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Shore Excursion: 4-Hour Guided Historic Tour of Praia & Cidade Velha in Cape Verde

Praia, Cape Verde

Explore Praia on a guided tour of the Municipal Market and the city major historical sites. Visit Cidade Velha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and learn about the history of slavery in the first city built by Europeans in sub-Saharan Africa.

Cancellation policy

Review the supplier policy below before booking.

Duration 4 hours

Duration supplied by the experience provider.

Languages

English, German, Portuguese, French, Spanish, cn

Group size

1–8 travelers

Full description

Enjoy a pickup from the Port of Praia or your accommodation in Praia and start the day with this historical tour to discover Santiago Island heritage sites. Get off your cruise ship and walk for 5 minutes until you reach the only exit from the small Port of Praia. Meet your expert guide who will be waiting for you with your name on a sign, then head towards the historic center of Plateau and take a guided tour through the Jaime Mota Military Barracks, Presidential Palace, Praça Alexandre Albuquerque, to the Municipal Market (closed on Sundays). Next, move on to Cidade Velha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the first city built by Europeans in sub-Saharan Africa. Upon arrival, take a guided walking tour of the São Filipe Fortress, explore the ruins of the first Cathedral built by Europeans in Sub-Saharan Africa, the former slave market and the famous Banana Street with its thatched houses. After learning about the local history, take a scenic drive back to Praia and the tour ends with drop-off at Praia Harbor.

Itinerary

Port of Praia. Enjoy a pickup from the Port of Praia and start the day with this historical tour to discover Santiago Island heritage sites. Get off your cruise ship and walk for 2 minutes until you reach the only exit from the small Porto da Praia.

Historic Center of Plateau. Meet your expert guide who will be waiting for you with your name on a sign, then head towards the historic center of Plateau and take a guided tour through the Jaime Mota Military Barracks, Presidential Palace, Praça Alexandre Albuquerque, to the Municipal Market (closed on Sundays).

Cidade Velha. Next, move on to Cidade Velha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the first city built by Europeans in sub-Saharan Africa

Fortaleza Real de São Felipe. Take a guided walking tour of the São Filipe Fortress, which was built to defend the city against attacks by French and English pirates.

Se Catedral. Explore the ruins of the first Cathedral built by Europeans in Sub-Saharan Africa

Pillory. Visite the former slave market

Banana Street.  Explore the famous Banana Street with its thatched houses.

Port of Praia. After learning about the local history, take a scenic drive back to Praia and the tour ends with drop-off at Porto of Praia.

What’s included

Included

  • Guide
  • Transfer
  • Pick-up and drop-off at Praia harbor
  • Transportation
  • Tour Guide
  • Liability Insurance

Not included

  • Entrance fee per person (€5 for São Filipe Fortress)

Important information

Meeting point

Praia, Cape Verde

Don’t forget

Not wheelchair accessibleAt time of booking, cruise ship passengers must provide the following information: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding timeNot suitable for petsA small amount of walking is involvedNote that the Municipal Market is closed on Sundays and the Fortress closed on holidays.Cruise ship passengers must get off the ship and walk for less than 2 minutes to find the Guide at the only exit of the small Port of Praia. The Guide will be holding a sign with your name on it.Shared group tour option is subject to a minimum of 2 participants. In the event that the minimum number is not met, we reserve the right to propose an alternative date; to charge an extra fee to run the trip privately or to cancel a customer’s booking for a full refund. Please bring comfortable clothes, a hat, sunscreen and €5 for the entrance to the São Filipe Fortress

Cancellation policy

100% charge if cancelled within 24 hours of start.

Your host

VE

Verified Local Host

With GetExperience since 2026

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