Everything you need to know on the ground.
Safety, money, SIM cards, infrastructure, cultural etiquette, what to do in an emergency, souvenirs & natural keepsakes, and a Kriolu language guide - eight topic pages that go beyond pure island information. Each page is independently checked against official sources (Germany's Federal Foreign Office, the BCV central bank, the ARME regulator and others), with clear labeling wherever the source situation is thin or contradictory - no invented precision.
Practical knowledge for on the ground.
Each page stands on its own and can be linked to directly - together they cover the questions the island guides only touch on.
Safety & No-Go Areas
What Germany's Federal Foreign Office actually says, which neighborhoods in Praia and Mindelo are documented as riskier, and where the real danger lies in the water rather than on the street.
Read the guide → GuidesMoney, Paying & ATMs
The Vinti4 ATM network, withdrawal limits, which card actually works, the closed CVE currency, and where card payment hits its limits.
Read the guide → GuidesSIM & Internet
Alou vs. Unitel T+ compared, eSIM options, Starlink since December 2024, and why 5G is still a distant prospect in Cape Verde in 2026.
Read the guide → GuidesPower, Water & Network
Why drinking water comes from desalination almost everywhere, how common power outages really are, and the long road to 50% renewable energy by 2030.
Read the guide → GuidesCulture & Morabeza
What "Morabeza" really means, dress norms, tipping, photo etiquette, and the most important everyday Kriolu phrases.
Read the guide →Emergency Guide
Emergency numbers, Germany's crisis-preparedness list (ELEFAND), the German diplomatic presence on the ground, and when an evacuation actually becomes necessary.
Available soon (EN)Souvenirs & Natural Keepsakes
Shells, coral, sand and turtle products - what's allowed under German customs and Cape Verdean law, and what can get expensive.
Available soon (EN)Kriolu Language Guide
20 essential everyday phrases in Kriolu with pronunciation - plus the difference between the Santiago and Barlavento variants.
Read the guide →Where to start?
The eight pages work independently of each other - but before your first trip, this order is worth following.
Safety & No-Go Areas
The foundation for any trip planning - what is genuinely documented risk, and what is over-caution.
Money, Paying & ATMs
Decide your cash and card strategy before departure, not at the first ATM.
SIM & Internet
Decide between eSIM and a local SIM before you fly - especially important for digital nomads.
Emergency Guide
Fill out the crisis-preparedness list and save emergency numbers before anything actually happens.
Why these pages are different
Every figure on these eight pages was independently checked against at least one primary source - official government websites, Cape Verde's central bank BCV, the ARME regulator, or Germany's Federal Foreign Office. Wherever the source situation is contradictory or outdated, that is stated explicitly instead of faking false precision.
Questions about the guides.
Is Cape Verde safe?
There is no formal travel warning - but that does not mean there are no relevant risks. In Praia and Mindelo, as well as on the touristic islands of Sal and Boa Vista, Germany's Federal Foreign Office notes that pickpocketing and bag snatching occur, with occasional armed robberies. Check the Federal Foreign Office's current advisories before departure. Details in the Safety guide.
Do you need cash in Cape Verde, or is a card enough?
Plan for both - card payment is not reliable everywhere on smaller islands and outside the resorts. Details in the Money & ATMs guide.
Does mobile coverage work everywhere?
Regular mobile coverage varies by region: usually reliable on the main touristic islands, somewhat patchy on smaller islands like Brava or São Nicolau. Separate from that is Starlink - a satellite internet solution, not a mobile network upgrade: officially approved since October 2024 and on the market since December 2024, as a supplement for locations with weak regular coverage. Details in the SIM & Internet guide.
Can you drink the tap water?
It is usually technically treated via desalination, but due to distribution losses and storage, bottled water is consistently recommended for travelers. Details in the Infrastructure guide.
What do you do in a medical emergency?
Call the emergency number 130 (ambulance); for more serious cases, international health insurance with repatriation cover is practically essential, since hospital infrastructure is limited. Details in the Emergency Guide.
This overview page and its linked subpages do not replace individual legal, safety or medical advice. Conditions, regulations and infrastructure change - check safety-relevant details directly with Germany's Federal Foreign Office before departure in particular.
Travel well prepared.
Start with the Safety guide, or jump straight to your personal 360° check.