Airports and Flights to Cabo Verde

Flights to the archipelago available all year round

The availability of flights to Cabo Verde has been increasing throughout the year. Recently, Spain (Barcelona Airport - BCN) has resumed direct flights to the archipelago, as well as Bergamo, Italy. These are just a few examples of the growing interest in Cabo Verde among major international tourism markets, which is leading to the introduction of more flight routes.

Currently, several countries have flights to and from Cabo Verde:

United Kingdom: TUI Fly, British Airways, Easy Jet, Virgin Atlantic, Thomas Cook Airlines, and Thomson Airways are the options for those travelling from the UK to Cabo Verde. The flight duration is approximately 6 to 7 hours.

Spain: Binter Canarias connects the Canary Islands to Cabo Verde in about 2 hours and 30 minutes, departing from Madrid.

Senegal: Air Senegal and ASKY Airlines operate the Dakar - Cabo Verde route, with flights lasting just over an hour.

Portugal: Cabo Verde Airlines, TAP Portugal, and Sata Azores Airlines offer direct flights to Cabo Verde, with a flight time of approximately 4 hours.

Poland: LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, TAP Air Portugal, Iberia, and Vueling connect Poland with direct and connecting flights to Cabo Verde, with durations starting at 7 hours and 30 minutes.

Netherlands: TUI Airlines and Corendon Dutch Airlines operate flights to Cabo Verde, with a flight time of 6 hours and 30 minutes.

Italy: Neos and Cabo Verde Airlines offer flights from Italy, with direct flights taking around 8 to 9 hours.

Guinea-Bissau: Currently, Royal Air Maroc offers direct flights between Guinea-Bissau (Osvaldo Vieira International Airport in Bissau) and Cabo Verde (Nelson Mandela International Airport in Praia). Air Senegal also operates flights on this route, though they may not always be direct.

Germany: TUIfly operates direct flights from cities such as Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf, and Cologne to Sal Island. TAP Air Portugal also connects German cities with Cabo Verde, often with a layover in Lisbon.

France: TACV - Cabo Verde Airlines recently resumed direct flights between Cabo Verde and Paris after a three-year hiatus. The airline now operates two weekly flights between Nelson Mandela Airport in Praia and Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. 

Additionally, Transavia offers direct flights between Paris and Praia.

Czech Republic: SmartWings operates direct charter flights from Prague to Sal Island once a week, with a flight time of approximately 7 hours.

Belgium: Airlines such as TAP Air Portugal, Tui Fly Belgium, RAM, Swiss, and Azores Airlines offer flights from Belgium to Cabo Verde, with Tui Fly Belgium providing direct flights from Brussels to several islands, including Sal and Praia.

International Airports in Cabo Verde

Cabo Verde is served by four international airports, connecting the archipelago to the world:

Amílcar Cabral International Airport (Sal Island):

The busiest airport in Cabo Verde, with the longest runway (3,000 meters long and 45 meters wide), located just 6 minutes by car from the town of Espargos.

It offers modern facilities, including duty-free shops, restaurants, travel agencies, and car rentals. Notably, this airport is considered an emergency landing site for NASA space shuttles.

Nelson Mandela International Airport (Santiago Island):

Located about 3 km northeast of Praia, the capital of Cabo Verde, this airport has a 2,100-meter-long runway. Although smaller than Sal's airport, it offers basic services, with ongoing improvements.

Aristides Pereira International Airport (Boa Vista Island):

The third busiest airport in Cabo Verde, with a runway measuring 2,100 meters. It is a modern airport catering to international tourists with various services.

Cesária Évora International Airport (São Vicente Island):

Located near São Pedro, approximately 5 km southwest of Mindelo, the second-largest city in Cabo Verde. It features a 2,000-meter-long runway and is growing in importance for regional and international flights, particularly charter and cargo flights.

Upon arrival at these airports, taxis are available to transport you to your accommodation, or you can choose to rent a car. Additionally, informal transportation services are available on all islands, with fares starting at €1.

In Cabo Verde, travellers can drive using their home country’s driver’s licence, provided they carry a valid passport.

All islands, except Santo Antão and Brava, have aerodromes that facilitate inter-island flights in Cabo Verde.

Source: Vinci Airports Cabo Verde