Togo
Koutammakou's mud tower-houses shelter a UNESCO-listed way of life still lived today, the forested hills around Kpalimé are made for walking, and Lake Togo and Lomé's fetish market reveal the Vodun traditions of the coast. Small and easy to cross, Togo combines naturally with neighbouring Ghana and Benin on a West African overland trip.
Overview
Togo is a long, narrow sliver of West Africa, a long day's drive from the Atlantic to the Burkina Faso border, and a single highway, the N1, links most of what visitors come for. Trips usually start in Lomé, on the coast right beside the Ghanaian border, take in Lake Togo and the old colonial port of Aného, then head inland to the cooler, forested plateau around Kpalimé and Badou. From there the road runs north through Sokodé and Kara to the Tamberma tower-houses of Koutammakou, and many travellers continue across the border into Benin.
Togo sees few foreign tourists, so costs are low and the welcome is curious rather than commercial, but facilities outside Lomé are basic. French is essential away from the capital's hotels. The south is a heartland of Vodun, or voodoo, and shrines, ceremonies and fetish markets are part of everyday religious life rather than shows for visitors. Lomé's Grand Marché is famous for the 'Nana Benz', women traders who grew rich on wax-print cloth. It suits overlanders combining Ghana, Togo and Benin, and anyone curious about West African culture.
Map of Togo
Top 5 highlights
- 1Architecture
Koutammakou
In the Batammariba country of the north-east, families still live in takienta: fortress-like, two-storey mud tower-houses with granaries on the roof. The UNESCO-listed landscape continues into Benin; visit with a local guide from the villages.
- 2Nature
Kpalimé and Mont Agou
The coffee- and cocoa-growing hills around Kpalimé are Togo's best walking country: climb Mont Agou, the country's highest peak at 986 metres, swim below the Kpimé waterfall and look for butterflies in the Kloto forest.
- 3Culture
Lake Togo and Togoville
Cross the lake by pirogue from Agbodrafo to Togoville, where the 1884 treaty making Togo a German protectorate was signed, to see Vodun shrines alongside a cathedral and the town's colourful colonial-era buildings.
- 4Sacred site
Akodessewa Fetish Market
Stalls piled with dried animal heads, skins and carved figures supply traditional healers and Vodun priests in Lomé; a resident féticheur explains remedies and talismans, for a fee. Fascinating, though not for the squeamish.
- 5Nature
Akloa Falls
Near Badou in the Plateaux region, a short, steep forest walk through cocoa plantations leads to the Akloa waterfall, which tumbles over mossy rocks into a pool cool enough for a swim; best after the rains.
Biggest cities
Lomé
Togo's coastal capital: browse the Grand Marché's wax-print cloth, visit the Akodessewa fetish market and the gardens of the restored Palais de Lomé, then eat grilled fish by the beach road at dusk.
Sokodé
The main town of the largely Muslim Tem country, with a busy market; a useful overnight stop on the N1 north rather than a destination in itself.
Kara
A planned, orderly northern city in Kabiyè country, the base for Koutammakou and the surrounding hill villages, and in July for Evala, the region's famous wrestling initiation.
Figures are approximate. Grand Lomé's is from the 2022 census; Sokodé and Kara are UN urban-area estimates, are close in size, and sources disagree on which is larger.
When to go to Togo
Best time: Nov–Feb.
Average climate in Lomé
Festivals & events
- JulEvala
Each July young Kabiyè men around Kara go through Evala, a week of traditional wrestling bouts marking their initiation into adulthood, cheered on by drummers and big crowds.
- SepEpe Ekpe
The Guin new-year festival at Glidji, near Aného, peaks in September when priests reveal the colour of a sacred stone, said to foretell the fortunes of the year ahead.
How much does Togo cost?
Estimates per person per day, excluding flights. Prices vary by season and city.
Food to try
Fufu with groundnut soup
Pounded yam, beaten in a mortar until smooth and elastic, eaten by hand with a rich peanut soup of chicken, goat or fish; the classic Togolese meal.
Ablo
Spongy, slightly sweet steamed cakes of fermented maize and rice dough, sold at roadside stalls and eaten with fried fish and hot pepper sauce.
Gboma dessi
A thick stew of gboma leaves cooked with tomato, onion, smoked fish or meat and palm oil, served with akoumé, a stiff maize dough.
Getting around
Shared bush taxis and minibuses leave Lomé's gares routières when full and run up the N1 to Kara and Dapaong; the journey to Kara takes most of a day. In towns, motorbike taxis called zémidjans are everywhere, and in Lomé the Gozem app books motorbikes and cars at set prices. There are no passenger trains, and hiring a car with a driver is the easiest way to reach Koutammakou.
Practical information
- Plugs & voltage
- CE220V — bring a UK-to-C/E adapter
- Emergency numbers
Source: FCDO “Getting help”
- Dialling code
- +228
- Time zone
- UTC+0 (standard time)
- Tap water
- Not safe — drink bottled or treated water
- Driving
- On the right
- Tipping
- Not expected in local eateries; leave 5–10% in smarter restaurants, and tip guides and drivers who have looked after you well.
- Etiquette
- Greet people, especially elders, before making any request, and use your right hand to eat, give and receive. Always ask before photographing people, shrines or ceremonies.
- Main airports
- Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport (LFW), Lomé
Visas & entry for Togo
Shown for a British passport.
Visa required — apply before you go
You must have a visa to visit Togo. A single-entry tourist visa is valid for 15 days. You must apply for a visa at least 6 days before you plan to arrive in the country. You cannot get a visa on arrival.
To stay longer (or to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons), you must meet the Togolese government’s entry requirements.
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 diseasePolioRabiesTuberculosis
- 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 Togo: 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 Togo
The next 12 months. Banks, offices and some sights may close, and transport and hotels get busy around these dates.
| Sun 1 Nov 2026 | All Saints' Day |
| Fri 25 Dec 2026 | Christmas Day |
| Fri 1 Jan 2027 | New Year's Day |
| Mon 8 Feb 2027 | First Day of Ramadan (date may shift) |
| Tue 9 Mar 2027 | Eid al-Fitr (date may shift) |
| Mon 29 Mar 2027 | Easter Monday |
| Tue 27 Apr 2027 | Independence Day |
| Sat 1 May 2027 | Labour Day |
| Thu 6 May 2027 | Ascension Day |
| Sun 16 May 2027 | Eid al-Adha (date may shift) |
| Mon 17 May 2027 | Pentecost Monday |
| Mon 21 Jun 2027 | Martyrs' Day |
| Sun 15 Aug 2027 | Assumption Day |
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-KEW-zay MWAH |
| How much is this? | C'est combien ? | say kom-BYAN |
Know before you go
- Lomé sits right on the Ghanaian border and Cotonou is only a few hours east by road, so Togo slots easily into a Ghana–Togo–Benin overland route.
- Bring euros to change: the CFA franc is pegged to the euro, so rates are predictable, and euros are the easiest currency to exchange outside Lomé.
- Ask a travel clinic about yellow fever vaccination and antimalarials well before you travel, and carry your vaccination certificate, which may be checked on arrival.
Togo travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Togo?
The best time to visit Togo is generally Nov–Feb. Peak months are January, February, November and December. Average highs in Lomé range from 27°C to 31°C across the year.
How much does a trip to Togo cost per day?
Roughly £30 a day on a tight budget, £70 mid-range and £150+ for comfortable travel, per person including accommodation, food and local transport. Flights are extra.
What currency is used in Togo?
West African CFA franc (XOF).
What plug type does Togo 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 Togo?
Traffic drives on the right in Togo, unlike the UK.
Is tap water safe to drink in Togo?
Not safe — drink bottled or treated water.
Do I need a visa for Togo?
For British passport holders, the FCDO says: You must have a visa to visit Togo. Entry rules change, so check the official FCDO entry requirements for Togo before you travel: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/togo/entry-requirements
What vaccinations do I need for Togo?
TravelHealthPro recommends Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid and Yellow fever for most travellers, with Chikungunya, Dengue, Hepatitis B, Measles, Meningococcal disease and Polio 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.
