Furnas

A Geothermal Wonderland

São Miguel in the Azores is a volcanic island where green hills meet steaming hot springs and lush forests. Furnas sits at the heart of this landscape, known for its natural pools filled with mineral-rich water and traditional cooking methods that use underground heat to steam local foods. The village offers easy access to hiking trails through misty crater lakes and quiet coastal paths. Visitors can experience both peaceful nature walks and cultural traditions like the famous cozido stew cooked in geothermal vents.

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Village in Portugal

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 7.6

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	7
Accessibility:	5
Tap water:	9

Read details

4/5

Many locals in Furnas, especially those in the tourism industry, speak English proficiently, making communication for English-speaking visitors relatively easy.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Furnas Summary

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Great for volcanic nature and hot springs. Bathe in thermal pools, walk crater lakes, visit botanical gardens and taste traditional volcanic-cooked food.

Place score

7.9

Best at:

Natural sites

Geothermal

Hot springs

Spotless

Local cuisine

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

💻 9

Digital Nomads

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

Portugal – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Portugal has widespread acceptance of cashless payments, particularly in urban areas and larger businesses. Cards are commonly used, and mobile payment options are increasingly available. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary but not mandatory in Portugal. In restaurants, leaving a 5-10% tip is common, especially if the service is exceptional. Taxi drivers usually expect a small tip of around 5-10%, and hotel staff appreciate tips for their services.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally accepted in most public spaces, such as parks and beaches. However, certain municipalities may enforce restrictions in specific areas.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited indoors in public places like restaurants and bars. Designated smoking areas are available in many public spaces.

Portuguese Republic Day (October)	National holiday with public celebrations and some closures, particularly in Lisbon.
Christmas (December)	Holiday celebrations and increased tourism, expect crowded areas and higher accommodation prices.
Carnival (February)	Festive celebrations with parades and events, especially in Lisbon and Madeira. Expect lively crowds.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Bolt, Uber
Other:	Portugal boasts rich cultural heritage, beautiful beaches, and historic landmarks. Public transport is reliable, and the country is known for its mild climate, especially in the southern regions.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Furnas, Portugal

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Feb

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Mar

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Apr

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May

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Jun

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Jul

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Aug

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Sep

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Oct

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High season:	June - Sep.
Shoulder season:	April - May, Oct.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Hydrangea bloom lines the roads from June to August

Winter storms November to March can disrupt flights and ferries to the island

Don't miss

♨️ Soak in the thermal waters at Terra Nostra Park's hot pool
🌋 Walk safely among steaming fumaroles and bubbling mud pots
🥾 Hike the flat trail around Lagoa das Furnas for scenic views
🍲 Taste traditional Cozido stew cooked underground by volcanic heat
🛁 Visit Poça da Dona Beija for a relaxing natural hot spring bath

You've been here?

Why travel to Furnas?

Furnas offers a unique blend of natural hot springs, volcanic landscapes and verdant gardens, making it an ideal destination for relaxation and nature exploration. Visitors can immerse themselves in therapeutic thermal baths, savor traditional dishes cooked using geothermal heat and wander through some of the most beautiful botanical gardens in Europe.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Furnas Lake
2 Caldeiras das Furnas
3 Pico do Ferro
4 Furnas Monitoring and Research Center

🎡Places for activities

1 Caldeira Velha
2 Poça da Dona Beija
3 Salto do Cabrito
4 Furnas Golf Club

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Ponta da Ferraria
2 Sete Cidades
3 Caldeira das Sete Cidades
4 Lagoa do Fogo
5 Island of Vila Franca
6 Salto do Prego
7 Site of Community Importance Serra da Tronqueira/Planalto dos Graminhais
8 Pico da Vara

🛍️Shopping

1 Mercado da Graça
2 Queijaria Furnense
3 Cerâmica Vieira

🎈Events

Festas do Espírito Santo
Furnas Gastronomy Festival
São João da Vila
Semana dos Baleeiros
Maré de Agosto Festival
Furnas Cultural Week
Azores Fringe Festival
Monte Verde Festival
Cais de Agosto Festival
Festival of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Pack swimwear; thermal pools are a Furnas highlight.
Visit the fumaroles area; you’ll see steaming vents and boiling geothermal pools up close.
Try Cozido das Furnas, slow-cooked underground using volcanic heat; reserve ahead in peak season.
Go late afternoon to Poça da Dona Beija or Terra Nostra; fewer crowds, softer light, warmer water.

How to travel to Furnas

To reach Furnas, fly into João Paulo II Airport in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel's main city. From there, Furnas is approximately a 45-minute drive via the EN1-1A road. Car rentals are available at the airport and public buses also service the route between Ponta Delgada and Furnas.

Access summary

From Ponta Delgada Airport (PDL): taxi, shuttle or rental car, about 40–60 minutes.
From Ponta Delgada city: bus or driving across São Miguel, roughly 40–70 minutes.
Island location: all visitors arrive via São Miguel, then drive or bus inland.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Furnas

Furnas offers a range of accommodations, from boutique hotels to guesthouses, many featuring on-site thermal pools. Staying in the village provides easy access to local attractions and dining options.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Terra Nostra Garden Hotel

Challet Miradouro do Vale

Furnas Lake Forest Living

Casa Vista da Eirinha

Casa da Caldeira

Octant Furnas

9.4

Atlantic 3 Bicas - Furnas

9.3

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Furnas

Exploring Furnas is best done on foot due to its compact size. For attractions outside the village, renting a car provides flexibility. Public buses connect Furnas to other parts of São Miguel Island, but schedules may be infrequent.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-35 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 35% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Ribeira Grande, Portugal - 19 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£55	£114	£300
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£26	£60	£150
🍝 Food per day	£22	£46	£123
🚕 Transportation per day	£7	£9	£27

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£18
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£10.50
🍟 Fast food combo	£8
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£7.50
☕ Cappuccino	£1.40
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£2.40

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.60
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£16
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.50

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£7
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£60
🤧 Cold medication	£1.80
💇 Basic haircut	£8.50

Safety information overview

General safety

Furnas is considered a safe destination with low crime rates. Standard precautions, such as safeguarding personal belongings, are advisable.

Health & Medical

Basic medical facilities are available in Furnas. For more comprehensive healthcare services, Ponta Delgada offers hospitals and clinics.

Accessibility

While Furnas' terrain includes some uneven surfaces, many attractions are accessible. Visitors with mobility challenges should inquire ahead about specific sites.

Tap water

Tap water in Furnas is generally safe to drink. However, due to its mineral content, some visitors may prefer bottled water.