The city of Lome is served by the Lome-Tokoin International Airport, also known as Gnassingbe Eyadema International Airport, which is located just 3 miles northeast of the city center.

There are taxis available at the airport and can be found outside the terminal, the journey to the city center takes less than 15 minutes, and rates from the airport to the heart of the city cost around 4,000 CFA franc. Destinations beyond the city center start at around 20,000 CFA Franc. There are several rental car companies at the airport to choose from.

The main bus service in Lome is Sotral, which offers a fleet of 88 buses that operate eighteen lines including 11 regular lines of the network in Greater Lome. Bus tickets are relatively cheap and cost around 300 Fcfa, but the bus service is not extensive enough to cover the entire capital city. One of the most popular modes of transportation in Lome are two types of taxis; a car taxi, usually identified by its yellow top and yellow license plate with its registration number painted on both front doors. Taxi fares are negotiable and should be discussed before the ride begins.

Motos (motorcycles) are plentiful throughout the city, which is the fastest and cheapest way to get around and navigate the city. It might not be the safest way, but it is an experience. Take a ride on the back of a motorcycle to get from point A to point B. A good distance on a moto will cost around 300 Fcfa There are minibusses that transport passengers between cities and over the border to surrounding countries. They are either minibusses (or bush taxis) with several seats or four-door cars. Fares are usually set, and charged per passenger, cars leave when they are full and can get crowded.

You can rent a car when visiting the capital city of Lome in Togo. Renting a car is relatively easy and affordable. The roads in the country are not in the best shape, some may consider allowing someone else to drive them if they are traveling a long distance. The driving standards and conditions of the roads can be somewhat hazardous in certain areas, especially at night when things are poorly lit. The rainy season can make some roads impassable, and you may encounter official and unofficial roadblocks. There are only two major highways in the country which have a total of 4,670 miles of road networks. Highway N1 and N2 connect the capital city of Lome with the city of Dapaong, where it travels north to Burkina Faso, and from there north-west to Mali, and northeast to Niger. The Tran-s West African Coastal Highway crosses the country and connects it with Benin and Nigeria to the east, and Ghana and the Ivory Coast to the west. And there is a portion under construction in Liberia and Sierra Leone that will continue west to seven other Economic Community of West African States nations (ECOWAS).

Taxis are plentiful in Lome and can be found at the airport, and around the city, and can be identified by their yellow roofs and license plate with their registration numbers painted on both front doors. A taxi will cost around 500 CFA for a one-way short tip inside the city, taxi trips to the northern portion of the city can cost up to 2,500 CFA. Zemidjan are motorcycle taxis that are most commonly used for short trips in the city. They can carry one to two passengers for short distances through towns and fares are negotiable. This is one of the fastest ways to get around the city, although not practical if you are traveling with luggage. These motorcycles can easily zip through the city and skip traffic. Negotiating prices is the norm in Togo, haggling for the lowest price. You can also request a taxi at your hotel, or call Tele Taxi Togo (11-238-7932-774).

The Port of Lome, which is the only commercial port of Togo is located in the city. The port carries out trade and export-import activities in the country. There is a cruise terminal here also and ferries that travel from Benin and Ghana and other coastal portions.

The city of Lome is small and walkable with many of the top attractions, accommodations, dining, and entertainment found in the heart of the city. The Boulevard Cirrculaire (le 13 Janvier) acts as a main artery through downtown, a hemisphere that encloses the Marche, and Government buildings, it starts at the beach in Kodjoviakope and wraps around to the beach in Bea. The Beach Road runs directly beside the ocean from Ghana to Benin. Walking around alone at night is not advisable due to poor lighting and petty crime, stick to the well-lit main streets and avoid walking alone.

Lome is considered a safe city. Take the necessary precautions when sightseeing, be sure to keep your eyes open and your wallet out of sight from pickpockets, especially in crowded areas. At night stay in well-lit and populated areas, and use reputable transportation companies instead of taking rides from strangers. Violent crime, theft, and pickpocketing are common throughout the country, be especially careful in Lome along the beach, and in the markets. Avoid traveling alone, especially at night. Visitors should exercise a high degree of caution in Togo due to social unrest, and political demonstrations.

A visa is required to enter Togo and can be acquired either before or upon arrival at the airport or border. Visitors must show proof of yellow fever immunization to enter the country.

The biggest shopping attractions in Lome are its markets and some of the most popular souvenirs to purchase are traditional, tribal facial woodcarvings, wax prints, indigo cloth, Kente, and dye-stamped Adinkra cloth from Ghana. Other purchases may include marble ashtrays, gold and silver jewelry, traditional masks and religious statuettes. Vodoo Stalls are very popular in Lome and in traditional West African dress. This light and airy colorful clothing vies a memorable reminder of your trip. Handmade leather sandals are sold in abundance and handmade malachite (a green, copper-carbonate stone) jewelry.

Lome Grand Market features 3 stories in a large hall and sells pretty much everything from fresh produce, fruit, dried fish, combs, travel bags, and traditional medicine remedies. Nana Benz is located on the first floor, a store known for its clothing. Fetish Market sells voodoo fetishes, gongons, and gris-gris. Centre Artisinale is another souvenir market selling wooden carvings, clay pots, authentic fabrics, local paintings, and African clothing.

Rue des Artisans is the pedestrianized alley situated between Rue Tokmake and Boulevard de la Republique in Lome. This area is filled with fascinating shops to explore and pick up unique souvenirs. Prepare to haggle, as bartering is the norm here. Grand Marche (Rue de Grand Marche) is the largest market in the country located in Lome selling an eclectic mix of goods, from souvenirs to voodoo items, clothing, and electronics. Village Artisanal (Avenue de Noveau Marche, Lome is where artisans can be seen weaving cloth, carving statues, and making wicker baskets, this is a great place to experience their local talent.

Lome is home to some beautiful beaches such as Marcelo Beach close to the city center featuring a bar and beach with palapas. Royal Beach is another beach and bar setting. Lake East and Lake West are close to the center of town and are great destinations for a walk along the beach.

The official language spoken in Togo is French, but several native languages are spoken, such as Ewe, Mina, Dagomba, and Kabye. However, English is widely spoken, especially in the service industry. Many people speak English, especially in the service industry at hotels and restaurants. We recommend you get a good English-French guidebook and learn the common phrases such as hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and numbers 1-10.

The weather in Lome is always hot, the average daily temperatures can reach into the 90s F, and the lows rarely drop below the mid-60s F. The hottest temperatures last for at least 6 months from November to May where the daily highs are 88F and higher. The hottest month in the city is March with average daily highs in the 90s F. The cooler season is from July to September, however, the daily temperatures are still in the mid to low 80s, the coldest month is August with average lows in the mid-70s. Lome features a tropical climate due to its coastal location and the characteristics of a tropical savanna. November through February is the best time to visit when temperatures are pleasant and no rain is present.

The currency of Lome is the West African Franc (CFA) “say-fa”, and the smaller pesewa the US dollar is not accepted. You will need to exchange your currency for the West African Franc, which can be done upon arrival at the airport currency exchange desks or banks and specialized stores called Foreign Exchange Bureaus. ATMs can be found in Lome, tipping is discretionary and appreciated, and cash is usually preferred.

Togolese cuisine includes staple foods such as maize, rice, millet, cassava, yam, plantain, and beans. Maize is the most commonly consumed food in the region and fish is a significant source of protein. There are a great variety of restaurants and food stalls to choose from. Togolese-style cuisine is a combination of African, French, and German influences and features many sauces and pates, many made from eggplant, tomato, spinach, and fish. Roadside food stalls sell groundnuts, omelets, brochettes, corn on the cob, and cooked prawns. There is an abundance of fruits and vegetables grown in the beautiful green countryside just outside the city, medical herbs also are grown year-round in quantity, quality, and variety.

Traditional farmers and traders provide the country with rich organic food supplies and vegetables for national consumption and international exportation. Some of the most popular imported products from Togo are coffee, cacao, avocado, soya beans, and exotic fruits and vegetables. The country derives its dishes from fresh and locally grown ingredients, its colonial history introduced French and German influences to its foods to enrich them even more and make mouthwatering dishes. There are Lebanese restaurants found scattered throughout the streets of Lome, one of the found in Kodjoviakope. There are a few Chinese restaurants as well one also found in the Kodjoviakope neighborhood, and the other in Asigame. A few Indian, French, Italian, and American restaurants can also be found in the city. Street food is very popular, especially in the markets.

Some of the popular dishes in the country include, Koume, a traditional corn flour served as a side dish with fish, vegetables, and meat stew. Fufu is a paste made from yam, cassava, or plantains and served with a clear sauce or a peanut sauce along with meat of fish, beef, or chicken. Ayimolou is a recipe of rice and beans cooked together in a tomato sauce. Djenkoume is a corn dough dish with tomato, garlic, ginger, and local red palm oil, typically made with chicken. Pinon is one of the most popular dishes, made from cassava flour, ginger, bay leaves, garlic, pepper, tomatoes, and onion, then added to boiled pork or goat meat, a very flavorful dish.

The city of Lome really comes alive at night with local Lomeians getting dressed up to the nines and heading out on the town to numerous bars and discos for a night on the town. The city features many Western-style dance clubs in the downtown area, among two of the best are Privilege, which is attached to the Hotel Palm Beach, and 7Clahs which is in Dekon on the Boulevard. For a relaxing evening check out the beach at night there are many beachfront restaurants and bars to choose from and of course, sunset is always a great way to end the day with an ice-cold Castle Mile Stout. Another local brew of choice is Tchouk, the locally brewed millet beer, enjoy a calabash full at a tchouk stand. Deha is a palm wine, and Sobade, a Togolese bathtub hooch is a grain liquor that burns. There are many international bars, clubs, and restaurants to check out in the Togolese capital. Large beach hotels host beach parties that include traditional music, dance, magicians, and fire artists. There are lots of lively African clubs to check out along the Rue de la Gar in the heart of the city, more upscale clubs can be found around the Boulevard du 13 Janvier.

In case of an emergency dial 117 for local police, 118 for an ambulance, or 8200 for an ambulance.

Hospital: Hospital Center Regional De Lome-Commune tel.228-22-21-60-22

Hospital Augustino De Souza tel.228-22-21-70-71

Martin Luther King Hospital tel. 228-22-25-37-30