Togo · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Togo
These are the places worth your time in Togo, from Lomé's Grand Marché and fetish market to Kpalimé's waterfalls, the lagoon of Lake Togo and the tower houses of Koutammakou. Classics sit beside lesser-known corners, so every kind of traveller finds something to love.
Places to Visit in Lomé
Shopping and Markets
- Grand Marché de Lomé (Centre)
The city's great market, home of the Nana Benz cloth traders and endless stalls of wax print, spices and everyday goods. - Akodessewa Fetish Market (Akodessewa)
One of West Africa's largest markets of traditional medicine and Vodun charms, a striking and unforgettable sight. - Marché d'Assigamé (Centre)
The food and goods market streets around the Grand Marché, ideal for spices, produce and street snacks. - Marché d'Hédzranawoé (Hédzranawoé)
A huge market for used goods, furniture and everyday items, and a window onto Lomé's trading culture. - Cloth shops of the Grand Marché (Centre)
Shop for wax print and have it made into clothes by a tailor in a day or two. - Batik and tie-dye sellers (Centre)
Hand-dyed cloth and batik made in small workshops. - Marché de Tokoin (Tokoin)
A neighbourhood market for produce and street food away from the tourist trail.
Arts and Culture
- Palais de Lomé (Centre)
The restored German governor's palace, now an art centre with exhibitions and large gardens by the sea. - Monument de l'Indépendance (Place de l'Indépendance)
The city's symbol of independence, set in a wide square near the Palais des Congrès. - Musée National du Togo (Palais des Congrès)
A compact museum of traditional objects, instruments and regalia that gives context to the whole country. - Village Artisanal de Lomé (Centre)
Watch weavers, carvers and leather workers at work and buy directly from the makers. - Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur de Lomé (Centre)
A German era Gothic style cathedral beside the Grand Marché, an old landmark of the centre. - Centre Culturel Goethe-Institut Lomé (Centre)
Concerts, films and exhibitions in a lively cultural space with an international crowd. - Institut Français du Togo (Centre)
Regular concerts, film screenings and exhibitions, often featuring Togolese artists.
Nature and Outdoors
- Plage de Lomé (Boulevard du Mono)
The long palm-lined city beach where families stroll and gather at weekends, best enjoyed from the sand. - Lagune de Bè (Bè)
A lagoon in the heart of the city lined with gardens, fishermen and birds. - Sunset walk on the corniche (Boulevard du Mono)
The palm-lined seafront glows at dusk, ideal for a stroll for two. - Baguida beach (Baguida)
A quieter stretch of coast east of the city where Germans first landed in 1884.
Things to Do
- Marché de Bè (Bè)
A busy neighbourhood market in one of Lomé's oldest Ewe quarters, full of local life. - Day trip to Lake Togo (Agbodrafo)
An easy escape from the city to the calm lagoon and the pirogue crossing to Togoville. - Walk the Ghana border at Aflao (Kodjoviakopé)
See one of the busiest frontier quarters in West Africa, right on the edge of the capital. - Ride a zémidjan along the seafront (Boulevard du Mono)
A quick motorbike taxi ride with a helmet is the classic way locals cross the city. - Explore Bè's shrines with a guide (Bè)
Learn about Ewe tradition in one of the city's oldest quarters. - Stade de Kégué (Kégué)
Catch a football match with passionate local fans at the national stadium.
Stays
- Hôtel 2 Février (Place de l'Indépendance)
Lomé's landmark tower hotel with sweeping views over the city and the sea. - Hôtel Sarakawa (Boulevard du Mono)
A long-established seafront hotel with large gardens and a big pool, east of the centre. - ONOMO Hotel Lomé (Boulevard du Mono)
A modern, comfortable seafront hotel with a pool and a calm feel.
Restaurants
- Maquis of Rue du Commerce (Centre)
Simple street restaurants serving fufu, akoumé and grilled fish to office workers and traders. - Akoumé stalls of Bè (Bè)
Neighbourhood stalls serving akoumé with ademe sauce, the everyday dish of the coast. - Grilled fish stalls at Boulevard du Mono (Boulevard du Mono)
Fresh fish grilled over coals by the sea, eaten with pepper sauce and akoumé. - Ablo and fried fish stalls (Centre)
Soft steamed ablo with fried fish and pepper, a favourite coastal snack. - Street kebab grills at night (Nyékonakpoè)
Spiced brochettes and fried yam sold from smoky grills after dark.
Bars and Nightlife
- Seafront beach bars (Boulevard du Mono)
Plastic chairs, cold beers and sea breeze at the paillote bars along the beach road. - Live music nights at maquis in Tokoin (Tokoin)
Highlife, afrobeat and local sounds at neighbourhood bars on weekend nights. - Sodabi bars in Bè (Bè)
Tiny local spots where you can taste sodabi palm spirit carefully alongside regulars. - Nightlife strip of Kodjoviakopé (Kodjoviakopé)
A busy quarter of bars and music near the border that stays lively late.
Events
- Independence Day celebrations (Place de l'Indépendance)
Parades and celebrations each 27 April across the capital.
Cafés
- Seafront café terraces (Boulevard du Mono)
Sea breezes and fresh juice at the beach road terraces. - Bissap and fresh juice sellers (Centre)
Chilled hibiscus, ginger and baobab drinks sold from coolers on the street.
Places to Visit in Kpalimé
Nature and Outdoors
- Mont Agou (Agou)
Togo's highest peak, with views to Ghana and walks through cocoa farms and villages. - Cascade de Kpimé (Kpimé)
The best known waterfall near town, most impressive in and after the rains. - Cascade de Womé (Womé)
A forest walk to a waterfall with a pool at its base. - Forêt de Klouto (Klouto)
Hilltop forest famous for butterflies, best explored with a local guide early in the morning. - Plateau de Dayes (Dayes)
High country of coffee and cocoa farms, quiet roads and cooler air. - Butterfly walks with local guides (Klouto)
Guides help you spot many butterfly species on forest trails. - Sunset from Mont Agou (Agou)
A quiet view over the plains as the light softens in the evening.
Arts and Culture
- Centre Artisanal de Kpalimé (Centre)
Workshops for carving, batik, ceramics and weaving where you buy direct from artisans. - Cathédrale de Kpalimé (Centre)
A German era cathedral and a reminder of the town's colonial history. - Painters' studios of Kpalimé (Centre)
Small studios selling bright paintings of village and market life.
Shopping and Markets
- Marché de Kpalimé (Centre)
The busy regional market where hill farmers sell fruit, cocoa and palm oil. - Woodcarvers' street (Centre)
Carvers at work in the open air, happy to explain their craft.
Things to Do
- Cocoa farm visit (Kuma Konda)
See how cocoa is grown, opened and dried on a family farm. - Kuma villages walk (Kuma)
Walk between hill villages with views across the Kpalimé valley. - Hike from Kpalimé to Kuma Konda (Kuma Konda)
A classic half-day walk through forest and cocoa farms with a guide.
Stays
- Guesthouses on the Klouto road (Klouto road)
Simple stays with forest views and guided walks from the door.
Restaurants
- Maquis around the market (Centre)
Hearty plates of fufu and sauce at low cost. - Fresh fruit stalls of Kpalimé (Centre)
Avocados, pineapples and mangoes straight from the hills.
Cafés
- Local cocoa and coffee tastings (Dayes)
Taste coffee and cocoa grown just up the hill.
Bars and Nightlife
- Palm wine bars (Kpalimé)
Fresh palm wine in village bars, a taste of everyday life.
Events
- Kpalimé market day (Centre)
The busiest day of the week brings the whole region into town.
Places to Visit in Aného
Things to Do
- Pirogue to Togoville (Agbodrafo)
Cross Lake Togo by dugout canoe to the village that gave Togo its name. - Lagoon birdwatching (Lake Togo)
Herons, kingfishers and waders along the reed beds. - Hilla-Condji border (Hilla-Condji)
The busy crossing into Benin just east of town. - Pirogue tour of the lagoon villages (Lake Togo)
Glide between fishing villages and fish traps on the calm water. - Agbodrafo jetty at sunset (Agbodrafo)
Watch pirogues return across the lagoon as the light fades.
Arts and Culture
- Togoville treaty monument (Togoville)
Marks the 1884 protectorate treaty between Germany and chief Mlapa III. - Cathédrale de Togoville (Togoville)
A striking cathedral and shrine at the heart of the lagoon village. - Maison des Esclaves (Agbodrafo)
The Wood Home, a sobering place where enslaved people were held after abolition. - Vodun shrines of Togoville (Togoville)
Shrines that sit beside the churches, explained by local guides. - Colonial houses of Aného (Centre)
Faded German and Afro-Brazilian houses on quiet streets between lagoon and sea. - Glidji (Glidji)
The spiritual home of the Guin people and site of the Epe Ekpe festival. - Protestant church of Aného (Centre)
One of the oldest churches in Togo, from the early mission era.
Nature and Outdoors
- Lac Togo (Agbodrafo)
A calm lagoon with fishermen, birds and gentle swimming near the hotels. - Fishing beach of Aného (Seafront)
Colourful boats and fishermen hauling nets at dawn. - Vogan market (Vogan)
A big weekly market inland from the lake, full of local trade. - Lake Togo sunset by pirogue (Lake Togo)
A slow evening paddle on calm water, ideal for two.
Stays
- Guesthouses of Aného (Centre)
Simple stays in the old colonial town.
Events
- Epe Ekpe festival (Glidji)
The Guin new year, when a sacred stone is revealed as an omen for the year ahead.
Shopping and Markets
- Marché d'Aného (Centre)
A lively market by the lagoon with fish, produce and cloth.
Restaurants
- Grilled fish by the lagoon (Agbodrafo)
Fresh tilapia and barracuda with akoumé and pepper sauce. - Lakeside dinner at Agbodrafo (Agbodrafo)
Dinner by the water as the lagoon turns gold.
Bars and Nightlife
- Beach bars of Aného (Seafront)
Cold drinks and sea views in a low-key setting.
Places to Visit in Atakpamé
Shopping and Markets
- Marché d'Atakpamé (Centre)
The hillside market town's busy heart, full of yams, cloth and palm oil.
Nature and Outdoors
- Cascade d'Akloa (Tomegbé, Badou)
One of Togo's most beautiful waterfalls, reached by a forest walk. - Badou valley (Badou)
A coffee and cocoa valley near the Ghana border with quiet hill walks. - Hill views over Atakpamé (Centre)
The town's ridges give wide views over forest and farmland.
Restaurants
- Maquis of Atakpamé (Centre)
Fufu, guinea fowl and bean dishes served to locals and travellers.
Things to Do
- Walk the ridges of Atakpamé (Centre)
Climb the town's hills for views over the forest.
Arts and Culture
- Cathédrale d'Atakpamé (Centre)
A large church on one of the town's hills.
Places to Visit in Sokodé
Shopping and Markets
- Grand Marché de Sokodé (Centre)
Togo's second city market, a crossroads of northern trade.
Places to Visit in Kara
Arts and Culture
- Koutammakou (Nadoba)
The UNESCO-listed valley of Batammariba tower houses, explored with local guides. - Takienta tower houses (Nadoba)
The fortress-like mud homes with granaries that define the Batammariba landscape. - Blacksmiths of Tcharè (Tcharè)
Watch iron worked by hand with techniques passed down for generations. - Niamtougou crafts (Niamtougou)
Pottery and craft villages near the northern airport.
Events
- Evala wrestling festival (Kara region)
The Kabiyè coming-of-age wrestling festival held each July. - Kara market day (Centre)
Villagers arrive from the hills to trade, filling the city with colour.
Shopping and Markets
- Grand Marché de Kara (Centre)
The north's big market, with cloth, spices and tchoukoutou sellers.
Nature and Outdoors
- Kabiyè massif terraces (Kara hills)
Terraced hills farmed in traditional ways, best on a morning walk. - Défalé gorge road (Défalé)
A dramatic winding road through the hills north of Kara.
Stays
- Guesthouses of Kara (Centre)
Simple, clean stays in the calm northern city.
Restaurants
- Tchoukoutou courtyards (Kara)
Millet beer served by women brewers in neighbourhood courtyards. - Pintade grills (Centre)
Grilled guinea fowl with spicy pepper, a northern favourite.
Things to Do
- Walk the Kara riverside (Centre)
An easy evening walk where the city relaxes. - Kandé market (Kandé)
The market town on the edge of Koutammakou and a common starting point for the valley.
Bars and Nightlife
- Evening maquis of Kara (Centre)
Kebabs, fried yam and cold drinks under the stars.
Cafés
- Morning tea stalls of Kara (Centre)
Sweet tea, bread and omelette at roadside stalls, the northern breakfast.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Avépozo beach hotels (Avépozo, Lomé)
Quieter beach stays east of the city, popular for relaxed weekends. - Festival des Divinités Noires (Aného and Lomé, Lomé)
A celebration of Vodun and traditional culture held in some years on the coast. - Château Viale (Kouma, Kpalimé)
A historic stone house on a hilltop near Kpalimé, a curious relic of the colonial era. - Akrowa waterfall hike (Akrowa, Kpalimé)
A longer hike to a quieter waterfall for confident walkers. - Old railway station (Centre, Atakpamé)
A relic of the German built line that once linked the town with Lomé. - Adossa knife festival (Sokodé, Sokodé)
The Tem festival of knives, with dancers and music in the streets. - Grande Mosquée de Sokodé (Centre, Sokodé)
A landmark of the city's long Muslim heritage. - Fazao Malfakassa National Park (Fazao, Atakpamé)
A large forested park with limited visitor facilities, best for adventurous travellers. - Sarakawa park (Sarakawa, Kara)
A wildlife area north of Kara; check whether it is open to visitors. - Pya village (Pya, Kara)
The home village of the Eyadéma family, with traditional architecture nearby. - Hôtel Ibis Lomé Centre (Boulevard de la République, Lomé)
A simple, reliable international chain hotel close to the seafront. - Église Saint-Augustin d'Amoutivé (Amoutivé, Lomé)
An old parish church in a historic quarter linked to Lomé's founding families.