Capital · Mali
Bamako
Spend 2 days to see the main sights; 1 day works if you only want the market, museum and river walk.
Bamako, Mali’s capital on the Niger, offers a compact mix of markets, museums and river‑front spaces. With most attractions within 2 km of each other, a short stay covers the highlights, but allow extra time for travel to/from the airport and possible traffic delays.
advisory country
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- XOF
- Best months
- Nov–May (dry season, cooler evenings)
- avoid Jun–Oct (rainy, mosquito season)
- Airport
- BKO
- Nights
- 2
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 7Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Carry an original yellow fever vaccination certificate on…Check your own government travel advice for Mali before a…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- West Africa ↗Carry an original yellow fever vaccination certificate on any West African trip: several countries on the coast road demand it of every arrival, and the rest demand it after you have passed through a neighbour.
- West Africa ↗Cross land borders and drive between cities in daylight only; plan each crossing as a full travel day with cash for fees and passport copies for checkpoints.
- Mali ↗Check your own government travel advice for Mali before any booking; advice depends on your passport and changes without notice.
- Mali ↗Entry is controlled by the transitional authorities; road routes are unsafe and no independent tourist route is documented here.
- Mali ↗Confirm that your travel insurance and medical evacuation cover apply to Mali before you rely on it.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Bamako17 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Bamako, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Cash in CFA francs or euros carries most payments: see Insurance & payments above.Mali-wide
- SafetyOverall safety is moderate; watch traffic, aggressive police motorbikes, and mosquito exposure in rainy months.
- Emergency numbers17 police · 15 ambulance · 18 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportBKO Bamako‑Sénou International Airport (≈30 min by taxi‑motorcycle to city centre, cost ~CFA 7 000).
- Getting aroundMotorcycle taxis dominate; negotiate fare (often CFA 100–200 for short trips).
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee (café)CFA 300–600
- Street or quick mealStreet‑food plate (rice & sauce)CFA 500–1 500
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Motorcycle‑taxi (short ride)CFA 100–200
- Museum or sight ticketNational Museum entryCFA 3 000
- Budget bedCamping dorm, a night, per personXOF 4,000
- Mid-range bedBudget B&B double, a night, per roomXOF 15,000
- High-end bedBudget B&B double, a night, per roomXOF 18,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget XOF 8,000 · Mid XOF 14,000 · High XOF 25,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- BKO Bamako‑Sénou International Airport (≈30 min by taxi‑motorcycle to city centre, cost ~CFA 7 000)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Feb
Best
36°C (96°F)96°F (36°C)
Mar
Best
38°C (101°F)101°F (38°C)
Apr
Best
40°C (103°F)103°F (40°C)
May
Best
38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)
Jun
Avoid
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Jul
Avoid
32°C (89°F)89°F (32°C)
Aug
Avoid
31°C (87°F)87°F (31°C)
Sep
Avoid
32°C (89°F)89°F (32°C)
Oct
Avoid
35°C (94°F)94°F (35°C)
Nov
Best
35°C (96°F)96°F (35°C)
Dec
Best
33°C (92°F)92°F (33°C)
Best: Nov–May. Avoid: Jun–Oct. Month by month →
Warmest Apr (40°C (103°F)103°F (40°C)), coolest Dec (17°C (62°F)62°F (17°C) low), wettest Aug (264 rain days), driest Dec (0). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Bamako: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
2 rd
Feb
36°C (96°F)96°F (36°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
1 rd
Mar
38°C (101°F)101°F (38°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
4 rd
Apr
40°C (103°F)103°F (40°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
18 rd
May
38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
71 rd
Jun
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
23°C (74°F)74°F (23°C)
130 rd
Jul
32°C (89°F)89°F (32°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
227 rd
Aug
31°C (87°F)87°F (31°C)
22°C (71°F)71°F (22°C)
264 rd
Sep
32°C (89°F)89°F (32°C)
22°C (71°F)71°F (22°C)
176 rd
Oct
35°C (94°F)94°F (35°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
53 rd
Nov
35°C (96°F)96°F (35°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
2 rd
Dec
33°C (92°F)92°F (33°C)
17°C (62°F)62°F (17°C)
0 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Motorcycle taxis dominate; negotiate fare (often CFA 100–200 for short trips). No meters, no official signage. Walking is feasible for most sights.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Koulikoro
goDoor to door: About 1.5 h
Taxi or bus from Sogoniko station, about 1 h
Small town on the Niger; see the market and the river port.
Door to door: About 10.5 h
Bus from Sogoniko station, about 10 h
Gateway to the Niger inland delta; stay at least one night.
Ségou
goDoor to door: About 4.5 h
Bus from Sogoniko station, about 4 h
Colonial town on the Niger with a lively pottery market.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Bed & Breakfast Ambassagou
Budget B&B, 15 min walk to centre, airport and bus station.
Sleeping Camel
Camping‑hotel near German embassy, dorms from CFA 4 000.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- CFA 8 000–12 000 excl. bed
- Mid
- CFA 12 000–20 000 excl. bed
- High
- CFA 20 000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Budget B&B double1 × 2 nights × XOF 15,000 | XOF 30,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × XOF 14,000 | XOF 56,000 |
| Airport taxi‑motorcycle (round‑trip)2 × XOF 7,000 · check | XOF 14,000 |
| eSIM data (7 days)2 × XOF 2,500 · check | XOF 5,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | XOF 10,500 |
| Trip total≈ XOF 28,880 per person per day, bed included | XOF 115,500 |
2026 estimate in XOF; flights and visas excluded.
Prices of common things
| Coffee (café) | CFA 300–600 |
| Street‑food plate (rice & sauce) | CFA 500–1 500 |
| Motorcycle‑taxi (short ride) | CFA 100–200 |
| National Museum entry | CFA 3 000 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Heavy traffic and aggressive motorbike police; don’t try to outrun them.
- Mosquitoes in rainy months – bring repellent.
- Limited emergency services; keep embassy contact handy.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 17
- Ambulance
- 15
- Fire
- 18
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
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BamakoBamako
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Veuillez m’amener à cette adressePlease take me to this address
Emergency
- Police17
- Ambulance15
Embassy
Check the US consulate in Bamako; other embassies are in the city centre.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Airport → city centre (motorcycle taxi): ≈CFA 7 000, 30 min (check)
- Short city ride (motorcycle taxi): CFA 100–200, negotiate before boarding
Say or show
- Bonjour / Excusez‑moi — Hello / Excuse me (bon‑zhoor / eks‑kew‑zay mwa)
- Combien ? — How much? (kohm‑byehn)
- Je voudrais… — I would like… (zhuh voo‑dreh)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Bamako. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–May (dry season, cooler evenings) · avoid Jun–Oct (rainy, mosquito season)
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Bamako
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