In which quarter house in Bamako?

Are you planning a trip to Mali? Here are the areas where to stay in Bamako, for this destination outside the beaten paths!

Capital and largest city of Mali, Bamako is located southwest of the country, at the gates of the Sahara between Mauritania, Mauritania Senegal Burkina Faso, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire. The city, irrigated by the Niger River, has 2,446,700 inhabitants in 2018, for an area of 267 km2.

Bamako and Mali are among the poorest areas in the world, yet it is a city that is full of resources, social life, markets and mosques. Founded in the 16th century, the city has an unmissable historical and cultural heritage, between the crossroads of Malian ethnic groups and French colonization, making it one of the most beautiful capitals in Africa.

Are you going to visit Mali and Bamako despite the tensions and risks of terrorist attacks related to the Islamist movements in the region? Enjoy the well-known hospitality of Malians by exploring the city, its unmistakable monuments and its backstage.

To prepare your trip, here is a presentation of the neighbourhoods where to stay in Bamako!

Bamako Downtown

The cost of living, even for a capital such as Bamako, is much lower than the cost of living in France. As a result, you can enjoy the commercial atmosphere, especially in the city’s multiple popular markets, to make your shopping at a lower cost.

The city centre of Bamako is home to several must-see tourist attractions if you like cultural tours: the National Museum of Mali, the Grande Mosque of Bamako, the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Bamako and the Monument of Independence.

The centre extends between the banks of the Niger River and the city’s bus station. Don't miss the Grand Market! There is the atmosphere of a Moroccan souk, wandering through the alleys with the scents and colours of artisanal products. It contains everything: food, carpets, clothing, decoration objects, musical instruments.

River area

Located southwest of the city centre, on the banks of the Niger River, the River District is home to the homonymous Mosque and ECOWAS round . It houses the Malian headquarters of the Central Bank of West African States, but it is above all the emblem of a modern Mali.

In the neighborhood, the Casino de l’Amitié will give you — or initiate you — to the games and maybe to win bets (agar to addictions!). There are all the traditional game tables.

Torokorobougou and Badalabougou

Are you still looking to stay in Bamako? Are the hotels stormed? On the other side of the Niger River to find the two neighborhoods of Torokorobougou and Badalabougou on the other side of the Martyrs Bridge. The area contains numerous restaurants, numerous small popular markets and more hooked stores.

It’s the modern shopping district, with the big signs. You can get in touch with the local population, while having the capacity to stay in Bamako a little while away from the city’s shrub (blowers, groubling ants, pollution).