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Niger travel guide
Sahara mountains, Tuareg culture and desert cities.
Niger is a large, landlocked country in West Africa, mostly covered by the Sahara. It is known for the mud-brick old town of Agadez, the Aïr Mountains and Ténéré desert, and the Niger River around the capital Niamey.
Travel tools
Getting there
Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey is the main entry point. Land borders exist but may be closed or unsafe, so check the latest situation.
Best time to visit: Nov–Feb – the cooler, dry months.
Tougher months: April–June: extreme heat, often above 40°C; July–September brings rain and storms.
Weather by month in Niamey
- 33°J
- 36°F
- 39°M
- 41°A
- 40°M●
- 38°J●
- 34°J●●
- 32°A●●●
- 34°S●●
- 38°O
- 36°N
- 33°D
Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).
Time zone: Africa/Lagos. Compare with your local time.
Visas: in our passport dataset, 19 of 198 other passports can enter Niger without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 179 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.
Background: Visa policy of Niger (Wikipedia).
Official advisory: Level 4: Do Not Travel (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-07-09). Read the advisory.
Source and more: Niger travel facts on RoamSun
Stay
Most trips to Niger are based around Niamey, Agadez or Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.
Typical daily budget: about US$25–45 for a backpacker and US$70–130 mid-range, per person.
Source: RoamSun Niger page · Browse hotel guides
Connect
Plug types: C, D, E, F. Voltage: 220 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.
Calling code: +227.
Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.
Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun
Do
- Niamey (Capital · river city): A relaxed capital on the Niger River with markets, a museum and riverside sunsets.
- Agadez (North · UNESCO historic town): The gateway to the Sahara, with a mud-brick old town and a striking mosque.
- Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves (North · desert and mountains): One of Africa's largest protected areas, a UNESCO site currently listed as in danger.
- Kouré (Near Niamey · giraffe zone): The place to see wild West African giraffes in a farming landscape.
- W National Park (Southwest · savanna wildlife): Part of a vast transboundary UNESCO park with elephants, buffalo and birdlife, but currently unsafe to visit.
- Zinder (South · historic Hausa city): The former capital, with a sultan's palace and old quarter.
Things to do
- See the Agadez Grand Mosque. Gaze up at the spiky earthen minaret that towers over Agadez's maze of mud-brick lanes.
- Watch West African giraffes. Walk among the last wild herds of this subspecies near Kouré, outside Niamey.
- Explore the Ténéré. Cross a sea of dunes and gravel plains, once crossed by camel caravans carrying salt.
- View the Dabous giraffes. Admire ancient life-size rock engravings in the Aïr Mountains.
- Browse Niamey's Grand Marché. Find fabrics, leatherwork and silver jewellery in the capital's main market.
- Visit the National Museum. Learn about Niger's peoples, crafts and dinosaurs at the museum in Niamey.
- Cruise the Niger River. Drift by pirogue past fishing villages and hippos near Niamey.
- Admire Tuareg silverwork. See artisans craft the famous Agadez cross pendants.
Source: full Niger guide on RoamSun
Eat and drink
- Djerma stew – meat and vegetables in a peanut or tomato sauce
- Kilishi – spiced, sun-dried meat
- Tuwo – thick millet or rice porridge with sauce
- Fura – millet balls mixed with milk
Source: RoamSun Niger guide
Money and safety
Currency: West African CFA franc (XOF). Currency and plug checker.
Tipping: Not expected but appreciated, especially for guides and drivers.
Emergency numbers: 17 police · 18 fire · 15 ambulance.
- The currency is the West African CFA franc.
- Cards are rarely accepted outside a few hotels, so bring enough cash, ideally euros.
- Most governments advise against all travel to Niger due to terrorism, kidnapping and armed conflict; check your government's latest travel advice before considering a trip.
- Border regions and much of the north and west are particularly dangerous.
Source: RoamSun Niger facts
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Niger?
Nov–Feb – the cooler, dry months. Very hot and dry desert and Sahel climate, with a short rainy season in summer in the south.
What time zone is Niger in?
Niger uses Africa/Lagos.
Do I need a visa for Niger?
It depends on your passport. In our dataset 19 of 198 other passports can enter without a prior visa, 0 need an e-visa or eTA and 179 need a visa in advance. Use the visa checker and confirm with the official government source.
What plug and voltage does Niger use?
Niger uses plug type C, D, E, F at 220 V. Check whether your devices are dual-voltage before you plug in.
What is the calling code for Niger?
The international calling code for Niger is +227.
Do you tip in Niger?
Not expected but appreciated, especially for guides and drivers.
What is the emergency number in Niger?
17 police · 18 fire · 15 ambulance.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Niger?
Traffic drives on the right.