Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso's draw has traditionally been its cultural depth: Ouagadougou hosts FESPACO, Africa's largest film festival, and the country's masked dance traditions and mudbrick Sudano-Sahelian architecture, like the mosque at Bobo-Dioulasso, are among West Africa's most distinctive. Ongoing security instability across much of the country has severely curtailed travel in recent years, and most of it currently falls outside what can be responsibly recommended for tourism.

Why go thereCulture & heritage Rural traditions Festivals & events Markets & bazaars Art museums Indigenous cultures Nature & landscapes Wildlife Nightlife & music

Main destinations

Food & drink to try

Tô

Millet or maize flour cooked into a stiff paste, eaten with a leaf or okra sauce.

Riz gras

Rice cooked in oil and tomato with meat and vegetables, the Sunday plate.

Poulet bicyclette

Lean free-range chicken grilled over coals, named for how far it walked.

Food & drink to try

Tô

Millet or maize flour cooked into a stiff paste, eaten with a leaf or okra sauce.

Riz gras

Rice cooked in oil and tomato with meat and vegetables, the Sunday plate.

Poulet bicyclette

Lean free-range chicken grilled over coals, named for how far it walked.

Babenda

Wild greens cooked with rice, fermented fish and peanut paste.

Gonré

Bean paste steamed in leaves into a dense savoury cake.

Sauce gombo

Okra cooked with dried fish and soumbala into a thick sauce for tô.

Brochettes

Mutton skewers grilled at roadside braziers and dusted with chilli powder.

Attiéké

Fermented cassava grains served with fried fish and onion sauce.

Degué

Millet pearls in sweetened sour milk, sold cold in plastic bags.

Zoom koom

Millet flour with ginger, tamarind and lime, drunk as a welcome to guests.

Dolo

Sorghum beer brewed by women and sold from calabashes in courtyard bars.

Entry & health

Set your passport

en.wikipedia.org gov.uk bf.usembassy.gov

Advisory only — AI + web search, may be out of date. Confirm official sources before you travel.

Tipping & local customs

Service (10–15%) is often included in restaurant bills, but a small extra tip of 5–10% is appreciated at better-class restaurants if not already added; round up for taxi drivers, porters, guides, and hotel staff rather than tipping large percentages.

Greet people properly and take time exchanging pleasantries before starting any conversation or business — greetings are an important social ritual.
Always ask permission before photographing people, and never photograph military personnel or government buildings.
Dress modestly, especially in rural or conservative areas — shoulders and knees covered is appreciated, particularly for women.
Shake hands as a common greeting, but be aware some conservative Muslim women may prefer not to shake hands with men.
Show respect toward elders, as strong family and community hierarchy is deeply valued.
Meals are often shared communally; eating alone can be seen as impolite, so join others when invited.

Advisory only — AI + web search, may be out of date. Confirm official sources before you travel.

Before you go

Stay connected

Get an eSIM for Burkina Faso — mobile data the moment you land.

via Airalo

Travel insurance

Cover trip cancellation, medical care and delays.

via EKTA