Benguela

Benguela is a city in Central Angola.

Understand

Praia Morena Beach, where Benguela meets the sea

Founded by Portuguese general Manuel Cerveira Pereira in 1617. Benguela was long the centre of the slave trade to Brazil and Cuba.

Get in

Igreja da Nossa Senhora do Populo

By plane

• 1 Benguela Airport (BUG  ^IATA Aeroporto de Benguela - 17 de Setembro). Benguela's airport is borderline defunct, with all commercial passenger flights routed through nearby Catumbela airport  
• 2 Catumbela Airport (CBT  ^IATA) (to the north right between Benguela and Lobito.). with regular service from Luanda and Lubango.  

By car

By road, it is about a seven-hour drive from Luanda, once you clear Luanda's traffic.

By train

Travelling by rail is once again an option, but trains are infrequent and slow. There are daily commuter trains from nearby Lobito and at least a once-weekly overnight train from Huambo, with connections from Luao next to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

• 3 Benguela railway station, Rue 31 de Janeiro. (updated May 2023)

By bus

• 4 Huambo Expresso bus terminal, R. Domingos do Ó (south-east of city center). Huambo Expresso: 7 buses to Luanda daily (11 000 Kz, 11-12 hr as of June 2024), Lubango (9000 Kz, 7-8 hr). (updated Jul 2024)
• 5 Macon bus terminal, R. Celestino Madeira (south-east of city center). Macon: 7 buses to Luanda daily (11 000 Kz, 11-12 as of June 2024), Lubango (9000 Kz, 7-8 hr). (updated Jul 2024)

See

There are some pretty colonial buildings in Benguela. A few are pictured in this article.

Banco Nacional

Beaches

There are several beautiful beaches around Benguela, including one right in the city center! The best beach resort hotel, though, is in Lobito. The beaches outside the city are close by and easy to reach by car, either your own or a hired taxi. They're really beautiful too, with the bluest water, the whitest sand, and most are flanked by dramatic cliffs. But remember that tourist facilities are limited and beaches are not well-maintained. A visit with high expectations of a tropical paradise vacation risks disappointment.

• 1 Baia Azul (Baia Farta). This is the most famous beach in Angola. If postcards were a thing in this country, this would crop up frequently. It is named for its exceptionally blue waters. There are only a few restaurants, and few people as well — it's a nice, quiet retreat. There is at least one hotel here (see Hotel Duas Faces below). (updated Dec 2016)
• 2 Caotinha Beach. This is a series of little beach inlets just south of Benguela, some of which are totally deserted. You can hike from one to the next. (updated Dec 2016)
• 3 Praia Morena. This is the city's main beach, right near the center. On holidays it can get extremely crowded, but it's usually empty. It's a fairly narrow stretch of sand between the road and the ocean, but the water is and sand are both nice. (updated Dec 2016)

Eat

• 1 Espaço Gourmet, R. Domingos do Ó 14. Buffet paid by weight. (updated Jul 2024)
• 2 Restaurante Cassanga, R. Dr. João Omelas. Buffet paid by weight. (updated Jul 2024)

Sleep

• 1 Praia Morena Hotel, R. José Estevan, 25, ☏ +244 916 076 902. 3-star hotel. Modern rooms, pool, bar, restaurant, hairdresser, sporadic slow Wi-Fi. Double en-suite w/ breakfast 32 000 Kz. (updated Aug 2015)

Outside Benguela

• 2 Hotel Duas Faces (Baia Azul), ☏ +244 922 508 508. An attractive boutique hotel at Baia Azul with ocean views, parking, and an on-site restaurant. It's not right on the beach. 19,000-38,000. (updated Dec 2016)

Go next

• Caotinha is on a peninsula west of Benguela.
• Lobito is 33 kilometres north of Benguela.

View of cliffs from Baia Azul