AntananarivoCapital
Madagascar · Country profile
Antananarivo is the high city of the island of Madagascar, a crowded and atmospheric capital that climbs the red clay hills of the central highlands at more than twelve hundred metres above the sea. The old town of the kingdom of the Merina gathers the royal palaces, the houses of the old aristocracy and the narrow stone stairways of the oldest neighbourhoods of the city. The modern centre spreads below the hill with its markets, its broad avenues and its busy commerce, while the countryside of the rice terraces and the green hills of the highland basin frames the whole. The colonial houses of the boulevards, the street life of the markets and the cool highland air give the capital a distinctly febrile, storybook character, at once broken-down and deeply charming, that makes it one of the most characterful capitals of Africa.
About Antananarivo
Antananarivo is the capital of Madagascar. The city's documented population is around 1,274,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Malagasy Ariary (MGA) and Malagasy and French are spoken; the dialling code is +261.
The High City of the Red Clay above the Lake
Antananarivo is a sprawling, hillside capital that rewards the patient visitor with palaces, markets and one of the most atmospheric old quarters of the continent. The obligatory pictures are the royal hill of the Rova, the colonial boulevards and the lively central markets, though the traffic and the uphill streets ask for a measured pace and good shoes. The city is the sensible base for the classic circuits of the country, from the rocking day trains to the lemur reserves of the nearby hills and the highland rice valleys. Ragged, steep, friendly and endlessly fascinating, it sets the tone for the whole of the extraordinary island.
The Cool Dry Months, the Ariary and the Uphill Streets
The climate of the high altitude is mild for the tropics, with the warm wet season from November to April and the cooler, drier months of the southern winter, which are the best time to travel. The ariary is the currency, the Malagasy and the French are the languages of the streets, and the local guides and the recommended driver services are worth arranging for the first days. The old quarter on the hill and the markets of the centre are the essential circuit, while the nearby reserves of the lemurs and the highland viewpoints fill the extra days. The city is safe in the daytime with the deserved care of a big tropical capital at night.
The Rova, the Wide Avenue and the Bustling Markets of the Hills
The Rova, the royal palace of the Hill of the Queen, and the remains of the old royal city on the hill of Ambohimanga just north of town hold the deep history of the kingdoms of the island. The Avenue of the Independence, the lakeside stroll and the analogue markets of the centre, including the great fruit and craft markets of the city, carry the everyday life of the capital. The earthquake cracks and the colonial layers of the old houses give the historic quarters their poignant beauty, and the surrounding hills, from the royal hills to the village crafts of the highland towns, complete the picture of the remarkable city of the island.
Report an error or suggest an update
- Country
- Madagascar
- Population
- 1,274,000
- Capital
- Antananarivo
- Region
- Africa
- Currency
- Malagasy Ariary (MGA)
- Languages
- Malagasy, French
- Calling code
- +261
- Country code
- MG
Entry requirements for Madagascar
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Madagascar for tourism.
Frequently asked questions
Is Antananarivo the capital of Madagascar?
Yes — Antananarivo is the capital of Madagascar.
What currency do I need in Antananarivo?
The local currency is the Malagasy Ariary (MGA). Languages spoken in Madagascar include Malagasy and French.
What is the dialling code for Madagascar?
The international dialling code for Madagascar is +261.
Do I need a visa to visit Madagascar?
It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Australia (visa on arrival), Canada (visa on arrival), France (visa on arrival), Germany (visa on arrival) and India (visa on arrival). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.
Flying out of Antananarivo? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.