Ouagadougou
Save21 hand-picked places in 8 lists. Tick the categories you want to see on the map.
Only have a day? See 2 ready-made day plans ↓Show on the map
Tips
10 places on the map
Top 10
- 1
Vast central market of textiles, crafts and spices.
- Tip: Go early
2 tips
- Bargain politely and keep small notes
- Watch your bag in the crowded alleys
📷 Photos
- 2
Striking modernist cathedral in the city centre.
- Tip: Dress code
2 tips
- Visit outside Sunday mass hours
- Best photographed from the square in front
📷 Photos
- 3
Main central square and heart of the capital.
3 tips
- Good starting point for a city walk
- Busy at rush hour
- Avoid photographing official buildings
📷 Photos
- 4
Roundabout honouring African filmmakers, home of FESPACO.
- Tip: At night
3 tips
- Look for the giant film-reel monument
- Visit during the FESPACO festival
- Best photographed in soft evening light
📷 Photos
- 5
Seat of the Mossi emperor with a weekly ceremony.
- Tip: Go early
- Tip: Dress code
1 tip
- Ask before taking photos
📷 Photos
- 6
Large urban forest park, the green lung of the city.
- Tip: Go early
2 tips
- Bring water and insect repellent
- Avoid the park after dark
📷 Photos
- 7
Craft village with bronze, leather and woodwork stalls.
3 tips
- Compare prices between workshops
- Watch artisans at work
- Bring cash in CFA francs
📷 Photos
- 8
National museum of Burkinabè cultures, masks and traditions.
3 tips
- Check opening hours before going
- Photo rules may apply
- Allow about an hour
📷 Photos
- 9
Museum of traditional instruments and music heritage.
3 tips
- Ask staff to demonstrate instruments
- Call ahead to confirm opening
- Combine with a visit to Bangr-Weoogo
📷 Photos
- 10
Memorial to the revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara.
3 tips
- Go with a local guide for context
- Check opening hours
- Respect the solemn atmosphere
📷 Photos
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Before you go: Ouagadougou tips
Transportation
- Flag a green taxi: Ouagadougou's shared green cabs run set routes and pick up several passengers; agree the fare before you get in and say your destination clearly.
- Rent a moto with care: much of Ouaga moves on motorbikes, so traffic is dense; only ride if you are experienced, and always wear a helmet.
- Use a trusted driver: for day trips or late returns, ask your hotel to arrange a known driver rather than picking one up on the street.
Security
- Check advisories first: read your government's latest travel advice for Burkina Faso before going and avoid travel outside the capital unless it is clearly advised.
- Mind your bag at Rood Woko: the busy Grand Marché area attracts pickpockets, so carry little cash and keep your phone out of back pockets.
- Ask before photos: never photograph military sites, police or government buildings, and ask people before taking their picture to avoid trouble.
Saving
- Eat at maquis: these open-air local eateries serve grilled chicken, fish and riz gras for far less than hotel restaurants, with a lively atmosphere.
- Carry small CFA notes: vendors and taxis often lack change for big notes, so break large bills at supermarkets or banks to avoid overpaying.
- Buy drinks local: bottled bissap, gingembre and local Brakina beer cost less than imported drinks and are easy to find across the city.
Weather/Clothing
- Plan for the heat: March to May is scorching, so wear loose cotton, a wide hat and sunscreen, and keep a refillable bottle of safe water with you.
- Prep for Harmattan: from about November to February dry, dusty winds blow from the Sahara; bring a scarf for your face, lip balm and eye drops.
- Pack for the rains: the wet season runs roughly June to September with heavy storms; bring a light rain jacket and shoes that handle muddy roads.
Cultural
- Greet before business: in Burkina greetings matter, so say bonjour and ask how someone is before asking a question or starting to bargain.
- Time it with FESPACO: Africa's biggest film festival takes over Ouagadougou in odd-numbered years, filling cinemas and streets with screenings and events.
- Try tô with sauce: the millet or corn staple eaten with okra or leaf sauce is the everyday meal; eat with your right hand if others are doing so.
Local Hacks
- Shop at the Village Artisanal: you can watch bronze casters, weavers and leatherworkers at work and buy crafts directly, with calmer bargaining than the market.
- Use mobile money: Orange Money and Moov Money are widely used for payments and top-ups, so a local SIM can make daily life much easier.
- Learn a few Mooré words: greeting people with a simple phrase in Mooré, the main local language, earns big smiles and often friendlier prices.
1-day itineraries in Ouagadougou
Only have a day? Each one keeps you in one area, from morning to late afternoon, with lunch nearby.
Day 1 of 2
Musée National du Burkina Faso and around
🕘 9:30–17:45📍 5 stops
- 1Musée National du Burkina Faso
- 2Cathédrale de l'Immaculée-Conception
- 3Place de la Nation
- 4Place des Cinéastes
- 5Musée National de la Musique
Day 2 of 2
Village Artisanal de Ouagadougou and around
🕘 9:30–13:00📍 3 stops
- 1Village Artisanal de Ouagadougou
- 2Monument aux Héros Nationaux
- 3Mémorial Thomas Sankara