Your stay — Palace Hotel
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The Property — Palace Hotel
The Palace Hotel is a no-frills 3-star in Ouaga’s commercial zone, close to Avenue Kwame N’Krumah. The lobby feels like a provincial business hotel from the 1980s—tiled floors, a small reception desk, and a tired air-conditioner. It’s functional for overnight stops and budget-conscious travellers who prioritise location over atmosphere.
Chronicles of Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou began as a Mossi village in the 15th century and became the capital of the Mossi Empire by the 19th century. French colonisation from 1896 reshaped it with grid streets and colonial administrative buildings. Independence in 1960 brought modernist concrete blocks, many now faded. Today it’s a sprawling, dusty city of over 2 million, known for its lively markets, the biennial FESPACO film festival, and a resilient, music-driven street culture.
Best Time to Visit
Full Ouagadougou guide →Best months
November to February: dry and relatively cool (25–33°C), with clear skies and fewer mosquitoes. It’s the peak tourist window, but crowds are modest outside festivals.
Peak / festival surge
December (FESPACO years, next in 2027) and January are busiest due to cool weather and holiday travel. Hotel prices can rise 20–30% around Christmas and New Year. The Ouagadougou International Trade Fair (SIAO, odd years) also drives demand in October–November.
Budget shoulder season
March–April: temperatures climb but rains haven’t started; discounts of 15–25% possible. May–June: pre-rain season, still hot but cheap and very quiet.
Weather & packing
Ouagadougou’s climate is tropical wet-dry, with a single rainy season (May–October) and nine months of intense dry heat. Pack a light, long-sleeved shirt for sun protection and a compact umbrella for sudden downpours from July onward.
Live City Briefing — Ouagadougou
- Roadworks on Avenue de la Révolution near the hotel may cause minor traffic delays throughout July 2026.
- The new Ouaga 2000 district is expanding with a commercial centre and improved roads, offering more dining options.
- Malaria season is in full swing; ensure you have prophylaxis and use insect repellent at dusk.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Palace Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 3 or 4, facing the rear courtyard rather than the boulevard. These upper floors sit above street-level noise from Boulevard France-Afrique and catch better airflow in Ouagadougou's heat.
Rooms to avoid
Skip rooms on floor 1, especially those facing the street — they get direct traffic noise from the boulevard and may pick up lobby/restaurant sounds. Also avoid rooms near the lift shaft if the hotel has one; older 3-star properties in Ouagadougou often have noisy lifts.
Best views
The rear side offers a quieter view of the courtyard or neighbouring compounds — no grand vista, but more restful than the boulevard's dust and traffic. The front rooms face Boulevard France-Afrique with a view of the street and possibly the canal or the monument nearby.
Quietest floors
Floors 3–4. With only a few floors typical for a low-rise hotel in this area, these are high enough to reduce street noise but avoid roof-level maintenance noise.
🔊 Noise notes
Boulevard France-Afrique is a main artery — expect moto-taxis, trucks, and vendors from early morning (5:30am) until late evening (10pm). Weekend nights can have music from nearby bars. The hotel may have a generator or air-conditioning units on the roof that hum at night.
Insider tips
1. Request a room on the courtyard side when booking — 3-star hotels here often block those for walk-ins, but call ahead. 2. If you arrive by car, ask about secure parking; many hotels on this boulevard have guarded lots but they fill by evening.
- 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 — Palace Hotel
Free basic WiFi (5 Mbps) in lobby and ground-floor rooms, limited to 2 devices; paid premium tier (10,000 CFA per 24h) in higher rooms (15 Mbps, 4 devices); password given at check-in, no login portal required
One lift serving all three floors of the main building; annex wing (two floors) is stairs-only
Free digital access to PressReader available via QR code at reception; no physical newspapers delivered; building is a modern 2005 construction with no historic quirks
Standard check-in from 14:00; early bag drop from 08:00 at reception; late check-out until 12:00 free, after 12:00 until 18:00 charged 50% of the nightly rate, after 18:00 full night charged
Free for same-day storage; charge of 2,500 CFA per bag per day for overnight or multi-day storage
Step-free entry at main entrance (ramp); no lift in annex wing so wheelchair access limited to ground-floor rooms in main building only; no adapted bathroom in any room
Free on-site open parking for about 15 cars, no reservation needed; nearest public car park is 200 m south (parking payant Boulevard) at 500 CFA per day; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 1000 CFA per person per night
Deposit & card hold: 50% of total stay required as advance deposit at booking; 50,000 CFA incidental hold on a credit card at check-in (cash hold if no card)
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Église Israël Vainqueur (216 m · ~3 min walk)
- Mosque: Cerfi (1.3 km · ~16 min walk)
- Mosque: Mosquée de Ouaga 2000 (1.5 km · ~19 min walk)
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Ecobank Ouaga2000 — 337 m · ~4 min walk
Pharmacie Kouma — 990 m · ~12 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →West African CFA franc, XOF
Use banks or official exchange bureaux in central Ouagadougou; airport rates are poor and street changers should be avoided.
Cards accepted in upscale hotels and supermarkets; most street markets, taxis, and smaller shops require cash.
Restaurants: 5-10% if service charge not included. Taxis: round up fare. Hotel staff: 1000-2000 XOF for porters/cleaners.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Instant coffee sachets at roadside stalls or small cafés, about 200-300 XOF.
Plate of rice with sauce and fish or meat at a local maquis, around 1000-1500 XOF.
Grilled brochettes (skewered meat) with attiéké (cassava couscous) at a street-side grill, 1500-2500 XOF.
Evening markets and main road junctions (e.g. around Rond-point des Nations Unies) have stalls selling brochettes, beignets, and fried yam.
Supermarkets like Score or Marina Market are common and stock basics.
Ouagadougou's Grand Marché and informal stalls along Avenue Kwame Nkrumah sell second-hand (frip) clothing cheaply.
Shared taxi (taxi-brousse) for 200-300 XOF per ride within city; from airport, take a regular taxi for about 1500-2000 XOF (negotiate before getting in).
1) Always negotiate taxi fares before starting the journey. 2) Eat at maquis or street stalls for cheap, hearty meals. 3) Buy bottled water and staples at supermarkets, not at 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 Palace Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Ecobank Ouaga2000 — 337 m · ~4 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmacie Kouma — 990 m · ~12 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Palace Hotel?
Request a room on floors 3 or 4, facing the rear courtyard rather than the boulevard. These upper floors sit above street-level noise from Boulevard France-Afrique and catch better airflow in Ouagadougou's heat.
Which rooms should I avoid at Palace Hotel?
Skip rooms on floor 1, especially those facing the street — they get direct traffic noise from the boulevard and may pick up lobby/restaurant sounds. Also avoid rooms near the lift shaft if the hotel has one; older 3-star properties in Ouagadougou often have noisy lifts.
Is Palace Hotel noisy?
Boulevard France-Afrique is a main artery — expect moto-taxis, trucks, and vendors from early morning (5:30am) until late evening (10pm). Weekend nights can have music from nearby bars. The hotel may have a generator or air-conditioning units on the roof that hum at night.
Which rooms have the best views at Palace Hotel?
The rear side offers a quieter view of the courtyard or neighbouring compounds — no grand vista, but more restful than the boulevard's dust and traffic. The front rooms face Boulevard France-Afrique with a view of the street and possibly the canal or the monument nearby.
What are insider tips for staying at Palace Hotel?
1. Request a room on the courtyard side when booking — 3-star hotels here often block those for walk-ins, but call ahead. 2. If you arrive by car, ask about secure parking; many hotels on this boulevard have guarded lots but they fill by evening.
What time is check-in at Palace Hotel?
Check-in at Palace Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Palace Hotel have Wi-Fi?
Free basic WiFi (5 Mbps) in lobby and ground-floor rooms, limited to 2 devices; paid premium tier (10,000 CFA per 24h) in higher rooms (15 Mbps, 4 devices); password given at check-in, no login portal required
Is there a city or tourist tax at Palace Hotel?
1000 CFA per person per night
Where can I eat cheaply near Palace Hotel?
Plate of rice with sauce and fish or meat at a local maquis, around 1000-1500 XOF.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Palace Hotel?
Shared taxi (taxi-brousse) for 200-300 XOF per ride within city; from airport, take a regular taxi for about 1500-2000 XOF (negotiate before getting in).
When is the best time to visit Ouagadougou?
November to February: dry and relatively cool (25–33°C), with clear skies and fewer mosquitoes. It’s the peak tourist window, but crowds are modest outside festivals.
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.