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Maputo

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At a glance

Country
Mozambique
Region
Maputo City
Population
1.1 million
Best time to go
May to October
Main airport
Maputo International (MPM)
Coordinates
25.97°S, 32.57°E

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Overview

Maputo spreads along a bluff above a wide bay on the Indian Ocean, a city of jacaranda-lined avenues, crumbling Portuguese-era buildings and bold modernist blocks. It has a strong music and art scene and some of the best seafood in southern Africa.

It rewards a few unhurried days: coffee in a pastelaria, a wander through the markets of the Baixa, and grilled prawns as the sun sets over the bay. Island beaches and wildlife reserves are within reach.

Things to see

  • Maputo railway station

    A grand early 20th-century station with a green copper dome and wrought-iron details, still in use.

  • Fortaleza de Maputo
    Photo: lucianf from Bucharest, Romania, CC BY 2.0

    Fortaleza de Maputo

    A small Portuguese fort in the Baixa, with a shady courtyard and exhibits on the city's history.

    Tickets and tours
  • Mercado Municipal
    Photo: lucianf from Bucharest, Romania, CC BY 2.0

    Mercado Municipal

    The central market, in a handsome old building full of fruit, spices, cashews and basketwork.

  • Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception

    A gleaming white Art Deco cathedral with a tall, stepped spire overlooking Independence Square.

  • Casa de Ferro
    Photo: ilan molcho from israel, CC BY 2.0

    Casa de Ferro

    An unusual prefabricated iron house from the colonial era, near the Botanical Garden.

Things to do

  • Seafood at the fish market

    Choose prawns, crab or fish at the Mercado do Peixe and have them cooked at the restaurants next door.

  • Cross the bay to Catembe
    Photo: Robel G. Fucadu, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Cross the bay to Catembe

    Take the ferry or drive over the suspension bridge for seafood lunches with views back to the skyline.

  • Day trip to Inhaca Island
    Photo: European Space Agency, CC BY-SA 3.0 igo

    Day trip to Inhaca Island

    Boats run across the bay to an island of quiet beaches, coral reefs and mangroves.

    Find tours
  • Live music
    Photo: Andrés Moreno from Joensuu, Spain, CC BY-SA 2.0

    Live music

    Catch marrabenta, jazz or Afro-pop at one of the city's bars and cultural centres at the weekend.

Where to stay

  • Polana and Sommerschield

    Leafy, safe-feeling and upmarket, with the best hotels, restaurants and embassies.

    Hotels in Polana and Sommerschield

  • Baixa

    The old downtown, close to the station, fort and markets, but quiet at night.

    Hotels in Baixa

  • Costa do Sol

    Along the seafront road north of the centre, with beach restaurants and a relaxed feel.

    Hotels in Costa do Sol

Getting around

Use taxis or ride-hailing apps rather than the crowded minibus chapas. Avoid walking alone after dark and keep valuables out of sight.

The airport is about 6 km from the centre, a 15 to 20-minute taxi ride.

When to go

May to October is the dry, cooler season with warm, sunny days. November to April is hot and humid, with heavy rain and the risk of cyclones.

Plan your trip to Maputo

Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.

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