←Niger travel guide
Niamey, Niger
Niamey
A riverside capital where the Niger River shapes daily life
CultureHistory & HeritageShopping
Niamey sits on the banks of the Niger River and serves as the country's political, cultural, and commercial heart. The city is home to the Musée National Boubou Hama, one of West Africa's most expansive open-air museums, alongside bustling markets and the landmark Grand Mosque.
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Best time to visit
November to February (cooler dry season)
Region
Niamey
Main airport
Niamey (NIM)
Discover
Top Things to Do in Niamey
Culture
Musée National Boubou Hama
Spread across 24 hectares in Niamey, the National Museum of Niger is one of the most comprehensive museums in West Africa, organised into seven pavilions spanning palaeontology, prehistory, ethnography, and mineralogy. The collections include dinosaur fossils and ancient crocodile remains that testify to Niger's remarkable prehistoric record, alongside traditional dwellings and artefacts representing the Tuareg, Hausa, Songhai, and Fula peoples. An artisan market on the grounds offers the chance to watch craftspeople at work.
Culture
Grand Mosque of Niamey
The Grand Mosque of Niamey is the principal place of Islamic worship in Niger's capital and one of the city's most recognisable landmarks. Constructed in the 1970s with funding from Libya, it features a prominent minaret, elaborately decorated interior pillars, and a large forecourt that fills with worshippers during Friday prayers. The mosque's architecture reflects the blend of North African and West African Islamic design that characterises much of Niger's religious heritage.
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Plan Your Trip
Getting Around Niamey
Tours, stays, transfers, and flights — curated partner options are on the way.
Tours & Activities
Skip-the-line tickets, guided tours, and day experiences — curated partner options are on the way.
Coming soonWhere to Stay
Hotels, apartments, and guesthouses across every neighbourhood — booking options are on the way.
Coming soonAirport Transfers
Private and shared rides between the airport and the city centre — partner options are on the way.
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Coming soonTravel Guide
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Niger
Entry requirements vary by passport. Check the requirements for your specific passport on the Niger page at Yoogo.
Niger uses the West African CFA franc (XOF), which is pegged to the euro. The country operates almost entirely on cash, and credit cards are accepted only at a small number of international hotels and airline offices in Niamey, so visitors should carry sufficient CFA francs for their entire trip.
Niger faces significant security challenges, including the presence of armed groups in border regions and restrictions on movement outside the capital. Travellers should consult their government's official travel advisory before visiting and follow any guidance regarding restricted areas.
Within Niamey, shared minibuses and metered taxis are the main options, with motorcycle taxis available for shorter journeys. Between cities, inter-city coaches operated by companies such as SNTV, Rimbo, and Air Transport connect Niamey with Zinder, Agadez, and Tahoua, while bush taxis (shared Peugeot 504 estate cars) depart when full from gare routière stations.
The cooler dry season from November to February is generally considered the best time to visit, with daytime temperatures typically ranging from 25 to 30 degrees Celsius and very little rainfall. This period offers the most comfortable conditions for exploring the desert, visiting historical sites, and wildlife viewing in W National Park.
French is the official language of government and education, and visitors who speak French will manage well in Niamey and most urban settings. Hausa and Zarma are the most widely spoken local languages and are useful for interactions in markets and rural areas, where a few words are warmly appreciated.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for all travellers aged nine months and over entering Niger. Malaria is present throughout the country, so anti-malarial medication and mosquito bite prevention measures are strongly recommended, and travellers should also consult a travel health clinic about hepatitis A, typhoid, meningococcal meningitis, and polio boosters before departure.
Tipping is not formally expected but is genuinely appreciated, particularly for guides and drivers who rely heavily on gratuities to supplement their income. In restaurants, a service charge is occasionally included in the bill, and where it is not, rounding up or leaving around 10 per cent of the total is a courteous gesture.