Casa Da Cidade Guest House, Ponta Delgada

Casa da Cidade is a small guest house in the centre of Ponta Delgada, the capital of the Azores and the largest town on São Miguel. The appeal is its position: the old town's main sights are a short walk away, and the rest of the island is reachable by car from the doorstep. Since it is a place to sleep rather than a sight, what matters is what it offers and what surrounds it.

The address is Rua Doutor Aristides da Mota, about five minutes on foot from the Portas da Cidade, the three arches that stand at the waterfront and are the best-known symbol of Ponta Delgada. Beyond them lies the Forte de São Brás, a 16th-century fortress on the seafront that houses the Military Museum of the Azores. In the other direction, the Jardim Antero de Quental is a quiet green space named after the 19th-century poet born in the town. The Church of São Sebastião, begun in the 16th century, is among the earliest churches in the old centre, and the Esperança convent close by is where the Santo Cristo dos Milagres is kept, the image at the centre of the island's biggest religious festival in spring.

The guest house has a terrace and a garden, which is a welcome extra in a town where many city-centre stays have neither. Rooms are described as having soundproof windows, walk-in showers and hair dryers, and a continental breakfast and Wi-Fi are included. Pets are not allowed. For meals, a number of restaurants are within a few minutes' walk, and the area around the harbour has a wide choice of fresh fish, limpets, and the local cheese and pineapple that São Miguel produces. Restaurante Nacional is one of the nearest options, a few hundred metres away.

Public transport is practical rather than extensive, with a bus stop on Rua da Juventude not far away, but visitors who want to see the crater lakes of Sete Cidades, Furnas and its hot springs, or the tea plantations in the north will want a rental car or an organised tour. Staff can arrange activities such as mountain biking, snorkelling and diving, which are well developed on the island, with the best diving found around the nearby islet of Vila Franca do Campo.

Praia do Populo and the Pesqueiro swimming complex are a short drive away for those wanting a dip in the Atlantic, though water temperatures are cooler than on the mainland Algarve. The setting suits couples, families and independent travellers who like a quiet base within walking distance of cafes and shops. Booking ahead is wise in summer, when the island is at its busiest.