Must see attractions in Conakry

Top ChoiceSights in Conakry

The Centre d'Art Acrobatique Keita Fodeba is perhaps the single most amazing experience in Guinea. Every weekday morning scores of acrobats spin, twirl and flip through routines that have made them the envy of circuses the world over. As good as the acrobats are, it's the contortionists who steal the show. When they bend themselves 180 degrees the wrong way you can only wonder if they actually have backbones or if they are in fact jellyfish.

Sights in Conakry

The shady Cimetière de Boulbinet reveals something of the harshness of life for the European colonialists who came to this humid and once mosquito-infested corner of Africa. Very few of the cemetery occupants seemed to live beyond the not very ripe old age of thirty. The cemetery is still used by the city's shrinking European and Christian population today.

Sights in Conakry

The Musée National has a modest collection of masks, statues and musical instruments, many of which are used in religious or mystical ceremonies.

Sights in Conakry

Jardin 2 Octobre is a large park that contains a well-maintained children's playground. For those without little people in tow it's a calm break from the hectic city beyond.

Sights in Conakry

Conakry's dwindling Christian population almost manages to fill the pews of the red and yellow Cathédrale Sainte-Marie each Sunday morning. Construction of the cathedral began in 1928 and the interior contains some rather kitsch paintings of biblical scenes. Entry is normally via the southern side door rather than the main doorway. There are no set opening hours.

Sights in Conakry

The Botanical Garden is more a semi-wild patch of tropical forest rather than a botanical garden. It's a nice place for a relaxed walk under the kapok trees, but even though entry is technically free the soldiers at the entrance gate will 'suggest' you take one of them as an armed escort – for which you pay a negotiable fee…

Sights in Conakry

Destroyed in a bombardment by mutinous troops in 1996, the former Palais des Nations was renovated, re-opened and re-christened the Palais Mohammed V (after the late Moroccan King). Today, as before its destruction, it is used to host high level government and international summits and is closed to the public.

Sights in Conakry

Seeing worshippers flock to Conakry's impressive Grande Mosquée on a Friday is amazing. Built in 1984, the mosque is a striking building that accommodates up to 10,000 worshippers. Unless you're a practising Muslim you'll have to content yourself with admiring it from the outside.