//
Capital and largest city of Madagascar
Photo: Sascha Grabow www.saschagrabow.com, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Antananarivo (AN-tan-AN-ah-REEV-oo) (City of a Thousand), also known as Tana, is the capital and largest city of Madagascar. It has more universities, nightclubs, art venues, and medical services than any other city on the island. Major historic landmarks and attractions in the city include the reconstructed royal palaces and the Andafiavaratra Palace, the tomb of Rainiharo, Tsimbazaza Zoo, Mahamasina Stadium, Lake Anosy, four 19th-century martyr cathedrals, and the Museum of Art and Archaeology.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Queen's palace
Royal palace complex and former residence of the rulers of the Merina Kingdom. A cab ride (or very long walk) from the hotel district, but be warned that it has been severely fire damaged by suspected arson in the late 1990s, and only the stone shell remains, together with some outbuildings, statues and a chapel (the latter rebuilt with American money). Inte and then native Tana guides (usually university students with good English or French) may give a good account of the Rova's features in return for a gratuity. The site offers good panoramic views of the city. While walking up the hill towards the palace you may be told by local guides that the Rova is shut for the day and to follow them elsewhere to a different attraction but the likelihood is that the gate will be open as normal.
Andafiavaratra Palace
The palace of the prime minister during the reigns of the last queens is now a museum with an exhibition of precious items saved from the fire of the Rova in 1995, such as the red jacket of Radama I, the royal coral jewels, various royal portraits and the diadem of the last queen.
A conservation park established by a French-Japanese charity which hosts mostly lemurs rescued from illegal captivity or attempted smuggling. It aims at reintroducing a part of their animals into their natural habitat. Over 6000 trees have been planted in this 5 hectare park preserving a lot of important flora and fauna of Madagascar. The park gives an opportunity to see at close range a variety of lemurs, which would be much more difficult in one of Madagascar's National Parks or in a Western zoo. Apart from lemurs, it has chameleons, turtles and several species of birds. The park also gives valuable employment to graduates from the local university as guides and free tours to local school children. Taking a guide is compulsory. Carry local cash as they do not accept cards. There is no public transport back from the park (taxi-brousses into town are mostly full when they pass here), so hire a taxi for the round trip; the park also offers the service of picking you up in town (see webpage).
Located on more than 3 hectares of plants, trees and flowers of Madagascar. You can watch the crocodiles, 80 other species of animals (turtles, snakes, lemurs...) and the smallest chameleon in the world. The best time to see crocodiles in action is during feeding time. And for the brave, the Croc'Farm restaurant preparing several crocodile meat dishes and favorite dish is the "Croc burger". As the park also breeding crocodile for leather goods, you'll find in the shop belts, bags but also the Malagasy crafts.
Zoo and herbarium with animal skeletons on display too.
Cathedral with a big statue of Mary that was built in 1890.
Le Musée d'Art et d'Archéologie
kind of small.
Avenue de L'Independence
A 1 km lane and main shopping street with several hotels, restaurants and offices. There is a nearby national monument that commemorates the events of the Malagasy Uprising against French colonial rule in 1947.
This is a good choice for high quality Malagasy food. More expensive than many other restaurants.
Very good and inexpensive. Try the calamari. Also vegetarian (non vegan) dishes, a very cheesy veg lasagne for 13,000 Ar.
Small menu. Great Zebu!
A slick setting for excellent French-influenced Malagasy food.
Lovely veg meal with tofu. Perhaps a bit pricey.
6-bed dorms and double rooms. A clean place for backpackers and travellers.
Single and double rooms with a TV, Wi-Fi, free coffee. Some rooms have bathrooms outside the room. Two communal terraces.
22 single/double rooms. with own bathroom free Wi-Fi. some rooms have a balcony overlooking the Ambohijatovo garden. on the ground floor you will find a lounge with satellite tv. Bar. Restaurant. hotel reception is open 24 hours.
12 single/double rooms with own bathroom. has free Wi-Fi.
A clean double room with own hot water bathroom. Friendly owners. Free Wi-Fi.
A clean nice size double room with own hot water bathroom. Cable TV. Fast Wi-Fi. Can pay with a mastercard. 10% discount if you stay five nights or more.
Clean double room with own bathroom. Free Wi-Fi.
A nice clean place with friendly owner and free Wi-Fi. There is a Super U and banks with ATMs just up the road.
There is a Supermaki and BFV bank nearby. Hotel arranges airport transfers for 15,000 Ar (2023).
Résidence Hôtel.
Good alternative for Sakamange. More locals than tourists.
This bed and breakfast is popular with researchers and NGOs, which makes for interesting conversation at meal times. The owner bakes homemade bread at breakfast time and is very attentive to guest needs and can help with travel arrangements including airport shuttles and reservation confirmations. The three-story building is a bit old, but is kept clean and in good repair. Meals are generous, the Wi-Fi works well, and the homemade infused rums are well worth a try.
The main draw of this hotel is its location ten minutes from the airport and its free shuttle, saving travelers with stopovers the headache of spending an hour in traffic trying to reach a downtown hotel. It is clean, has a pool, a decent restaurant, hot showers, working Wi-Fi, and the amenities one would expect in a good hotel. The downside is that it is very expensive for what you get, with small, pod-like rooms, no extra amenities, and little to see or do in the immediate neighborhood.
A good mid-range option. Very popular, good restaurant.
Simple and cheap. Near historical monument. 23 double rooms with own hot water bathroom cable TV. Safe box in every room. Free Wi-Fi. Has a restaurant.
A good mid-range option in the center of the downtown area, but secluded from the streets. Rooms have air conditioning, Wi-Fi works well, there is a very nice pool, and the restaurant/bar serves drinks and light meals. Very popular, so book ahead. 32 rooms, reception open 24 hours.
This hotel is a member hotel of Summit Hotels & Resorts. It is a great hotel by European standards. The Carlton has 2 restaurants (Cafe Charly is reportedly excellent), 2 bars and an internet cafe, some rooms have nice views of the lake, and it is near the football (soccer) stadium. 170 rooms.
French-run, and close to the government ministries. Aid workers and French government folks will customarily stay there. There are old and new wings, the old wing is certainly inferior to the Carlton, the new wing on a par or better. The Colbert has a lovely spa, two restaurants and a coffee shop/patisserie. The efficient and knowledgeable staff will help you navigate the challenges of the city. 140 rooms.
Central market with lots of fruits, local artifacts, unique souvenirs, etc. Be careful for your personal belongings.
Super U has many stores all over Antanarivo.
Shopping mall with a food court and Super U Hypermarket.
many stores in Antananarivo.
A large hypermarket.
This is the largest shopping mall in Tana with 52 stores. There are stores for Orange, Airtel and Telma, there is also a Madagascar Airlines office and a Super U Hypermarket.
a mall with a Jumbo score Hypermarket. has a bank with an ATM.
A large chain of convenience stores all over Madagascar.
BNI ATMs take Mastercard and Visa cards. Their website shows all their ATM locations.
BFV-SG ATMs take Mastercard (including Maestro debit cards), Visa card, Diners Club, American Express, and Discover Cards. Their website shows all their ATM locations.
BOA ATMs take only Visa card.
MBC ATMs take Mastercard, Visa card, Diners Club, Discover cards.
Mastercard and Visa card.
BMOI ATMs only take Visa card.
By plane
There are two ATMs: MCB (Mastercard and Visa) and BFV-Société Générale (Mastercard and Visa) — in the international terminal.
By road
For travelling by road, there are three options: a private vehicle hire, a scheduled bus service or taxi brousse (bush taxi).
By rail
The colonial central station, Gare Soarano, is located on Arabe Rainibertsimisaraka, at the northwestern end of Avenue de l'Independence.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Antananarivo · International · TNR
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Antananarivo and Madagascar.
Travel tipsAirline alliances are formed when different airlines agree to substantially cooperate with each other. Advantages for customers include more destinations and more convenient connections, while the airlines benefit by…
Wikivoyage
Travel tipsSee Responsible travel for the economic and cultural impact/sustainability of travel. This travel topic on Sustainable travel deals with how to best avoid negative impacts on the global and local natural environment…
Wikivoyage
Travel tipsHarry Flashman is a fictional character in a series of comic historical novels and short stories by George MacDonald Fraser.
Wikivoyage
Nature & adventureMadagascar is sometimes called "the eighth continent" for its distinct biogeography.
Wikivoyage
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.