BanjulCapital
Gambia · Country profile
Banjul is the small, sleepy capital of the Gambia, the tiniest country of the mainland continent, a friendly little city that sits on the sand spit where the wide Gambia River meets the Atlantic Ocean. Its grid of quiet streets, its colonial houses and its relaxed street life could belong to a minor port of the empire, but for the arch monument of the independence raised over the main roundabout and the buzzing markets of the waterfront. The Albert Market, the craft stalls and the fishing boats of the north shore give the city its commerce, while the beach resorts of the coast to the south and the river cruises of the interior anchor the national holiday trade. Small, gentle and deeply unhurried, it is a pocket capital that gives the whole gentle character of the river state.
About Banjul
Banjul is the capital of Gambia. The city's documented population is around 31,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Dalasi (GMD) and English is spoken; the dialling code is +220.
The Pocket Capital Where the River Meets the Sea
Banjul is a tiny, charmingly sleepy capital laid out on a grid of colonial streets between the river and the sea, with the famous arch, the Albert Market and the waterfront nearly all within an easy walk. A ferry from the south shore, a taxi ride from the beach resorts, the city makes a gentle half-day of markets, monuments and river views. It is quiet, safe and unhurried, a genuinely friendly pocket of the colonial era without the pretence, and the visitor comes for the arch, the crafts, the river and the crossing, then returns to the beaches and the nature reserves of the Gambia that make the clear, effortless heart of a visit.
The Dry Trade Winds, the Dalasi and the Morning Market Hours
The warm, tropical climate runs on the two familiar seasons, with the dry sunny trade winds of the winter months making the classic visiting window and the heavier rains of the summer. The dalasi is the currency, the English the official language and the cards work at the main counters while the cash serves the markets. The arch, the market and the museum of the city are the essentials, and a ferry ride or the taxi across the bridge covers the river. The city is small and safe, best treated as a morning meeting, with the resorts, the crocodile pools and the river towns of the country filling the rest of the days.
The Arch of the State, the Albert Market and the Museum of the Nation
The great arch of the state, the tall triumphal gate of the independence with its viewing platform and its small museum of the history of the nation, anchors the roundabout of the centre. The Albert Market, with the fabrics, the crafts and the hustle of the local trade, sits at the heart of the old town, and the national museum near the centre tells the story of the river and the slave trade of the Gambia. The ferry to the north shore, the crocodile pools of the nearby villages and the beaches of the coast to the south complete the picture of the smallest capital of the mainland.
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- Country
- Gambia
- Population
- 31,000
- Capital
- Banjul
- Region
- Africa
- Currency
- Dalasi (GMD)
- Languages
- English
- Calling code
- +220
- Country code
- GM
Frequently asked questions
Is Banjul the capital of Gambia?
Yes — Banjul is the capital of Gambia.
What currency do I need in Banjul?
The local currency is the Dalasi (GMD). Languages spoken in Gambia include English.
What is the dialling code for Gambia?
The international dialling code for Gambia is +220.
Flying out of Banjul? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.