Cidade Velha: The 7 Best Tours from Praia

1.Praia & Cidade Velha: Guided City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 80 reviews · 4 hours · from $53Our pick

Spend four hours with a local guide in Praia and Cidade Velha. Visit the Plateau, a food market, Banana Street, Pelourinho Square, church ruins, and Fortaleza Real de São Filipe. Hotel and harbor pickup are included, with guiding in five languages.

“Amerigo nous a fait partager sa connaissance de l'histoire de son pays avec beaucoup de professionnalisme dans un français plus que correct. si vous en avez la possibilité demandez à faire le circuit "à l'envers"( comme nous avons dû le faire du fait des embouteillages du lundi matin): vous commencerez alors par Santiago "historique" et terminerez par Praia "contemporaine". J'airais même préféré commencer par la citadelle de Cidade Velha avant la ville de Cidade Velha. Attention, l'entrée à la citadelle coute 500escudos (5€) par personne.”

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2.Highlights of Cidade Velha with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 67 reviews · 3 hours · from $57

Travel from Praia to UNESCO-listed Cidade Velha with a local guide such as Yvonne, Ricardo, or Ailton. Walk from São Filipe Fortress to the old slave market, cathedral ruins, Banana Street, and São Francisco Convent, with time for a black-sand beach and fishing bay views.

“very interesting tour. Ricardo was a great guide. Recommended!”

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3.Calabaceira Valley Trek & Visit to Cidade Velha

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 49 reviews · 4 hours · from $82

Walk downhill through Calabaceira Valley with a local guide, spot tropical plants and wildlife, visit a small rum distillery, then explore Cidade Velha’s slave market, churches, cathedral ruins, and São Filipe Fortress. Guides speak English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish.

“Mario notre guide était vraiment sympa et un puits de sciences quant à la connaissance des lieux visités et de son pays en règle générale. La randonnée et les visites étaient très intéressantes et instructives. Valérie et Christophe.”

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4.Cidade Velha, Tarrafal & East Side Island Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 23 reviews · 10 hours · from $141

Spend 10 hours crossing Santiago from Praia or Cidade Velha. A local guide leads you through Cidade Velha, then takes you to a family cuscuz workshop, Serra Malagueta, Tarrafal Beach, and the east coast. Guides may include Elisandro, Alex, or Djibril, with English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish available.

“The tour itself was good but the tour operator was disorganized and tried changing the date and the itinerary at the last minute.”

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5.Best of Praia & Cidade Velha Tour, a World Heritage Site

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · from $68Top rated

See Praia’s Plateau, Sucupira Market, and UNESCO-listed Cidade Velha in about four hours. Your guide, possibly including Alex, Ivana, Elton, or Elisandro, explains Cape Verdean history and culture, with hotel pickup, transport, and drop-off included.

“Everything was perfect, two experienced guides, Very well prepared in the history of Cabo Verde, very pleased with everything”

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6.Guided City tour Praia with Cidade Velha (World Heritage)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · from $58

Spend 3 to 4 hours touring Praia and Cidade Velha with a guide such as Edson, Orlando, José, or another Kapverden Tours host. Visit two markets, the main church, Praia’s central square, and the former colonial capital, with pickup and groups limited to six.

“Edson was a great guide, very knowledgeable and perfect English. The tour took us to the main historical parts of the city and it was very helpful to learn about the history of Cabo Verde”

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7.Shore Excursion: 3-Hour Guided Historic Tour of Praia & Cidade Velha

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · from $64

Travel by private, climate-controlled minivan from Praia Harbor to Praia and Cidade Velha. Your guide covers the Sucupira market, colonial squares, Fortaleza Real de San Felipe, the first European cathedral in Sub-Saharan Africa, and Banana Street. Guides may include Elzo, Garcia, or Elisandro.

“Garcia was a fantastic guide. He was knowledgeable, personable and flexible. We had an amazing time and wonderful memories of the island!”

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