The checklist as a PDF
Entry, health, money, transport and safety, laid out for print, with their sources and verification date.
São Tomé & Príncipe
Central Africa
Splendid beaches, tropical forest and wildlife. Atlantic islands and the complex history of the roças.
- On the map
CapitalSão Tomé
When to goJune to September
Suggested length6 days min.
CurrencySão Tomé and Príncipe dobra
LanguagesPortuguese
The Viafro verdict
For whom, and for which trip.
An editorial bearing, with no percentage and no rating: our criteria are written down, and every “good to know” links to its source.
- For which trip
- Sao Tomé · Principé · Parc naturel Obô de São Tomé
- Best season
- June to September, from São Tomé’s normals
- Length
- Allow at least 6 days for these 3 essentials, one stop every two or three days. (Viafro’s rule of thumb)
Best time to visit
Twelve months, in colour.
Hover or tap a month: its reading and its source appear. Bars measure rain, the figure is the capital’s mean maximum.
Possible
November
São Tomé: mean maximum 29 °C, 99 mm of rain · frequent rain.
- Mean maximum
- 29 °C
- Rain
- 99 mm
- Station
- São Tomé
Source: Wikipedia (climate normals)
Before you go
The essentials, tab by tab.
Entry, health, safety, money and facts: dated official extracts, never paraphrased.
Visa, passport, customs
GOV.UK advice, written for British passport holders. French travellers: see France Diplomatie (https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/information-par-pays/sao-tome-et-principe/conseils-aux-voyageurs-entree-sejour).
- Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay. Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
- You can visit São Tomé and Príncipe for tourism for a period of up to 15 days without a visa. To stay longer (to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons), you must meet the São Tomé and Príncipe government’s entry requirements.
- To enter São Tomé and Príncipe, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk. For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s São Tomé and Príncipe guide.
Vaccines, malaria, water
This is not medical advice: talk to your doctor or an international vaccination centre before you travel.
- At least 8 weeks before your trip:
- Medical facilities on São Tomé and Príncipe are limited and many health conditions need evacuation to Europe, South Africa, Ghana or Gabon for treatment. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.
Per the ministries
Viafro gives no safety rating: here are the zones and advice published by the French ministry (in French) and the official extracts, with their dates.
No particular vigilance zone is listed on the official page (in French) (updated on 15 Sept 2026) · see the page.
- The crime rate in São Tomé and Príncipe is generally low, but burglaries and armed robberies can happen. You can take steps to reduce your risk and help protect your belongings, including: not wearing expensive jewellery or carrying large amounts of cash
- There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
What the country’s law provides
Photography, alcohol, drugs, relationships: the rules published by the ministries, quoted as they stand, without comment.
- There are severe penalties for all drug offences. Pack all luggage yourself and do not carry anything through customs for anyone else.
Currency
São Tomé and Príncipe dobraViafro publishes no price or budget range without a source: amounts will come from our own expenses recorded on the ground, dated and itemised.
- There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of São Tomé and Príncipe. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
Express card
Structured data from Wikidata and the CIA World Factbook, re-checked at every site update.
- Population · 2025
- 240,254
- Time zone
- −1 h from Paris
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C and F plugs · 220 V
- Driving side
- Driving on the right
- Calling code
- +239
- Languages
- Portuguese
- Area
- 1,001 km²
- Highest point
- Pico de São Tomé, 2,024 m
- Main religions
- Catholic 55.7%, Adventist 4.1%, Assembly of God 3.4%, New Apostolic 2.9%, Mana 2.3%, Universal Kingdom of God 2%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, other 6.2%, none 21.2%, unspecified 1%
Getting there and around
Airports, roads and transport.
- TMSSão Tomé International AirportSão Tomé10,516 passengers
- PCPPríncipe AirportPrincipe
- PGPPorto Alegre Airport
Direct flights from Paris are to be checked on the airport’s or airline’s website.
On the road
- If you are planning to drive in São Tomé and Príncipe, see information on driving abroad. You’ll need to have both the correct version of the international driving permit (IDP) and your UK driving licence with you in the car.
Destinations
The essentials.
Sao Tomé
São Tomé is the capital and largest city of the Central African island country of São Tomé and Príncipe.
Principé
Parc naturel Obô de São Tomé
The Obô Natural Park of São Tomé (Portuguese: Parque Natural Obô de São Tomé) is a natural park of São Tomé and Príncipe, covering 195 km2 (75 sq mi) of the island of São Tomé.
Príncipe
César J. PolloMust-try food
Six dishes, and where to taste them.
Calulu de peixe
Calulu is a typical dish from Angola (Angolan cuisine) and São Tomé and Príncipe (Cuisine of São Tomé and Príncipe). Preparations of it can include fish or meat.
Blablá
Plat traditionnel à base de poisson, de légumes et d'herbes aromatiques. (summary in French)
Peixe grelhado
Grilling is a form of cooking that involves heat applied to the surface of food, commonly from above, below or from the side. Grilling usually involves a significant amount of direct, radiant heat, and tends to be used for cooking meat and vegetables quickly.
Feijoada santoméenne
Feijoada (European Portuguese: [fɐjˈʒwaðɐ], Brazilian Portuguese: [fejʒuˈadɐ]; from feijão, 'bean') is the name for varieties of bean stew with beef or pork prepared in the Portuguese-speaking world. Feijoada is a common name given to dishes from Portuguese-sp
Cachupa
Cachupa is a dish from the Cape Verde islands, West Africa. It is a slow-cooked stew of corn (hominy), beans, fish or meat, and often morcela. Referred to as the country's national dish, each island has its own regional variation. The version of the recipe cal
Palm wine
Palm wine, known by several local names, is an alcoholic beverage created from the sap of various species of palm trees such as the palmyra, date palms, and coconut palms. It is known by various names in different regions and is common in various parts of Afri
Culture and etiquette
Customs, dress, useful words.
- Bom diagood morning
- Obrigadothank you
- Por favorplease
- Entries checked on Wiktionary.
- Religions: Catholic 55.7%, Adventist 4.1%, Assembly of God 3.4%, New Apostolic 2.9%, Mana 2.3%, Universal Kingdom of God 2%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, other 6.2%, none 21.2%, unspecified 1%.
- Languages: Portuguese 98.4% (official), Forro 36.2%, Cabo Verdian 8.5%, French 6.8%, Angolar 6.6%, English 4.9%, Lunguie 1%, other (including sign language) 2.4%; other Portuguese-based Creoles are also spoken (2012 est.).
Festivals and events
The big dates.
- National holiday
Independence Day, 12 July (1975) ; independence: 12 July 1975 (from Portugal).
Fixed dates and moveable events, each with its source; moveable dates change every year and are to be checked on an official calendar.
Did you know?
Three things to remember.
The country’s highest point, Pico de São Tomé, reaches 2,024 m.
240,254 inhabitants in 2025 on 1,001 km², about 240 per km².
Independence on 12 July 1975 (from Portugal).
Gallery
See it before you go.
Real photographs: free images under a verified licence and Viafro images. Never a generated image. Credits in the footer.
Share your trip with #viafro: the best images will join this gallery, with your credit.
Live, work, invest
A few key figures.
Sourced data (World Bank). No investment advice.
GDP per capita (current US$)4.1World Bank · 2025GDP growth1 %World Bank · 2025Inflation (consumer prices)11 %World Bank · 2025Unemployment (ILO estimate)9.1 %World Bank · 2025International tourist arrivals33.4World Bank · 2018
World Bank data (World Development Indicators), consulted on 28 Oct 2026. Tourist arrivals are the latest year published.
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Sources and verification dates · 17 sources, checked on 28 Oct 2026
Travel advice · GOV.UK (FCDO)Entry, visa, safety: the official page, kept up to date by the ministry. Travel health · US CDCVaccines and precautions from a reference medical source. World Heritage · UNESCOThe country’s inscribed sites and tentative list. WikidataCapital and currency, verified structured data.
- Wikidata · São Tomé & Príncipe (Q1039)
- World Bank · World Development Indicators
- GOV.UK (FCDO) · São Tomé & Príncipe · Foreign travel advice · Entry requirements (page updated on 19 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK (FCDO) · São Tomé & Príncipe · Foreign travel advice · Health (page updated on 19 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK (FCDO) · São Tomé & Príncipe · Foreign travel advice · Safety and security (page updated on 19 Oct 2026)
- Wiktionary · Checked entries (Portuguese)
- Wikipedia · Calulu (en article, dish verification; Viafro description)
- Wikipedia · Cuisine de Sao Tomé-et-Principe (fr article, dish verification; Viafro description)
- Wikipedia · Feijoada (pt article, dish verification; Viafro description)
- Wikipedia · Cachupa
- Wikipedia · Palm wine
- Wikipedia · São Tomé (ville)
- Wikipedia · Parc naturel Obô de São Tomé
- CIA World Factbook · São Tomé & Príncipe (public domain) (page updated on 29 Oct 2026)
- France Diplomatie · Sao Tomé-et-Principe · Travel advice · Security (zones, in French) (page updated on 15 Sept 2026)
- Wikidata · Airports of the country (IATA code, traffic) (page updated on 29 Oct 2026)
- Wikipedia (climate normals) · São Tomé · monthly normals (Deutscher Wetterdienst{{cite web) (page updated on 29 Oct 2026)
Information checked on 28 Oct 2026. Check the official source before you travel. Viafro gives no safety rating and publishes no price without a source.
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