Overview

Situated on the Angolan coast, the African metropolis of Luanda waits to be discovered. Abundant in culture before colonial times, then greatly influenced by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Angola has plenty to celebrate in its heritage, cuisine, and traditions.

A city of constant change, Luanda offers much for visitors; from colonial architecture and a diverse musical culture to an upscale beach scene and delicious grilled fish.

The Luanda province gives visitors a good taste of urban Angola, a mixture of Portuguese and African culture, but it can also be a great place to start your journey to discover the country’s many natural wonders. Angola has over 900 miles of coastline, with beautiful deserted beaches, rainforests, savannahs, a desert in the south, plus a year-round extraordinary climate.

Luanda is one of the most important industrial and cultural urban centers in Africa and is home to over 8 million people.

Things to See and Do

Take a tour through Luanda’s old town. The old town dates back to the 16th century when the Portuguese first arrived and built a settlement. They stayed for four centuries, and the influence is deeply felt. Discover the monuments such as the Iron Palace, believed to be designed by (or by someone close to) Gustave Eiffel. See the baroque Sé Cathedral, another of the city’s oldest constructions. The Fortress of São Miguel, built on the side of Mount São Paulo, is the oldest in Angola and is also worth a visit. After visiting the fortress head back to the old port by walking by the Marginal promenade (Avenida 4 de Fevereiro), a beautifully renovated seaside boulevard running along the Luanda bay. Throughout its almost 2 miles, the bay has a life of its own with plenty of green spaces, shops, lively bars and restaurants.

Learn about the city’s contribution to slavery. The National Museum of Slavery (Museu Nacional da Escravatura) was founded in 1977. It is a small white building that sits along the city’s coastline. The history in the slave industry in Luanda is not a pretty one, but those who want to learn more about it should be sure to pay a visit to this museum. You’ll see photos and lithographs hanging on the walls telling the story. The site where the museum sits is where slaves were baptised before being put on ships heading to the USA.

Explore the António Agostinho Neto, and pay your respects to the first President of Angola. He led the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola and was president from 1975 to 1979. The iconic Agostinho Neto Mausoleum can’t be missed, as it is one of the most dominating structures in Luanda. The structure towers over the rest of the city, which, in addition to being a mausoleum, is also a museum. The tour is around 20 minutes where you’ll learn all about António Agostinho and other political leaders around the world, including Che Guevara, Fidel Castro and Honecker.

Enjoy the local wildlife at Quiçama National Park, the country’s only functioning national park. It sits around 43 miles from the city and makes for a popular safari day trip. The 4,633 square miles park opened as a game reserve in 1938, but became a national park in 1957. Today, it is at the forefront of Angola’s wildlife. The animal population in the park is thanks to an operation where animals were transported here from Botswana and South Africa. Before that the animal population was quite low due to poaching in previous years.

Visit The Moon (Miradoura da Lua). Head to the magnificent Miradouro da Lua (Viewpoint of the Moon) to see the stunning landscape that sits around 25 miles outside of the city. It is famous for its lunar-like surface and cliffs, giving visitors the feeling that they are actually on the moon. The place also offers a nice view of the sea, which makes it a remarkable aperó and sunset setting, bring your picnic!

Not too far away from the Miradouro da Lua is the mouth of the Kwanza River. Head here and take a river cruise to discover the region’s wildlife: monkeys and colorful birds await. Another fun option is to rent a kayak and move around at your own pace.

Beach/Watersports

Along with the upscale beach scene in the “Ilha de Luanda” peninsula, there are many other beaches to explore near and around the city, a favorite is Mussulo island. But several other secluded and wild beaches await to be discovered on the coast. Just outside of Luanda, a short road trip will take you to Barra do Donde in the city’s north or Sangano to the South.

If you’re looking for something more lowkey, drive south to Cabo Ledo, the surfers' destination of choice - the beach has one of the world’s longest point breaks at 1,640 feet. About 60 miles away from Luanda, Cabo Ledo hosts one of the longest left-hand waves in the world, making it a great place for beginners to surf. It is a consistent place to surf and it is certainly a world-call surfing destination. The beach is also home to some quint bungalows, so it is also a great place to spend a night. Though it can easily be accessed in a day from Luanda.

Sportfishing is another great option around Luanda, Angola offers some of the best conditions in the world for marlin, sailfish, dourado and tuna.

Shopping

Local products show the country’s diverse culture and lively, open-air markets are the best places to find them. One of the most well-known ones is Benefica, in the south of Luanda. It sells everything from food and jewellery to art and clothes.

Animal carvings are very popular, and so are signature pieces of Angolan art such as the “Penseur sculpture,” and the Mwana Pwo traditional masks, said to represent the feminine ideal.

If you want to hit up a classic mall, Belas Shopping, Shopping Avenida, Talatona Shopping and the Fortaleza Shopping all offer an international shopping experience.

Cuisine

Luanda’s gastronomic tradition is well established, promising to appeal to seafood lovers and culinary exotics. The city has a lively restaurant scene, drawing on both local and historic food influences (such as the Mozambican, Portuguese or Brazilian).

Angolans love cooking fish, so be sure not to miss a good grilled catch - Calulu fish is always a good option. Also try the Muamba chicken, and the Mufete, a generous national dish with fish, beans, plantain and sweet potato. Dairy production is well developed in the region, for something special opt for homemade goat cheese and yoghurt. If you have a sweet tooth, try doce de ginguba, a peanut jam which is also great to buy as a souvenir, or the Cocada Amarela, a yummy coconut pudding.