Praia City Tour: Guided Walk in Cape Verde's Capital

Walk Praia's markets and colonial streets, then trace the roots of Cape Verde in Cidade Velha

A guided tour of Praia, Cape Verde's capital, and Cidade Velha, the first European settlement in the tropics, covering the main square, two markets, a 19th-century colonial church and the historic site where the Atlantic slave trade began. Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, French or another language. Pickup and drop-off from your accommodation are included. The tour runs three to four hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Praia and Cidade Velha highlights

• Visit main city square
• Explore colorful city market
• See colonial 19th-century church
• Visit Sukupira market
• Tour Cidade Velha historic site

The experience

The tour starts at Praia's main square, the central hub surrounded by the city's most important buildings, then moves into the markets that define daily life here. You'll walk through the most colorful market in Cape Verde, where you encounter the sellers directly, and later visit the Sukupira market, the largest on the island and the most distinctly African marketplace in the country. The air-conditioned vehicle moves between stops, so you're not walking the whole route on foot.

The colonial church, built in the 19th century by the Portuguese, still stands with its original architecture intact and remains the main church in the city. From there, the tour crosses to Cidade Velha, the settlement where Europeans first established themselves outside Europe in the tropics. This is where you confront the origin story of the Cape Verdean people and the beginning of the Atlantic slave trade, making it essential context for understanding the islands' history. Your guide provides that narrative throughout.

Pickup and drop-off happen at your accommodation, and the vehicle is air-conditioned. The guide is live and speaks your choice of language from the available options. The tour suits all fitness levels, though it's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy or cardiovascular concerns.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle.
• pickup and drop-off from your accommodation.
• live guide in your choice of language.
• liability insurance.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 14:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Senior (102 and older) · Youth (13 to 15 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 20 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Kapverden Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to understand Praia's everyday rhythms through its markets and then connect that to the city's colonial past and the broader history of the Atlantic trade. The three- to four-hour timeframe fits a single morning or afternoon without consuming your whole day.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 15 years); Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Cidade Velha and why does the tour include it?

Cidade Velha was the first European settlement established outside Europe in the tropics, and it's the place where the Atlantic slave trade began. The tour includes it because it's essential to understanding Cape Verdean history and the origin of the Cape Verdean people.

How much time do I spend walking versus sitting in the vehicle?

The tour runs three to four hours total and includes stops at five main sites: the main square, the colorful market, the colonial church, the Sukupira market and Cidade Velha. You walk through the markets and around the historic sites, but the vehicle moves you between them.

Does the tour include pickup from my hotel?

Yes, pickup and drop-off from your accommodation are included in the tour price.

Is this tour physically demanding?

The tour suits all fitness levels. It's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy or poor cardiovascular health, but otherwise it's accessible to most visitors.