Why go
- Capital of Cape Verde.
- Served by Nelson Mandela International Airport (RAI).
History
Praia is the capital and largest city of Cape Verde. Located on the southern coast of Santiago island within the Sotavento Islands group, the city is the seat of the Praia Municipality. Praia is the political, economic and cultural center of Cape Verde.
Where to stay
Restaurants & places to go
38 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 6 airlines, 15 direct destinations
- TACV VR (ATR 72, 757-200, 737-800) · 10 routes: Amilcar Cabral, Boa Vista, Boston, Dakar, Fortaleza, Lisbon, Maio, Paris, Sao Filipe, Fogo Island, Sao Vicente Island
- Royal Air Maroc AT (737-800, 737-700) · 3 routes: Banjul, Bissau, Casablanca
- Binter Canarias NT (CRJ-900) · 1 route: Gran Canaria*
- Senegal Airlines DN (CRJ) · 1 route: Dakar
- TAAG Angola Airlines DT (737-700) · 1 route: Sao Tome
- TAP Portugal TP (A320) · 1 route: Lisbon
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 1 direct destination
- TACV VR (ATR 72) · 1 route: Praia, Santiago Island
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Getting there by ferry
Where things are
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Nelson Mandela International Airport (RAI); 1 other airport serves the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: RAI has direct flights to 15 destinations on 6 airlines (incl. Dakar, Lisbon, Amilcar Cabral, Banjul, Bissau…). By water: 1 ferry terminal within 20 km (nearest: Porto da Praia, 1.1 km); routes include fastferry 3h Fogo-Praia oneway, Brava - Praia.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Praia. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.