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Voykit pocket guide · Cape Verde
Praia
Praia is a morning-and-evening city: do the Plateau and its market before 11:00, use the afternoon for the beach at Prainha, and take a taxi between the Plateau and the lower districts — the hills and the traffic are the limit, not the distance.
Praia is the capital, on the south coast of Santiago. The old centre, the Plateau, sits on a flat-topped rise above the sea; the beaches, the newer districts and the airport road are below or beyond it, and the steps and slopes between them are what tire visitors. The trips that go wrong walk down and back up in the midday sun or leave bags and phones in the open. Four clusters cover a first visit; Cidade Velha is a half-day trip by taxi from one kept bed.
- Country
- Cape Verde
- Best months
- Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Nov · Dec
- Time zone
- Atlantic/Cape_Verde
- Stay
- 2 days: Plateau and market, Prainha beach
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CVE
- Money
- Cash (CVE) for markets, aluguers, snack stalls and small tascas; cards at hotels, larger restaurants and supermarkets. Euros are taken by some hotels and tour operators but the rate is poor; pay in CVE where you can.
- Daily spend
- Budget CVE 2,000–3,500 excl. bed · Mid CVE 3,500–7,000 excl. bed · High CVE 7,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Buy a CV Móvel or Unitel T+ SIM at a branded shop or the airport with your passport; check the data bundle before you pay.
- Emergency
- All emergencies 112 (check) · Police 132 (check) · Ambulance 130 (check)
- Plugs
- 230 V, 50 Hz; two-pin European sockets (types C and F). Bring a universal adapter.
- Tipping
- Not expected at stalls. Round up taxi fares; about 10% in a sit-down restaurant if service is not already added.
- Water
- Tap water is treated or desalinated, but many visitors prefer bottled; ask your hotel.
- Toilets
- Cafés, hotels and the market hall; buy a drink. Public toilets are rare.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (bica) | CVE 60–120 |
| Cachupa lunch plate | CVE 500–900 |
| Strela beer, bar or restaurant | CVE 150–300 |
| Short taxi ride | CVE 300–600 |
| Airport taxi to the Plateau | CVE 800–1,500 |
| Tourist SIM, about a week | CVE 1,000–2,500 |
| Museum entry | CVE 200–500 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- 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.
By rail and road
| Station | Serves | To the centre |
|---|---|---|
| Aluguer stops (Plateau and Sucupira area) (Aluguer) | Shared minibuses to Cidade Velha, Assomada, Tarrafal and other Santiago towns | Already there |
| Praia port (inter-island ferries) (Porto da Praia) | Ferries to Fogo and Brava (check the operator and timetable) | Taxi 5–10 min |
| Hotel or operator pick-ups | Cidade Velha and Tarrafal tours | Already there |
Typical fares
- Airport to the Plateau, taxi
- CVE 800–1,500, about 10–20 min
- Short taxi ride, centre
- CVE 300–600
- Plateau to Cidade Velha, aluguer
- CVE 100–200, 30–40 min
Show 8 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Eat, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk inside the Plateau by day and take a taxi between the Plateau and the lower districts, always after dark. There is no metro; the hills and the sun, not the distance, are the limit.
| How | Fare | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | Free | Inside the Plateau and along the Prainha promenade |
| Taxi | CVE 300–600 for a short ride; agree first | Between districts, bags, night |
| Aluguer (shared minibus) | CVE 30–80 within the city; CVE 100–200 to Cidade Velha | Adventurous local rides and Santiago towns |
| City buses | Low fares (check) | Long cheap routes if you know the line |
| Rented car with driver | CVE 6,000–12,000 a day (check) | Cidade Velha, Tarrafal and cross-island days |
| Self-drive rental | Check operators | Confident drivers on the coast road |
Fares are estimates; check before you ride.
- Passes
- No pass. Taxis have fixed rates for common trips; agree the fare before you get in.
- Late at night
- No rail. Taxis run through the evening but are fewer late at night: ask the hotel or restaurant to phone one before you go out.
See and do
01Cidade Velha
The first colonial town in the tropics and a UNESCO site, with a fort, an early church and a ruined cathedral.
Hours: best Morning · Price: Taxi or aluguer plus entry · Time: 3–4 h with the trip
02The Plateau square
The heart of the old centre; a shaded start to the morning.
Hours: best Early morning · Price: Free · Time: 20–30 min
03Ethnographic MuseumMuseu Etnográfico
The best indoor hour for Cabo Verdean everyday life and identity.
Hours: best Weekday morning · Price: CVE 200–500 · Time: 1 h
04Sucupira marketMercado de Sucupira
The loud, colourful centre of everyday trade; go early with small notes.
Hours: best Before 10:00 · Price: Free to browse · Time: 45–60 minHours: best Before 10:00 AM · Price: Free to browse · Time: 45–60 min
05Cachupa lunchCachupa
The national dish, eaten at lunch where locals eat it.
Hours: best 12:00–13:30 · Price: CVE 500–900 · Time: 45–60 minHours: best 12:00 PM–1:30 PM · Price: CVE 500–900 · Time: 45–60 min
06Prainha beachPrainha
The town beach for an afternoon swim and a beach-bar drink.
Hours: best Afternoon · Price: Free · Time: Half day
07Cathedral of Nossa Senhora da GraçaCatedral de Nossa Senhora da Graça
A quiet stop on the square, with a look at the city's main church.
Hours: best Mid-morning · Price: Free · Time: 15–20 min · 14.9184, -23.5086
08Palmarejo seafront at sunsetOrla de Palmarejo
A short walk by the sea before dinner.
Hours: best Late afternoon · Price: Free · Time: 30–45 min · 14.9130, -23.5270
09Grilled fish at PrainhaPeixe grelhado no Prainha
Fresh tuna or wahoo, grilled to order by the water.
Hours: best Lunch · Price: CVE 1,200–2,500 · Time: 1–1.5 h · 14.9060, -23.5110
10A live morna or funaná night
The music is the reason many people fall for Cabo Verde; check the venue and book the taxi back.
Hours: best From about 22:00 · Price: CVE 500–2,000 (check) · Time: 3–4 hHours: best From about 10:00 PM · Price: CVE 500–2,000 (check) · Time: 3–4 h
Hours and prices are desk estimates (checked 2026-09); anything marked (check) is not confirmed. Coordinates open in any map app.
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Cidade Velha (Ribeira Grande de Santiago) | Aluguer or taxi about 30–40 min west | Half day |
| Tarrafal and the north-west coast | Car or aluguer about 1.5–2 h | Full day or overnight |
| Assomada and Serra Malagueta | Car about 1–1.5 h | Full day |
| Fogo (volcano and wine) | Inter-island flight about 30–40 min, or ferry (check) | Two nights |
Eat
| Where | What · area | Price | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cachupa refogada, Sucupira market canteens | Cachupa refogada (fried leftover stew) with an egg · Sucupira market | CVE 400–800 | Budget |
| Pastel and coffee stops, Plateau | Pastel com diabo dentro and a bica · Plateau | CVE 100–250 | Budget |
| Bakery breakfast (pão, cheese, coffee) | Fresh bread with local cheese and coffee · Achada Santo António and Plateau bakeries | CVE 200–500 | Budget |
| Cachupa lunch on the Plateau | Cachupa rica or grilled fish · Plateau | CVE 600–1,500 | Mid-range |
| Grilled fish at Prainha | Grilled fish or tuna with rice and salad · Prainha | CVE 1,200–2,500 | Mid-range |
| Portuguese-style tascas and pizzerias | Grills, pasta and pizza · Plateau, Palmarejo | CVE 900–2,000 | Mid-range |
| Terrace dinner in Palmarejo | Lobster or a seafood platter on a terrace · Palmarejo | CVE 3,000–6,000 | Splurge |
| Hotel restaurants | International and Cape Verdean menus · Plateau, Palmarejo | CVE 2,500–5,000 | Splurge |
Per person, one dish or one meal, 2026 estimate. Addresses change: check the day before.
Sleep
| Band | Price a night | Where | What |
|---|---|---|---|
| budget | CVE 3,500–6,000 | Plateau guesthouses | Guesthouses and small hotels |
| mid | CVE 7,000–14,000 | Plateau and Palmarejo | 3-star hotels and apartments |
| splurge | CVE 16,000–35,000+ | Palmarejo and Plateau | Upmarket hotels |
Per room per night in CVE, 2026 estimate.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Good morning | Bon diabon DEE-a |
| How are you? | Kuma ki bu sta?KOO-ma kee boo shta |
| Thank you | Obrigadu (man) or Obrigada (woman)oh-bree-GAH-doo |
| Please | Por favorpoor fah-VOR |
| How much is it? | Kantu ki e?KAN-too kee eh |
| The bill, please | A conta, por favorah KON-ta poor fah-VOR |
| Without spice, please | Sem picante, por favorsem pee-KAN-tee poor fah-VOR |
| Please take me to this address | Leve-me a este endereço, por favorLEV-mee ah ESH-tee en-de-RAY-soo poor fah-VOR |
| No problem | Sem problemasem pro-BLEH-ma |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greetings: Say Bon dia or Boa tarde before any question, purchase or taxi request; skipping it reads as rude.
- Churches: Shoulders and knees covered; no flash; be quiet during services.
- Photos: Ask before photographing people, especially at the market; do not photograph police, the presidential palace or military sites.
- Beach dress: Swimwear stays on the beach; cover up in town.
- Bargaining: Haggle with a smile at markets and craft stalls; never at shops with posted prices.
- Pace: Life runs on island time: meals and service are slower than in a big city; do not rush the table.
Red lines
- Ask before photographing people, especially at the market.
- Do not photograph the presidential palace or military sites.
Scams and watch-outs
- Taxis that quote a high price at the airport: agree the fare before you get in, or have your hotel book the car.
- The 'friendly guide' at Cidade Velha or on the Plateau who starts a tour and asks for payment at the end: agree the price first, or decline.
- Bracelet or craft sellers who tie a gift on your wrist, then ask for money: keep your hands free and say no thank you.
- Informal money changers: use a bank, an ATM or a hotel desk.
- Bags and phones left on the sand or a market table: theft from the beach and market is the common loss, not violence.
One and two days
1 day
A stopover between flights. Skip: Cidade Velha: it needs a half day of its own.
- 08:008:00 AMPlateau square and cathedral
- 09:309:30 AMSucupira market
- 12:3012:30 PMCachupa lunch
- 15:303:30 PMTaxi to Prainha for a swim
- 19:307:30 PMDinner in Palmarejo
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Cabo Verde tourism (official): www.visitcaboverde.com/
- Wikivoyage — Praia: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Praia
- UK FCDO travel advice — Cape Verde: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cape-verde
- UNESCO — Cidade Velha, Historic Centre of Ribeira Grande: whc.unesco.org/en/list/1310/
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Praia
Leve-me a este endereço, por favor
Please take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Take me to
- Museu EtnográficoMuseu Etnográfico da Praia
- Mercado de SucupiraSucupira market
- CachupaCachupa lunch on the Plateau
- PrainhaPrainha beach
- Catedral de Nossa Senhora da GraçaCathedral of Nossa Senhora da Graça
- Orla de PalmarejoPalmarejo seafront
- All emergencies112 (check)
- Police132 (check)
- Ambulance130 (check)
Most embassies are in the Plateau or the newer districts; write your own embassy's 24-hour line below.
Give your driver the district and a landmark, not just a street name.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/praia). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.