---
title: "Praia, Cape Verde"
description: "Cape Verde · airport RAI"
canonical: "https://sorted.travel/places/praia"
last-updated: "2026-10-11"
---

# 🇨🇻 Praia, Cape Verde

Cape Verde · airport RAI

## On the ground

- Safety: High degree of caution
- Currency: Cabo Verde Escudo (CVE). 100 USD = 9842 CVE
- Phone code: +238
- eSIM: [https://airalo.pxf.io/x91GKR](https://airalo.pxf.io/x91GKR)
- Wikivoyage: [https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Cape_Verde](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Cape_Verde)

## Brief

- Praia is Cape Verde’s capital and a good base for exploring Santiago, including the historic UNESCO-listed Cidade Velha and the Fortaleza Real de São Filipe.
- Try local **cachupa**, a slow-cooked corn, bean and vegetable stew often made with fish or meat, as well as fresh seafood and **pastéis de milho**.
- Explore the Plateau, Sucupira Market and Quebra Canela beach. Take extra care of valuables in busy markets and crowded areas.
- Praia has a hot, dry climate with strong sun. Plan outdoor sightseeing for mornings or late afternoons, especially during warmer months.
- Portuguese is the official language and Cape Verdean Creole, or Kriolu, is widely spoken. Cape Verdean escudos are the local currency.

## Safety and health

- Use mosquito repellent, wear covering clothing where practical, and consider air-conditioned or screened accommodation. Dengue and Zika are mosquito-borne risks; pregnant travellers should take particular care to prevent Zika infection. African tick-bite fever is also listed as a risk. ([cdc.gov](https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/cape-verde))
- Avoid swimming, wading or washing in freshwater streams, ponds, lakes and untreated pools because of schistosomiasis risk. ([cdc.gov](https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/cape-verde))
- In Praia outside resort settings, bottled water is the safer default. Resort tap water is generally desalinated and considered safe, but ask accommodation staff about local supplies. ([cdc.gov](https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/cape-verde) | [wikivoyage.org](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Cape_Verde))
- Yellow fever vaccination is not generally recommended for Cape Verde, but proof of vaccination is required for travellers aged 1 or older arriving from countries with yellow-fever transmission risk. ([cdc.gov](https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/cape-verde))

## Recent News

- **6 October 2026:** Cabo Verde Airlines recently resumed a direct Recife-Praia connection, improving access from northeastern Brazil. Travellers should confirm operating days and schedules before booking, as the route may affect connections through Praia. ([brasilturis.com.br](https://brasilturis.com.br/2026/10/06/cabo-verde-mira-turistas-da-paraiba-apos-retomar-conexao-aerea-com-o-nordeste))

_Updated 2026-10-11._

## Weather and timing

The best time to visit Praia is from November to August, when conditions are generally warm, with most months dry or only briefly showery. September and October are the wettest months and are rated lower; hurricane risk is noted from June to November, while coastal winds and occasional Saharan dust haze can affect some earlier and later months.

| Month | Fit | Avg °C | Rain mm | Sun hours |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| January | Great | 23 | -1 | 9 |
| February | Great | 22 | 2 | 10 |
| March | Great | 23 | 1 | 10 |
| April | Great | 23 | 2 | 10 |
| May | Great | 24 | -1 | 10 |
| June | Great | 24 | 5 | 10 |
| July | Great | 25 | 4 | 8 |
| August | Great | 27 | 30 | 7 |
| September | Great | 26 | 52 | 8 |
| October | Great | 27 | 42 | 9 |
| November | Great | 26 | 10 | 9 |
| December | Great | 24 | 1 | 9 |

### Month by month

- **January (Great):** January is warm and dry, around 19-24°C. Saharan dust haze and brisk coastal winds can affect visibility and sea conditions.
- **February (Great):** February is warm and dry, around 19-25°C. Coastal winds can create choppy water, while short-lived haze may affect clear views.
- **March (Great):** March is warm and dry, around 19-25°C. Saharan dust haze is possible, and strong coastal winds can produce lively sea conditions.
- **April (Great):** April is warm and dry, around 20-25°C. Breezy coastal weather suits active sightseeing and watersports, although the sea can be unsettled.
- **May (Great):** May is warm and dry, around 21-26°C. Coastal breezes remain noticeable, with generally favourable conditions for exploring Praia and Santiago.
- **June (Great):** June is warm and usually dry, around 22-27°C. There is hurricane risk this month, and a storm can cancel flights and wreck the trip.
- **July (Great):** July is hot, around 23-28°C, with brief showers becoming possible. There is hurricane risk this month, and a storm can cancel flights and wreck the trip.
- **August (Great):** August is hot and showery, around 24-29°C, with intense brief rain. It is peak hurricane season, and a storm can cancel flights and wreck the trip.
- **September (Great):** September is hot and the wettest month, around 25-30°C, with intense brief showers. It is peak hurricane season, and a storm can cancel flights and wreck the trip.
- **October (Great):** October is hot and showery, around 24-29°C, with intense brief rain. It is peak hurricane season, and a storm can cancel flights and wreck the trip.
- **November (Great):** November is warm and generally dry, around 22-28°C. There is hurricane risk this month, and a storm can cancel flights and wreck the trip.
- **December (Great):** December is warm and dry, around 20-27°C, with limited rain. Saharan dust haze is possible, and coastal winds can produce lively sea conditions.

### 7-day forecast

_Forecast by [Foreca](https://www.foreca.com)._

| Day | High °C | Low °C | Precip chance |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 26 Oct 26 Oct | 32 | 25 | 0% |
| 27 Oct 27 Oct | 32 | 25 | 0% |
| 28 Oct 28 Oct | 32 | 25 | 0% |
| 29 Oct 29 Oct | 32 | 26 | 0% |
| 30 Oct 30 Oct | 32 | 25 | 0% |
| 31 Oct 31 Oct | 31 | 25 | 6% |
| 01 Nov 01 Nov | 31 | 24 | 32% |

## Visa

Passport-specific visa stance is on the HTML page after you set a passport, or via MCP `check_visa_requirements`. Confirm with a government source before you fly.

## Activities

- [Sal Island Full-Day Tour with Native Certified Guide](https://www.viator.com/tours/Santa-Maria/Salt-experience/d50200-120356P1?mcid=42383&pid=P00310321&medium=api&api_version=2.0) — from 40.03 USD · 7–7 HOUR
- [Complete Excursion and Flight on the Zipline Cabo Verde](https://www.viator.com/tours/Sal/Book-your-jump-now-and-enjoy-an-unforgettable-experience/d28618-305654P1?mcid=42383&pid=P00310321&medium=api&api_version=2.0) — from 56.04 USD · 2–2 HOUR
- [Horse Riding in Sal Island - Cabo Verde](https://www.viator.com/tours/Santa-Maria/Horse-Riding-Centre/d50200-75951P1?mcid=42383&pid=P00310321&medium=api&api_version=2.0) — from 59.47 USD
- [Sal Island Half-Day All-Inclusive Shark Bay, Blue Eye & Salt Lake](https://www.viator.com/tours/Santa-Maria/Half-Day-Tour-Highlights-of-Sal-island-Salinas-Shark-Bay-and-Blue-Eyes/d50200-120356P6?mcid=42383&pid=P00310321&medium=api&api_version=2.0) — from 51.46 USD · 4–4 HOUR
- [Sal Island: 2H Buggy Desert Adventure - 1000cc](https://www.viator.com/tours/Sal/Half-Day-Buggy-Desert-Adventure-from-Santa-Maria/d28618-23061P25?mcid=42383&pid=P00310321&medium=api&api_version=2.0) — from 165.83 USD · 2–2 HOUR
- [Sal Island: 4H Buggy Adventure Coast-to-Coast - 1000cc](https://www.viator.com/tours/Sal/Half-Day-Buggy-Island-Adventure-from-Santa-Maria/d28618-23061P26?mcid=42383&pid=P00310321&medium=api&api_version=2.0) — from 296.2 USD · 4–4 HOUR
- [Catamaran Half Day - Beautiful day on the Atlantic Ocean](https://www.viator.com/tours/Sal/Catamaran-half-Day-sailing/d28618-133137P8?mcid=42383&pid=P00310321&medium=api&api_version=2.0) — from 67.47 USD · 3–3 HOUR
- [Lounge Catamaran SODADE Half-Day](https://www.viator.com/tours/Santa-Maria/Lounge-Catamaran-SODADE-Half-Day/d50200-23061P32?mcid=42383&pid=P00310321&medium=api&api_version=2.0) — from 70.91 USD · 4–4 HOUR
- [Discover Scuba Diving in Sal](https://www.viator.com/tours/Sal/Scuba-Diving-in-Santa-Maria/d28618-31789P2?mcid=42383&pid=P00310321&medium=api&api_version=2.0) — from 124.66 USD · 5–5 HOUR

More on the HTML page: https://sorted.travel/places/praia#activities

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## More

- HTML: [https://sorted.travel/places/praia](https://sorted.travel/places/praia)
- MCP: [https://sorted.travel/mcp](https://sorted.travel/mcp) (`get_destination_info`, `get_destination_weather`, `check_visa_requirements`)
- Discover: [https://sorted.travel/discover](https://sorted.travel/discover)