Flights from Sal to Spain

Travel to Spain from Sal

Vueling’s 12 direct routes from the island of Sal to Spain all cross the Atlantic non-stop, in around 5 hours to the mainland.

The Atlantic north shares the ocean with Cape Verde but has the opposite climate, rainy and cool all year. The big cities, the Mediterranean and the land of al-Andalus each make for a different trip, and Barcelona is the gateway with the most connections from Sal.

What documents you need to travel to Spain

Spain is part of the Schengen Area, and for Cape Verdean citizens that means a formality to sort out in advance, ideally starting several weeks before you travel.

This is what usually applies to Cape Verdean nationals:

• A short-stay Schengen visa, applied for before the trip at the Spanish consulate or embassy in Cape Verde. Processing times vary, and they determine how early you need to start planning.
• A passport valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended date of departure from the Schengen Area, issued within the previous 10 years.
• Proof of accommodation and a return ticket.
• Proof of sufficient funds for your stay.
• Travel insurance with medical cover, required for the visa application.

If you are an EU national or live in an EU country, different conditions apply. Before you book, check the current information on Vueling’s travel documents page and with the relevant consulate.

As this flight leaves from outside the Schengen Area, you will go through passport control on landing in Spain, where you enter Schengen. Build that extra time into your plans at the airport.

What to know when you land in Spain

From the airport to the centre. The main gateways have good transport links, so there is no need to book a transfer. At Barcelona, the gateway with the most connections from Sal, the Aerobús and metro line 9 Sud both reach the centre in under half an hour. Málaga’s commuter train serves both the city centre and the Costa del Sol. In Seville, the dedicated airport bus runs to Santa Justa.

Meal times. Lunch in Spain is served between 14:00 and 16:00 and dinner from 21:00, and many kitchens stay closed until then. Small shops also shut in the middle of the day, so the afternoon starts later than you might expect.

High-speed rail. Madrid and Barcelona are about 2 hours 30 minutes apart on the AVE, half the time of the flight from Sal, and lines run from Madrid to Málaga, Seville and Valencia. The stations sit right in the city centres, so arriving in one city and leaving from another works better than a round trip.

Climate by region. The south and the Mediterranean coast have mild winters and very hot summers, with the interior going above 40°C in August. The north, from Bilbao to Galicia, is rainy and cool all year round, which tends to surprise anyone arriving from the tropical Atlantic.

The currency is the euro. Cards are accepted almost everywhere and there are cash machines in every city. Plugs are the round two-pin type (C and F), at 230V.

What to do in Spain

City break: Barcelona

Barcelona, around 5 hours from Sal across the Atlantic, brings together Park Güell, the Sagrada Familia and the Gothic Quarter, with a beach inside the city and, on the Ramblas, La Boqueria market. It is the gateway with the most connections from Sal, and the one that best combines culture and the sea without any extra travel.

Andalusia: the legacy of al-Andalus

Seville, at the heart of the land of al-Andalus, has the flamenco of Triana, the Real Alcázar and the Giralda, which was a minaret before it became a bell tower. Granada adds the Alhambra and the Generalife, and Málaga the Picasso Museum, the Costa del Sol and the Alcazaba.

The Balearic Islands

Palma de Mallorca, on the Mediterranean rather than the Atlantic, pairs a Gothic cathedral facing the sea with the Serra de Tramuntana, a World Heritage Site. Ibiza brings the coves and the nightlife, while Menorca moves at the slowest pace of the 3, with a coastline that is still largely unspoilt.

The Atlantic north

Same ocean, opposite climate: green, damp and rainy all year. Bilbao has the pintxos of the Casco Viejo and the Guggenheim, and Santiago de Compostela, the end of the Camino, combines a World Heritage cathedral with a Galician coast known for its seafood.

Luggage for your flight to Spain

From Sal, your luggage allowance comes with the fare you book. The simplest fare includes a personal item that fits under the seat in front, and from there you can add cabin or checked luggage.

On a long trip, or if you are visiting family, sorting out your luggage when you book avoids surprises at the check-in desk. Check the current conditions in Vueling’s luggage policy.