Praia, population 61,644 (1990), is the capital of Cape Verde, an island nation in the Atlantic Ocean west of Senegal. It lies on Santiago island in the Sotavento archipelago. It is the island's ferry port and is home to one of the nation's two international airports. The city centre, known as Platô , lies on a small plateau.

Praia is Cape Verde's largest city, and a commercial center and a port that ships coffee, sugar cane, and tropical fruits. Praia also has a fishing industry. There are resort beaches nearby.