Transportation in São Tomé

The island's transport runs on shared taxis and minivans, cheap, plentiful, and the way locals move. They follow fixed routes radiating from the city center and fill up fast. Flag one anywhere along the main road and hop out wherever you need. For door-to-door comfort, private taxis are a moderate splurge and can be booked through your hotel or hailed at stands near the market. Rental cars exist but are pricey and the roads narrow. Unless you're heading to remote southern beaches, the shared system is faster and a fraction of the cost. From the airport, ignore the lone tout who greets you curbside, walk 50 m to the official taxi rank or, if you're traveling light, cross the car park to the main road where shared taxis pass every few minutes. The ride into town is short; a shared seat costs next to nothing, while a private taxi is the comfort option, agree the fare before you load your bags.