Flights to Cape Verde: A Route and Cost Guide
Quick answer: Direct from the UK in 5.5-6 hours from around £75; no direct flight exists from the US — you'll connect via Lisbon.
From the UK: TUI and easyJet fly direct to Sal and Boa Vista from London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, and Newcastle (year-round), plus East Midlands (seasonal). Flight time 5.5-6 hours. One-way fares start around £75-220, rising through UK winter — also Cape Verde's high season — so book ahead for December-February travel.
From mainland Europe: Lisbon is the best-connected hub — easyJet flies direct to Sal from around €83 one-way, and TAP Air Portugal also serves Praia directly.
Flying from the US
There's no direct flight from the United States to Cape Verde. Two realistic routes:
- Boston or New York (JFK) to Praia via Ponta Delgada, Azores — Azores Airlines (SATA) runs this route roughly three times a week, connecting through their Ponta Delgada hub. Total journey time is around 10–11 hours, from about $766 return. This is the best option if you're heading to Santiago (Praia).
- Via Lisbon on TAP Air Portugal — for Sal, Boa Vista, or the other islands, connecting through Lisbon is generally the most practical route, since TAP has the widest network of onward Cape Verde connections. Fly into a major US gateway with a transatlantic service to Lisbon, then TAP onward.
Note on onward travel: direct flights only reach Sal and Boa Vista. Getting to São Vicente, Santo Antão, Fogo, or elsewhere means a domestic flight or ferry from there (see Getting Around Cape Verde).
Related guides: Getting Around Cape Verde · Cape Verde Visa and Entry Requirements