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Where is Cape Verde? Location, flight times and time difference

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Cape Verde is an island country in the Atlantic Ocean, about 570 km off the coast of West Africa and roughly six hours by plane from the UK. This guide shows where the ten islands are on the map, how far they are from Europe and the Canaries, how long the flights take from the UK and mainland Europe and what the time difference is, so you can plan your trip and your arrival.

Where is Cape Verde located?

Cape Verde, officially Cabo Verde, lies in the central Atlantic Ocean between about 14° and 18° north, roughly level with Senegal, Mauritania and, across the ocean, the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. The nearest point of the mainland is Cap-Vert, the peninsula of Dakar in Senegal, about 570 km east of Boa Vista: the islands take their name from that cape, the westernmost point of Africa.

Geographically and politically, Cape Verde is part of Africa. It became independent from Portugal on 5 July 1975 and is a member of the African Union, although its Portuguese and Creole culture and its Atlantic position give it close links with Europe, Brazil and the United States. The islands belong to Macaronesia, the group of volcanic Atlantic archipelagos that also includes the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands.

The ten islands on the map

The archipelago is made up of ten islands, nine of them inhabited, spread over roughly 300 km of ocean. Together they cover about 4,033 km², roughly one and a half times the size of Luxembourg, and the 2021 census counted 491,233 residents. They are traditionally divided into two groups named after the trade winds. The northern Barlavento (windward) islands are Santo Antão, São Vicente, the uninhabited Santa Luzia, São Nicolau, Sal and Boa Vista. The southern Sotavento (leeward) islands are Maio, Santiago, Fogo and Brava.

The two beach islands, Sal and Boa Vista, are the most easterly and the closest to Africa: flat, dry and windy, about 70 km apart. Santiago, the largest island, holds the capital, Praia, about 210 km south of Sal. In the north-west, São Vicente with the port of Mindelo faces the green mountains of Santo Antão across a narrow channel, while Fogo's volcano, at 2,829 m the highest point in the country, rises in the south-west. Our island comparison explains what each one is like.

How far is Cape Verde from Europe and the Canaries?

Measured in a straight line, Sal is about 4,300 km from London, 4,650 km from Frankfurt, 4,250 km from Paris, 4,350 km from Milan and Rome, 3,250 km from Madrid and 2,800 km from Lisbon. The Canary Islands are the nearest part of Europe, about 1,450 km to the north-east of Sal, and the coast of Brazil is around 2,800 km to the south-west. In flying time, Cape Verde is roughly one and a half to two hours further from the UK than Tenerife or Gran Canaria, which take about four to four and a half hours.

That puts Cape Verde much further south than the Canaries, Madeira or the Algarve, inside the tropics, which is why it stays warm all winter: on Sal the average high never drops below about 24 °C. Distances between the islands are long too, so getting from one to another means a domestic flight or a ferry crossing of several hours; see island hopping.

Cape Verde flight times from the UK and Europe

From the UK and Ireland, a direct flight to Sal or Boa Vista takes about six hours. TUI flies from several UK airports, including London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol, and easyJet flies to Sal from Gatwick, Manchester and Bristol; some routes are seasonal. From Germany, flights to Sal and Boa Vista take roughly six to six and a half hours, with TUI fly from airports such as Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Hanover and Stuttgart.

From France the flight is about five and a half to six hours, with Transavia from Paris-Orly and several regional airports. From Italy, Neos flies from Milan, Bergamo, Verona and Rome in about six hours, and easyJet links Milan with Sal. From Lisbon the flight takes about four hours, with TAP and other airlines to all four international airports, which also makes Lisbon the usual connection from Spain. From the Canary Islands, Binter flies from Gran Canaria in roughly two and a half hours. Return flights can be a little longer or shorter depending on the winds, and routes change every season, so check current schedules; our airports guide explains which airport to choose.

Cape Verde time difference

Cape Verde keeps UTC−1 all year round and does not change its clocks in summer. The time difference with Europe therefore depends on the season. From the UK, Ireland, Portugal and the Canary Islands, Cape Verde is one hour behind in winter and two hours behind in summer. From Spain's mainland, France, Germany, Italy and the rest of Central Europe, it is two hours behind in winter and three hours behind in summer.

Europe moves to winter time on the last Sunday of October, which in 2026 is 25 October, and back to summer time on the last Sunday of March, 28 March in 2027. So when it is noon in London in January, it is 11:00 on Sal; when it is noon in Rome or Berlin in July, it is 09:00. A small gap means no jet lag, but early return flights can feel even earlier, and phone calls home need a moment of arithmetic.

What the location means for the weather

Its position between the Sahara and the open Atlantic shapes Cape Verde's climate. The north-east trade winds blow steadily for much of the year, strongest from about December to May, keeping the heat pleasant and the islands among the best spots in the Atlantic for kitesurfing. In winter the Harmattan can carry Saharan dust over the islands, the bruma seca, which turns the sky hazy and sometimes delays inter-island flights.

Rain is scarce. Most of it falls in a short wet season from about August to October, light on Sal and Boa Vista and heavier on the mountains of Santiago, Fogo and Santo Antão. The waters off the islands are also where many Atlantic tropical storms form in late summer; most move away to the west, but it is worth checking the forecast if you travel in August or September. For month-by-month figures, see Cape Verde weather and the best time to visit.

Before you go

Cape Verde is not part of the European Union, but British and EU citizens do not need a visa for a holiday. Every visitor must pre-register on the official EASE platform at least five days before arrival and pay the airport security fee there; the rules are in safety, visa and the EASE fee. The currency is the Cape Verdean escudo, pegged to the euro, and euros are accepted in many tourist areas.

Most holidaymakers fly direct to Sal or Boa Vista. If you are comparing Cape Verde with other winter-sun destinations closer to home, read our guide to Cape Verde or the Canary Islands, which compares the weather, flight times and prices.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Cape Verde located?

In the central Atlantic Ocean, about 570 km west of Senegal in West Africa, between about 14° and 18° north. The capital is Praia, on the island of Santiago.

Is Cape Verde in Africa?

Yes. Cape Verde is an African island country, independent from Portugal since 1975 and a member of the African Union, although it lies far out in the Atlantic.

How long is the flight to Cape Verde from the UK?

About six hours direct to Sal or Boa Vista. From Lisbon the flight takes about four hours, and from Gran Canaria roughly two and a half.

What is the time difference between the UK and Cape Verde?

Cape Verde is one hour behind the UK in winter and two hours behind in summer, because it stays on UTC−1 all year. From Central Europe it is two hours behind in winter and three in summer.

Is Cape Verde near the Canary Islands?

Not very: Sal is about 1,450 km south-west of the Canary Islands, roughly two and a half hours by plane. Cape Verde lies in the tropics, so it is warmer in winter.

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