Praia
Cabo VerdeBSh
© OpenStreetMap, CARTO
No djunta mã | Together we go further
Why visit
Praia is the gateway to Cape Verde's mosaic of volcanic islands. The Platô district has Portuguese colonial buildings and the lively Sucupira market for African textiles and morna music CDs. Day-trip west to Cidade Velha to see the 16th-century Forte Real de São Filipe and Africa's oldest Catholic cathedral. Hike Santiago's interior to Serra Malagueta for cool mountain air and dramatic ravines. Praia's beaches, Quebra Canela and Gamboa, are dark volcanic sand with strong Atlantic swell. Hop ferries or quick flights to São Vicente, Fogo's volcano, or the windsurf island of Sal.
When to avoid
Petty crime, bag-snatching and pickpocketing, is common in central Platô after dark. Don't walk the unlit beaches at night. Cape Verde sits in the path of Saharan dust storms (the 'bruma seca') from December through March that can ground flights and aggravate respiratory issues. Many restaurants outside the Platô close on Sundays. Don't expect punctual ferry schedules, island time runs on its own clock.
