São Tomé town is small enough to cover on foot in a day. The São Sebastião Museum, housed in the old Portuguese fort, is the main cultural sight. The Sé Cathedral is the oldest cathedral in sub-Saharan Africa. Beyond the capital, the island rewards exploration: roça (plantation) estates from the cocoa era are scattered throughout the interior, and the beaches at Praia das Pombas in the north are excellent.
The natural environment is the other draw: the island supports endemic bird species and lush rainforest in the south. The Obo National Park covers much of the southern interior and is worth a guided half-day trip.