Don’t be surprised if you’ve never heard of São Tomé and Príncipe before, as not many people know about this hidden gem in Central Africa! São Tomé e Príncipe is an island nation close to Nigeria and Gabon and it comprises two tiny islands – São Tomé (larger) and Príncipe (tinier). It’s the smallest country in Africa and one of the less-visited as well, but this doesn’t mean you should exclude it from your bucket list.
In fact, I think this tiny piece of paradise is quite underrated! The São Tomé and Príncipe capital is São Tomé City because let’s face it, they didn’t have that many cities to choose from! But enough with the jokes already. Although both islands combined are no more than 1.000 km2, both of them offer some pretty exciting activities! If you decide to visit Sao Tome and Principe, you can expect lush tropical rainforests, an abundance of wildlife, friendly locals, lots of diving opportunities, superb mountain peaks and a pretty amazing national park as well. And do I need to add that all Sao Tome beaches are simply untouched paradise?
The São Tomé and Príncipe tourism is, unfortunately, not that developed, but I strongly believe this is set to change soon. A paradise island is Africa? Who would have thought! It won’t be long until the secret’s out. If you want to read more about this unique place on Earth, I recommend clicking here to find out all about my (pretty unexpected!) visit in São Tomé and Príncipe.
If the answer is yes, I recommend checking out all my articles about this unforgettable country here, so you will be fully prepared to visit Sao Tome and Principe.
Currency
The official São Tomé and Príncipe currency is the Dobra (STN). 1 USD is the equivalent of 20.77 STN.
Visas
There is no visa required if your stay is shorter than 15 days. But I recommend checking the up-to-date information for your nationality on this website.
Languages
The official São Tomé and Príncipe language is Portuguese.
Vaccines
There are no officially required vaccines for entering São Tomé and Príncipe. But for your own safety, it is recommended to have your routine vaccines in order and to get vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B and typhoid before your trip here.
Electrical Plugs
In Sao Tome and Principe, plug sockets use type C and F and the voltage is 220V with a frequency of 50Hz.
SIM Cards
You can get your SIM card in São Tomé City (São Tomé) and in Santo Antonio (Príncipe). The most popular provider is CST (find their shops here) and you can buy your SIM in their official shops in the city.
Religions
The main religion in São Tomé and Príncipe is Roman Catholicism (more than half of the country). The rest of them are Protestant.
Best Time to Travel
The best time to visit these tiny islands is from mid-June to mid-September, during the dry season. You wouldn’t want it to rain every day during your São Tomé and Príncipe holidays, would you?
