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Mozambique

Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2025

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Gate of a guest house in Vilanculos, Mozambique, leading to the beach and the Indian Ocean.

©nicolasdecorte/Getty Images

Overview

Mozambique beckons with its coastline and swaying palms, its traditions, its cultures, its vibe and its opportunities for adventure. This enigmatic southeast African country is well off most travelers' maps, but it has much to offer those who venture here: long, dune-fringed beaches, turquoise waters abounding in shoals of colorful fish, well-preserved corals, remote archipelagos in the north, pounding surf in the south and graceful dhows with billowing sails. Add to this colonial-style architecture, pulsating nightlife, a fascinating cultural mix and vast tracts of bush. Discovering these attractions is not always easy, but it is unfailingly rewarding. Bring along patience, a tolerance for long bus rides, some travel savvy and a sense of adventure, and jump in for the journey of a lifetime.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Mozambique, Bazaruto Archipelago. Divers kit up on a zodiac, ready to explore the stunning coral reefs off Benguerra Island.

    Bazaruto National Park

    Bazaruto Archipelago

    This1400-sq-km park protects the five islands of the Bazaruto Archipelago, plus surrounding waters. Thanks to this protected status, and to the…

  • Mozambique, Maputo, the Baixa area, the victorian style railway station designed by G. Eiffel in 1910

    Train Station

    Maputo

    Maputo’s landmark train station is one of the city’s most imposing buildings. The dome was designed by an associate of Alexandre Gustav Eiffel (of Eiffel…

  • Cascata

    Cascata

    Mozambique

    Don't worry if you haven't the time or energy to summit Mt Namúli. Equally memorable is the 8km (one way) hike to the cascata (waterfall) in the hills…

  • Chissano Gallery

    Chissano Gallery

    Maputo

    Works of renowned sculptor Alberto Chissano, as well as his remains, are on display in his family’s residence at the Chissano Gallery. Taxis from central…

  • National Art Museum

    National Art Museum

    Maputo

    Half a block west of Avenida Karl Marx, the National Art Museum has an excellent collection of paintings and sculptures by Mozambique’s finest…

  • Centro Cultural Franco-Moçambicano

    Centro Cultural Franco-Moçambicano

    Maputo

    An excellent place, with art exhibitions, music and dance performances, films, theatre, a craft shop, a cafe and more.

  • Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) in water

    Gorongosa National Park

    Mozambique

    Though Gorongosa’s infrastructure is still being rehabilitated after the ravages of the civil war, and animal populations can’t yet compare with those in…

  • Praca da Independencia, Maputo, Mozambique, Africa

    Praça da Independência

    Maputo

    This wide and imposing plaza is the gateway from the upper part of town to the baixa. It's rimmed by several notable buildings and well worth a stroll.

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Mozambique and beyond

Beyond Mozambique