Antsirabe
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Tips
8 places on the map
Top 10
- 1
Grand 1920s colonial spa hotel set in gardens above the lake.
3 tips
- Have a drink on the terrace to see inside
- Gardens are lovely in the afternoon
- Iconic photo spot of Antsirabe
📷 Photos
- 2
Huge bustling market selling produce, crafts and everything else.
- Tip: Watch your bag
2 tips
- Saturday is the busiest day
- Great for local snacks and fruit
📷 Photos
- 3
Large stone Catholic cathedral, a striking landmark of the town.
- Tip: Dress code
2 tips
- Sunday Mass features beautiful choirs
- Free to enter outside services
📷 Photos
- 4
Colonial-era station at the head of the town's grand avenue.
3 tips
- Admire the façade from the forecourt
- Pousse-pousse drivers wait outside
- Nice start for a walk down the avenue
📷 Photos
- 5
Historic hot-spring baths that gave the spa town its fame.
3 tips
- Bring a towel and swimwear
- Check opening hours on arrival
- Inexpensive massages available
📷 Photos
- 6
Dramatic emerald crater lake surrounded by steep rock walls.
3 tips
- Rough road, hire a driver
- Walk down to the water and around the rim
- Small entry fee paid at the site
📷 Photos
- 7
Volcanic lake west of town popular for picnics and walks.
3 tips
- About 15 minutes by taxi
- Walk the shoreline loop
- Horse rides are offered locally
📷 Photos
- 8
Highland town known for rice terraces, waterfalls and a crater lake.
3 tips
- Go with a guide to find the best terraces
- Antafofo Falls is nearby
- Easy half-day trip from Antsirabe
📷 Photos
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Before you go: Antsirabe tips
Transportation
- Ride a pousse-pousse: Antsirabe is famous for its colourful rickshaws pulled on foot; agree the price before you sit down and expect to haggle a little.
- Take a taxi-brousse on the RN7: shared minibuses link Antsirabe with Antananarivo and towns south; leave early, as they depart only when full.
- Hire a driver for the lakes: Lake Andraikiba and the crater lake Tritriva are outside town; a driver or rented bike with a guide is easiest for a day trip.
Security
- Avoid walking at night: streets are poorly lit after dark; use a known pousse-pousse or taxi to get back to your hotel and keep valuables out of sight.
- Watch your pockets in markets: busy market lanes attract pickpockets; carry small ariary notes in a front pocket and leave passports in the hotel safe.
- Buy gems carefully: Antsirabe has many stone shops; fake or glass pieces circulate, so buy polished souvenirs for their looks and be wary of claims of value.
Saving
- Eat at hotely gasy: small local eateries serve rice with romazava or zebu stews for very little; look for the busy ones full of locals at lunchtime.
- Carry small ariary notes: drivers and stall holders often lack change for big bills, so break large notes at banks or supermarkets first.
- Share a car to the lakes: team up with other travellers at your guesthouse to split the cost of a driver to Andraikiba and Tritriva.
Weather/Clothing
- Bring warm layers: at around 1,500 m, Antsirabe gets surprisingly cold, especially on June to August nights; pack a fleece or jacket even in summer.
- Plan for the rainy season: November to March brings afternoon downpours and muddy roads; carry a rain jacket and allow extra time for travel.
- Protect against highland sun: days can be cool but the sun is strong at altitude; wear sunscreen and a hat when walking or hiking around the lakes.
Cultural
- Respect fady: Malagasy taboos vary by place, and some apply at Lake Tritriva, such as rules about swimming or pork; ask your guide before acting.
- Greet with salama: a friendly salama goes a long way; speak softly, be patient, and ask before taking photos of people, especially at markets.
- Taste the local fare: try mofo gasy rice cakes for breakfast, koba peanut and banana sweets, and a Three Horses Beer, which is brewed right here in Antsirabe.
Local Hacks
- Visit the craft workshops: local artisans make miniature bikes and cars from recycled tins and carve zebu horn into objects; you can watch them work.
- Soak in the thermal baths: Antsirabe grew as a colonial spa town around its hot springs, and the thermal baths near the old Hotel des Thermes are still used.
- Go to the Saturday market: the big Asabotsy market fills with produce, crafts and second-hand goods; arrive in the morning for the liveliest scene.
1-day itineraries in Antsirabe
Only have a day? Each one keeps you in one area, from morning to late afternoon, with lunch nearby.