The port is close (1 km) to the (Plateau) old town. The center of the city lies on a plateau overlooking the bay to the southeast.

Cruise calendar for this port.

Watch a destination video.

Praia is the capital of the Cape Verde Islands and its biggest city with over 113,000 inhabitants. Praia became capital in 1770, following the decline of nearby Ribeira Grande (now Cidade Velha) and was granted city status in 1858. Nowadays, as well as being the country's administrative center, it is also an important port which exports coffee, sugar cane and tropical fruits.

Most of the interesting colonial buildings and museums are located on or are near to the Praca Alexandre Albuquerque, an impressive square in the old part of the city known as Plato (Plateau). Highlights include the 19th Century Palácio Presidencial (Presidential Palace), the Igreja Nossa Senhora da Graca (Church) and the Palacio da Cultura which also houses an Internet Cafe and Bookshop. Nearby, views over the bay and the Ilheu de Santa Maria can be enjoyed from the City's (slightly derelict) fortified walls complete with canons.

When it comes to taxis you should be careful with illegal taxis that sometimes roam around and might rip you off. The normal taxi fare between two furthest points of the city shouldn’t be more 1500 escudos in daytime.

The city doesn’t really have a good way to navigate because of the lack of an official map. This is because large part of the city doesn’t have their names or house numbers yet. In the city center and in the more important parts of the city most streets have names and numbers.

Fish lovers will be in heaven on Cape Verde. The grilled lobster is superb as are the fresh tuna, octopus and multitude of other delicacies.

The bustling Fruit and Vegetable Market, located on the Avenida 5 de Julio, is worth a visit to see the Island's agricultural produce and taste one of those Bananas!.

Cape Verde Escudo (1 Euro= 113 Escudos)
Hotels and banks may charge slightly more.

Credit cards are accepted at an increasing number of up-market hotels, but not all of them. MasterCard and Visa are the most widely accepted so far.

Currency Converter

Portuguese

Everything is closed on public holidays and on Sundays, and many shops also close early on Fridays. Opening hours tend to be Mediterranean - that is, Monday-Friday 08:00/08:30 - 12:00/12:30 and 14:00/14:30 - 18:00/18:30; Saturday 08:30 - 12:00. Banks are often shut in the afternoon. Restaurants operate from about 19:00 - 23:00. Nightclubs tend to open at midnight.

Public holidays:
1 January           New Year
20 January         National Heroes Day
1 May                 Labour Day
5 July                  Independence Day
15 August           Nossa Senhora da Graça [Our Lady of Grace]
12 September     Nationality Day
1 November        All Saints Day
25 December      Christmas Day
Mardi Gras and Good Friday are also national holidays.

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