Getting Around Maputo
Maputo is a walkable, low-rise capital whose main sights, hotels and restaurants cluster around the historic downtown, known as the Baixa, and the avenues that fan out from it. Most visitors get around on foot by day, with taxis, ride-hailing apps, tuk-tuks and the local minibuses filling in the longer hops. There is no metro or tram system to navigate, and the city's rail network is not a practical way for tourists to move around town.
On Foot
The centre of the city can be covered on foot during the day, and walking is a good way to take in the wide, tree-lined avenues and the eclectic colonial and modernist architecture. The main caution is timing and area: steer clear of the central business district at night. As with any large city, keep your bearings, stick to busy streets after dark, and use a taxi or ride-hailing app for evening journeys.
Rail, Metro and Trams
Maputo has no metro or tram network, so these are not options for getting around the city. The city does have a grand central railway station, the Estação Central dos Caminhos de Ferro, a Neoclassical terminus and one of the grandest stations in southern Africa — worth visiting as a landmark in its own right. Rail services to and from Maputo are slowly improving, but the lines that operate are of limited use to tourists. The main exception is the daily service from Ressano Garcia at the South African border, which connects with Komatipoort on the other side and is a convenient way of travelling to Maputo from Johannesburg and Pretoria.
Buses and Minibuses (Chapas)
The most inexpensive way to get around is by minibus, known locally as a chapa (pronounced "SHA-PAA"). Chapas work like small buses and run routes that criss-cross the city. All major routes begin and end either in the downtown core and market area, called the Baixa (pronounced "BAA-SHAA"), or in the middle of the city on Av. 24 de Julho, at a spot called Museu. If you get lost, find a chapa heading to one of these two major terminals. The navigator — usually hanging out of the passenger-side door — will be shouting the destination, and the destination written on the windshield may read "A. Voador", an archaic name for the Baixa terminal.
Routes are identified by a coloured bar on the windshield. Among those most likely to be useful to visitors:
- Blue chapas — run west to Xipamanine.
- Yellow chapas — run north and south on Av. Lenine, or on a parallel avenue to its east.
- Red chapas — run north and south on Av. Guerra Popular.
- Green chapas — run east and west along Av. Eduardo Mondlane.
- Black chapas — run east and west along Av. 24 de Julho.
- Pink chapas — use Av. Eduardo Mondlane, Av. Julius Nyerere and the Marginal to connect downtown to Costa do Sol.
All of these routes continue far out into the suburbs, where they split off from one another. Fares are low and paid one way; drivers cannot easily overcharge you because you can see what locals are paying, and locals will object on your behalf. To get off, say "paragem" to the assistant. Speaking Portuguese, or travelling with a local friend, makes chapas much easier to use.
Be aware that chapas are not particularly safe. Pickpocketing is common on board and while waiting at stops, minibuses are often packed well beyond their intended capacity, seats are frequently broken, and passengers may have to stand without handrails. Drivers are also known for disregarding traffic rules and taking risks to save time. Weigh these issues carefully before deciding whether to ride.
Maputo has also been expanding its fleet of city-owned buses, which use the same terminals as the chapas. Their routes are more varied, which can make them harder for a visitor to use, but you can always ask the conductor or other passengers whether a bus is going your way. To take a city bus, board at the rear, pay the conductor, and exit from the front.
Taxis, Ride-Hailing and Tuk-Tuks
Yango is a popular app for ordering taxis, moto-taxis or tuk-tuks and is probably the best choice in town; Pick & Drop is another option. For metered (yellow-roofed) taxis, especially over longer distances or at night, agree on a fare beforehand, as many drivers do not have working meters. Ask hotel desks or locals for guidance on reasonable fares — for example, a trip from Hotel Cardoso to Feira Popular or the Mercado Central runs in the region of MT 150–200.
Tuk-tuks are also a great way to see the city. Their drivers are typically more fluent in English, as they often work as tour guides for passengers from visiting cruise liners.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Maputo Airport (MPM) handles most international flights to Mozambique, with LAM operating many domestic services and carriers such as TAP (non-stop from Lisbon), SAA (from Johannesburg) and SA Airlink (from Durban and Cape Town) serving the city. There is WiFi in the terminal. Local SIM cards can be bought at the shop near the exit, where there is also a bank.
For the trip into town, taxis from the airport should cost around MT 500. Hotels generally send their buses to meet flights, but only if they have passengers on that flight with bookings at their hotel, so confirm this in advance. One practical warning: airport security will sometimes hold your passport, or claim there are problems with your scanned luggage, and ask for money to get it back. Stand firm and point to the "no corruption" signs posted around the airport.