First trip
Sal and Boa Vista are the easiest entry points: international airports, beaches, resorts, organised excursions and services designed for beach tourism.
Cape Verde holidays
Travel in Cape Verde
Cape Verde is a year-round Atlantic destination. The island matters more than the season: beach resorts, cities, trekking, volcano landscapes or slow travel create very different trips.
Nature and trekking
Santo Antão is the strongest island for hiking and valleys; Fogo for the volcano; Santiago for a mix of coast, history and inland routes.
Culture and cities
Mindelo and Praia are ideal for music, urban life, restaurants, ports, events and national services.
When to go to Cape Verde
The climate is generally dry and breezy, with mild temperatures for much of the year. European winter is very popular for sun, sea and wind; late summer and autumn can feel warmer and more humid. Wind is part of the identity of Sal and Boa Vista: excellent for water sports, less ideal for travellers expecting calm sea every day.
- For beaches and resorts: Sal and Boa Vista.
- For excursions and landscapes: Santo Antão, Fogo and Santiago.
- For local life beyond tourism: Praia, Mindelo and local markets.
Documents and entry
Before travelling, check passport validity, visa or exemption rules, traveller pre-registration and airport security tax on the official EASE portal. Rules can change, so this guide does not replace official sources.
Moving between islands
Domestic flights and ferries connect the islands, but schedules and reliability should be checked before planning a tight itinerary. For a first short trip, one or two islands are usually better than trying to see everything.
Health, sea and safety
Travel insurance, strong sun protection and attention to wind, currents and unsupervised beaches are recommended. Tourist islands have more immediate services; smaller islands require more planning.