Banjul

The_Gambia

Banjul is the second largest city in and capital of Gambia. The city is on an island, which has constrained its size - its population is only 40,000. Consequently much of the population now is based on the mainland between the airport and the city. The main tourist and business centres are around Bakau, Fajara, Kotu and Serrekunda.

Banjul has become very popular as a package holiday destination with British and other European visitors. Travel company 'The Gambia Experience' has been the market leader, but other operators are increasing their offerings too. Goats on the beach

Arch 22 thumb

  • Arch 22. Gives good views over Banjul city. The gate is 35 m tall and the centre of an open square. It houses a textile museum. D50.
  • The Gambia National Museum, Independence Drive. M-Th 9AM-6PM, Fr-Su 9AM-5PM. Small museum with cultural and historic artifacts D50.
  • Albert Market
  • Banjul State House
  • Banjul Court House
  • The African Heritage Museum or African Heritage Centre is a museum and art gallery in Banjul, The Gambia. It holds a large collection of African art and statues.

The city has two cathedrals and several major mosques.

Arch 22. Gives good views over Banjul city. The gate is 35 m tall and the centre of an open square. It houses a textile museum. D50.

The Gambia National Museum, Independence Drive. M-Th 9AM-6PM, Fr-Su 9AM-5PM. Small museum with cultural and historic artifacts D50.

Albert Market

Banjul State House

Banjul Court House

The African Heritage Museum or African Heritage Centre is a museum and art gallery in Banjul, The Gambia. It holds a large collection of African art and statues.

Go to its wonderful beaches.

  • GT Bank. Takes MasterCard at all their ATMs.

GT Bank. Takes MasterCard at all their ATMs.

Being on the Atlantic ocean, Banjul has some excellent and well priced seafood on offer. The locally produced peanuts are also very good and go well with a pint of Julbrew.

  • Radio Sud Beach bar. This used to be a radio station which started life as a pirate radio on a boat off Sweden. After changes in the law there, it was sailed away and ended up in the Gambia. The ship and radio station have both now gone (the former sank nearby and the latter closed in 2002 when its mast collapsed). It is now a beach bar and restaurant. The original owners are still there and are happy to talk about the history. Located on the beach near Banjul city. Driving away from Banjul city it is on the right after the cemetery.
  • Michel's Seafood Bar. Close to the Independence Arch on Independence Avenue.
  • The restaurant at the base of the Independence Arch has good seafood.
  • Nefertiti, +220 4222400. Good buffet, great location on the beach and free WiFi

Radio Sud Beach bar. This used to be a radio station which started life as a pirate radio on a boat off Sweden. After changes in the law there, it was sailed away and ended up in the Gambia. The ship and radio station have both now gone (the former sank nearby and the latter closed in 2002 when its mast collapsed). It is now a beach bar and restaurant. The original owners are still there and are happy to talk about the history. Located on the beach near Banjul city. Driving away from Banjul city it is on the right after the cemetery.

Michel's Seafood Bar. Close to the Independence Arch on Independence Avenue.

Nefertiti, +220 4222400. Good buffet, great location on the beach and free WiFi

There are many good restaurants in the road leading to the hotels at Kololi Beach. This road is also known as the Senegambia Strip.

  • Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau, 78 Atlantic Rd, Fajara, +220 4494884. M-F 9AM - 5PM; closed Sat-Sun.
  • Mali Consulate of Mali, 26 Rev William Cole St, +220 422 8433. You can get a visa by mail here.
  • Mauritania Mauritania, Fajara A Section, P.O. Box 2592, Serrekunda, +220 449 1153.
  • Sierra Leone High Commission of Sierra Leone, 67 Daniel Goddard St, +220 422 8206.
  • United Kingdom British High Commission, 48 Atlantic Rd, Fajara, +220 4495133.
  • United States United States, 92 Kairaba Ave, Fajara, +220 439-2856 or +220 437-6169 ext 2130. The U.S. Mission consists of two U.S. Government agencies: the Department of State, with 9 American and 77 locally employed staff, and the Peace Corps, with 2 American staff and 105 volunteers.

Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau, 78 Atlantic Rd, Fajara, +220 4494884. M-F 9AM - 5PM; closed Sat-Sun.

Mali Consulate of Mali, 26 Rev William Cole St, +220 422 8433. You can get a visa by mail here.

Mauritania Mauritania, Fajara A Section, P.O. Box 2592, Serrekunda, +220 449 1153.

Sierra Leone High Commission of Sierra Leone, 67 Daniel Goddard St, +220 422 8206.

United Kingdom British High Commission, 48 Atlantic Rd, Fajara, +220 4495133.

United States United States, 92 Kairaba Ave, Fajara, +220 439-2856 or +220 437-6169 ext 2130. The U.S. Mission consists of two U.S. Government agencies: the Department of State, with 9 American and 77 locally employed staff, and the Peace Corps, with 2 American staff and 105 volunteers.