By air
Ivato International (TNR), ~15 km by road
Indian Ocean Islands · Madagascar
Antananarivo, Madagascar
Madagascar's hilly capital and royal seat
Getting there
Best time to visit
April to November — the dry season
Don't miss
The Rova of Antananarivo
Lake Anosy
Analakely Market
Ambohimanga
Things to do
Visiting the royal hill of Ambohimanga
Exploring markets
Walking the upper town
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Sascha Grabow · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
Warm layers for the evenings, rain jacket, walking shoes
A quieter corner
Lemurs' Park, a lemur reserve just west of the city
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Antananarivo?
April to November — the dry season. What to pack: Warm layers for the evenings, rain jacket, walking shoes.
How do I get to Antananarivo?
Fly into Ivato International (TNR), ~15 km by road.
What is there to do in Antananarivo?
Visiting the royal hill of Ambohimanga, exploring markets, walking the upper town. A quieter find: Lemurs' Park, a lemur reserve just west of the city.
What should I eat in Antananarivo?
Romazava beef stew, ravitoto cassava leaves with pork and mofo gasy rice cakes.
About Antananarivo
- Hills
Where it is
Antananarivo is the capital of Madagascar, spread over a ridge of hills and rice fields in the central highlands at about 1,280 metres.
History
The city began in the early 17th century as a fortified hilltop of the Merina kings and grew into the capital of the Kingdom of Madagascar. France ruled the island from 1896 until independence in 1960. The royal palace on the hilltop, the Rova, was badly damaged by fire in 1995 and has been restored.
People
People here speak Malagasy and French, and many families keep strong ties to ancestral villages in the highlands, returning for traditional ceremonies.
Known for
- The royal Rova on the hilltop
- Jacaranda trees around Lake Anosy
- Busy street markets
- Merina history
Did you know?
The name Antananarivo means city of the thousand, said to recall the thousand warriors who guarded it for the king.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.