The Monte Palace Hotel in the Azores was once a luxurious and extravagant vacation destination for the wealthy and famous. Now it lies abandoned.

Like most visitors, we ignored the sign says ‘Danger! Entry Forbidden’ and walked through the open entry arch.

The hotel is now overgrown with vegetation – a haunting reminder of its former glory.

Inside is an eerie experience.

We climbed, what appeared to be, a solid staircase.

The rooms have amazing views.

We didn’t climb higher, although it was tempting – apparently, it’s possible to climb on to the roof.

If you are visiting the island of São Miguel, it’s well worth a detour to visit the Monte Palace Hotel – we found the location using Google maps. Note that we’re not encouraging you to ignore the signs, wander around and climb up – everything you do is your own responsibility.

History of the Monte Palace Hotel

The Monte Palace hotel was built in the late 1980s and early 1990s by a wealthy businessman named José Berardo.

Nestled in the rolling hills and lush vegetation of the Azores, the Monte Palace Hotel was designed to be a paradise for its guests. It boasted 500 luxurious rooms, multiple swimming pools, a casino, and even its own helicopter landing pad. The hotel was also home to a vast collection of exotic plants and flowers, many of which were imported from around the world.

Despite its grandeur and opulence, the Monte Palace Hotel was plagued by financial difficulties from the very beginning. Berardo’s extravagant spending and mismanagement of the hotel’s finances eventually led to its bankruptcy in the mid-1990s.

Despite its abandoned state, the Monte Palace Hotel still holds a certain fascination for many. Its crumbling ruins and eerie atmosphere have made it a popular spot for photographers and filmmakers, and it has even been featured in several music videos and movies.

While the Monte Palace Hotel may never return to its former glory, it remains a memorable and intriguing part of the Azores’ history.