Travel Essentials › Burkina Faso
Travel Essentials
Plugs: Types C and E; 220 V, 50 Hz. Emergency: Police 17, Fire 18. Tipping: Not expected, but small tips of a few hundred CFA for guides, drivers and restaurant staff are welcome. Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water.
Open The Burkina Faso Trip Kit
Types C and E; 220 V, 50 Hz
| Police | 17 |
| Fire | 18 |
Not expected, but small tips of a few hundred CFA for guides, drivers and restaurant staff are welcome.
Greetings. Greetings are unhurried. Shake hands, often for a long time, ask about family and health before business, and put a hand over the heart as a polite alternative if someone does not shake hands across genders.
Right hand. Use the right hand for eating and greeting.
Respect for elders. Greet older people first and visibly show them respect.
Burkina Faso is experiencing a severe, ongoing jihadist insurgency, terrorism and political instability; as of 2026 most governments (including the US and UK) advise against all travel to the entire country, including Ouagadougou, due to high risks of kidnapping, armed robbery and terrorist attack.
Overcharging foreigners. Agree prices with market vendors and taxi drivers before purchasing or riding.
Unofficial 'guides'. Unlicensed individuals may demand fees for unsolicited help; use only vetted, trusted arrangements.
Women travelers. Added caution is warranted given instability; conservative dress and avoiding travel alone, especially after dark, are recommended.
Criminalized
Same-sex relations were criminalized in September 2025 (two to five years' imprisonment plus fines); LGBTQ+ travelers face real legal and social risk and should exercise extreme discretion.
| Coffee or tea (café) | 700 FCFA | $1.20 |
| Local bus or shared taxi ride | 250 FCFA | $0.45 |
| Mid-range restaurant meal | 3,500 FCFA | $6 |
| Hostel bed / budget room (night) | 12,000 FCFA | $21 |
| Mid-range hotel (night) | 40,000 FCFA | $70 |
| Daily budget, mid-range traveler | 40,000 FCFA | $70 |
2026-09
November-February is coolest and driest. March-May is extremely hot before the rains; June-September is the rainy season. Note: the security situation, not weather, is the overriding factor for any visit in 2026.