Banjul
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At a glance
- Country
- Gambia
- Region
- Banjul
- Population
- 31,000
- Best time to go
- November to February
- Main airport
- Banjul International (BJL)
- Coordinates
- 13.45°N, 16.58°W
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Overview
Banjul is one of Africa's smallest capitals, squeezed onto an island where the Gambia River meets the Atlantic. It has a faded colonial centre, a busy market and a giant ceremonial arch, and it feels more like a market town than a city.
Most visitors stay in the resorts along the coast and come into Banjul for a day. From here, boats head upriver to Kunta Kinteh Island, a powerful reminder of the Atlantic slave trade.
Things to see
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Photo: Atamari, CC BY-SA 3.0 Arch 22
A towering gateway built to mark the 1994 coup, with a small museum and views over the city from the top.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: uploader Atamari has eMail-contact with the photograph „ sac, CC BY-SA 3.0 Albert Market
Banjul's main market, a crush of fabric stalls, tailors, spices, dried fish and souvenirs.
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National Museum
A modest but interesting collection on Gambian history, music and traditional life.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, CC BY-SA 3.0 King Fahad Mosque
A large white mosque with twin minarets near the seafront, one of the biggest in the country.
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Photo: Roel van der krabben, CC BY-SA 4.0 Kachikally Crocodile Pool
A sacred pool in nearby Bakau where you can walk among dozing crocodiles.
Tickets and tours
Things to do
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Photo: Jose Canedo, CC BY-SA 1.0 Kunta Kinteh Island
Take a boat trip upriver to the ruined fort and the village of Juffureh, linked to the story of Roots.
Find tours -
Photo: Atamari, CC BY-SA 3.0 Birdwatching at Abuko
A small nature reserve near the city, with monkeys, crocodiles and hundreds of bird species.
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Photo: dorothy.voorhees, CC BY-SA 2.0 Barra ferry
Cross the wide river mouth on the ferry with traders, cars and livestock.
Where to stay
Banjul centre
A few simple hotels, best for those who want to be close to the market and ferry.
Hotels in Banjul centreBakau
Seaside town with guesthouses, a fish market and the crocodile pool.
Hotels in BakauKololi and Senegambia
The main resort strip, with beach hotels, restaurants and nightlife.
Hotels in Kololi and Senegambia
Getting around
Yellow-and-green tourist taxis and cheaper shared minibuses link Banjul with the coastal resorts.
The airport is at Yundum, around 40 minutes from Banjul and 25 minutes from the resorts by taxi.
When to go
November to February is dry, sunny and comfortable, and the best time for birdwatching. The rainy season runs from June to October, with heat and humidity.
Plan your trip to Banjul
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.