Santiago

Santiago — overview

Santiago is the largest and most populated island in Cape Verde, and the cultural and political heart of the country. Praia, the capital, sits on a high plateau overlooking the Atlantic and offers lively markets (Sucupira), colonial architecture and the best live music bars in the archipelago. Just up the coast, Cidade Velha — the first European city built in the tropics — is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The interior is green and mountainous, with the Serra da Malagueta and the black-sand beaches of Tarrafal in the north. Santiago is where you will hear Creole at its most authentic and taste the richest African-Portuguese cuisine.

Highlights

• Cidade Velha UNESCO site and its 15th-century fort
• Praia: Sucupira market, Plateau and waterfront
• Tarrafal black-sand beach and fishing village
• Serra da Malagueta hiking trails
• Assomada market and Rabelados village

Frequently asked questions