São Vicente
Go to São Vicente for live morna in Mindelo, a working port city, and as a base for trips around Cabo Verde.
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São Vicente is one of the nine inhabited islands of Cabo Verde, an Atlantic archipelago about 570 kilometers (350 miles) off West Africa. Its main city, Mindelo, sits on a natural harbor on the island's northern side. The port grew in the 19th century as a coaling stop for steamships crossing the Atlantic, and old warehouses still line the waterfront. Mindelo is the place to hear morna, the slow, melancholic song form of Cabo Verde, in bars and small venues. The city also hosts a large Carnival in the weeks before Lent.
São Vicente suits a city-based trip. Stay in Mindelo for the music, food and harbor life, then take day trips to the dry, rocky interior and the coast. The island is much drier than Santo Antão, so plan for heat and little shade. The easiest months run roughly November through June, before the hottest weather of late summer. Two or three nights cover Mindelo well, and more if you take a ferry or flight to other islands.
São Vicente in five
- Check entry rules before you flyMany passports enter Cabo Verde visa-free for short stays, but other nationalities need a visa. Confirm your case on the official government entry pages before you book flights.Visas and entry
- Carry escudos for small purchasesSmall bars, market stalls and some taxis expect cash in Cape Verdean escudos (CVE). Withdraw at bank ATMs in Mindelo's center before you need small notes.Money and costs
- Set up a local SIM or eSIMMaps and restaurant bookings need mobile data. Buy a SIM from CVMóvel or Unitel T+ in town, or set up an eSIM before you land.Phones and eSIM
- Check ferry schedules to Santo AntãoFerries to Santo Antão leave from Mindelo's port and can be cancelled in rough sea. Build a spare day into the plan so a cancelled sailing does not cut the trip short.Getting around
- Book beds early for CarnivalMindelo's Carnival in February fills hotels and guesthouses. Book your dates as soon as your flights are confirmed.Festivals
Things to do in São Vicente
See all attractions in São Vicente
Need to know
- Currency
- Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)
- Entry
- Visa-free for many passports; others need a visa, check first
- Emergency
- 132 police, 130 ambulance, 131 fire
- Tipping
- Check whether service is on the bill before you tip; round up taxis
- Time
- UTC-1, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryDry, mild
- FebruaryCarnival, hotels fill fast
- MarchCarnival season
- AprilWarm, dry
- MayMild, dry
- JuneWarm, dry
- JulyWarm, dry
- AugustWarm, dry
- SeptemberWarm, dry
- OctoberWarm, dry
- NovemberWarm, quiet
- DecemberDry, mild
Right now in São Vicente
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
25
- Feels like
- 27°
- Humidity
- 78%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 8%
São Vicente
09:44 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today29°23°8%Monday: Cloudy. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Tue29°24°3%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Wed30°23°29%Wednesday: Rain. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 29%.
- Thu29°24°29%Thursday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 29%.
- Fri29°25°7%Friday: Cloudy. High 29°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 7%.
- Sat29°25°0%Saturday: Cloudy. High 29°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun29°25°0%Sunday: Cloudy. High 29°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 07:52 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 98.8 CVE
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Santo Antãoabout 1 to 2 hours by ferry, depending on the sailingGreen valleys and mountain villages, reached by ferry from Mindelo.Read the guide
- Baía das Gatasabout 15 to 20 min by taxiA beach area with seafront restaurants, an easy half-day out.Read the guide
- Santa Luziaabout 1 hour by boat, depending on the operatorAn uninhabited island with beaches and no hotels, so bring water and food.Read the guide
Before you go to São Vicente
Rules for São Vicente, checked
- Check passport validity and any entry form for Cabo Verde on the FCDO entry requirements page before you book flights.Source
- Keep bags close and valuables out of sight in Mindelo, and use taxis after dark. The FCDO safety page sets out local advice.Source
- Ask locally about currents before swimming away from the bays. Conditions on exposed coasts can change within a day.Source
Plan around São Vicente
Islands, flights and ferries across the archipelago
Read the guideGetting aroundTaxis, ferries and car hire on São Vicente
Read the guideMoney and costsEscudos, cards and typical daily spending
Read the guideVisas and entryEntry rules by passport before you book
Read the guideWhere to stayGuesthouses and hotels in Mindelo and the beach area
Read the guideMusicLive morna and coladeira in Mindelo's bars
Read the guideSão Vicente FAQ
Is São Vicente the same as Mindelo?
No. São Vicente is the island, and Mindelo is its main city and port. Stay in Mindelo and make day trips from there.
Do you need a visa for Cabo Verde?
Many passports enter visa-free for short stays. Check the FCDO entry requirements page and the official government information for your passport before you fly.
When is the best time to visit São Vicente?
November to June suits most travelers. February brings Carnival, when Mindelo is busiest and hotels fill fastest.
Can you visit Santo Antão from Mindelo?
Yes, by ferry from Mindelo's port when the sea allows. Check the sailing times on the day and keep a spare day in case of cancellations.
Do you need a car in São Vicente?
Not in Mindelo, which is walkable, and taxis cover most trips. A car helps if you want to explore the rest of the island at your own pace.
What language is spoken in São Vicente?
Portuguese is the official language, and most people speak Cape Verdean Creole (Kriolu) at home. Learning a few Portuguese phrases helps in shops and taxis.