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Orange fishing boat pulled onto rocky beach

Cape Verde travel guide

Ten volcanic islands in the Atlantic, built for sun, surf and salt-air travel

Best: Jan, Mar, Apr, May

Photo: Thomas Schwaak / Pexels

Capital
Praia
Language
Portuguese
Currency
Cape Verdean escudo
Time zone
UTC-01:00
Plugs
Type C, F · 220 V
Driving
On the right
Emergency
130 / 131 / 132

Why visit Cape Verde

Cape Verde suits travellers who want beach time without leaving Africa, plus easy island-hopping between Praia, Mindelo, Santa Maria, São Filipe and Sal Rei. January, March, April and May bring the steadiest weather for lying on sand or getting out on the water. One honest limitation: with only 4,033 km2 spread over separate islands, getting between them takes planning around flights or ferries, so a trip here needs more logistics than a single-resort beach holiday.

  • An island nation of just 491,233 people

    Cape Verde spans only 4,033 square kilometres across its islands, yet holds a population of 491,233. That makes for a lot of coastline and open ocean relative to the number of people, with Portuguese as the common language.

  • Best weather from January to May

    The best months to visit are January, March, April and May. This window gives travellers a stretch of favourable conditions before the mid-year months, useful for planning a beach or diving trip around calmer weather.

  • Coastal cities with distinct character

    Praia, the capital, has 159,050 people and sits on the coast, while Mindelo on another island counts 70,468 residents. Both are coastal hubs, giving visitors a choice between the political center and a smaller port city atmosphere.

  • Smaller towns for a quieter pace

    Santa Maria has 25,779 people, Sal Rei 6,357 and São Filipe 8,122. These smaller coastal towns offer a different scale of visit compared to Praia or Mindelo, useful for travellers wanting less urban density.

  • A compact country to explore

    With a total area of just 4,033 square kilometres and a single time zone, UTC-01:00, Cape Verde is easy to navigate logistically compared to larger mainland African destinations, even though the islands themselves are spread across open ocean.

Is Cape Verde right for you?

Great for

  • Winter sun seekers: January has 0 rain days, 9.9 sun hours and highs of 23°C
  • Travellers who dislike extreme heat: highs stay between 22°C and 27.2°C all year
  • Dry spring beach trips: April and May have 0 rain days and over 11 sun hours
  • Coastal town fans: all five main towns, including Praia and Mindelo, are on the coast
  • Portuguese speakers, since Portuguese is the official language

Less ideal for

  • Those wanting cool evenings: January lows of 21.6°C sit close to highs of 23°C
  • Late-summer trips needing dry days: September brings 4.6 rain days and 36 mm
  • Big-city lovers: the capital, Praia, the largest city, has about 159050 people
  • Long road trips: the whole country covers only 4033 km²

Cape Verde right now: November

9.8/10
Avg high
26°C
Avg low
25°C
Rain days
1

Averages for Cape Verde.

Weather by month

This climate data is for Cape Verde, with temperatures staying mild year-round: January to June bring highs of 22–24°C, almost no rain, and up to 11.7 sun hours a day in May. September is the toughest month, with highs of 27.2°C, 4.6 rain days, and 36mm of rain, as the short wet season peaks between August and October.

Average highs and lows in Cape Verde by month January: high 23°C, low 22°C , 0 rain days . February: high 22°C, low 21°C , 1 rain days . March: high 22°C, low 21°C , 0 rain days . April: high 23°C, low 21°C , 0 rain days . May: high 23°C, low 22°C , 0 rain days . June: high 24°C, low 23°C , 0 rain days . July: high 25°C, low 24°C , 1 rain days . August: high 26°C, low 25°C , 3 rain days . September: high 27°C, low 26°C , 5 rain days . October: high 27°C, low 26°C , 1 rain days . November: high 26°C, low 25°C , 1 rain days . December: high 24°C, low 23°C , 1 rain days . 23°C 22°C JAN 0d 22°C 21°C FEB 1d 22°C 21°C MAR 0d 23°C 21°C APR 0d 23°C 22°C MAY 0d 24°C 23°C JUN 0d 25°C 24°C JUL 1d 26°C 25°C AUG 3d 27°C 26°C SEP 5d 27°C 26°C OCT 1d 26°C 25°C NOV 1d 24°C 23°C DEC 1d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Cape Verde (country average) · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Cape Verde: month-by-month weather →

Sample itineraries

7 days

Cape Verde in a Week

  1. Day 1–3

    Praia

    Start in the capital, Praia, a coastal city of about 159,050 people. Spend a couple of days settling in and exploring the city before heading to the islands.

  2. Day 4–5

    Santa Maria

    Move to Santa Maria, a coastal town of around 25,779 people, known for its beaches. Spend two days relaxing by the sea.

  3. Day 6–7

    Sal Rei

    End the trip in Sal Rei, a small coastal town of about 6,357 residents. Use the last two days for a quieter coastal stay before departing.

10 days

Island Hopping Across Cape Verde

  1. Day 1–2

    Praia

    Begin in Praia, the capital and largest city with about 159,050 people. Explore the city for two days to get a feel for Cape Verde's urban side.

  2. Day 3–4

    Mindelo

    Head to Mindelo, a coastal city of around 70,468 people, for two days. It is the country's second-largest city, with a different island and coastal atmosphere than Praia.

  3. Day 5–6

    São Filipe

    Continue to São Filipe, a smaller coastal town of about 8,122 people. Spend two days exploring this quieter part of the country.

  4. Day 7–8

    Santa Maria

    Travel on to Santa Maria, a coastal town of roughly 25,779 residents, known for its beaches. Spend two days here enjoying the coast.

  5. Day 9–10

    Sal Rei

    Finish in Sal Rei, a small coastal town with about 6,357 people. Spend the final two days winding down by the sea before your trip ends.

Food to try in Cape Verde

Cachupa

This is Cape Verde's national dish, a slow-cooked stew of corn, beans, and whatever meat or fish is available. Locals eat it at home and in simple eateries across all the islands.

Cachupa Rica

A richer version of cachupa made with extra cuts of meat, sausage, and sometimes bacon. It's often served on special occasions or when guests visit.

Grilled fresh fish

Tuna, mackerel, and other catches are grilled simply with lime and served whole. Coastal towns and fishing villages serve this daily, straight from the boats.

Pastel com Diabo Dentro

A fried pastry filled with fish or tuna and a spicy sauce, whose name translates as 'pastry with the devil inside.' It's a popular street snack found at markets and small cafés.

Grogue

A strong sugarcane spirit distilled locally, similar to rum. It's drunk neat or mixed into cocktails and is tied closely to rural island life and celebrations.

Ponche

A sweet liqueur made from grogue mixed with molasses and sometimes fruit juice or coffee. It's often shared during gatherings and festive occasions.

Know before you go

  • Language: Portuguese is the official language of Cape Verde. Many people also speak Cape Verdean Creole at home. In tourist areas you will often find some English or French spoken too.
  • Currency: The currency is the Cape Verdean escudo. It's worth checking current exchange rates before you travel, since prices in shops and markets are set in escudos.
  • Plugs and voltage: Cape Verde runs on 220 V, with type C and type F plug sockets. These are the two-round-pin style used across most of mainland Europe, so bring an adapter if your plugs are a different shape.
  • Driving side: Traffic drives on the right in Cape Verde. If you plan to rent a car on one of the islands, keep this in mind, especially on narrow mountain roads.
  • Emergency numbers: For emergencies, dial 130, 131 or 132 depending on the service you need. It's worth noting these down or saving them in your phone before you arrive.
  • Calling code: The country calling code is +238. You'll need this if you're dialing a Cape Verdean number from abroad or giving your number to someone overseas.
  • Time zone: Cape Verde sits in the UTC-01:00 time zone, one hour behind GMT. This is useful to know when booking flights or calling home.

Cape Verde: frequently asked questions

Is Cape Verde good in August?

Yes, but it's the warmest and wettest time. August highs average 26.3°C with lows of 25.1°C. It also brings 2.8 rain days and 25mm of rain, more than most of the year. It still scores 9.3 out of 10, so it's a solid option, just expect more humidity than in the dry winter months.

What is the best time to visit Cape Verde?

January, March, April and May are the top months, each scoring 10 out of 10. These months combine warm temperatures (22–23°C highs) with almost no rain, often 0 to 1mm, and strong sun, up to 11.7 hours a day in May. December, June and November also score above 9.8, so the dry season runs long here.

Does it rain much in Cape Verde?

Rain is rare for most of the year. From January to July, monthly rainfall stays under 6mm with fewer than one rain day. September is the wettest month with 36mm of rain over 4.6 days, followed by August with 25mm. Outside September, Cape Verde stays mostly dry year-round.

What is the hottest month in Cape Verde?

September is the hottest month, with highs of 27.2°C and lows of 26°C. October is close behind at 27.1°C. These months also bring more rain than the rest of the year, so the heat comes with higher humidity rather than dry sun like in spring.

What is the coolest month in Cape Verde?

March is the coolest month, with highs of 22°C and lows of 20.6°C. January, February and April sit in a similar range, between 20.8°C and 23°C. Even the coolest months stay mild, so there's no real cold season on the islands.

What is the emergency number in Cape Verde?

The emergency numbers are 130, 131 and 132, depending on the service you need. Cape Verde uses plug types C and F at 220 volts, and the local currency is the Cape Verdean escudo. The country runs on UTC-01:00 and driving is on the right.

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