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Liberia

Liberia, a lush, green, friendly and vibrant land, offers everything from excellent surf spots and shops selling wares by edgy local designers to days spent lolling in a comfy hammock on the edge of the rainforest while listening to tropical birds sing. It's home to one of West Africa's best national parks, and still hangs on to a confident American spirit mixed with West African roots. And despite the ravages of the past, it is a fantastic place to travel, full of hope and energy.

After a decade of dusting themselves off and resuming normal life following their brutal civil war, Liberians experienced another deadly conflict in 2014 – the Ebola virus. While the nation is officially Ebola-free per the WHO, it's struggling economically to recover. With travel restrictions lifted, tourism can play a huge role in this.

Explore Liberia

Hotel Ducor
Originally built by the now-defunct Pan Am Airlines, this former luxury hotel and site of key political meetings is now a decayed but stunning colonial…
Mt Nimba
Beautiful Mt Nimba is Liberia's tallest peak, 1362m above sea level, and you can feasibly climb it if you have a few days on your hands (it's a rewarding…
Waterside Market
Chaotic Waterside Market offers almost everything for sale, including colourful textiles, shoes, leather goods and pottery, all with a dose of foul smells…
M
Monkey Island
This small archipelago is home to chimpanzees that were evacuated from a hepatitis research lab during the war. Enquire in town about the most up-to-date…
Sapo National Park
Sapo, Liberia's only national park, is a lush 1808-sq-km tract containing some of West Africa's last remaining primary rainforest. Within it lurk forest…
Liberia National Museum
The museum's collection was depleted during the war years, but renovations (always ongoing) have created space for photo and art exhibitions as well as…
C
Cape Palmas Lighthouse
This lighthouse can be climbed for an outstanding panoramic view of the cape. Although no longer functional, it's on a UN base, so get permission first,…
F
Firestone Rubber Plantation
This is the world's largest rubber plantation, which is leased from the government on a controversial 99-year plan. You can view how rubber is processed …
T
Tubman Center of African Culture
Destroyed during Liberia's war, the shambles of this former museum and current ruin yields a few onlookers. Its draw is often to see how the overgrowth…

Hotel Ducor
Originally built by the now-defunct Pan Am Airlines, this former luxury hotel and site of key political meetings is now a decayed but stunning colonial…
Mt Nimba
Beautiful Mt Nimba is Liberia's tallest peak, 1362m above sea level, and you can feasibly climb it if you have a few days on your hands (it's a rewarding…
Waterside Market
Chaotic Waterside Market offers almost everything for sale, including colourful textiles, shoes, leather goods and pottery, all with a dose of foul smells…
M
Monkey Island
This small archipelago is home to chimpanzees that were evacuated from a hepatitis research lab during the war. Enquire in town about the most up-to-date…
Sapo National Park
Sapo, Liberia's only national park, is a lush 1808-sq-km tract containing some of West Africa's last remaining primary rainforest. Within it lurk forest…
Liberia National Museum
The museum's collection was depleted during the war years, but renovations (always ongoing) have created space for photo and art exhibitions as well as…
C
Cape Palmas Lighthouse
This lighthouse can be climbed for an outstanding panoramic view of the cape. Although no longer functional, it's on a UN base, so get permission first,…
F
Firestone Rubber Plantation
This is the world's largest rubber plantation, which is leased from the government on a controversial 99-year plan. You can view how rubber is processed …
T
Tubman Center of African Culture
Destroyed during Liberia's war, the shambles of this former museum and current ruin yields a few onlookers. Its draw is often to see how the overgrowth…

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Liberia.

See
Hotel Ducor
Originally built by the now-defunct Pan Am Airlines, this former luxury hotel and site of key political meetings is now a decayed but stunning colonial…
See
Mt Nimba
Beautiful Mt Nimba is Liberia's tallest peak, 1362m above sea level, and you can feasibly climb it if you have a few days on your hands (it's a rewarding…
See
Waterside Market
Chaotic Waterside Market offers almost everything for sale, including colourful textiles, shoes, leather goods and pottery, all with a dose of foul smells…
See
Monkey Island
This small archipelago is home to chimpanzees that were evacuated from a hepatitis research lab during the war. Enquire in town about the most up-to-date…
See
Sapo National Park
Sapo, Liberia's only national park, is a lush 1808-sq-km tract containing some of West Africa's last remaining primary rainforest. Within it lurk forest…
See
Liberia National Museum
The museum's collection was depleted during the war years, but renovations (always ongoing) have created space for photo and art exhibitions as well as…
See
Cape Palmas Lighthouse
This lighthouse can be climbed for an outstanding panoramic view of the cape. Although no longer functional, it's on a UN base, so get permission first,…
See
Firestone Rubber Plantation
This is the world's largest rubber plantation, which is leased from the government on a controversial 99-year plan. You can view how rubber is processed …
See
Tubman Center of African Culture
Destroyed during Liberia's war, the shambles of this former museum and current ruin yields a few onlookers. Its draw is often to see how the overgrowth…

Guidebooks

Learn more about Liberia

Ready to go? Get to the heart of Liberia with one of Lonely Planet's in-depth, award-winning guidebooks.