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Voykit pocket guide · Burkina Faso
Ouagadougou
Spend 2 days in Ouagadougou to hit the main markets, museums and a Friday Moro Naaba ceremony; longer only if you plan day trips.
Ouagadougou is Burkina Faso’s political and cultural hub. Its compact centre lets you see the Grand Mosque, Cathedral, National Museum and lively markets in a couple of days. Taxis are cheap but un‑metered, so negotiate fares up front. The dry season (Nov–Feb) offers the most comfortable weather.
- Country
- Burkina Faso
- Best months
- Nov–Feb (dry, cooler)
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (rainy season)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- XOF
- Money
- Cash in CFA francs or euros carries most payments: see Insurance & payments above.
- Daily spend
- Budget XOF 3,500–5,000 excl. bed · Mid XOF 6,000–9,000 excl. bed · High XOF 10,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police 17 · Medical 112
Get in
By air
- OUA · Ouagadougou International Airport
- —
Typical fares
- Green taxi city centre
- ≈ CFA 300–500 (negotiate)
- Airport to city centre
- ≈ CFA 1 500–5 000 (negotiate)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Taxis (green or white) are the main mode; no meters, so agree price before boarding – about CFA 300 – 500 for short city trips, up to CFA 1 500 for airport runs. Walking is easy in the grid‑based centre.
See and do
Known for
- Grand Mosque
- National Museum
- Central Market
- Moro Naaba ceremony
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Musée de Manega | Car or taxi, about 55 km (34 mi) northwest of the cityCar or taxi, about 34 mi (55 km) northwest of the city | About 1 h |
| Laongo | Car or taxi, about 30 km (19 mi) east of the cityCar or taxi, about 19 mi (30 km) east of the city | About 45 min |
| Koudougou | Bus or taxi, about 2 h | About 2 h |
| Pô | Bus or taxi, about 3 h | About 3 h |
| Léo | Bus or taxi, about 3 h | About 3 h |
Sleep
- Cailcedrat Guesthouse
- Budget guesthouse, 10 rooms, free breakfast, €21–37 per night.
- Benoua Lodge Hotel
- CFA 35 000 per night, air‑con, garden restaurant.
- Villa Yiri Suma
- CFA 22 160 per night, courtyard, pool, central location.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Excuse me | Bonjour / Excusez‑moibɔ̃ʒuʁ / ɛkskyz mwa |
| How much? | Combien ?kɔ̃bjɛ̃ ? |
| Taxi, please | Taxi, s’il vous plaîttaksi sil vu plɛ |
| Thank you | Mercimɛʁsi |
| Where is … ? | Où est … ?u ɛ … ? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- Taxi fares are negotiated; beware inflated quotes for foreigners.
- Pickpockets are common in Central Market and around bus stops.
- Night‑time travel can be riskier; stick to known taxi firms.
Ouagadougou is generally safe for daytime travel, but watch for pickpockets in markets and always negotiate taxi fares up front to avoid overcharging.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Ouagadougou yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Grand Mosque
- National Museum
- Central Market
- Moro Naaba ceremony
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Ouagadougou, revision 5246129 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5246129
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/ouagadougou). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.