Santo Antão, Cabo Verde, Cabo VerdeVideo: Patrick Savalle, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Cabo Verde
Cabo Verde, made simple: ten islands of sun, music and mountains, without the worry
Cabo Verde is an Atlantic archipelago off West Africa where Creole music drifts out of bars, trade winds cool long white beaches and green valleys hide behind volcanic peaks. Each island feels different, which is the joy and the puzzle. This guide untangles entry rules, island hopping, money and seasons so you can relax from the moment you land.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flyEntry registration, money, seasons and which islands to pick, answered
- LandingSal, Boa Vista, Praia or São Vicente airports and your first hour explained
- Your days on the islandsBeaches, hikes, volcano and music, linked by ferries and short flights
- Home againDeparture tips so the last day is calm too
Where to go, eat and stay
- Plain answersClear, honest guidance on the questions first-timers actually ask.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point you to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain what costs more and what costs less, so your budget holds.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Cabo Verde should feel like no stress, the islands' own motto. We answer the tricky questions about entry registration, inter-island transport and money before they start, so you arrive ready to find your Bliss.
Coming from Boston, Lisbon, Rotterdam or Paris to see family in Praia, Mindelo or Fogo? This guide was written with you in mind too.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels easy.
- Choose your islandsBeaches on Sal and Boa Vista, music in Mindelo, hiking on Santo Antão, the volcano on Fogo or culture in Praia: start with the destinations that fit you.
- Sort the essentialsEntry registration, escudos and cards, the right season and travel insurance, checked against official sources.
- Pick your placesUse our places to visit list for beaches, trails, restaurants, live music and stays.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to link islands by ferry and flight without wasted days.
Everything your Cabo Verde trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Praia, Sal, Boa Vista, Mindelo, Santo Antão and Fogo, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred beaches, trails, music bars, cafés and stays, from classics to hidden corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Sal, Praia, Boa Vista and São Vicente and stays on every island.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Restaurants, sights and stays mapped around each base.
Open the finderFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and shape an island-hopping route that works.
Plan my tripAsk a question
Stuck on something the guide does not answer? Send us a note.
Contact us
The classic Cabo Verde trip
Beach, music and mountains in one trip
Many first trips start on Sal or Boa Vista for sun and sea, then add Mindelo for its music and Carnival spirit and a ferry across to Santo Antão for the finest hiking in the Atlantic. Culture lovers base in Praia and Cidade Velha, and Fogo's crater village rewards anyone who wants something truly different.
- Long white beaches and world class kitesurfing on Sal and Boa Vista
- Morna and coladeira live in Mindelo's bars
- Cliffside trails and green valleys on Santo Antão
- Wine and coffee grown inside Fogo's volcanic crater
Start with the destinations
See how the beach islands, Mindelo, Santo Antão, Fogo and Praia fit together.
Cabo Verde destinationsWhere to go in Cabo Verde
From beach islands and a music capital to cliff trails, a living volcano and the country's oldest town.
Santiago
Praia and Santiago
The capital and the country's biggest island, with the UNESCO old town of Cidade Velha, green mountains and Tarrafal's beach.
Read the guidePhoto: Cayambe, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sal
Sal
The flat, sunny island most visitors land on, with Santa Maria's long beach, kitesurfing and floating salt lakes.
Read the guidePhoto: Cayambe, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Boa Vista
Boa Vista
Desert dunes, vast empty beaches and one of the world's great loggerhead turtle nesting grounds.
Read the guidePhoto: Miguel Discart & Kiri Karma, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
São Vicente
Mindelo
A colourful port city famous for music, Carnival, cafés and the legacy of Cesária Évora.
Read the guidePhoto: Lenilda Duarte, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Santo Antão
Santo Antão
Dramatic peaks, deep green valleys and cliff trails, reached by ferry from Mindelo.
Read the guidePhoto: CaptainDarwin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Fogo
Fogo
A single towering volcano with a crater village, wine and coffee, and the pastel colonial town of São Filipe.
Read the guidePhoto: Cayambe, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is Cabo Verde safe for visitors?
It is generally one of the safer and more stable countries in Africa. Petty theft and occasional muggings happen, especially in parts of Praia and Mindelo after dark and on quiet beaches, so keep valuables out of sight and read your government's current travel advice.
Do I need a visa for Cabo Verde?
Many nationalities, including citizens of the EU and the UK, can visit for short stays without a visa but must pre-register online and pay an airport security fee before arrival. Others need a visa. Rules vary by passport and change, so check the official EASE portal and your own government's advice.
Which island should I visit first?
For a beach holiday, Sal or Boa Vista. For culture, Praia on Santiago. For music and food, Mindelo on São Vicente. For hiking, Santo Antão, reached by ferry from Mindelo. Two or three islands make a good first trip.
What currency is used in Cabo Verde?
The Cabo Verdean escudo, pegged to the euro. Cards work in larger hotels and restaurants, and ATMs are common in towns, but carry cash for smaller islands, taxis and markets.
When is the best time to visit Cabo Verde?
The islands are warm and dry for most of the year. November to June is ideal for most travellers, February brings Carnival, and the short rainy season runs roughly August to October.
Do people speak English in Cabo Verde?
Portuguese is the official language and Cabo Verdean Creole, Kriolu, is spoken by everyone. English is common in Sal and Boa Vista resorts, less so elsewhere, so a few Portuguese or Kriolu phrases help.
Ready to find your Bliss in Cabo Verde?
Use the free trip planner to turn ideas into an island route that fits your dates and budget.