São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe is a small volcanic island nation off the West African coast, known for cacao plantations and quiet beaches. As a compact island destination, itineraries can be kept simple.
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São Tomé and Príncipe currency guide — today's rate & payment tips
Visa and entry rules change often. Check your government's travel advisory or the local embassy before you go.
Average temperature by month
Based on São Tomé · 5-year average
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Top sights in São Tomé and Príncipe
Nature
Ilhéu das Cabras
An uninhabited island off the coast of São Tomé, marked by two low hills and a lighthouse. Built in 1890, the lighthouse still guides ships along the coast today.
Temples & religious sites
Roman Catholic Diocese of São Tomé and Príncipe
The Roman Catholic Diocese of São Tomé and Príncipe has its seat in São Tomé city. With more than half the population Catholic, it offers a close look at local religious life.
Museums & galleries
São Sebastião Museum
The São Sebastião Museum sits inside a 16th-century fort in São Tomé city. Housed in the old Portuguese fort built to guard the harbor, it displays religious artworks and colonial-era artifacts.
Temples & religious sites
Our Lady of Grace Cathedral
A Catholic cathedral on Praça do Povo in central São Tomé, close to the Presidential Palace. It also serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of São Tomé and Príncipe.
Nature
Ana Chaves Bay
A bay on the northeastern coast of São Tomé Island, with the capital São Tomé and its port lining the shore. At the bay's southern end stands the Fort of São Sebastião, now a museum well worth visiting together.
Nature
Ilhéu de Santana
An uninhabited islet about 50 meters high, just off the eastern coast of São Tomé. It has served as a landmark for sailors for centuries, appearing even on 17th-century maps.
Views & landmarks
São Sebastião Lighthouse
São Sebastião Lighthouse is a white, circular lighthouse inside the fort at Ana Chaves Bay in southeastern São Tomé. Built in 1928, its simple form topped with a red lantern makes a striking impression.
Castles & palaces
Presidential Palace of São Tomé e Príncipe
The Presidential Palace of São Tomé and Príncipe stands in São Tomé city and is a 19th-century Portuguese colonial-style building. Until independence in 1975, it served as the governor's residence.
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Local data
Get an eSIM for São Tomé and Príncipe before you go
Activate mobile data with a QR code instead of swapping SIM cards. Buy it before departure and switch it on the moment you land.
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