Praia -> Attractions

São Tiago is the main island of Cape Verde and home to the capital, Praia. The city is a pleasant place, with its centre perched on a rocky plateau known as Platô. The city has two beautiful beaches, Praia Mar and Quebra-Canela, located west of the centre. For a half-day trip out of Praia, visitors can go to the Cidade Velha (Old City), the first town built by the Portuguese on the islands, about 10 km west of Praia. The climb up to Fort Real de São Felipe has some great views of the village. At the northern end of São Tiago is the island's second largest settlement, Tarrafal, which is famous for its beaches. It can be reached by chartered bus from Praia.

Another place to visit is Sal, a desert island and home to the international airport. It is a package-tour destination for Europeans. There are daily flights between Sal and Praia; there are also boats running between the islands that pick up passengers at Sal about twice a week. São Vicente is Cape Verde's second most important island and houses the liveliest city in the islands, Mindelo. The bars and nightclubs are more numerous here and visitors will find the restaurants a cut above those in Praia. The island is lined with picturesque colonial houses most of which are two-storey affairs with balconies and shuttered windows.