Best hotels in São Tomé and Príncipe

Explore 5 handpicked hotels in São Tomé and Príncipe

Sundy Praia

Príncipe Island

15 Rooms

From $970 per person/night

An exquisite lodge on wild Príncipe, an island gem off Africa's west coast

Some 200 kilometres off the west coast of Africa, in the Gulf of Guinea, lies Príncipe – the smaller of the two major islands of the country of São Tomé and Príncipe. Most of the 5000-strong population live in the capital Santo Antonio, leaving the rest of the island in near-pristine state. The soil here is as fertile as land gets: everything grows. Picture lush forests interrupted only by sugarloaf mountains jutting through the foliage, gorgeous beaches and the Atlantic Ocean bursting with marine life. Sundy Praia, on the northwest coast, is a model of high-end sustainable tourism.

Omali Lodge

São Tomé

30 Rooms

From $310 per person/night

The springboard into São Tomé's lush island wilderness

Island lovers and beaten-track dodgers have innumerable cause to explore São Tomé and Príncipe, a twin-island nation off the west coast of Africa in the Gulf of Guinea. Covered in virgin rainforest and unspoiled coastline, the islands are rich in natural beauty, marine life and historical intrigue (they were once a colony of Portugal). Omali Lodge sits on the edge of the capital city, São Tomé (on the larger island). The resort is small, with boutique-style facilities, expert staff, and a low-key but convivial island atmosphere. Pretty Praia Lagarto beach is just a stone's throw away.

Roca Sundy

Príncipe Island

12 Rooms

From $380 per person/night

Restored grandeur on a tropical island paradise

Príncipe is the smaller of the two volcanic islands that make up Africa's second-smallest country – São Tomé and Príncipe – some 200 kilometres off the continent's west coast. The island is a fertile tropical paradise, once scattered with Portuguese cocoa and coffee plantations. Roça Sundy (Roça means "plantation") was one such estate. Taken over by the São Toméan royal family after the Portuguese departure, it later fell into disrepair and was all but swallowed by the jungle. Today, however, Roça Sundy has been completely restored, and has resurfaced to become an extraordinary boutique hotel comprising just 12 suites in two separate historic houses.

Bom Bom

Príncipe Island

19 Rooms

From $480 per person/night

Eden is an island off an island in west Africa's tropical waters

Scarcely pin-pricks on a globe, the scattered isles of Africa's Gulf of Guinea barely feature on a map, let alone a traveller’s radar. But as technology connects the remotest corners with the rest of the world and people hunger for roads-less travelled, things are changing—though, thankfully, not too quickly. Bom Bom Island Resort straddles jungle, beach and islet on the northern tip of Principe Island, one part of the archipelago nation of Sao Tome and Principe. This place is a boon for sojourners seeking solitude and pristine nature, both on land and by sea. The island's 136 square-kilometres are nearly all primary and secondary forest ringed by pale-sand beaches that just beg to be explored.

Belo Monte

Príncipe Island

From $310 per person/night

Experience the timeless allure of Hotel Belo Monte, where nature and comfort exist in perfect harmony. Overlooking rainforest and the Gulf of Guinea, this unique hotel offers sweeping views of Príncipe’s lush coastline, with the iconic Banana Beach nestled just below.

The property features elegant buildings interspersed with courtyards, lawns, a swimming pool, terraces, lounges, a bar, restaurant, and library. The décor is grand yet welcoming, with high ceilings, leather armchairs, chandeliers, and candelabras. Guests enjoy exclusive access to the island’s only private movie theatre and are just moments from Praia Grande – perfect for witnessing turtle season from November to April.

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