Praia Sea Temperature Today

Beaches

Prainha, a small sandy cove near the Ponta Temerosa headland and a short walk from the Farol de Dona Maria Pia lighthouse, is a popular beach in Praia, with hotels on the rocks above it. Quebra Canela, just to the west, is a wider city beach that fills with local families at weekends, and Praia de Gamboa, north of the lighthouse, is used for concerts and festivals. Beyond the city, São Francisco beach to the east is quieter, and Tarrafal in the north of Santiago has a sheltered bay with calm water. The sea temperature on this page is measured off Ponta Temerosa, the headland south of Prainha.

Things to do

Cidade Velha, about 15 km west of Praia, is described by UNESCO as the first European colonial town in the tropics and is a World Heritage Site, with a ruined cathedral, the Fortaleza Real de São Filipe above the town and its old Rua Banana. On the Plateau, the market, squares and cafés are the centre of daily life, and live morna and funaná music can be heard in the city's bars. Inland, the Serra da Malagueta Natural Park has walking trails, and the drive north passes Assomada, known for its market, on the way to Tarrafal, where a former political prison is now a museum.

Weather and best time to visit

At Praia the sea stays above 22 °C / 72 °F all year, even in the coolest month.

Praia has a warm, dry tropical climate with sunshine for most of the year. The short rainy season falls roughly between August and October, sometimes with heavy showers. From about December to February the harmattan can bring a haze of Saharan dust, known locally as bruma seca, and north-east trade winds blow for much of the year, keeping the heat moderate.

Hotels and where to stay

Hotels in Praia cluster around Prainha and Quebra Canela, close to the beaches and restaurants, while the Plateau suits visitors who want to be near the historic centre and the markets. Palmarejo, west of Quebra Canela, is a newer district with restaurants, shops and apartments.

Signature hotels: Pestana Trópico (Prainha) · Oasis Praiamar (Prainha)

Airport and getting there

Nelson Mandela International Airport (RAI) lies just north-east of Praia, a short taxi ride from the centre, with international flights and domestic flights to several of the other islands. Depending on the schedule, ferries from Praia's harbour connect with Fogo, Brava and other islands of the archipelago, and shared minibuses called aluguers link Praia with towns across Santiago.