Overview
Ouagadougou — 'Ouaga' to locals — is the capital of Burkina Faso and its cultural heart: a flat, friendly, sprawling city known for cinema, craft markets and live music. No airline flies there direct from the UK, so every route involves one connection. As the security situation changes, check the latest FCDO travel advice before booking, since it currently advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country.
Best time to fly to Ouagadougou
The city is hot and dry. The most comfortable window is the cool dry season from late November to February, when temperatures ease and the dusty Harmattan wind blows in from the Sahara. March to May is fiercely hot, often above 40°C, and the rains fall from about June to September. If your dates flex, aim for December to February and use the When to book chart above to spot the cheapest departures. The biennial FESPACO film festival and SIAO craft fair push fares up, so book early around those dates.
Airlines and routes
Flying from the UK to Ouagadougou always means one stop. The main carriers are Air France via Paris, Brussels Airlines via Brussels, Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, Royal Air Maroc via Casablanca and Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa. From London, the quickest routings — usually via Paris or Brussels — take roughly 9 to 11 hours in total including the connection; from Manchester allow a little longer, typically via Paris, Brussels or Istanbul. Compare a few airlines on the price charts on this page, as the fastest option isn't always the cheapest.
Things to do in Ouagadougou
Ouaga rewards travellers who enjoy markets, museums and music.
- Musée National du Burkina Faso: masks, textiles and an introduction to the country's many cultures.
- Grand Marché (Rood-Woko): the huge central market for fabric, leatherwork and daily life.
- Village Artisanal: a fair-trade crafts centre with bronze-casting, weaving and carving to watch.
- La Place des Cinéastes: the monument to Burkina Faso's role as the home of African cinema and FESPACO.
- Laongo Sculpture Park: monumental granite carvings in the bush about 30km east, an easy half-day trip.
At Thomas Sankara International Airport (OUA)
Ouagadougou's airport is unusually central, about 2km south of downtown, so transfers are quick. There is no train or metro; licensed green taxis wait outside the terminal and reach most central hotels in 10 to 15 minutes. Agree the fare before setting off, or ask your hotel to arrange a pick-up — the easiest choice after a long or late-night journey. A replacement airport at Donsin, north-east of the city, has been under construction for years but is not yet open.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Ouagadougou
- Book ahead: fares are usually lowest around two to four months before departure; last-minute seats rarely offer value on this route.
- Choose midweek, off-peak days: Tuesday and Wednesday departures away from the December holidays and festival dates tend to cost less.
- Stay flexible: moving your trip a day or two either way can cut the fare — check the price charts on this page.
- Compare hubs: price Paris, Brussels, Istanbul and Casablanca connections separately, as the best-value carrier shifts through the year.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders need a visa for Burkina Faso. An e-visa is available online and visas on arrival have been offered at the airport, but rules change, so confirm the current position and arrange yours in advance where you can. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is a mandatory condition of entry, and antimalarial tablets are strongly advised — visit your GP or a travel clinic six to eight weeks before you fly. The currency is the West African CFA franc (XOF), pegged to the euro; carry euros to exchange, as cards are little use outside major hotels.
