Visit the Akodessewa Fetish Market in Lomé$3–8
Considered the largest Vodun fetish market in the world, a genuinely active commercial and spiritual marketplace supplying traditional healers.
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West Africa
Things to do in Togo
A narrow sliver of a country spanning savanna to coast, one of the last places where genuine Vodun fetish markets still operate, and hillside villages built into dramatic rock formations for defense.
Explore Togo on the map →Budget$
Best for7-9 days
CapitalLome
VisaE-visa available online for US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian passport holders, allowing stays up to 90 days.
CurrencyWest African CFA franc (XOF)
LanguagesFrench (official); Ewe and Kabiye widely spoken
InternetGood in Lomé, more limited elsewhere
Typical lodging$15–$35/night
Driving sideRight
Power & voltage230V / 50Hz (Type C/D/G varies)
Time zoneUTC+0 to UTC+1
Emergency numberVaries. Save your hotel or embassy’s number on arrival.
Dialing code+228
★★★★★ Culture★★★★★ Beaches★★★★★ Adventure
Visa rules and emergency numbers can change without notice. Confirm the specifics for your nationality and dates before you travel.
Travel smart
Bottled or purified water only. Not expected; small tips are appreciated.
Togo's Akodessewa Fetish Market in Lomé is considered the largest Vodun fetish market in the world, supplying traditional healers and practitioners with ritual items in a genuinely active commercial and spiritual marketplace, not a tourist recreation. The Koutammakou region in northern Togo, a UNESCO World Heritage site, holds distinctive fortress-like Tamberma mud tower-houses (takienta), built for defense and still inhabited, reflecting an architectural tradition adapted specifically to the community's historic need for protection.
When to go
Main dry seasonNovember–February
The most comfortable window nationally, with lower humidity and clear skies for both the coast and interior.
Main wet seasonApril–July
The heaviest rains of the year in the south, though still workable with flexible planning.
Minor dry seasonAugust–September
A shorter, cooler dry spell between the two wet seasons in the south.
Minor wet seasonSeptember–October
A second, lighter rainy stretch before the main dry season returns in November.
20 things to do
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Culture & history
9Explore the Tamberma tower-houses of Koutammakou
A UNESCO World Heritage region of distinctive fortress-like mud tower-houses, built for defense and still inhabited by the Tamberma people today.
Visit Lomé's Grand Marché
A sprawling central market in the capital, known for its powerful female traders (Nana Benz) who have historically dominated Togo's textile trade.
Attend a traditional Vodun ceremony (respectfully, where accessible)
Genuine Vodun religious traditions remain actively practiced across southern Togo, occasionally viewable through respectful, community-sanctioned cultural tourism.
Visit the National Museum of Togo in Lomé
A modest museum tracing Togo's pre-colonial, colonial, and independence history, offering context ahead of interior travel.
Shop for Togolese kente-style woven textiles
Traditional handwoven fabric traditions remain practiced in Togo, sold at markets and craft cooperatives reflecting genuine local weaving skill.
Visit the coastal fort ruins near Aného
Remnants of Togo's former colonial capital and early European trading posts, reflecting the country's complex pre-independence history.
Explore Lomé's Independence Monument and modern district
Togo's capital blends colonial-era architecture with a growing modern skyline, reflecting its role as a regional West African port and trade hub.
Visit a traditional Kabye village in the Kara region
Northern Togo's Kabye people maintain distinct agricultural terracing and cultural traditions, visited respectfully through community tourism.
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Adventure & outdoors
1Hike the mountains around Kpalimé
Togo's most scenic highland region, with waterfalls, coffee and cacao plantations, and hiking trails through lush forested terrain.
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Food & drink
6Eat fufu with Togolese peanut sauce
A pounded starch dish paired with a rich peanut-based sauce, reflecting Togo's shared West African culinary traditions with a distinct local character.
Try Togolese ablo, steamed corn cakes
Soft steamed corn cakes typically eaten with a spicy sauce or grilled fish, a genuine Togolese street food staple.
Try Togolese koklo meme, grilled spiced chicken
Grilled chicken marinated in a distinctive spice blend, a popular street food specialty found at grill stands across the country.
Explore Togo's coffee and cacao plantations near Kpalimé
A cool highland region historically important to Togo's agricultural economy, with plantation visits explaining the coffee and cacao growing process.
Try Togolese fufu with goat meat stew
A pounded cassava or yam dish paired with a hearty goat meat stew, reflecting Togo's communal home-cooking traditions.
Try Togolese palm wine at a village gathering
A traditionally tapped and fermented palm sap drink, a genuine social tradition across much of rural Togo.
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Nature & scenery
2Explore the waterfalls near Kpalimé
Several accessible waterfalls in Togo's western highlands, including Kpimé Falls, offering a cool escape and hiking combined with local guide access.
Visit the Cascade de Womé near Kpalimé
A scenic waterfall in Togo's western highlands, reached via a short hike through coffee plantation terrain.
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Beaches
1Relax on the beaches near Lomé
Togo's short coastline offers accessible beach time close to the capital, popular with residents for weekend outings.
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Wildlife
1Explore the Fazao-Malfakassa National Park
Togo's largest protected wildlife area, offering savanna and forest habitat with elephants and diverse birdlife in the country's central region.
Common questions
▾Do I need a visa for Togo?
US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian passport holders can get an e-visa online, allowing stays up to 90 days.
▾What is the Akodessewa Fetish Market?
Considered the largest Vodun fetish market in the world, supplying traditional healers and practitioners with genuine ritual items in an active commercial and spiritual marketplace in Lomé, not a staged tourist attraction.
▾What are the Tamberma tower-houses?
Distinctive fortress-like mud tower-houses (takienta) built by the Tamberma people in northern Togo's Koutammakou region, a UNESCO World Heritage site, designed for defense and still actively inhabited today.
▾How many days does Togo need?
7-9 days lets you combine Lomé's markets with a trip north to the Koutammakou region and Kpalimé's mountain scenery, given the country's narrow but elongated shape.
▾Is Togo safe for tourists?
Lomé and the southern circuit see regular, generally safe tourism; it's worth checking current advisories closely for northern border regions before finalizing an itinerary.
▾How much does it cost to visit Togoville and the fetish markets?
Entry to fetish markets like Akodessawa in Lomé runs a modest CFA 2,000-5,000 (about $3-8), typically including a guide explaining the traditional Vodun items on display. Photography sometimes carries a small separate fee, so ask before taking pictures.