Cheap flights to Ouagadougou
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Quick summary
Country
Burkina Faso
Continent
Africa
Airport
OUA
Currency
West African CFA franc (XOF)
Time zone
UTC
Deals already spotted to Ouagadougou
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First, a plain statement: Burkina Faso is the subject of very restrictive official travel advice in many departure countries. That advice differs from one country to another, sometimes advises against travel to the country or to certain areas, and can even cover flights to Ouagadougou. Do not assume the country is accessible to you: read the official advice of your departure country before considering anything, and check it again before any booking. SniperAir tracks prices and alerts you; it does not sell or book tickets and does not encourage you to travel.
This page therefore offers cultural background only. Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, is the country's largest city and its cultural, economic and administrative centre according to French Wikipedia. Its name is said to come from the Mooré Wogdgo, which the same source links to the idea of a place where honour is received. Population figures differ between sources, so we do not publish one.
Airport and getting into town
An airport in the heart of the city
Ouagadougou – International Airport (OUA)
The airport lies in Sector 5, very close to the centre, according to Wikipedia (DE, ES). Wikivoyage (EN) says less than two kilometres to the United Nations roundabout, and Wikivoyage (DE) about 1.5 km as the crow flies to the central market: the figures differ slightly, so we stay approximate. Airlines and routes change often, and in many departure countries official advice discourages some flights or travel altogether: check the position before buying anything.
Approximate distance, from Wikipedia (DE, ES) and Wikivoyage (EN, DE). The sources also mention a project for a new airport, whose progress is not confirmed here. We quote no taxi fares and no list of airlines.
French Wikipedia says Ouagadougou station is the terminus of the railway to Abidjan, run by Sitarail, and that national road 1 leads to Bobo-Dioulasso. The real state of trains and roads changes, and official advice often singles out areas to avoid: do not build any journey without reading it.
Wikivoyage (EN, FR) adds that coaches from the various companies leave from depots of their own, as there is no central bus station.
Landmarks
Cathedral, National Heroes Monument and urban forest
Ouagadougou is read through a few large buildings and a green lung. The places illustrated below are described according to our sources; the others are covered in text only.
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
German Wikipedia dates it to 1934-1936 and links it to European neo-Romanesque style; Wikivoyage (EN) explains that its two towers of different heights deliberately give an impression of being unfinished. Its ochre brick catches the late-afternoon light.
Inside the cathedral nave
The nave is lined with white arches, pillars with decorated capitals and long rows of wooden benches, under an exposed roof frame. Places of worship are visited according to the times and rules of each community, so ask before entering.
The National Heroes Monument
French Wikipedia lists this monument among the city's buildings of architectural interest, together with the Kosyam palace and the Thomas Sankara memorial; Wikivoyage (FR) names it too. Its flared tower silhouette, topped by a small green dome, rises over a wide open space.
Bangr-Weoogo park
Spanish Wikipedia recalls that this urban park was a sacred forest of the Mossi chiefs before being laid out in the colonial period, then renamed 'Bangr-Weoogo urban park', the forest of knowledge. Wikivoyage (EN) mentions walking trails and a small zoo there.
Other places named by Wikipedia (FR, DE, ES) and Wikivoyage (EN, FR, DE): the Grand Mosque; the palace of the Moro Naba, where the so-called false departure ceremony takes place every Friday morning, symbolically dissuading a king from going to war; the Place de la Nation; the Filmmakers' Monument; and, some thirty kilometres to the east, the Laongo site, where large granite slabs have been sculpted by artists from several continents. Access and opening times vary, so ask about the local situation before going anywhere.
Museums and culture
Museums, cinema and live performance
The National Museum
German Wikipedia says the National Museum of Burkina Faso was founded in 1962 and only had a home of its own with the buildings in the Dassasgho district, whose first rooms opened in 2004. French Wikipedia describes it as devoted to promoting the country's cultural heritage. Hours and fees change, so we publish none.
The Museum of Music
Founded in 1999 according to German Wikipedia, the Museum of Music displays many traditional instruments; Wikivoyage (EN) describes it as devoted to all the instruments of the country. Wikivoyage (EN, FR) also points to the craft village, which gathers the skills of the country's artisans.
FESPACO and performance venues
The Pan-African Film and Television Festival, created in 1969, takes place every two years in Ouagadougou according to Wikipedia (ES) and Wikivoyage (EN). French Wikipedia names the Maison du peuple, the CENASA, opened in 2000, and the La Termitière choreographic development centre, inaugurated in 2006. Dates and programmes change, so check them.
Food and drink
Tô, 'bicycle chicken' and grilled skewers
National dishes
Wikivoyage (FR) names the dishes found in restaurants and at street stalls: tô, a cereal paste served with a sauce, poulet bicyclette ('bicycle chicken') and skewers grilled at the roadside.
Markets and districts
The Rood-Wooko grand market is described by Wikivoyage (FR) as the commercial heart of the city; Wikivoyage (EN) also mentions the Gounghin market for fabrics and fruit. Markets are best explored in the morning, keeping your belongings close.
Cafés and maquis
Wikivoyage (FR) mentions very many maquis, which are at once bars, concert halls and nightclubs, as well as a few vegetarian tables. Choose sealed drinks where possible. We name no commercial address and quote no price.
Getting around
Green taxis, two-wheelers and city buses
Green taxis
Wikivoyage (EN, FR) describes the green taxis, ubiquitous and shared, with the price negotiated before getting in, and the rarer white taxis. Fares rise at night and for journeys from the airport according to Wikivoyage (EN, DE): we quote no amounts.
Two-wheelers and bicycles
Wikipedia (FR, DE) stresses that residents travel mostly by motorbike, moped or bicycle; Wikipedia (ES) mentions lanes laid out on the Bobo-Dioulasso road. Caution is needed in dense traffic.
Buses and apps
French Wikipedia names the Sotraco bus network, with about twenty lines, and Wikivoyage (FR) notes the appearance of fixed-price ride-booking apps. Timetables and names of these services change, so check them.
Budget and precautions
Budget and precautions
Price level
The prices quoted by our sources are old, isolated or contradictory, so we offer no range. The currency is the West African CFA franc (XOF). Wikivoyage (EN, DE) notes that bank cards are accepted only in the larger establishments.
Flights and official advice
SniperAir tracks fares to OUA and compares them with the route's price history, but it does not sell or book tickets. Official advice on Burkina Faso is very restrictive in many departure countries and differs from one country to another: read your own, including what it says about flights and areas to avoid, before creating an alert and again before any purchase.
Health and formalities
Entry conditions depend on your nationality and change: check official websites. For health, ask a doctor or a vaccination centre well before any possible departure: malaria and yellow fever are among the usual topics to raise.
When to go
A semi-arid climate: dry season, harmattan and summer rains
Harmattan (late November to mid-February)
French Wikipedia describes very dry air, large swings between day and night and sometimes a dust haze. Minimums can fall to around 14 to 15 °C and maximums reach 28 to 33 °C: this is the period judged easiest to bear.
Heat at the end of the dry season (March to May)
From late February to April, according to French Wikipedia, the heat becomes sweltering, with days of 38 °C and then 40 to 43 °C and very warm nights. Wikivoyage (EN) places the hottest months between February and May.
Rainy season (June to September)
The monsoon brings rain and thunderstorms, peaking in August according to Wikipedia (ES). French Wikipedia puts the dry season from mid-October to mid-May, and Wikivoyage (EN) the rainy season from June to September.
October transition
From October to late November, French Wikipedia describes a transition period that is still very hot, with maximums of 35 to 38 °C and a few localised showers in October.
French Wikipedia classes the climate between semi-arid and tropical savanna. We do not give full monthly averages, because stations and years differ. Climate says nothing about conditions on the ground: only official advice allows you to judge that.
By length of stay
What to discover in Ouagadougou depending on the length of stay
Cathedral and monument
If official advice ever allows travel: one to two days for the cathedral, the National Heroes Monument, the national museum and the Friday ceremony at the Moro Naba's palace.
Parks, crafts and performance
Add Bangr-Weoogo park, the craft village, the Museum of Music and, depending on the calendar, a festival, after finding out about travel conditions.
Beyond the capital
Places named by our sources outside the city are not suggested here as stops: official advice often singles out areas to avoid and should not be read lightly.
In pictures
Ouagadougou in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Ouagadougou
Does official advice allow travel to Ouagadougou?
In many departure countries, travel advice on Burkina Faso is very restrictive and varies from one country to another; some advise against travel, certain areas or flights. Do not assume the country is accessible to you: read your own country's official advice before booking and check it again before departure.
Where is Ouagadougou airport?
The international airport (OUA) is in Sector 5, very close to the city centre according to Wikipedia (DE, ES); the sources speak of roughly 1.5 to 2 km from the centre. We quote no taxi fares.
When is the best time of year for Ouagadougou's climate?
French Wikipedia judges the harmattan period, from late November to mid-February, easiest to bear, with milder days. The rains run from June to September and the heat peaks before the rainy season. This information does not replace official advice.
What is there to see in Ouagadougou?
The cathedral, the National Heroes Monument, the national museum, the Museum of Music, the craft village and Bangr-Weoogo park. On Friday mornings a ceremony is held at the Moro Naba's palace. Access to some places may vary, so ask.
How do you get around Ouagadougou?
Our sources name shared green taxis, two-wheelers and the Sotraco bus network. Taxi prices are negotiated before getting in, and traffic is dense.
Do I need a visa or vaccinations for Burkina Faso?
Entry conditions depend on your nationality and change: check official websites. For health, ask a doctor or a vaccination centre well before any possible departure.
How much does a flight to Ouagadougou usually cost?
The price depends mainly on your departure city, the time of year and how far ahead you book. The "opportunities" section above shows real examples of prices SniperAir has already detected to this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Ouagadougou drops below my budget?
Create an alert profile with your departure airport, Ouagadougou (OUA) as the destination and your maximum budget. You are notified automatically as soon as a matching price is detected. SniperAir monitors and alerts, it does not sell or book tickets.
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