The historic main square of Beira sits between the railway station and the port, ringed by 1930s and 1940s Art Deco and modernist buildings that hold the colonial post office, the old municipal headquarters, and several cafes. It is the most photogenic part of the centre — battered, sunlit, with crumbling pastel facades that still hint at the city's mid-century moment as a wealthy gateway port.
The square is a good place to start a walking tour. From here you can reach the Cathedral, the railway station, and the seafront easily on foot. Cafés on the arcaded south side serve coffee and pastéis de nata in the cool of the morning.