Trying to figure out if buses and metros in Cape Verde take cards or if Ill need small cash. Any recent experiences?
I found the lack of options frustrating in Cape Verde. I landed in Praia with only large bills from the ATM at the airport (Banco Comercial), and not a single aluguer driver would accept them. The hostel in Achada Santo António couldn’t break them either, so I had to waste time at a minimarket to get coins. Public transport is fine once you adjust, but it’s completely cash-only, which feels inconvenient in 2025. Even bigger buses in Mindelo haven’t upgraded to card systems yet.
Using transport in Cape Verde felt like an authentic experience. The aluguer vans in Praia and Mindelo ran frequently, and handing over 120 CVE in cash felt simple and straightforward. ATMs from Caixa Económica on Avenida Cidade Lisboa always worked for me, and I’d ask the hostel receptionist in Plateau to swap larger bills into smaller notes. I liked that it was easy to mingle with locals - no card machines or apps, just small cash and friendly drivers.
I stayed in Mindelo near Rua Lisboa and used the city buses to get around. Each ride was 150 CVE, always paid in coins or small bills directly to the driver. When heading to Baía das Gatas, I jumped in an aluguer van that only took cash - the driver laughed when I asked about cards. I used a Banco Comercial ATM in Praça Estrela to withdraw. Breaking 2000 CVE notes was tough, so I’d buy snacks at a kiosk just to get change for buses.
Cape Verde doesn’t have metros, just aluguer shared vans and city buses. In Praia and Mindelo, city buses are usually paid in cash, often around 120-150 CVE. The minibuses and shared hiaces between towns are always cash-only, collected by the driver. ATMs from Caixa Económica de Cabo Verde and Banco Comercial do Atlântico are in Praia Plateau, Mindelo center, and at the airport. Carry small escudo bills and coins, because drivers hate breaking large notes. No card readers are installed on buses.