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Maputo is the capital and largest city of Mozambique, on Maputo Bay in the far south of the country, famous for its Portuguese colonial architecture such as the domed Maputo Railway Station, its jacaranda-lined avenues, fresh seafood and nearby Inhaca Island. It lies close to the borders with South Africa and Eswatini, and is the country's main port and business centre.
Known as Lourenco Marques in colonial times, the city became the capital of Portuguese East Africa in 1898 and took its present name after independence in 1975. Wide avenues named after revolutionary leaders cross the city, and art deco and modernist buildings stand beside older colonial landmarks.
Visitors explore the Baixa and its markets, the cathedral and the Iron House, then head to the waterfront for grilled prawns. Boats run out to Inhaca and Portuguese Island, and the dry winter months bring sunny, mild weather.
Maputo Railway Station is the grand colonial station of Mozambique's capital, completed in 1916 with a green metal dome, wrought-iron details and a pale facade. It is often wrongly credited to Gustave Eiffel. Old steam locomotives stand on the platforms, and there is a small art gallery inside.
Maputo Cathedral, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, is a gleaming white church completed in 1944 beside Independence Square in Maputo. Its slender spire rises over the city centre, and the cool interior is lit by stained glass. Visitors are welcome outside services.
The Iron House, or Casa de Ferro, is a prefabricated house of iron panels shipped from Belgium to Maputo in 1892 as a residence for the colonial governor. It proved far too hot to live in. The curious building stands beside the Tunduru Gardens, and its link to Gustave Eiffel is disputed.
Maputo City Hall is the white neoclassical seat of the municipal council, completed in 1947 at the head of Independence Square in central Maputo. Its columned front and wide steps look down the square towards the cathedral and the Baixa. The building is lit up at night.
Maputo Fortress, the Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Conceicao, stands in the old Baixa district near the port of Maputo. The present red stone walls were rebuilt in the 1940s on the site of earlier forts, and inside a small museum covers the colonial era. Its leafy courtyard is a calm escape.
The Natural History Museum in Maputo occupies an ornate Manueline-style building from 1933. Its galleries show stuffed African animals, birds and a rare series of elephant foetuses at different stages of growth. It is a short walk from the Polana area and the coast road.
The Central Market of Maputo, the Mercado Municipal, opened in 1901 on Avenida 25 de Setembro in the city centre. Under its long roof, traders sell tropical fruit, spices, cashew nuts, piri-piri and baskets, with crafts outside. It is a lively place to see daily life; mornings are busiest.
Tunduru Botanical Garden is the oldest public garden in Maputo, laid out in 1885 by the English gardener Thomas Honney in the city centre. Shady paths wind past palms, tropical trees and an old greenhouse, close to the Iron House and Independence Square. It is a peaceful place to walk.
The Maputo-Katembe Bridge is a suspension bridge opened in 2018 across Maputo Bay, linking the city centre with the district of KaTembe on the south shore. Its main span of 680 metres made it the longest suspension bridge in Africa when it opened. It is best seen from the waterfront.
Costa do Sol is the long sandy shoreline north-east of central Maputo, reached along the Avenida Marginal. Families come at weekends to walk, and the Costa do Sol restaurant has served grilled prawns to the city for decades. Water quality varies, so many people prefer the islands for swimming.
Inhaca Island lies in Maputo Bay about 30 kilometres east of the city, reached by boat or a short flight. It has white beaches, coral reefs for snorkelling, mangroves and a marine biology station, and nearby Portuguese Island is a popular boat stop. Many visitors stay at least one night.
KaTembe is the district across the bay from central Maputo, reached by the Maputo-Katembe Bridge or by ferry from the Baixa. Its quiet shore has seafood restaurants, small beaches and wide views back to the city skyline. It is a relaxed escape from the busy centre, especially at sunset.
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