the Natura 2000 network, and in 2010 it was voted one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Portugal. It is the picture most people have in mind when they think of the Azores. For the islands as a whole, see our Azores travel guide.
What you’ll see
Vista do Rei
The classic roadside viewpoint on the rim. You look down over both lakes and the village with almost no walking. Beside it stands the shell of the Monte Palace, a luxury hotel abandoned for more than two decades. A project to rebuild it as a hotel was declared of public interest by the regional government in 2024, but the building is private and unsafe: enjoy it from outside.
Boca do Inferno
Many think this is the best view: both lakes, the village and the smaller lakes in one sweep, from a ridge above the crater. Park at the pull-off for Lagoa do Canário on the road along the rim, then walk about 15 minutes through the forest and up a short set of steps. On the way you pass Lagoa do Canário, a quiet small lake in the woods.
The village and the lakeshore
Down on the crater floor, the village has the church of São Nicolau, a few cafés and picnic areas by the water. You can walk across the bridge between the blue and green lakes, and in summer kayaks and paddleboards are rented on the shore. The lakes are not a designated bathing area and have no lifeguards.
Walking trails
The official Azores trails network (Trails Azores) has two classic routes into the crater:
- PR04 SMI Mata do Canário – Sete Cidades: linear, 11.7 km, medium, about 3 hours. It starts in the forest near Mata do Canário, passes the Muro das Nove Janelas aqueduct (rebuilt in 1830 to carry water to Ponta Delgada), follows the crater ridge with views over the lakes and the north coast, then descends to the village church. The final descent is steep and slippery.
- PR03 SMI Vista do Rei – Sete Cidades: about 7.7 km, around 2 hours, from the Vista do Rei viewpoint along the rim and down to the village.
Both are linear, so arrange a taxi or a pickup at the end, or leave a car at the start and take a taxi back up. On the ridge there is wind, no shade and no water, and it is cooler than the coast.
When to go
The weather on the rim changes fast. Clouds often build on the crater by late morning and can hide the lakes completely, so aim to be at the viewpoints before 10:00, and keep a flexible day in your plan to try again. If the rim is in cloud, go down to the village: you can still walk the shore and the bridge under the fog.
Getting there
Sete Cidades is about half an hour’s drive from Ponta Delgada and the airport (João Paulo II, PDL). The road climbs to the rim, where Vista do Rei and the Lagoa do Canário pull-off are, then drops into the crater to the village. A car is by far the easiest way to see the viewpoints. A few buses a day run from Ponta Delgada to the village, but they don’t stop at the rim viewpoints. Taxis and half-day tours with hotel pickup are the alternatives.
Safety
- The rim viewpoints are high and exposed; keep children close and stay behind railings.
- Don’t enter the Monte Palace ruins: they are private property and structurally unsafe.
- The trail descents into the crater are steep and muddy after rain; wear shoes with grip.
- Fog can roll in within minutes. Drive the rim road slowly with lights on.
Combine it with
Spend the rest of the day on the west of São Miguel: the clifftop village of Mosteiros and its sea stacks, the hot spring that flows into the sea at Ponta da Ferraria, and the small crater lakes of Santiago and Rasa on the rim. On another day, go east to the Lagoa do Fogo crater lake and the hot springs of Furnas. If you’re island-hopping, the climb up Mount Pico, Portugal’s highest mountain, is the Azores’ other great volcanic day.
Sete Cidades FAQ
Is Sete Cidades free to visit?
Yes. The viewpoints, the village and the lakeshore are free, and so are the marked walking trails. You only pay for extras such as kayak rental or a tour.
Which is the best viewpoint at Sete Cidades?
Vista do Rei is the easiest, right by the road. Boca do Inferno, a 15-minute walk from the Lagoa do Canário pull-off, gives the widest view over both lakes and the village.
Why is one lake green and the other blue?
The two lakes are joined but look different from the rim, especially in sunshine, as the water and its reflections differ. Legend says they are the tears of a green-eyed princess and a blue-eyed shepherd.
Can you swim in the Sete Cidades lake?
It is not a designated bathing area and has no lifeguards. Most people kayak or paddleboard instead, rented on the shore in summer.
What time is best to see the Sete Cidades lakes?
Early morning, ideally before 10:00, before clouds build on the crater rim. Keep a spare day: on cloudy days the lakes can disappear entirely.
How do you get to Sete Cidades without a car?
A few buses a day go from Ponta Delgada to the village, but not to the viewpoints on the rim. Taxis or a half-day tour from Ponta Delgada are the easier options.
Sources
Researched and last reviewed by TravelerCenter on 3 October 2026. Trail facts come from the official Trails Azores site (Visit Azores); the bathing-water status from Portaria 204-A/2026; the Monte Palace project status from Azores regional press; the lake’s geography from standard references; viewpoint access, buses and kayak rental from recent visitor guides, which we could not confirm with an official operator. Weather on the rim changes quickly, so check the forecast before you go.
Data: Weather: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · Rates: ECB · Costs: World Bank ICP and price levels · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODBL) · Wikidata (CC0)