Places / Africa / Sao Tome & Principe
São Tomé
Visited in February 2019
At a glance
- Country
- Sao Tome & Principe
- Region
- Água Grande
- Population
- 65,468
- Best time to go
- June to September
- Main airport
- São Tomé International (TMS)
- Coordinates
- 0.36°N, 6.73°E
Country visited City visited Still to go Click a pin or country to read more. Zoom with + and −, a double-click or a pinch.
Overview
São Tomé is a small, slow-paced capital of faded Portuguese colonial buildings, painted in pastel colours and set along a curving bay. It is one of Africa's least visited capitals, and wonderfully relaxed for it.
The real draw is the island itself, a volcanic jungle of cocoa and coffee plantations, waterfalls and empty beaches. Many of the old plantation houses, or roças, now welcome visitors.
Things to see
-
Photo: David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada, CC BY 2.0 Fort São Sebastião
A 16th-century Portuguese fort on the bay, housing the National Museum and its colonial statues.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 4.0 São Tomé Cathedral
The whitewashed cathedral in the town centre, with roots in the early Portuguese colonial era.
-
Photo: Paulacastelli, CC BY-SA 4.0 Municipal Market
A lively, crowded market of fish, fruit, spices and cloth.
-
Photo: Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 4.0 Roça Agostinho Neto
A vast, crumbling former plantation estate north of the city, with grand colonial buildings slowly being reclaimed by nature.
Things to do
-
Photo: Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 4.0 Visit a cocoa plantation
Tour a roça to see how cocoa and coffee are grown and processed, and taste the island's chocolate.
-
Photo: Philippe Bourachot, CC BY-SA 3.0 Drive to Pico Cão Grande
A dramatic volcanic needle rising out of the rainforest in the south of the island.
-
Photo: Paulacastelli, CC BY-SA 4.0 Ilhéu das Rolas
A small island off the southern tip where the equator passes through, with a marker to stand on.
-
Photo: FrankBanalis, CC BY 4.0 Hike in Obô Natural Park
Trails through misty rainforest, rich in birds and orchids, with guides arranged locally.
Where to stay
City centre
Simple hotels and guesthouses along the bay, close to restaurants.
Hotels in City centrePlantation roças
Restored plantation houses in the hills, for atmosphere and walking.
Hotels in Plantation roçasSouth coast
Beach lodges near Ilhéu das Rolas, remote and peaceful.
Hotels in South coast
Getting around
Shared taxis run on main routes, but hiring a car with a driver is the best way to explore the island. Roads in the south can be rough.
The airport is just outside the city, about ten minutes by taxi.
When to go
The gravana dry season from June to September is the best time to visit, with less humidity. The rest of the year is hot and wetter, though showers are often brief. Turtles nest on the beaches between roughly October and March.
Plan your trip to São Tomé
- HotelsBooking.com
- Tours and ticketsGetYourGuide
- FlightsKiwi.com
- Attraction ticketsTiqets
- Airport parking, lounges and transfersHoliday Extras
- Car hireAuto Europe
- Mobile data (eSIM)AiraloCode DAN9406 for money off
- GuidebooksAmazon
Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. More about this.
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.