Home › Cape Verde › Where to stay
Where to stay in Cape Verde
Cape Verde is an archipelago of ten volcanic islands off West Africa, and choosing an island matters more than choosing a neighbourhood. Sal and Boa Vista have the long white beaches and big resorts, Santiago has the capital Praia and the old town of Cidade Velha, São Vicente has the music and nightlife of Mindelo, and Santo Antão is for mountain hiking.
Santa Maria, Sal
Santa Maria is a lively town at the southern tip of Sal, with a long white beach, the old wooden pier where fishermen land tuna, and plenty of hotels, restaurants and kitesurf schools. International flights land at Sal, and the salt pans of Pedra de Lume are a short drive away.
Boa Vista
Boa Vista has long, empty sandy beaches such as Santa Mónica and Chaves, dunes and loggerhead turtle nesting in summer. Most visitors stay in resorts along the coast or in the small town of Sal Rei. It is very relaxed, with less nightlife than Sal.
Mindelo, São Vicente
Mindelo is Cape Verde's cultural capital, a harbour town with colonial buildings, live morna music in bars, and the famous February carnival. It was home to the singer Cesária Évora. From here, ferries cross to Santo Antão for hiking. Beaches are fewer, but the town has real atmosphere.
Praia and Cidade Velha, Santiago
Praia is the capital, with the old Plateau district, markets and an airport. Nearby Cidade Velha, the first European colonial town in the tropics, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Santiago also has green interior valleys and the market town of Assomada.
One thing to think about
Do not expect to hop between islands quickly: domestic flights and ferries are limited and timetables can change. Pick one or two islands and plan the connections before booking hotels.
Once you have a bed
The things that sell out first in Cape Verde are the small-group tours and the skip-the-line tickets.
Common questions
Which Cape Verde island is best for beaches?
Sal and Boa Vista have the best long sandy beaches and the most hotels. Sal is livelier, with Santa Maria's restaurants and bars and more flights, while Boa Vista is quieter, with wide empty beaches and large resorts. Both have warm, sunny weather for most of the year.
Is Cape Verde good for hiking?
Yes, especially Santo Antão, reached by ferry from Mindelo on São Vicente. It has steep green valleys, terraced fields and coastal trails between villages. Fogo, with its active volcano Pico do Fogo, is another hiking island, with wine grown in the crater.
Do I need a visa for Cape Verde?
Visa rules change, so check the official requirements for your passport before travelling. Many European visitors can enter without a visa for short stays but must pre-register online and pay an airport security fee. Allow time to complete this before your flight.
Hotel links go to Booking.com. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.