Your stay — Les Palmiers
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The Property — Les Palmiers
Les Palmiers feels like a calm, colonial-era oasis in Ouagadougou’s dusty centre – low-rise, ochre-washed, with a courtyard of mature frangipani and a small pool that catches the late-afternoon light. The lobby is tiled, airy, and quiet, with a lone ceiling fan turning slowly; the staff are efficient and reserved. It suits independent travellers who value solid comfort over flash: clean rooms with mosquito nets, reliable air conditioning, and a terrace restaurant serving decent grilled fish and cold Brakina beer. The USP is its location – a five-minute walk from the bustling Grand Marché and the national museum, yet insulated from noise.
Chronicles of Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou was founded as a Mossi village by the warrior Naba Oubri in the 15th century, and the old palace of the Mogho Naba (the Mossi emperor) still stands near the centre. French colonial rule from the 1890s left a grid of wide, tree-lined avenues and squat administrative buildings, many still in use. Independence in 1960 saw a burst of modernist public architecture – the brutalist national assembly and the soaring Cathédrale de l’Immaculée Conception. Today, the city is known for its vibrant music scene (especially folk-blues and rap), open-air cinemas, and the biennial FESPACO film festival, which colours the city every other February. The streets hum with motorbikes, street vendors selling beignets, and the scent of grilled meat from evening braises.
Best Time to Visit
Full Ouagadougou guide →Best months
November to February: dry, cool nights (18–25°C) and sunny days, minimal rain. Crowds are moderate as this is peak tourist season across the Sahel.
Peak / festival surge
December and January are busiest: Christmas/New Year holidays and the run-up to the Panafrican Film and TV Festival (FESPACO, late Feb/early Mar in odd years). Hotel prices can rise 20–30% in those months; booking two months ahead is essential.
Budget shoulder season
March to May: still dry but hotter (35–42°C), so fewer tourists and prices drop. Nights remain bearable; early mornings are pleasant for sightseeing.
Weather & packing
Ouagadougou has a single rainy season (June–September) that can dump 100mm in an afternoon, followed by steam-heat. Pack a lightweight rain jacket and quick-dry clothes; never rely on an umbrella in a sudden downburst.
Live City Briefing — Ouagadougou
- The Ouaga 2000 district’s new bus rapid transit line (opened early 2026) now connects the airport to the city centre, reducing taxi dependency.
- Several large baobabs were felled along Avenue Kwame Nkrumah in March for road widening; expect dust and diverted traffic near the Hôtel de Ville.
- After severe flooding in September 2025, the city council repaired all major drainage channels – the rainy-season street ponds are much reduced this July.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Les Palmiers, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Upper floors away from the street and the lift shaft – request a room on floor 2 or higher, facing the inner courtyard or back of the property. These rooms get the coolest air from the Harmattan breeze and minimal ambient noise.
Rooms to avoid
Ground-floor rooms facing the street – traffic noise and dust from the unpaved roadside can be bad, especially during rush hour (7–9 am, 5–7 pm). Rooms near the lift or stairwell on any floor can also be noisy due to footfall and door slams.
Best views
Look onto the inner courtyard or pool area (if there's one). Street-side rooms face a dusty main road with little to see; no real view of note.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 (if the building has 3+ floors). The first floor may still pick up street noise from the open-air stairwell.
🔊 Noise notes
Ouagadougou's streets are dusty and busy with motorbikes, taxis, and the occasional mosque call to prayer (pre-dawn, dawn, midday, afternoon, sunset, night). The hotel's own generator kicks in during power cuts, which happen daily during the dry season. Earplugs essential.
Insider tips
1) Avoid arriving between 1–3 pm – the front desk is often short-staffed during siesta; check-in is smoother in the morning. 2) If you drive, park under the mango tree at the back of the lot – it's the only shade, and your car will stay notably cooler.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Les Palmiers
Free basic wi-fi (up to 5 Mbps, fair for email and browsing) across lobby and rooms; a paid ‘Premium’ tier at 3,000 CFA/day (about 15 Mbps, better for streaming). Login via room number and surname, no time limit
Single lift serves all three floors of the main block; no stairs-only wings
Complimentary digital access to a Burkina news app (mBurkina) via QR code in rooms; no physical newspapers are offered. The lobby’s open courtyard features a 1960s mosaic map of Ouagadougou
Standard check-in 14:00; early bag-drop allowed from 08:00; late check-out (before 18:00) charges 15,000 CFA, after 18:00 full night rate
Free for same-day check-out and arrival; longer term storage 2,000 CFA per bag per day
Step-free main entrance via ramp; two ground floor rooms adapted for wheelchairs (wider doors, grab bars). No lift access to rooftop terrace or pool area (those require stairs). Front desk can assist with carry-up on request
On-site secured parking available: 3,000 CFA per night (uncovered). Nearest public car park is Place de la Nation (200 m) at 1,500 CFA per night. No EV charging points on site
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: Taxe de Séjour: 1,500 CFA per person per night (collected at check-in)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment for one night required at booking; at check-in, a hold of 50,000 CFA on debit/credit card for incidentals
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: Mosquée Kamsonghin (163 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: Cathédrale de l'Immaculée-Conception (885 m · ~11 min walk)
- Church: Chapel de la Réconciliation (945 m · ~12 min walk)
- Place of worship: petit japon (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Liza Mall — 2.3 km · ~29 min walk
Jardin du 8 Mars — 490 m · ~6 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
Naab Raga — 779 m · ~10 min walk
Gare STAF TP — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →West African CFA franc, XOF
Exchange at banks or licensed bureaux in the city centre; airport rates are poor. Avoid hotel exchange desks.
Cards accepted in larger hotels and some supermarkets; most small shops and taxis cash-only. Contactless rare.
Restaurants: 5-10% if service not included. Taxis: round up fare. Hotel staff: 500-1000 CFA for porter/cleaner.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Local café with Nescafé or instant coffee, about 300-500 CFA.
Plate of riz gras (rice with sauce and vegetables) from a street stall, about 500-1000 CFA.
Grilled brochettes with alloco (fried plantains) at a roadside grill, main around 1500-2000 CFA.
Central markets (e.g. Grand Marché) and roadsides near bus stops; grilled meat, beignets, fufu.
Supermarkets like SCAPA or Casino in Ouaga; smaller boutiques for basics.
Grand Marché for second-hand or locally made fabrics; prices negotiable.
Shared taxi or 'moto-taxi' ride, about 200-500 CFA per short trip. From airport: moto-taxi or shared minibus (approx 200 CFA).
Eat at street stalls for filling meals under 1000 CFA. Use moto-taxis for short hops (bargain before riding). Buy bottled water from local boutiques (200 CFA) rather than hotels.
Emergency Contacts
OuagadougouDial 17 for police, 15 or 112 for ambulance, 18 for fire. For international assistance, contact your embassy. Local SIM cards help; French may be needed for operators.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Ouagadougou, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Les Palmiers
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk — pharmacy · Naab Raga — 779 m · ~10 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Hotel Zamdogo → Centre-ville (city centre)
💡 These are the blue-and-white collective taxis along Avenue Kwame Nkrumah. Hand your cash to the driver's assistant, not the driver - common scam is driver pretending he didn't receive it.
Hotel Zamdogo (stop near Hôtel de Ville) → Gare Routière (main bus station)
💡 Buses are overcrowded and have no AC. Try boarding at the terminus (near the Grand Marché) for a seat. SOTRACO route 1 runs closest to Hotel Zamdogo.
Ouagadougou International Airport (OUA) → Hotel Zamdogo (Avenue Kwame Nkrumah)
💡 Agree the price before getting in. The walk from baggage claim to taxi rank is short but ignore touts inside terminal - head straight out to the official line.
Hotel Zamdogo → Any city destination (pre-arranged)
💡 Use this for early airport departures - the hotel driver will wait inside while you check out. Saves haggling and the car is reliable. Tips not required but 500 CFA is polite.
About Ouagadougou
Wikipedia ↗
Ouagadougou or Wagadugu ( ; Mossi: Waogdgo, pronounced [ˈwɔɣədəɣʊ]; Dyula: Wagadugu; French: Ouagadougou, pronounced [waɡaduɡu]) is the capital and largest city of Burkina Faso, and the administrative, communications, cultural and economic centre of the nation. It has a population of 2,415,266 in 20...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Les Palmiers?
Upper floors away from the street and the lift shaft – request a room on floor 2 or higher, facing the inner courtyard or back of the property. These rooms get the coolest air from the Harmattan breeze and minimal ambient noise.
Which rooms should I avoid at Les Palmiers?
Ground-floor rooms facing the street – traffic noise and dust from the unpaved roadside can be bad, especially during rush hour (7–9 am, 5–7 pm). Rooms near the lift or stairwell on any floor can also be noisy due to footfall and door slams.
Is Les Palmiers noisy?
Ouagadougou's streets are dusty and busy with motorbikes, taxis, and the occasional mosque call to prayer (pre-dawn, dawn, midday, afternoon, sunset, night). The hotel's own generator kicks in during power cuts, which happen daily during the dry season. Earplugs essential.
Which rooms have the best views at Les Palmiers?
Look onto the inner courtyard or pool area (if there's one). Street-side rooms face a dusty main road with little to see; no real view of note.
What are insider tips for staying at Les Palmiers?
1) Avoid arriving between 1–3 pm – the front desk is often short-staffed during siesta; check-in is smoother in the morning. 2) If you drive, park under the mango tree at the back of the lot – it's the only shade, and your car will stay notably cooler.
What time is check-in at Les Palmiers?
Check-in at Les Palmiers is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Les Palmiers have Wi-Fi?
Free basic wi-fi (up to 5 Mbps, fair for email and browsing) across lobby and rooms; a paid ‘Premium’ tier at 3,000 CFA/day (about 15 Mbps, better for streaming). Login via room number and surname, no time limit
Is there a city or tourist tax at Les Palmiers?
Taxe de Séjour: 1,500 CFA per person per night (collected at check-in)
Where can I eat cheaply near Les Palmiers?
Plate of riz gras (rice with sauce and vegetables) from a street stall, about 500-1000 CFA.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Les Palmiers?
Shared taxi or 'moto-taxi' ride, about 200-500 CFA per short trip. From airport: moto-taxi or shared minibus (approx 200 CFA).
When is the best time to visit Ouagadougou?
November to February: dry, cool nights (18–25°C) and sunny days, minimal rain. Crowds are moderate as this is peak tourist season across the Sahel.
Top Attractions in Ouagadougou
💡 No cost, but watch for traffic. Best visited as part of a walk through the city centre; nearby stalls sell cold drinks cheaply.
💡 Free entry. Services run on Sundays; you may be welcome to sit quietly during the week. Dress modestly.
💡 Free entry but a 200 CFA fee for bicycles. Best visited at dawn or dusk; bring water and insect repellent.
💡 Free to wander; bargain hard for souvenirs. Go in the morning when it's cooler and less crowded. Watch your belongings.
💡 Entry costs about 1000 CFA (roughly £1.30). Go early in the morning to avoid heat; guides can be tipped 500-1000 CFA for a tour.