São Tomé walking tour & city guide

The colonial centre

The centre is small and walkable, with the white Cathedral of Our Lady of Grace, built in the 16th century, the pink Presidential Palace beside it, and streets of colourful old houses. The municipal market is crowded and noisy, full of bananas, breadfruit, fish and cocoa.

At the end of the bay, the Fort of São Sebastião, built in 1575, now houses the National Museum, with exhibits on the islands' history and the cocoa trade.

A classic walk

Start at the cathedral and the Presidential Palace, then walk through the old streets to the busy municipal market. Follow the seafront avenue around the bay, past the fishing boats, to the Fort of São Sebastião, and finish at a café by the water.

Good to know

The drier 'gravana' season from June to September is the best time to visit. Shared taxis and motorbike taxis are the main transport. Roça Agostinho Neto and other old cocoa plantations, the black sand beaches and the rainforest of Obô National Park are easy day trips, and Príncipe is a short flight away.