Guides › São Vicente

Nantes – São Vicente direct flight: a different Cape Verde, from Mindelo to Santo Antão

Published September 27, 2026
São Vicente
© damien Saillet / Pexels

It's a first: from 30 October 2026, Transavia flies non-stop from Nantes to São Vicente, Cape Verde, every Friday. Sal and Boa Vista are the beach islands; São Vicente is the Cape Verde of music, colourful Mindelo streets and spectacular hiking on the island next door.

Nantes → São Vicente direct: prices will show here as soon as they are checked.
See flights

Route essentials

  • Airline: Transavia
  • Season: from 30 October 2026, throughout the winter season (until late March 2027)
  • Flight day: Friday (one flight a week)
  • Arrival: Cesária Évora Airport, about ten kilometres from Mindelo
  • Entry: EU travellers need no visa, but online pre-registration and an airport fee are required. Check the latest requirements with your government's travel advice before you go.
  • Time difference: −2 hours from France in winter
  • Currency: the Cape Verdean escudo; euros are often accepted, but at a poor rate.

One week, Friday to Friday

With one flight a week, you go for seven nights. A good split: three or four nights in Mindelo, then two or three on Santo Antão, the mountainous island opposite, about an hour away by ferry.

What to do on São Vicente and Santo Antão

  • Mindelo, the country's cultural capital: pastel colonial houses, the fish market and live morna in the bars at night. It's Cesária Évora's home town.
  • Monte Verde, the island's highest point, for a view over the whole bay.
  • Beaches: Laginha right in town, and Baía das Gatas or Calhau for lagoons and natural pools.
  • Santo Antão: cliff-top trails above the ocean, the green valleys of Paul and Ribeira Grande, villages clinging to the slopes. One of the finest hikes in West Africa.
  • Mindelo Carnival in February, the most famous in the country, if you can time your trip for it.

Cape Verde in winter

It's the dry season: pleasant all year round, around 25 °C, with a steady breeze keeping things fresh. Perfect for escaping grey skies back home.

From the airport to Mindelo

A taxi takes about fifteen minutes. There's no convenient regular bus from the airport: agree the fare before getting in, or book your transfer in advance.

Getting around São Vicente

Partner links
Airport transfer
A driver meets you on arrival, price fixed when you book.
See transfers →
Tours and activities in São Vicente
Landmarks, museums, day trips, skip-the-line tickets.
See activities →

Looking for more ideas? See every direct destination from Nantes.

Search flights →