Praia is a working capital city, not a beach resort, but it has more to offer than visitors sometimes expect. The Platô — the flat-topped plateau at the city's heart — has the colonial architecture, the main government buildings, and the best views over the harbour. Around it, the city spreads down the hillsides in a mix of modern development and older neighbourhoods.
Beyond the Platô, the beaches south of the city are a real asset: Prainha and the beaches toward Cidade Velha offer good swimming and a more relaxed pace. The real historical draw is Cidade Velha, 15 kilometres west, which has the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Cape Verde.