São Tomé International Airport sits 6 kilometers north of the capital city. TAP Air Portugal operates the primary international route from Lisbon with flights continuing three to four times weekly. TAAG Angola Airlines connects through Luanda. STP Airways functions as the domestic carrier between São Tomé and Príncipe islands with approximately five flights weekly, duration 35 minutes. The São Tomé airport terminal completed renovation in 2018 but remains small with limited services. Príncipe Airport handles the domestic connection and occasional charter flights from Libreville.
The dobra became the official currency in 1977 replacing the Portuguese escudo. The current series introduced in 2018 removed three zeros from denominations after years of inflation. Bills circulate in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 dobra notes. Exchange rates in January 2025 hover near 23 dobra per euro and 22 dobra per US dollar though rates shift. Banks in São Tomé city include Banco Internacional de São Tomé e Príncipe, Banco Equador, Afriland First Bank, and Ecobank. Banking hours typically run 08:00 to 15:00 weekdays with variations between institutions. ATMs exist in São Tomé city but function unreliably. Príncipe has extremely limited banking infrastructure with one bank branch in Santo António.
Cash dominates all transactions outside international hotels. The euro holds stronger practical utility than the dobra for many purchases, particularly in tourist contexts. US dollars function as a third currency. Small vendors and rural areas operate cash-only. Credit cards see acceptance only at Pestana hotels, the Omali São Tomé hotel, Bom Bom Island Resort, and select restaurants in the capital. Visa shows wider acceptance than Mastercard where cards work at all. Travelers carry substantial euro or dollar cash for the entire trip duration. Portuguese escudos remained in parallel circulation until approximately 2015 though officially replaced decades earlier.
The Banco Central de São Tomé e Príncipe maintains official exchange services. Currency exchange operates through commercial banks and some hotels. Black market exchange exists but offers minimal rate advantage given the small economy. Bringing euros provides the most practical approach as backup currency and for many direct transactions. Changing money in Príncipe presents significant difficulty outside prearranged hotel services.
Visa requirements depend on passport origin. Portuguese citizens enter visa-free for 15 days under post-colonial agreements. Citizens of Economic Community of West African States members enter without visa. European Union passport holders, United States citizens, Canadian citizens, and Brazilian citizens receive visa on arrival at São Tomé International Airport valid for 30 days. The visa fee costs 20 euros or dollar equivalent paid in cash at airport immigration. Other nationalities require advance visa application through São Toméan embassies, primarily the mission in Lisbon or Luanda. The government website http://www.smf.st provides official visa information though updates lag. Extending visas beyond initial periods requires application at the immigration office on Avenida 12 de Julho in São Tomé city.
Yellow fever vaccination certificate presentation is mandatory for all arrivals regardless of origin. Immigration officials check vaccination cards at passport control. The requirement exists as legal entry condition not discretionary screening. No other vaccinations carry legal requirement though malaria prophylaxis represents medical necessity.
Mobile networks operate through CST (Companhia Santomense de Telecomunicações) and Unitel São Tomé. Coverage concentrates in São Tomé city and the eastern coastal road. Príncipe has limited coverage in Santo António with rural areas lacking signal. SIM cards purchase at network offices and some shops with passport required. Tourist SIM activation sometimes requires local address. Data packages cost approximately 150-300 dobra for 5GB monthly though speeds rarely exceed 3G. International roaming functions poorly with European carriers but African network agreements work better.
Internet access exists through mobile data, hotel WiFi, and rare public connections. Speeds throughout the country remain slow by international standards. The capital offers the most reliable connections. Príncipe internet functions intermittently. Cyber cafes existed in São Tomé city but decreased with mobile adoption.
Electrical supply operates on 220 volts at 50Hz frequency. Plug types are European standard two-pin round prongs designated Type C and Type F. Adaptors for other plug types require bringing from origin as local purchase proves difficult. Power outages occur regularly in São Tomé city and with higher frequency in rural areas. Príncipe experiences longer and more frequent cuts. Hotels and lodges maintain generators though activation takes time and coverage is partial. Charging devices requires planning around available power windows.
Portuguese functions as the government language, education medium, and written communication standard. Forro creole dominates daily conversation in São Tomé among local populations. The creole derives from 15th and 16th century Portuguese with African language influences. Angolar creole remains the primary language of the Angolar fishing communities along the southern and eastern coasts. Principense creole exists on Príncipe island. French sees limited use despite Gulf of Guinea regional proximity to Francophone countries. English proficiency remains low except in international hotels and tour operators serving foreign visitors.