Off the oft-trodden route, the tropical islands of Sao Tome and Principe in the Gulf of Guinea is one of the top places to visit. Verdant green plantations, pristine beaches, and quaint mountain towns create an enchanting landscape that is beginning to attract the attention of eco-tourists worldwide. Adding to this natural splendor is the fascinating history of the city of Sao Tome, which emanates a colonial charm, with Romanesque churches and baroque buildings. A vibrant creole culture, museums exhibiting historical artifacts, chocolates and vanilla factories using the produce from local plantations, lazy coffee shops, and mouthwatering seafood are some of the major attractions of this capital city. On your next holiday, take a refreshing break from overcrowded tourist spots and taste the offerings of this exhilarating destination, exploring the best things to do in São Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe.
1. Get acquainted with Sao Tome's past at São Sebastião Museum
Housed in a 16th-century Portuguese fortress, this museum displays an eclectic collection of items that portray the history of this country, especially about life during colonial times. Some African and religious art are also presented here like wooden masks with intricately carved designs. A noteworthy exhibit is the bones of a bygone cacao king, brown with age, kept under his portrait. After the trip, you can head to the roof of the museum to enjoy the rejuvenating sea breeze and a breathtaking view of the open ocean.
São Sebastião Museum
Address: Av. Marginal 12 Julho, São Tomé
Website: São Sebastião Museum
Opening hours: Sat : 8am - 1pm; Mon - Fri: 8am - 4pm (closed on Sun)
Price: 1 USD
2. Connect with nature at Pico Cão Grande
A landmark destination often used as the representative symbol of these islands, this needle-shaped magma column literally means the Great Dog Peak. This volcanic rock tower was left behind after the volcano slowly eroded away. The steep peak, shrouded all year round with thick mist, never fails to challenge thrill-seeking hikers to conquer its summit. Golden orioles and gray African parrots play hide and seek with the visitors in the surrounding rain forest, adding to the charm of this popular tourist attraction. For non-hikers, the region presents captivating photo-ops.
Pico Cão Grande
Address: Obo National Park, São Tomé
3. Soak up the solitude at peaceful Ana Chaves Bay
Home to the port of the capital city of Sao Tome, the beautiful shoreline along Ana Chaves Bay greets you as you drive down from the airport. At sunset, the reflection of the sun’s rays turn the water into liquid gold and it is a sight to behold. In the morning, you can take a quiet stroll along the waterfront, separated from the footpath by a balustrade, and enjoy the sights of fishing boats going into the sea. A few shipwrecks present some intriguing photography opportunities as well.
Ana Chaves Bay
Address: Sao Tome, Sao Tome Island
4. Delight your taste buds at Claudio Corallo Chocolate Factory
Often touted as the best chocolate in the world, even by media giants like BBC World News, the product in this factory established by Italian chocolatier Claudio Corallo is the purest and most unique chocolate. You can savour the chocolates on this tour including the intense 100-percent cacao bars that are not at all bitter but create an amazing taste-bust on your palette. Most of the raw materials, including the beans and the flavouring agents, are grown by the factory itself. On the tour, you can witness the care and thoughtful experimentation that go into the bean-to-bar chocolate-making process. You can also taste some unusual coffee made in the same laboratory.
Claudio Corallo Chocolate Factory
Address: Av. Marginal 12 de Julho, 978, Sao Tome, R. do Município, São Tomé, São Tomé & Príncipe
Website: Claudio Corallo Chocolate Factory
Opening hours: Sat : 10am - 8pm; Mon : 2:30pm - 7:30pm; Tue - Fri: 9:30am - 7:30pm (closed on Sun)
5. Hold a picnic on the sand at Praia Lagarto (from USD 3.0)
The beaches are the crowning glory of this island and the warm sand and turquoise water of the Atlantic at Praia Lagarto welcome you to spend some fun moments in the sun. Although swimming is not advisable on this beach, you can pack some meals with you and enjoy some time bonding with your family with a picnic here. A half-sunken ship offshore lends some mystery to this place. You can also indulge in some watersports like surfing at this beach.
Sao Tome and Principe Full-Day Private Tour from Sao Tome
Duration: 8 hours
6. Relax with friends at the laidback seafront bar Cesar's Cafe
Located in a warehouse, it is one of the best restaurants in Sao Tome, providing a relaxing ambience with good music and imaginative decorations. If you drop in on a Saturday, you can groove to live music. After a hectic day of sightseeing, you can revive your energies for the rest of the trip, with mouthwatering tapas, crispy salads, refreshing cocktails, or some deliciously hot and strong coffee while feasting your eyes on the mystic beauty of the Atlantic.
Cesar's Cafe
Address: Avenida 12 de Julho, Sao Tome, São Tomé & Príncipe
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 5pm - 2am (closed on Mon)
7. Uncover the delights of creative vanilla-flavored additives at Vanilha Factory
Vanilla is famous as a flavouring agent for sweet items, but who knew vanilla salts could up the savoury quotient in dishes like fish steamed with coconut-milk or chicken cooked with ananas? Find out more such groundbreaking vanilla options, understand how the exotic vanilla pods are produced, and explore a vanilla plantation with a visit to Vanhila Factory laboratory. Prior reservations are necessary and you can contact the lab via Whatsapp for booking a trip.
Vanilha Factory
Address: São Tomé Pema-Pema, São Tomé & Príncipe
Website: Vanilha Factory
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 12:30pm - 4:30pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
8. Discover flavoursome local Portuguese cuisine at Done Teté
Serving lip-smacking seafood preparations and traditional Sao Tomean side dishes, this restaurant is a traveling gourmet’s delight. The pleasures of discovering a new destination remain incomplete unless you sample its local culture and food, and Dona Tete, swarming with locals, gives you the opportunity for both these experiences. Set in the owner’s patio, the ambience is casual but the taste is on point. You can get a glimpse of the local lifestyle while tucking into grilled fish, plantains, and chilled beer. The owner, Dona Tete, is a friendly host, socializing with the guests and keeping an eye on the service.
Dona Teté
Address: Avenida Marginal 12 Julho, São Tomé, São Tomé & Príncipe
Website: Dona Teté
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 6pm - 10pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
Delve into a fantastic tropical sojourn in the virgin volcanic islands
Combine cinematographic beaches, majestic mountain peaks, historic architecture, and world-class cuisine, and add a sprinkling of extraordinary chocolate. You will get an idyllic tropical vacation steeped in the delicious “leve leve” (meaning easy easy in the local tongue) attitude of Africa. As you plan your vacation, why not split off from the usual and head out to this remote island nation? You are sure to cherish the encounter with its rich equatorial African heritage blended with a Portuguese colonial past, experiencing some of the best things to do in São Tomė.
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