Cape Verde — the sun-soaked Atlantic islands of Sal, Boa Vista and Santiago — has no non-stop flight from Riga, but the connection is one of the easiest long-ish trips out of Latvia. Lisbon looks like the natural gateway, and it is the one most guides name — but it is not where the cheap fares are. In the hundred cheapest we priced to Sal, 82 connected in London Gatwick (airBaltic to Gatwick, easyJet onward) and the very cheapest went via Bergamo (Ryanair, then Cabo Verde Airlines). Only three used Lisbon, at more than twice the price. This guide covers the routing, a fair return fare in euros, and when to book for the beaches.
Route: Riga (RIX) → Cape Verde — Sal (SID) / Praia (RAI) / Boa Vista (BVC)
Distance: approximately 4,700 km (2,920 miles) to Sal
Non-stop flight time: no non-stop service — in the fares we priced, one-stop itineraries ran 11h 00m to 31h 25m in total, median about 11h 00m, most of them via London Gatwick
Direct flights: No — no airline flies Riga to Cape Verde non-stop, and every fare we priced connects once. The common routing is London Gatwick (82 of the hundred cheapest, from €392) and the cheapest is Bergamo (from €385); Lisbon appeared only three times, from €764. Nearly all of these are two separate tickets.
Fares from Riga to Cape Verde (EUR)
Cape Verde is a year-round warm-weather destination, so demand is steadiest in the European winter (November–March), when travellers chase Atlantic sun, and again over the summer holidays. The cheapest windows tend to be the shoulder months — late spring and autumn. Because there is no non-stop, the fares below are one-stop economy returns in euros, usually routed via Lisbon.
| Month | Demand |
|---|---|
| January | high (winter sun) |
| February | high |
| March | medium-high |
| April | medium (Easter) |
| May | low-medium |
| June | medium (holidays start) |
| July | high (summer) |
| August | high (summer) |
| September | low-medium |
| October | medium |
| November | medium-high |
| December | very high (holidays) |
Reference points from our own deal tracking (Riga–Sal): nothing sold below €385 in the dates we could price, and everyday fares often sit near €400–€480 — the median was €454. Anything under about €410 is worth booking quickly, and it will almost certainly be the Bergamo or Gatwick routing rather than Lisbon.
Airlines on this route
No carrier flies Riga to Cape Verde non-stop. Every itinerary connects, and Lisbon is by far the most efficient point to change — the Riga–Lisbon leg and the Lisbon–islands leg are each short, well-served flights.
One-stop via Lisbon (the standard routing):
- airBaltic to London Gatwick + easyJet to Sal — the routing behind 82 of the hundred cheapest fares we priced, €392–€1,359 (median €456), about 11 hours in total. Two separate tickets.
- Ryanair to Bergamo + Cabo Verde Airlines to Sal — the cheapest of all, €385–€412, and the routing that holds the floor. Also two separate tickets, and the onward flight is infrequent, so check the days carefully.
- TAP Air Portugal via Lisbon — the most seamless single-ticket option, since Lisbon is TAP’s hub for Cape Verde and it serves Sal, Praia and Boa Vista. It is the one to pick if you want one ticket and protected connections, but it is not the cheap way: three fares in our sample, €764–€1,795, and 14h 25m rather than 11 hours.
- SWISS via Zurich — also appeared, at €812–€1,525.
Other one- or two-stop options:
- The two-ticket warning that matters here: 95 of the hundred cheapest fares we priced were self-transfers — you buy the Riga leg and the island leg separately, and if the first runs late nobody is obliged to rebook you. That is the real cost of the €385–€456 fares, and it is why the single-ticket Lisbon routing can still be the right buy at €764 even though it is dearer and slower.
For the smoothest trip, book a single Lisbon-routed ticket; splitting airBaltic to Lisbon and a separate island leg can be cheaper but leaves you responsible for the connection.
When to book & how to save
- Book 2–4 months ahead for the winter-sun and summer peaks; the December holidays in particular sell out early and fares climb close to departure.
- Travel in the shoulder months (May, September–October) for the lowest fares and still-excellent island weather.
- Route via Lisbon — it is almost always the cheapest and fastest way through, and pairs a short airBaltic or TAP hop with a short island leg.
- Watch the connection time — a comfortable Lisbon layover protects you if the first leg is delayed; a self-connected split ticket does not.
- Check bags carefully — easyJet’s Lisbon–islands fares and TAP’s cheapest “discount” tickets may not include hold luggage, so compare the all-in price before booking.
Arriving in Cape Verde
Most travellers land at Amílcar Cabral International (SID) on Sal, the main tourist gateway, though Praia (RAI) on Santiago and Boa Vista (BVC) also take international flights. On Sal, the resort town of Santa Maria is about 18 km south of the airport; a taxi runs roughly €10–€18 and takes around 20 minutes, while many hotels offer pre-booked transfers. Note that most visitors need to pay the Cape Verde airport security tax (TSA) online before travel, and an EES/ETIAS check does not apply here — Cape Verde is outside the Schengen area.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the flight from Riga to Cape Verde?
There is no non-stop, so plan on a one-stop journey. In the fares we priced, the total ran 11h 00m to 31h 25m, with a median of about 11h 00m — the layover is what varies, not the flying. The quickest routings are the Gatwick ones at around 11 hours; the single-ticket Lisbon routing took 14h 25m.
Are there direct flights from Riga to Cape Verde?
No. No airline flies Riga to Cape Verde non-stop, so every fare connects once. The cheapest routings we priced go via Bergamo (Ryanair, then Cabo Verde Airlines, from €385) and London Gatwick (airBaltic, then easyJet, from €392 and 82 of the hundred cheapest). The Lisbon routing on TAP is the tidiest — one ticket through to Sal, Praia or Boa Vista — but in our sample it cost from €764.
How much does it cost to fly from Riga to Cape Verde?
In the dates we could price to Sal, returns ran €385–€1,795 with a median near €454 — and the spread is mostly about ROUTING, not season: €385–€412 via Bergamo, €392–€1,359 via London Gatwick, €764–€1,795 via Lisbon. Nothing sold below €385. The December holidays are the busiest weeks.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Riga to Cape Verde?
May, September and October are usually the cheapest. Our sample covers August to January, so it cannot price May — and within that window the months were strikingly flat, medians of €404 to €472, with nothing at all below €385. On this route the hub you pick moves the fare far more than the month does. Avoid the December holidays and the peak summer weeks, which are the busiest and most expensive.
Which airlines fly from Riga to Cape Verde?
All are one-stop, but not via Lisbon: in the hundred cheapest fares we priced, 82 paired airBaltic to London Gatwick with easyJet onward to Sal, and the cheapest of all paired Ryanair to Bergamo with Cabo Verde Airlines. TAP Air Portugal does sell Riga–Lisbon–islands on one ticket to Sal, Praia and Boa Vista, and it is the choice if you want protected connections — but it appeared only three times, from €764.
Which airport do I fly into in Cape Verde?
Most flights land at Amílcar Cabral International (SID) on Sal, the main tourist island, about 18 km from the resort town of Santa Maria. Praia (RAI) on Santiago and Boa Vista (BVC) also receive international arrivals, depending on which island you are visiting.
How far in advance should I book Riga to Cape Verde flights?
Aim to book 2 to 4 months ahead. Fares to the islands rise close to departure, and the December holiday period sells out early, so booking ahead almost always wins. Shoulder-month travel booked a couple of months out gives the best value.
Is it cheaper to fly on weekdays?
Often, yes — midweek departures (Tuesday to Thursday) tend to be a little cheaper than weekend flights, and flexible dates can save €40–€100. On a Lisbon-routed ticket, checking a couple of alternative connection times can also shave the fare.
Fare guidance based on aifly.one deal tracking and current airline schedules; last reviewed July 2026. Indicative economy returns — always check the live fare before booking.
