Last update: 28 Oct 2026
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São Tomé and Príncipe Summary
These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.
‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.
‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.
‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.
Suited for
Sao Tome and Principe – Quick facts
| Power Grid: |
230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F
Type C:
  Read about power adapters |
|---|---|
| Currency: |
São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STN) £1 ≈ STN 29.48 |
| Cashless info: |
Rating 2/5
Cashless payments are not widely accepted in Sao Tome and Principe, especially in rural areas. Cash is preferred.
Save with a travel credit card |
| eSIM providers: | We cannot recommend an eSIM provider for this country. We advise getting a local SIM card. |
| Tipping: | Tipping is not required in Sao Tome and Principe, but small tips for good service in restaurants and hotels are appreciated. |
|---|---|
| Public drinking: | Public drinking is allowed in Sao Tome and Principe, and alcohol is consumed in licensed venues like bars and restaurants. |
| Public smoking: | Smoking is prohibited in indoor public spaces, but designated smoking areas are available outdoors. |
| Independence Day (12 July) |
Celebrates independence from Portugal |
|---|---|
| Christmas (25 December) |
A time for festive family gatherings |
| Emergency contact: | Emergency Number: 112 |
|---|---|
| Taxi apps: | |
| Other: | Sao Tome and Principe is known for its lush tropical landscapes, diverse wildlife, and cocoa production, offering an off-the-beaten-path adventure. |
Best times to travel
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
for São Tomé and Príncipe, Sao Tome and Principe
Dry season (gravana) June to September, wet season October to May; the south and mountains stay much wetter than the dry north
Humpback whales visit August to October, turtle nesting on beaches roughly November to February
Roads and jungle trails (Obô Natural Park, remote southern beaches) are often muddy or impassable March to May
Don't miss
- 🌋 Hike to the peak of Pico Cao Grande volcano
- 🏖️ Relax on Praia Banana's pristine golden sands
- 🌿 Explore diverse wildlife at Obo National Park
- 🏰 Visit colonial São Sebastião Fortress and museum
- 🤿 Snorkel in the crystal-clear waters of Blue Lagoon
- 🐢 Discover turtle nesting sites on southern beaches
You've been here?
Log in to manage your own bucket list! Why travel to São Tomé and Príncipe?
What makes São Tomé and Príncipe truly special is its untouched natural beauty and remarkable biodiversity that has evolved in isolation. The islands feature diverse microclimates created by their mountainous terrain, with Pico de São Tomé rising to 2,024 meters, generating a tapestry of ecosystems from coastal lowlands to cloud forests. This geographical diversity supports unique flora and fauna found nowhere else on Earth, making it a paradise for nature enthusiasts and photographers seeking rare wildlife encounters.
🏯Places worth seeing
🎡Places for activities
🏞️Natural landmarks
🛍️Shopping
🎈Events
-
Independence Day (July 12)
-
Carnival
-
Auto de Floripes
-
Tchiloli Festival
-
São Tomé Music Festival
-
Gravana Festival
-
Easter Celebrations
-
New Year's Celebrations
-
Christmas Festivities
-
Festa de São João
Knowledge before you go
- Pack cash; ATMs and card payments can be unreliable.
- Visit in the drier months, but expect brief tropical showers anytime on both islands.
- Book inter-island flights early; boats can be long, rough and weather-dependent.
- Embrace the “leve leve” pace; plan fewer daily stops and use local guides for rainforest hikes.
How to travel to São Tomé and Príncipe
Most international visitors arrive in São Tomé and Príncipe through São Tomé International Airport, which has connections to Portugal, Angola, Ghana, Gabon and Cape Verde. TAP Air Portugal offers flights from Lisbon, while regional carriers like TAAG Angola Airlines and Africa's Connection STP provide connections from African hubs. Visas are required for most nationalities and can be obtained on arrival for stays up to 15 days, though pre‑arranging visas is recommended. The country is relatively isolated, with no direct flights from the Americas or Asia, making multi‑stop journeys necessary for travelers from these regions.
Access summary
- Fly to São Tomé International (TMS) via Lisbon, Luanda, Libreville, Accra.
- From nearby Africa: regional flights from Gabon, Angola, Cape Verde, others.
- STP Airways based at TMS; small national carrier, no major alliance.
Check your route from anywhere
Where to stay in São Tomé and Príncipe
Accommodation in São Tomé and Príncipe ranges from luxury eco-resorts to restored colonial plantation houses (roças) and modest guesthouses. The islands offer a unique opportunity to stay in converted historic plantations that blend colonial architecture with modern amenities. Coastal areas feature beachfront resorts, particularly on Príncipe Island, while São Tomé City provides more urban hotel options. Advance booking is essential as options are limited, especially on Príncipe and prices tend to be moderate to high due to the islands' remoteness and limited tourism infrastructure.
Hotel recommendations
*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.
How to get around São Tomé and Príncipe
Getting around São Tomé and Príncipe requires flexibility and patience due to limited infrastructure. On São Tomé, shared taxis (collectivos) and motorcycle taxis are common for short distances within towns, while rental cars provide more freedom for exploring the island. Roads can be challenging, especially during the rainy season when some become impassable. For travel between São Tomé and Príncipe, small aircraft operated by STP Airways connect the islands with daily flights taking about 35 minutes. Once on Príncipe, the island's small size makes it navigable by taxi or rental vehicle. For reaching remote beaches or offshore islets, boat charters are available from main coastal towns.
Budget snapshot
Costs compared to home
We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.
To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.
Daily expenses in São Tomé and Príncipe are around 40% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably less on meals and getting around.
Exchange rate trend
The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.
Your exchange rate (GBP to STN) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.
Travel costs
To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.
Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.
Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.
To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.
Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.
Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.
Daily cost summary
Travel style categories explained:
Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.
Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.
Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.
Travel style categories explained:
Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.
Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.
Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.
| Backpacker | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation | |||
| 🏨 Accommodation per night, per person | |||
| 🍝 Food per day | |||
| 🚕 Transportation per day |
Food & Drink
| 🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person | |
|---|---|
| 🍛 Lunch Set, per person | |
| 🍟 Fast food combo | |
| 🍝 Preparing your own food, per day | |
| ☕ Cappuccino | |
| 🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l |
Transportation
| 🚌 Public transport ticket | |
|---|---|
| 🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi | |
| ⛽ Petrol, 1 l |
Other
| 🎞️ Cinema ticket | |
|---|---|
| 👩⚕️ Doctor's consult | |
| 🤧 Cold medication | |
| 💇 Basic haircut |
Safety information overview
General safety
São Tomé and Príncipe is generally safe with low crime rates. Exercise normal precautions regarding personal belongings. The main safety concerns relate to natural hazards like strong ocean currents and slippery hiking trails, particularly during the rainy season.
Health & Medical
Medical facilities are limited, with basic care available in São Tomé city but virtually none on Príncipe. Comprehensive travel insurance with evacuation coverage is essential. Malaria is present year-round and waterborne diseases can be a concern during the rainy season.
Accessibility
Accessibility infrastructure is minimal throughout São Tomé and Príncipe. Most natural attractions involve uneven terrain, steps and rugged paths that present significant challenges for those with mobility issues. Even in urban areas, sidewalks are often uneven or missing.
Tap water
Tap water is generally not safe to drink in São Tomé and Príncipe. Bottled water is widely available in towns but may be harder to find in remote areas. When hiking, carry sufficient water supplies or purification methods.
Packing recommendations for São Tomé and Príncipe
Log in to add this place to a travel list and get a summary of all recommended items for your whole trip.
🥾
Walking boots
📷
Camera
🌞
Sun cream
high SPF
🧥
Waterproof jacket
👀
Binoculars
for birdwatching
🪰
Insect repellent
🤿
Snorkelling gear
limited hire options
🔋
Power bank
🩹
Basic first aid kit
📃
Travel insurance
🪪
Copies of passport and important documents
📱
Translation app or phrasebook
💊
Anti-malarial medication
👕
Quick-dry clothing
📱
Travel eSIM
🔌
Universal travel adaptor
🩺
Prescription medicines
💳
Credit card with no foreign transaction fees
🛂
Passport
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