Furnas at a glance
Furnas sits in a volcanic valley in the east of São Miguel. Hot springs, steaming vents called fumaroles, a lake and an old garden park lie within a few minutes of each other. The local speciality, cozido das Furnas, is a meat and vegetable stew cooked underground by the heat of the earth.
Furnas works as a full day or as part of a longer drive. Many São Miguel day tours include it, and a rental car also lets you stay for a bath in the evening. Entrance fees, thermal pools and meals are separate costs, so check what a tour includes before you book.
Our picks: tours to Furnas
Take the day tour for the lake, the valley and a lunch, the half day if you mainly want the thermal baths and garden, and the evening if you want to see the area after dark with dinner.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Furnas at night with dinner
- Dinner with drink and dessert
- Guided nature walk
- Pickup and drop-off
A six-hour evening with a guided nature walk and a traditional dinner. The thermal bath ticket is separate and gets reserved for you.
Check availability →
Furnas volcano and tea plantation with lunch
- Cozido lunch with dessert
- Furnas lake entry
- Air-conditioned vehicle
A full day in the east with a guide and the lake entry covered. Terra Nostra park and its thermal pools cost extra.
Check availability →Furnas thermal baths and botanical garden
- Terra Nostra garden access
- Time in thermal water
- Santa Iria viewpoint
A half day in the Furnas volcanic area with a local guide and a viewpoint stop. Time for a thermal soak is part of the plan.
Check availability →Furnas tours
Day trips from Ponta Delgada that include Furnas, its hot springs and the lake, with live prices and availability.
Cozido das Furnas: dinner from the ground
Food for the cozido goes into cooking holes in the volcanic ground. The heat comes from below the surface and the steam does the rest. Cooking takes about 6 to 7 hours at temperatures of 64 to 96 °C. Because of that long time, restaurants and private visitors put the pot in early in the day.
There is also a service for private cozidos: the municipality charges €3 per pot, municipal staff place it from 06:00, and restaurants collect theirs between 11:00 and 13:00. The service runs roughly from 06:00 to 20:00, so confirm the hours before you rely on them.
If you only want to taste it, order cozido at a local restaurant. Order ahead, because the stew needs hours.
Caldeiras and fumaroles by the lake
The caldeiras are the steaming vents and bubbling pools next to the cooking holes. A fee of €3 applies per person who is not resident in the Azores to enter the cooking hole and caldeiras zone. Children under 12 and regional residents enter free. There is no general fee for every spot on the lake shore.
Stay behind the marked areas. Fumaroles and cooking holes are not bathing spots, and the ground near vents can be hot. Safe thermal bathing happens in the pools run for visitors, not at the vents or village springs.
Thermal baths in Furnas compared
Two separate facilities, each with its own tickets. No shared pass covers both. Prices from 2026, with the rates marked where they can change.
| Historic garden park | Evening pool complex | |
|---|---|---|
| Hours | 10:30 to 16:30 daily, closed 25 December | About 08:30 to 23:00, last entry 21:30 |
| Adult price | €17 (ages 18 to 64) | About €12 until 17:30, about €16 from 18:00 |
| Includes | Garden, thermal pool and jacuzzis | Thermal pools, up to 90 minutes |
| Booking | Ticket for a chosen date | Online only |
| Good for | A daytime visit with a garden walk | An evening soak after a day tour |
Last entry to the garden park is 30 minutes before closing. The pool complex asks you to leave the water by 22:30. Rates for children and seniors differ, so check them when you book. For most visitors the garden park is the better daytime choice, and the evening pool suits those who stay in or near Furnas. Check the current rates on the day you book, since they can change.
Furnas and the thermal site near Lagoa do Fogo
A separate thermal site in the Lagoa do Fogo area lies outside the village of Furnas and sells its own tickets. Do not assume one ticket covers both places, and read about the lake traffic rules on the São Miguel overview.
From Furnas it is easy to continue to Sete Cidades on another day. Staying in the valley overnight makes the evening pools easy, and our accommodation guide explains the areas. A rental car gives you flexibility, and the weather by month helps you pick a season.
Furnas: frequently asked questions
Can you swim in the caldeiras?
No. Fumaroles, cooking holes and village springs are not bathing areas. Bathe only in the thermal pools run for visitors.
How much is the thermal pool in the historic garden park?
€17 for adults aged 18 to 64 in 2026, including the garden, thermal pool and jacuzzis. Check the date-based ticket when you book.
What is cozido das Furnas?
A stew of meat and vegetables, cooked for roughly 6 to 7 hours in heated volcanic ground. Order it at a restaurant in advance.
Is there a ticket for the whole lake?
No. The €3 fee applies to the cooking hole and caldeiras zone for visitors not resident in the Azores. Children under 12 and regional residents are free.
How long should you plan for Furnas?
A half day covers the caldeiras and lunch. Add a bath and the garden park for a full day.