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Togo travel guide
Palm beaches, green hills and colourful markets.
Togo is a narrow country in West Africa with a short Atlantic coast and green, hilly countryside inland. Lomé, the capital, has beaches and big markets, while Kpalimé is known for waterfalls, butterflies and crafts.
Travel tools
Getting there
Lomé's Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport has flights across West Africa and to Europe. Land borders connect with Ghana right at Lomé's western edge, with Benin along the coast and with Burkina Faso in the north.
Best time to visit: Nov–Feb – the dry season.
Tougher months: April to June and September to October – the main rainy periods in the south, when downpours can disrupt travel.
Weather by month in Lomé
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- 28°A
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- 31°N●
- 31°D
Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).
Time zone: Africa/Abidjan. Compare with your local time.
Visas: in our passport dataset, 15 of 198 other passports can enter Togo without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 183 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 0 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.
Background: Visa policy of Togo (Wikipedia).
Official advisory: Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-03-09). Read the advisory.
Source and more: Togo travel facts on RoamSun
Stay
Most trips to Togo are based around Lomé, Lake Togo and Togoville or Kpalimé. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.
Typical daily budget: about US$25–40 for a backpacker and US$70–130 mid-range, per person.
Source: RoamSun Togo page · Browse hotel guides
Connect
Plug types: C. Voltage: 220 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.
Calling code: +228.
Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.
Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun
Do
- Lomé (Coast · capital): A laid-back seaside capital with buzzing markets, a palm-lined beachfront and the striking Independence Monument.
- Lake Togo and Togoville (Coast · lagoon): A peaceful lagoon for boat trips, with a historic village full of Vodun shrines and a cathedral.
- Kpalimé (Plateaux · hills): Togo's hiking capital, surrounded by forest, waterfalls, coffee plantations and craft villages.
- Mount Agou (Plateaux · mountain): The country's highest point, with trails through farms and hillside villages.
- Koutammakou (North · UNESCO landscape): A living cultural landscape of fortress-like mud houses that is one of West Africa's most unique sights.
- Aného (Coast · historic town): A former colonial capital with crumbling architecture and strong Vodun traditions.
- Badou (Plateaux · waterfalls): A hill town in cocoa country and the base for hiking to Akloa Falls.
- Kara (North · regional city): The north's main city and gateway to Kabye villages, markets and the Evala festival.
Things to do
- Browse Lomé's Grand Marché. Lose yourself in the stalls of the great market, famous for its powerful cloth traders known as the Nana Benz.
- Visit the Akodessewa fetish market. See the ingredients of traditional Vodun medicine and talismans laid out at this unusual market in Lomé.
- Cross Lake Togo by pirogue. Glide across the lagoon to Togoville, where the German treaty was signed and shrines line the streets.
- Hike Mount Agou. Climb Togo's highest peak through cocoa and coffee plantations for views as far as Ghana.
- Explore Koutammakou. Step inside the two-storey earthen tower houses, or takienta, of the Batammariba people.
- Swim beneath Akloa Falls. Trek through the forest near Badou to a cascade tumbling into a cool pool.
- Seek butterflies at Mount Kloto. Walk the forested hills above Kpalimé, rich in birds and colourful butterflies.
- Meet Kpalimé's artisans. Watch woodcarvers, weavers and potters at work in this relaxed hill town.
Source: full Togo guide on RoamSun
Eat and drink
- Fufu – pounded yam served with soup
- Akoumé – maize dough eaten with sauces
- Ablo – slightly sweet steamed corn cakes
- Grilled fish with pepper sauce – a coastal favourite
Source: RoamSun Togo guide
Money and safety
Currency: West African CFA franc (XOF). Currency and plug checker.
Tipping: Not expected but appreciated.
Emergency numbers: 117 police · 118 fire.
- The currency is the West African CFA franc, shared with neighbouring countries and pegged to the euro.
- ATMs are found in Lomé and larger towns, mostly accepting Visa, but carry cash for rural areas.
- Check your government's latest travel advice: many advise against travel to the far north near the Burkina Faso border because of armed groups.
- Lomé's beaches have dangerous currents and strong waves, so avoid swimming in the sea.
Source: RoamSun Togo facts
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Togo?
Nov–Feb – the dry season. Tropical, hot and humid, with rainy seasons in spring and autumn in the south.
What time zone is Togo in?
Togo uses Africa/Abidjan.
Do I need a visa for Togo?
It depends on your passport. In our dataset 15 of 198 other passports can enter without a prior visa, 183 need an e-visa or eTA and 0 need a visa in advance. Use the visa checker and confirm with the official government source.
What plug and voltage does Togo use?
Togo uses plug type C at 220 V. Check whether your devices are dual-voltage before you plug in.
What is the calling code for Togo?
The international calling code for Togo is +228.
Do you tip in Togo?
Not expected but appreciated.
What is the emergency number in Togo?
117 police · 118 fire.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Togo?
Traffic drives on the right.