Conakry is the capital of Guinea and the economic, commercial and trade center for the area.
Situated on a peninsula, Conakry is thin and long. Although many tourist sites are situated in the old centre on Tombo Island at the very end of the peninsula, distances can be long. Taxis are the best option for tourists.
A popular way of traveling for locals is the Conakry Express, a commuter train that runs the length of the city. Generally not recommended for tourists it can still be an interesting way of experiencing daily life.
The street numbering scheme of Conakry labels all roads with a two-letter code for the urban district, followed by a three digit number: odd for north-south streets and even for east-west, e.g. KA002 for a northbound street in the Kaloum district.
The national team, "The Elephants", play at General Lansana Conté Stadium (capacity 50,000) or at Stade du 28 Septembre (capacity 25,000). The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is to be held in June / July in Guinea, with 24 nations participating. Games will be played in Conakry, Kankan, Labé, Nzérékoré and elsewhere.
There are several large markets in Conakry
The nightlife starts quite late - just past midnight.
Over the past two decades, significant growth in the city has led to overwhelming population density and infrastructure problems. Elections in 2010 led to protests and violent clashes between Guinea’s citizens and the military. According to the U.S. Department of State, the worst is over, but “there is residual potential for violence.” The State Department further warns that “While not specifically targeted, U.S. citizens have been victimized in the past. Motorists traveling outside of Conakry have encountered improvised checkpoint-barricades manned by persons in military uniforms who demand money and search through personal belongings, confiscating items of value.”
Freetown, Sierra Leone
Take a taxi to Bambeto gare and plan to arrive around 06:00 to avail of the first car to Freetown. A seat costs 130,000 GNF as of July 2019. Buying 2 seats automatically gives you first dibs on the front passenger seat (unless it is a minibus where you can comfortably sit in front just for paying a seat). The travel time takes about as short as 5 hours depending on military checkpoint stops and border crossing. Plan your travel dates accordingly as the border to Sierra Leone is closed until 12:00 every last Saturday of the month for clean up day in Sierra Leone. During this time, all vehicles usually stop in Pamalap, Guinea. You may notice other passengers leaving their respective taxis and riding moto taxis to cross the border to the border town of Kambia, Sierra Leone for food. Don’t be surprised if many of your fellow passengers are nowhere to be found. They are already waiting on the other side.
2nd-order administrative division
Primary administrative division