Money
Money, cash and cards
Why you should arrive with euros, how reliable ATMs and cards are, the dobra, and how to plan cash for Príncipe.
Arrive with most of your spending money in euros cash, in good condition. Carry a Visa or Mastercard as a backup for hotels. Do not plan around ATMs, especially on Príncipe.
The currency
The local currency is the dobra, code STN (older sources use STD, before the 2018 redenomination). It is pegged to the euro and you cannot buy it before you travel. Euros are by far the most useful foreign currency; US dollars are accepted in some tourist businesses but less consistently.
Cash, cards and ATMs
| São Tomé | Príncipe | |
|---|---|---|
| Euros cash | Widely accepted in tourist businesses; change some to dobras | Essential. Bring what you need from São Tomé |
| Visa / Mastercard | Larger hotels and some restaurants and shops | Mainly the higher-end hotels |
| Amex | Rarely | Rarely |
| ATMs | A few in the capital; foreign-card acceptance is inconsistent | Very limited; possibly one in Santo António, not reliable |
If an ATM or card terminal offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and pay in STN. The conversion rate offered is almost always worse.
Changing money
Travellers consistently report that the airport exchange counter gives a poor rate and that banks in the city are better. Change a small amount at the airport only if you need it immediately.
How to plan your cash
- List what is already prepaid (flights, some hotels, anything booked through us with a card).
- Add what you will pay locally: drivers and guides if paid on the day, boats, meals, taxis, tips and park fees.
- Add a buffer for delays. A cancelled flight from Príncipe means an extra night and meals.
- Take the Príncipe portion with you when you fly there.
Carrying a lot of cash is uncomfortable, so split it between bags and use hotel safes. When you book through us, your quote shows exactly which amounts are paid in advance and which are paid locally, and in what currency, so you can plan this precisely.
Also asked
Quick answers
How much cash should I bring to São Tomé?
Enough to cover everything that is not prepaid, plus a buffer, mostly in euros. Hotels and some restaurants take cards, but drivers, guides, taxis, markets, small restaurants and most things on Príncipe are cash. Travellers in 2025 reported daily spending of roughly US$90–110 on food, local taxis and some sightseeing, excluding accommodation and private guiding.
Can I use ATMs in São Tomé?
Sometimes. Reports from 2025 conflict: some ATMs in the capital accept some foreign Visa cards, others only work with local bank cards. Treat ATMs as a backup, not a plan. On Príncipe there may be one ATM in Santo António and it is not reliably working.
Can I pay in euros?
Often, in tourist businesses. The dobra (STN) is pegged to the euro, and euros are the most useful foreign currency to carry. Locals pay in dobras, and buses and small purchases are in dobras, so change some at a bank.
Is American Express accepted?
Rarely. A 2025 traveller report found only one or two places in the capital that would consider it, mainly high-end resorts. Bring Visa or Mastercard as your card backup.
Plan with a person
Want this arranged for you?
Send your dates and what you want from the trip. We reply with practical options, the guides we would choose for you, what is confirmed and what is not, and a clear total price.
No payment to ask. Nothing is booked until you confirm a written quote.
Keep planning
- 01 Getting around Príncipe (and paying for it)
- 02 How our pricing and payments work
- 03 SIM cards and data
Sources consulted (things change quickly here; if you have newer information, tell us):