Burkina Faso
Patience in Burkina Faso is repaid by the painted Kassena compounds of Tiébélé, the wind-carved sandstone needles of the Sindou Peaks and Ouagadougou's FESPACO, Africa's biggest film festival. Live music, millet beer and sociable street-side maquis make up for thin tourist infrastructure. Read the FCDO travel advice before planning anything.
Overview
Burkina Faso, the former Upper Volta, was renamed by Thomas Sankara in 1984; the name joins Mooré and Dioula words and is usually translated as 'land of upright people'. It has no blockbuster sights, but its culture is unusually rich: masks, griot music, mud-built Sudano-Sahelian mosques and the geometric painted houses of the Kassena in the south. The classic route ran west from Ouagadougou to Bobo-Dioulasso, then on to Banfora's waterfalls and the Sindou Peaks, with a detour south to Tiébélé near the Ghanaian border. Before planning any of it, check the FCDO travel advice, which sets out the areas it advises against visiting.
Travel here is slow, hot and sociable. Long greetings matter, French gets you through officialdom, and evenings revolve around grilled chicken, cold Brakina beer or millet dolo and live music in open-air maquis. Costs are low, but comfortable hotels are scarce outside Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso, and the heat from March to May is punishing. It suits travellers who care more about music, crafts and conversation than ticking off monuments, and who are happy to keep plans flexible. Many visitors are surprised by Ouagadougou's film culture, its craft markets and the warmth of the welcome in a country that sees few tourists.
Map of Burkina Faso
Top 5 highlights
- 1Architecture
Painted houses of Tiébélé
The royal court of the Kassena at Tiébélé is a cluster of mud houses decorated by women with geometric red, black and white designs, renewed before the rains. A guide from the community leads visits and explains the symbols.
- 2Nature
Sindou Peaks
A ridge of wind-sculpted sandstone needles and domes running for kilometres above the plain near Sindou in the far south-west. Local guides lead walks among the formations, best in the cooler early morning.
- 3Sacred site
Grand Mosque of Bobo-Dioulasso
Built in the late 19th century of mud brick over a timber frame, its conical towers bristle with the wooden struts used for regular replastering. Local guides show visitors round, and non-Muslims can usually enter outside prayer times.
- 4Nature
Karfiguéla Falls and the Fabédougou Domes
Near Banfora, a series of cascades tumbles over rock shelves into pools, while the nearby Dômes de Fabédougou are a cluster of eroded rock domes. Lake Tengréla, with its hippos, is close by too.
- 5History
Ruins of Loropéni
Burkina's first UNESCO World Heritage Site: laterite stone walls up to 6 m high enclosing a ruined settlement linked to the trans-Saharan gold trade, at least 1,000 years old and at its height between the 14th and 17th centuries.
Biggest cities
Ouagadougou
Sprawling and low-rise, 'Ouaga' is best for its culture: the national museum, artisans at the Village Artisanal, live music bars and, in odd-numbered years, FESPACO screenings across town.
Bobo-Dioulasso
Burkina's second city is greener and more relaxed, with a famous mud-brick Grand Mosque, the old Dioulassoba quarter and a strong musical tradition of balafon and djembe.
Koudougou
The third city is a university and market town on the road west of Ouagadougou, once home to the national Faso Fani textile mill; few visitors stay more than a night.
Ranked by urban-area population where available. Figures are rounded estimates, and sources define city limits differently, so rankings of similar-sized cities can vary.
When to go to Burkina Faso
Best time: Nov–Feb.
Average climate in Ouagadougou
Festivals & events
- Feb–MarFESPACO
The Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou, founded in 1969 and now held in odd-numbered years, fills the city's cinemas for a week as African films compete for the Golden Stallion of Yennenga.
- Oct–NovSIAO
The International Arts and Crafts Fair of Ouagadougou, held in even-numbered years, brings together artisans from across Africa selling bronzes, textiles, leatherwork and carvings.
How much does Burkina Faso cost?
Estimates per person per day, excluding flights. Prices vary by season and city.
Food to try
Riz gras
Rice simmered in a tomato, onion and oil-rich meat stock, often topped with chicken or beef; a festive favourite and an everyday plate at roadside eateries.
Tô
A stiff porridge of millet, sorghum or maize, eaten by hand with okra, baobab-leaf or peanut sauce; the country's true daily staple.
Poulet bicyclette
Lean, free-range 'bicycle chicken', said to be named after the bikes that carry it to market, grilled or braised and eaten with fries or attiéké at maquis.
Getting around
Air-conditioned coaches run by companies such as STMB, TCV and Rakieta link Ouagadougou with Bobo-Dioulasso in around five to six hours, each leaving from its own depot. Bush taxis and minibuses cover smaller towns. In cities, shared green taxis and swarms of mopeds dominate; hiring a car with a driver is the comfortable option. Check the FCDO advice on road travel before any journey outside the capital.
Practical information
- Plugs & voltage
- CE220V — bring a UK-to-C/E adapter
- Emergency numbers
Source: FCDO “Getting help”
- Dialling code
- +226
- Time zone
- UTC+0 (standard time)
- Tap water
- Not safe — drink bottled or treated water
- Driving
- On the right
- Tipping
- Not expected at maquis or street stalls; leave 5–10% in better restaurants and tip guides and drivers a few thousand CFA.
- Etiquette
- Greet everyone before any business and ask after family and health. Use your right hand to eat and pass things, and ask before photographing people, markets or anything official.
- Main airports
- Thomas Sankara International Airport Ouagadougou (OUA), Ouagadougou
Visas & entry for Burkina Faso
Shown for a British passport.
Visa required — apply before you go
You must have a visa to enter Burkina Faso.
From the UK government's FCDO entry requirements for British passport holders — read the full page for passport validity, permits and exceptions.
Health & vaccinations
- Recommended for most travellers
- Hepatitis ATetanusTyphoidYellow fever
- Sometimes advised — depends on your trip, activities and health
- ChikungunyaDengueHepatitis BMeaslesMeningococcal diseaseRabiesTuberculosis
- Yellow fever certificate
- A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for all travellers (usually over 9 months or 1 year old). There is a risk of yellow fever in parts of the country — vaccination may be advised.
- Malaria
- High risk of malaria
- There is a high risk of malaria in Burkina Faso: antimalarial tablets recommended.
Source: TravelHealthPro (National Travel Health Network and Centre), checked 21 October 2026. This is a summary, not medical advice.
Public holidays in Burkina Faso
The next 12 months. Banks, offices and some sights may close, and transport and hotels get busy around these dates.
| Sat 31 Oct 2026 | Martyrs' Day |
| Sun 1 Nov 2026 | All Saints' Day |
| Mon 2 Nov 2026 | All Saints' Day (observed) |
| Fri 11 Dec 2026 | Proclamation of Independence Day |
| Fri 25 Dec 2026 | Christmas Day |
| Fri 1 Jan 2027 | New Year's Day |
| Sun 3 Jan 2027 | Revolution Day |
| Mon 4 Jan 2027 | Revolution Day (observed) |
| Mon 8 Mar 2027 | International Women's Day |
| Tue 9 Mar 2027 | Eid al-Fitr (date may shift) |
| Mon 29 Mar 2027 | Easter Monday |
| Sat 1 May 2027 | Labour Day |
| Thu 6 May 2027 | Ascension Day |
| Sun 16 May 2027 | Eid al-Adha (date may shift) |
| Thu 5 Aug 2027 | Independence Day |
| Sat 14 Aug 2027 | Prophet's Birthday (date may shift) |
| Sun 15 Aug 2027 | Assumption Day |
| Mon 16 Aug 2027 | Assumption Day (observed) |
National holidays only. Dates based on lunar calendars can move by a day or two depending on official announcements.
Useful phrases in French
| English | French | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjour | bon-ZHOOR |
| Thank you | Merci | mair-SEE |
| Please | S'il vous plaît | seel voo PLAY |
| Excuse me | Excusez-moi | ex-KOO-zay MWAH |
| How much is this? | C'est combien ? | say kom-BYAN |
Know before you go
- Read the FCDO travel advice before booking and again before every road journey; it lists the areas it advises against visiting, and most travel insurers follow it.
- The CFA franc is pegged to the euro, so euros are the easiest currency to exchange; ATMs in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso take Visa more reliably than Mastercard.
- Photographing government buildings, military sites, bridges and airports is forbidden. Always ask before photographing people; a polite request after a proper greeting usually goes down well.
Burkina Faso travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Burkina Faso?
The best time to visit Burkina Faso is generally Nov–Feb. Peak months are January, February, November and December. Average highs in Ouagadougou range from 31°C to 39°C across the year.
How much does a trip to Burkina Faso cost per day?
Roughly £30 a day on a tight budget, £65 mid-range and £140+ for comfortable travel, per person including accommodation, food and local transport. Flights are extra.
What currency is used in Burkina Faso?
West African CFA franc (XOF).
What plug type does Burkina Faso use?
Type C and E sockets at 220V. UK visitors need a travel adapter — UK Type G plugs will not fit.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Burkina Faso?
Traffic drives on the right in Burkina Faso, unlike the UK.
Is tap water safe to drink in Burkina Faso?
Not safe — drink bottled or treated water.
Do I need a visa for Burkina Faso?
For British passport holders, the FCDO says: You must have a visa to enter Burkina Faso. Entry rules change, so check the official FCDO entry requirements for Burkina Faso before you travel: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/burkina-faso/entry-requirements
What vaccinations do I need for Burkina Faso?
TravelHealthPro recommends Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid and Yellow fever for most travellers, with Chikungunya, Dengue, Hepatitis B, Measles, Meningococcal disease and Rabies sometimes advised depending on your trip. Make sure routine UK vaccinations are up to date and see a travel health professional 6–8 weeks before you go.
