Find places in Cabo Verde

Must-Haves

• Cidade Velha (Ribeira Grande de Santiago)
  The UNESCO listed first colonial town in the tropics, with Rua Banana, the pelourinho and a hilltop fort.
• Praça Alexandre Albuquerque (Plateau)
  The leafy main square of the old capital, ringed by the town hall and pastel colonial buildings.

Off the Beaten Path

• São Jorge dos Órgãos Botanical Garden (São Jorge dos Órgãos)
  A botanical garden of endemic island plants in a green interior valley.

Must-Haves

• Fortaleza Real de São Filipe (Cidade Velha)
  A sixteenth century fortress above the old town with sweeping Atlantic views.
• Museu Etnográfico da Praia (Plateau)
  A small museum giving a clear introduction to island crafts, farming and daily life.

Off the Beaten Path

• Museu do Campo de Concentração do Tarrafal (Chão Bom, Tarrafal)
  The former political prison camp, a sobering and important stop on Santiago's north coast.
• Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário (Cidade Velha)
  One of the oldest colonial churches in the tropics, still in use.

Fun for Everyone

• Palácio da Cultura Ildo Lobo (Plateau)
  A cultural centre named after a beloved singer, with exhibitions and events.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Sucupira Market (Sucupira)
  Praia's huge, noisy market for clothes, music, food stalls and everyday island life.
• Mercado Municipal de Praia (Plateau)
  A calmer covered market for tropical fruit, grogue, spices and snacks.

Off the Beaten Path

• Assomada Market (Assomada)
  A bustling inland market town that fills with traders on market days.

Must-Haves

• Praia do Tarrafal (Tarrafal)
  A sheltered bay of soft sand and calm water, Santiago's best beach.

Off the Beaten Path

• Parque Natural da Serra Malagueta (Serra Malagueta)
  Misty mountain trails through endemic plants high in the island's interior.
• Rui Vaz and Monte Tchota (Rui Vaz)
  High country with eucalyptus forest, mist and views to Pico da Antónia.

Fun for Everyone

• Praia de Quebra Canela (Quebra Canela)
  Praia's popular city beach for an easy swim and sunset drinks.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Prainha Beach (Prainha)
  A small sandy cove close to hotels and embassies in the Prainha district.

Must-Haves

• Hotel Oásis Atlântico Praiamar (Prainha)
  A long established seafront hotel near Prainha beach.

Off the Beaten Path

• King Fisher Village (Tarrafal)
  A small guesthouse on the rocks at Tarrafal bay with sea views.

Great for Date Night

• Quintal da Música (Plateau)
  A courtyard restaurant known for traditional food and live Cabo Verdean music.

Must-Haves

• Kriol Jazz Festival (Praia)
  An international music festival in the capital each spring with African and Creole artists.

Fun for Everyone

• Gamboa Music Festival (Praia)
  A long running free music festival on Praia's Gamboa beach in May.

Must-Haves

• Santa Maria Pier (Santa Maria)
  Watch fishermen land and clean the morning catch on the old wooden pontão.
• Kite Beach (Costa da Fragata)
  Sal's famous kitesurfing beach with steady trade winds and schools for all levels.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ponta Preta (Santa Maria)
  A world class wave spot where top windsurfers and kiters compete.
• Terra Boa mirage (Terra Boa)
  A flat plain where heat haze creates a famous desert mirage.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Palmeira fishing port (Palmeira)
  A working harbour village for simple grilled fish and slow island life.

Must-Haves

• Praia de Santa Maria (Santa Maria)
  A long arc of white sand and turquoise water at the heart of Sal's south coast.
• Salinas de Pedra de Lume (Pedra de Lume)
  Float effortlessly in salt pools inside an old volcanic crater.
• Buracona and Olho Azul (Buracona)
  Natural rock pools and a cave where sunlight turns the water a glowing blue.

Fun for Everyone

• Shark Bay (Baía da Parda)
  Wade among harmless lemon shark pups in clear shallow water.

Off the Beaten Path

• Monte Curral (Espargos)
  Climb to the viewpoint for a sweep across the whole flat island.

Must-Haves

• Café Criolo (Santa Maria)
  A lively beachside café and restaurant with Creole dishes and live music.

Fun for Everyone

• Ocean Café (Santa Maria)
  A sociable spot near the pier with live music in the evenings.

Must-Haves

• Hotel Odjo d'Água (Santa Maria)
  A long standing hotel built over the rocks with a pool and sea views, close to town.

Great for Date Night

• Morabeza Hotel (Santa Maria)
  A classic, family run beachfront hotel moments from the pier.

Fun for Everyone

• Hilton Cabo Verde Sal Resort (Santa Maria)
  A big beachfront resort with pools and easy access to town.
• Meliá Dunas Beach Resort (Santa Maria)
  A sprawling resort with many pools, good for families.

Off the Beaten Path

• Pedra de Lume salt works ruins (Pedra de Lume)
  The old cableway and buildings recall Sal's salt trading past.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Espargos town market (Espargos)
  Where islanders shop for fruit, fish and essentials, away from the resorts.

Must-Haves

• Praia de Santa Mónica (Boa Vista south coast)
  Kilometres of pale, nearly empty sand, one of Africa's most beautiful beaches.
• Praia de Chaves (Rabil)
  A vast dune backed beach with an old brick factory chimney.
• Deserto de Viana (Viana)
  Rolling golden dunes of Saharan sand, magical at sunrise and sunset.
• Turtle nesting walks with Fundação Tartaruga (Boa Vista)
  Guided night walks with a conservation group during the loggerhead nesting season.

Fun for Everyone

• Praia de Estoril (Sal Rei)
  The town beach, good for swimming, kitesurfing and sunset walks.

Must-Haves

• Cabo Santa Maria shipwreck (North coast)
  A rusting cargo ship stranded on the beach since 1968.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ilhéu de Sal Rei (Sal Rei)
  A small islet with fort ruins, reached by local boat.
• Povoação Velha (Boa Vista)
  A quiet southern village with an old church and slow island rhythm.
• Fundo das Figueiras (Boa Vista)
  A small eastern village for a glimpse of rural life and home cooking.

Fun for Everyone

• Boa Vista 4x4 island tour (Sal Rei)
  A day exploring dunes, wrecks, villages and remote beaches with a local guide.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Rabil pottery (Rabil)
  A village workshop keeping the island's clay pottery tradition alive.

Must-Haves

• Igreja de Santa Isabel (Sal Rei)
  The town's church on the main square, the heart of local celebrations.

Fun for Everyone

• Iberostar Club Boa Vista (Praia de Chaves)
  A big all inclusive resort on the dune backed Chaves beach.

Must-Haves

• RIU Touareg (Lacacão)
  A large resort near the empty southern beaches.

Great for Date Night

• Migrante Guesthouse (Sal Rei)
  A stylish small guesthouse in a restored town house.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Spinguera Ecolodge (Spinguera)
  A remote eco lodge in a restored fishing village on the north east coast.

Fun for Everyone

• Festa de Santa Isabel (Sal Rei)
  The town's patron saint festival in July with music and processions.

Must-Haves

• Torre de Belém (Avenida Marginal)
  A small copy of Lisbon's tower on the waterfront, housing a modest museum.

Must-Haves

• Mercado Municipal do Mindelo (Centro)
  A pretty colonial market hall for fruit, vegetables, grogue and snacks.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mindelo Fish Market (Avenida Marginal)
  A lively morning scene as the day's catch is sold on the waterfront.

Must-Haves

• Centro Cultural do Mindelo (Avenida Marginal)
  Exhibitions, concerts and crafts in a restored customs building.

Fun for Everyone

• Palácio do Povo (Centro)
  The pink and white former governor's palace on a central street.

Fun for Everyone

• Praia da Laginha (Laginha)
  The calm city beach a short walk from the centre.
• Baía das Gatas (Baía das Gatas)
  A reef protected natural pool on the east coast, safe for children.

Must-Haves

• Monte Verde (São Vicente)
  The island's highest point, with views over the bay to Santo Antão.

Off the Beaten Path

• Calhau (Calhau)
  A quiet village of volcanic scenery and fish lunches on the south east coast.
• Praia de São Pedro (São Pedro)
  A long windswept beach and fishing village near the airport.

Must-Haves

• Mindelo Carnival (Mindelo)
  The country's biggest Carnival, with floats and costumed groups in February.
• Baía das Gatas Festival (Baía das Gatas)
  A famous open air music festival by the sea around the August full moon.

Off the Beaten Path

• Mindelact Theatre Festival (Mindelo)
  An international theatre festival held each autumn.

Great for Date Night

• Restaurante Pica Pau (Centro)
  A tiny, beloved restaurant for seafood rice and lobster.

Fun for Everyone

• Café Lisboa (Rua de Lisboa)
  A classic café bar on the main street, buzzing at all hours.

Must-Haves

• Café Mindelo (Centro)
  A café in the heart of town for coffee, pastries and people watching.

Must-Haves

• Hotel Porto Grande (Praça Nova)
  A central hotel on the main square, close to everything.

Great for Date Night

• Casa Colonial (Centro)
  A guesthouse in a restored colonial house with a small pool.

Must-Haves

• Ponta do Sol to Fontainhas trail (Ponta do Sol)
  A dramatic cliff path to a village perched on a ridge above the sea.
• Cova crater to Paul valley hike (Cova)
  A steep descent from a farmed crater into the island's greenest valley.

Fun for Everyone

• Fontainhas village (Fontainhas)
  A photogenic hamlet clinging to a ridge, the classic Santo Antão view.

Off the Beaten Path

• Cruzinha da Garça (Cruzinha)
  A remote coastal village at the end of the north coast trail.
• Ribeira da Torre (Ribeira Grande)
  A valley walk among terraces, springs and small farms.

Must-Haves

• Estrada da Corda (Santo Antão)
  The cobbled mountain road over the crater rim with breathtaking views.

Fun for Everyone

• Ponta do Sol harbour (Ponta do Sol)
  Watch fishing boats hauled up the slipway as waves crash on the breakwater.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Grogue trapiche in Paul (Vale do Paul)
  See sugar cane pressed and distilled into grogue the traditional way.
• Ribeira Grande town (Ribeira Grande)
  The island's main town and a hub for minibuses and markets.

Must-Haves

• Hotel Blue Bell (Ponta do Sol)
  A comfortable small hotel in Ponta do Sol close to the harbour.

Great for Date Night

• Casa das Ilhas (Vale do Paul)
  A guesthouse among gardens high in the Paul valley with home cooking.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Aldeia Manga (Vale do Paul)
  A green, quiet eco guesthouse in the valley among fruit trees.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Vila das Pombas cafés (Vila das Pombas)
  Small cafés in the coastal village at the foot of the Paul valley.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Doce de papaia from Paul (Vale do Paul)
  Buy local papaya jam and goat cheese straight from producers.

Must-Haves

• Pico do Fogo (Chã das Caldeiras)
  Climb the country's highest peak with a guide and run down the scree.
• Chã das Caldeiras (Fogo crater)
  A village rebuilt in lava fields inside the volcano's vast crater.

Fun for Everyone

• Pico Pequeno (Chã das Caldeiras)
  A shorter walk to the cone of the most recent eruption.
• Praia da Fonte Bila (São Filipe)
  A dramatic black sand beach below the cliffs, best admired from the shore.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ponta da Salina (Fogo west coast)
  Lava rock pools for a swim on calm days.

Must-Haves

• Adega de Chã das Caldeiras (Chã das Caldeiras)
  The crater's wine cooperative, where you can taste wine grown in volcanic ash.
• São Filipe old town (São Filipe)
  Cobbled streets of colonial merchant houses and flower filled squares.

Off the Beaten Path

• Mosteiros coffee slopes (Mosteiros)
  Green slopes where Fogo's prized coffee is grown.
• Day trip to Brava (Furna, Brava)
  Ferry to the smallest inhabited island for flowers, cool air and quiet villages.

Must-Haves

• Casa da Memória (São Filipe)
  A house museum on Fogo's history and culture in a restored sobrado.

Off the Beaten Path

• Museu Municipal de São Filipe (São Filipe)
  A small museum on island life, the volcano and the sobrados.

Must-Haves

• Festa da Bandeira (São Filipe)
  The feast of São Filipe around 1 May with horse races, drums and food.

Must-Haves

• Casa Marisa (Chã das Caldeiras)
  A guesthouse in the crater offering simple rooms and home cooking.

Fun for Everyone

• Hotel Xaguate (São Filipe)
  A hotel on the cliff with a pool and views to Brava.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Fogo coffee at the old town cafés (São Filipe)
  Try locally grown coffee in a square side café.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mercado Municipal de São Filipe (São Filipe)
  A small market for local produce, cheese and coffee.