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Niamey
Capital and the largest city of Niger

Niamey

Niamey is the capital and largest city of Niger.

Plan a trip to Niamey→From Sokoto

It is in the western part of the country, surrounded by the Tillabéri Region. Niamey lies on the Niger River, primarily situated on the river's left bank. The capital of Niger since the colonial era, Niamey is an ethnically diverse city and the country's main economic centre.

Get in

Getting to Niamey

  1. 01
    Diori Hamani International Airport
  2. 02
    Niamey
  3. 03
    Avril
See

Worth seeing

  1. 01
    Musée National Boubou-Hama and Zoo
  2. 02
    Grande Mosquée

    You can tour the Grande Mosquée, a gift to Niger from Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi.

  3. 03
    Cathedral de Maorey

    The largest place of worship for the city's minority (but still sizable) Christian population, the cathedral mixes local and European architecture & décor.

  4. 04
    Grande Marché

    The largest market in Niger and the country's commercial centre, this colourful and vibrant site contains over 5000 stalls (1500 of which are enclosed).

  5. 05
    Centre Culturel Franco-Nigerien
  6. 06
    Centre Culturel Oumarou Ganda
Do

Things to do

The CCFN & CCOG (see above) frequently host concerts and with capacities of a few thousand, they can be quite lively. At the Centre Pour la Formation et Promotion Musicales (CFPM) there is a Rap Zone every Wednesday afternoon at 16:30. Often there are people just jamming underneath the trees. They sell instruments, and they give drum, dance, and guitar lessons.

  1. 01
    The Hippodrome
Eat

Where to eat

Be sure to try all the local specialties rather than only sticking to ex-pat restaurants. Niamey food is incredible, unique and not-to-be-missed. You didn't come all this way to eat the same food you get at home. Le Gawlo senegalese restaurant (on the other side of the road of the nouvelle cité EAMAC in the Plateau quarter, next to a Tuareg jeweller which is worth the visit as well.),.

  1. 01
    Amandine Cakes

    Lattes, goat cheese soup, pain de chocolat, pain des epinards, salads, sandwiches, Lebanese specialties, and many other good things.

  2. 02
    Bellissimo’s

    A swanky rooftop escape overlooking Rond Point Maorey.

How locals move

Getting around Niamey the local way

  • Get inFrom the arrival hall, simply exit to catch a taxi or bush taxi.
  • Get inBush Taxi: During the day, simply walk out of the airport to the main road (Route Nationale 1) and flag down a bush taxi (van) heading right.
  • Get inIn front of one you will see several bush taxis (vans) lined up facing away from the Grand Marché and towards the airport.
  • Get inThere are also buses and minibuses to Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, taking around 10 hours.
  • Get inBuses and bush taxis connect Niamey to other destinations in Niger, including Zinder and Agadez.
  • Get aroundThe rate for a shared taxi is fixed at CFA 200 per person.
  • Go nextOther days, it might be necessary to take a bush taxi to nearby Relais and then take a pirougue to Boubon.

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

Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see file page), Wikimedia Commons.