Things to see and do in Guinea

Attractions in Guinea

Bask on an island beach

The Îles de Los, off the Kaloum Peninsula some 10km (6 miles) southwest of Conakry, are easily accessible by boat from the capital. Good beaches can also be found at the Île de Roume and Île de Kassa. They make a popular daytrip for people escaping the city at the weekends.

Find the source of the Niger River

An expedition to the source of the Niger makes an interesting excursion from Faranah. The mighty river flows from Foroknia north to Bamako. If you want to seek the source, it's best to take a local guide on this adventure as the area is sacred to some local people and should be traversed sensitively.

Haggle for handicrafts

Not far from Conakry is the town of Kindia, renowned for its quality cloth and weaving. Visitors can stop by an indigo dyeing centre and make some purchases at the cloth market in the centre of town. In another nearby town, Katikan, open-air markets sell a range of handicrafts.

Hike in the hills

Known as the land of fruit, faith and freedom, the Fouta Djalon highlands are renowned for their picturesque hills, which offer superb views and are ideal for hiking. The highest point is Mount Loura at 1,515m (4,970ft). Mamou, a nearby town, has some good facilities and excellent street food.

Learn the secrets of the Kakimbon Caves

The Kakimbon Caves in the village of Ratoma, now a suburb of Conakry, are the source of many interesting legends and are bestowed with great religious significance by the local Baga people. With a local guide it is possible to explore the caves and learn their legends.

Party like a local in Faranah

If Guinea has a party town, it's probably Faranah. When the sun sets, this town buzzes with people frequenting the area's many cafes and restaurants. Its great mosque, villas, boulevards and markets also make this an interesting stop for visitors.

Spot some wildlife

There are no national parks in Guinea, but wildlife can be observed in the northeast savannahs between the Tinkisso River and the Mali border, in the foothills of the Fouta Djalon highlands and in the southeast of the country. Forest elephants and chimpanzees live in Guinea, but wildlife is under threat from mining, logging and the bush meat trade.

Take in some culture in the capital, Conakry

Conakry is located on the island of Tumbo and is connected to the Kaloum Peninsula by a pier. The botanical gardens, with impressive Kapok trees, are worth a visit. The Cathedral, built in the 1930s, is also well worth viewing. The National Museum, houses a collection of masks, statues and musical instruments. The Palais du Peuple is a large, Chinese-built auditorium home to two ballet troupes.

Watch a waterfall

Approximately 150km (93 miles) outside Conakry is the picturesque Le Voile de la Mariée. Amid lush vegetation the River Sabende plunges over a 70m-high (229ft) rock into a deep pond. Also worth visiting is the lofty Kinkon Falls in Pita, between Dalaba and Labé, which are most impressive in the rainy season between May and October.

Tourist offices

Office National du Tourisme in Guinea