Arrive · Praia
Nelson Mandela International Airport (RAI)
RAI to the Plateau: one airport taxi at a fixed-zone fare or a pre-booked hotel pickup, 10–25 minutes — the risk is late arrivals when few taxis wait, not the distance.
Key facts
- Default ride
- Airport taxi or pre-booked hotel pickup to the door
- Ride time
- 15–30 min
- p50–p90
- Fare
- CVE 600
- Late night after
- 21:00
- on demand
Rules in force · 10Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Steps, slopes and uneven paving between the Plateau and t…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- African islands ↗Sleep on the island you fly home from the night before your long-haul departure; inter-island flights and ferries in this region are cancelled or rescheduled often enough to break a same-day connection.
- African islands ↗In the Indian Ocean islands book flexible rates for December to March: a cyclone warning can shut airports, ferries and roads for two or three days.
- Cape Verde ↗Complete the EASE pre-registration and pay the airport security fee (TSA) on the official platform at least 5 days before arrival; from July 2026 arriving without it doubles the fee at the border (check your passport's visa rules there too).
- Cape Verde ↗Confirm ferries and inter-island flights the day before; sea conditions and schedules change at short notice.
- Cape Verde ↗Swim only on beaches known to be safe: Atlantic swell and currents are strong on most coasts, and lifeguards are rare outside Santa Maria.
- Santiago area ↗Confirm the Fogo ferry or flight the day before and keep a buffer day before your international flight.
- Praia ↗Steps, slopes and uneven paving between the Plateau and the lower districts: bags go from the car to the door, never on a walk.
- Praia ↗Quiet streets and stairways are not for walking alone after dark; take a taxi door to door.
--:--local time in Praia
More
Map of the airport
Directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Your landing time, your bags, your bed
Lock your path to bed
feasibledesk 24hlandside ready ~22:50 (p90)
Take Airport taxi or pre-booked hotel pickup to the door at 23:00. Bed by ~23:33 (p90).
Last viable for this bed: 06:00 (+1) (land by 04:10 (+1))
Sleep area not decided? Check the area first.
On the groundHideSteps from the gate, and what to do if it breaks
On the ground
Step by step from the gate, and what to do if it breaks
Zero-brain vs precision
- Daytime default
- Airport taxi from the rank outside arrivals, or a hotel pickup arranged in advance, straight to the door.
- Precision
- Small terminal; taxis usually meet scheduled flights, but fewer wait after the last arrival (field-verify).
- Late-night threshold
- 21:00
Steps from landing
5 / 10 min
Gate to immigration
all arrivals20 / 45 min
Immigration (complete the online pre-arrival registration first)
only intl checked, intl cabin15 / 35 min
Baggage claim + customs
only intl checked, domestic checked10 / 20 min
SIM/cash, then the taxi rank
all arrivals15 / 30 min
Airport taxi or pre-booked hotel pickup to the door
on demand, any hour · CVE 600
If it breaks
- Complete the official online pre-arrival registration for Cabo Verde before you fly and keep the receipt; the official portal is linked from the tourism site.
- Message the hotel your flight number and ask for a pickup, or use the taxi rank outside arrivals; agree the fare before you get in.
- Carry some euros or escudos in small notes for the first ride.
- If no taxi is available, ask a hotel to send a car: do not walk the airport road at night.
Other flights, questions and sourcesHideOther flights
Deep dive
Other flights
Still choosing flights? Compare inbound options before you lock this path.Google Flights ↗FlightConnections ↗
Sources
| Field | Value | Source type | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| primary.yen | CVE 500–800 | secondary | 40% |
- officialASA Cabo Verde airports (official)
- officialCabo Verde tourism (official)