Lome Map

About City

Lomé is the capital of Togo and has a population of about 837,500. It is the industrial as well as administrative center of the country. It is also the chief port and handles exports of coffee, palm kernels and cocoa. French is the official language.

Lomé was founded by the people of Ewe community in the 18th century. Originally called the Togoland, the country was claimed as a protectorate by Germany in the year 1884 and in 1905, it became their colony. The country became partially occupied by the British and partially by the French during the First World War. Post the Second World War, the country was separated into two individual parts – the British territory joined Ghana and the French territory formed an autonomous republic under the French. In 1960, Togo gained its independence from France after which the city of Lomé grew exponentially.

Geography

Lomé lies on the Gulf of Guinea sprawling over an area of 90 sq km along the south-western coast of the country. The city is trapped between a lagoon to its north and the Atlantic Ocean to its south. Further, it is bordered to the west by the Ghana border with Accra at a distance of 177 km and Nigeria and the village of Bè to its east.

How to Reach (Transport)

Lomé is served by the Lomé-Tokoin Airport which is located at a distance of 5 km from the city center. Airlines like Air Burkina, Air France, Benin Golf Air, Ethiopian Airlines and Royal Air Maroc connects Lomé to cities like Paris, Brussels, Malabo and Accra. The city is served by a railway line which runs between the airport and the city. Inside the city, one can avail of moto-taxis, motorcycles, taxis and buses.

When to Visit

Lomé features a tropical savanna climate and temperatures range from 20 degree Celsius to 33 degree Celsius. It has dry and cool winters and typically has two rainy seasons, one from April to July while another shorter one from October to December. The best time to visit would be from January to March as well as the months of August and September when the climate is dry.

Fairs and Festivals

Lomé hosts several festivals all around the year. Some of them are as listed below:

• Festival Africarythmes, founded in 2008, is hosted by the Association INTEGRAALE every year. It promotes the local musicians as well as features other African artists from places like Congo, Mali and Ghana.
• Lomé Beer Festival, held in October, is an annual event organized by the national brewery and is held over a period of two weeks. It was founded in 2007 and features drinking, games and music. The last day of the festival features a special day long buffet which is hosted at the stadium.
• The Lomé Film Festival began in 2013 and has been founded as well as organized by TOGOLLYWOOD. It aims to bring about awareness about cinema to the local people.

Apart from these, the city celebrates various Christian and Muslim religious festivals as well as the infamous Ouidah Voodoo Festival.

Points of Interest (Places to Visit)

Lomé reflects both colonial and modern influences in its architecture and also has several gardens, boulevards and colorful houses. Following are some of the must see places in this typical African city:

• Lomé Grand Market is very near to the city center and is one of the most vibrant areas here. It is a large market which often has live musical events by local performers. It is divided into three sections, namely Assivito, Atipoji and Asigame.
• Togo National Museum, founded in 1975, is the center of art and culture of the nation. It houses several exhibits showcasing the traditions and heritage of the country.

Apart from these, one can also visit the Village Artisanal, the local cathedral and the Fetish Market.

Accommodation

Lomé offers several kinds of accommodation ranging from affordable budget hotels to comfortable three star accommodation options. Hotel Napoleon Lagune, with three stars, is located right next to the lagoon and is also close to the airport. Other three star hotels are Hotel Aurore and Mercure Lomé Sarakawa both of which are located next to the beach. For a taste of French, Hotel Cote Sud and Hotel Bellevue would be more suitable as both the hotels are run by French people and offer delicious French food as well as an artistically sophisticated surrounding. Cheaper options include Hotel Equateur, Hotel Golden Beach, Hotel Clementine, Acropolis Guest House and Hotel du 2 Fevrier.