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Bangui
Capital and largest city of the Central African Republic

Bangui

Bangui is the capital and largest city of the Central African Republic.

Plan a trip to Bangui→From Yaoundé

It was established as a French outpost in 1889 and named after its location on the northern bank of the Ubangi River ; the Ubangi itself was named from the Bobangi word for the "rapids" located beside the settlement, which marked the end of navigable water north from Brazzaville. The majority of the population of the Central African Republic lives in the western parts of the country, in Bangui and the surrounding area.

Get in

Getting to Bangui

  1. 01
    Bangui M'Poko International Airport
See

Worth seeing

The city centre lies near the river and features a large triumphal arch dedicated to Bokassa, the Presidential Palace and the central market. Lying 5 kilometres (3 mi) further north, the heart of the residential area has the largest market and most nightlife. North of the city lie rolling hills.

  1. 01
    Boganda National Museum
  2. 02
    Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l'Immaculée-Conception of Bangui
  3. 03
    Renaissance Palace

    The presidential palace, can only be viewed from the outside.

Eat

Where to eat

The city has a community of French expats, which translates into one of the best ice cream parlours in Africa; a supermarket that sells international (mainly French) delicacies, e.g. foie gras; and a really good Italian restaurant. Coin Grill. Marche 3B - Chez Philbert. Le Delces de Vinght Mille Places. Coin Grill. La Casa Chinese Restaurant & Hotel. Restaurant Le M'. Relais des Chasses. Cuisine A.

How locals move

Getting around Bangui the local way

  • Go nextTake a wooden pirogue or ferry (for vehicles).

From Wikivoyage: Bangui, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.

Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Tulas (CC BY-SA 1.0), Wikimedia Commons.