The checklist as a PDF
Entry, health, money, transport and safety, laid out for print, with their sources and verification date.
Togo
West Africa
Splendid beaches, villages, hills, nature reserves and culture. Lomé on the Atlantic and the cultural landscape of Koutammakou.
- On the map
CapitalLomé
When to goNovember to April
Suggested length8 days min.
CurrencyWest African CFA franc
LanguagesFrench
The Viafro verdict
For whom, and for which trip.
An editorial bearing, with no percentage and no rating: our criteria are written down, and every “good to know” links to its source.
- For which trip
- Lomé · Kpalimé · Agbodrafo · Kara
- Best season
- November to April
- Length
- Allow at least 8 days for these 4 essentials, one stop every two or three days. (Viafro’s rule of thumb)
Best time to visit
Twelve months, in colour.
Hover or tap a month: its reading and its source appear. Bars measure rain, the figure is the capital’s mean maximum.
Before you go
The essentials, tab by tab.
Entry, health, safety, money and facts: dated official extracts, never paraphrased.
Visa, passport, customs
GOV.UK advice, written for British passport holders. French travellers: see France Diplomatie (https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/information-par-pays/togo/conseils-aux-voyageurs-entree-sejour).
- Your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave Togo. If you’re a resident in Togo, your passport must be valid for 6 months from the date you arrive.
- You must have a visa to visit Togo. A single-entry tourist visa is valid for 15 days. You must apply for a visa at least 6 days before you plan to arrive in the country. You cannot get a visa on arrival.
- To enter Togo, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination. For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccines, see TravelHealthPro’s Togo guide.
Vaccines, malaria, water
This is not medical advice: talk to your doctor or an international vaccination centre before you travel.
- At least 8 weeks before your trip:
- Medical facilities are poor. Emergency facilities are extremely limited. For serious medical treatment, medical evacuation may be necessary. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.
Per the ministries
Viafro gives no safety rating: here are the zones and advice published by the French ministry (in French) and the official extracts, with their dates.
Vigilance zones published by France Diplomatie (in French) · page updated on 15 Sept 2026 · see the official map
- Red · Zone formellement déconseillée (rouge)
Compte tenu de la menace terroriste au nord-Togo, des opérations militaires conduites par les autorités togolaises et du risque d’enlèvement, la zone des Triples Frontières (Burkina/Togo/Bénin et Burkina/Togo/Ghana) est…
- Orange · Zone déconseillée sauf raison impérative (orange)
Région des Savanes
Décrété en 2022 pour lutter contre la menace terroriste, l’état d’urgence a été prorogé jusqu’au 13 mars 2027 inclus dans la région des Savanes.
- Yellow · Zone de vigilance renforcée (jaune)
Le reste du pays est placé en vigilance renforcée.
Le front de mer à Lomé, les abords des hôtels situés à proximité et la frontière avec le Ghana sont déconseillés aux promeneurs, particulièrement le soir. Des cas d’attaques à l’arme blanche ont été signalés.
- Violent crime, theft and pickpocketing are common in Togo, particularly on the beaches and markets of Lomé. Attacks take place during the day and at night. You can protect yourself and your belongings by:
- There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
What the country’s law provides
Photography, alcohol, drugs, relationships: the rules published by the ministries, quoted as they stand, without comment.
- Possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs is a serious offence and can result in fines and a prison sentence.
Currency
West African CFA francViafro publishes no price or budget range without a source: amounts will come from our own expenses recorded on the ground, dated and itemised.
Express card
Structured data from Wikidata and the CIA World Factbook, re-checked at every site update.
- Population · 2025
- 8,591,626
- Time zone
- −1 h from Paris
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C plugs · 220 V
- Driving side
- Driving on the right
- Calling code
- +228
- Languages
- French
- Area
- 56,785 km²
- Highest point
- Mount Agou, 986 m
- Main religions
- Christian 42.3%, folk religion 36.9%, Muslim 14%, Hindu 1%, Buddhist 1%, Jewish 1%, other 1%, none 6.2%
Getting there and around
Airports, roads and transport.
- LFWLomé-Tokoin AirportLomé960,000 passengers · official site
- LRLNiamtougou International AirportNiamtougou
Direct flights from Paris are to be checked on the airport’s or airline’s website.
On the road
- If you are planning to drive in Togo, see information on driving abroad. You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Togo for up to 6 months. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence.
Destinations
The essentials.
Lomé
Lomé (UK: LOH-may, US: loh-MAY) is the capital and largest city of Togo.
Kpalimé
Kpalimé is a city in the Plateaux Region of Togo, 120 km north of Lomé and 15 km from the border with Ghana.
Agbodrafo
Agbodrafo, or Safe Harbor (from Portuguese Porto Seguro), is a town in southern Togo in the Maritime Region, lying between the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Togo.
Kara
Kara is a city in northern Togo, situated in Kara Region, 413 km north of the capital Lomé.
Filmed by us
Must-try food
Six dishes, and where to taste them.
Ablo
Les ablos sont de petites galettes blanches et légèrement sucrées, originaires à la fois du Togo et du Bénin. Bien qu'elles trouvent leur origine dans ces deux pays, elles sont particulièrement associées aux festivités et traditions des peuples éwé et adja-éwé (summary in French)
Kom
Le kom ou come est un mets consommé au Ghana, au Togo et au Bénin. C'est une pâte fermentée fabriquée à base de maïs, moulée dans des feuilles de maïs ou dans des sachets, généralement servie avec une sauce monyo et du piment noir. (summary in French)
Sauce gombo
La sauce gombo est une sauce gluante à base de gombos frais ou secs, originaire d’Afrique de l'Ouest. Elle accompagne les plats de poisson ou de viande. On la trouve au Mali, en république démocratique du Congo, en Guinée-Conakry,en Côte d’Ivoire,au Cameroun, (summary in French)
Kenkey
Kenkey is a staple swallow food similar to sourdough dumplings from the Ga and Fante-inhabited regions of West Africa, usually served with pepper crudaiola and fried fish, soup or stew.
Akpan
Akpan, also known as akassa, is a fermented maize yogurt. A product of Togolese and Beninese cuisine, it is considered a dessert.
Djenkoumé
Culture and etiquette
Customs, dress, useful words.
- Bonjourhello
- Mercithank you
- S’il vous plaîtplease
- Entries checked on Wiktionary.
- Religions: Christian 42.3%, folk religion 36.9%, Muslim 14%, Hindu 1%, Buddhist 1%, Jewish 1%, other 1%, none 6.2%.
- Languages: French (official, language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (in the north).
Festivals and events
The big dates.
- National holiday
Independence Day, 27 April (1960) ; independence: 27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship).
Fixed dates and moveable events, each with its source; moveable dates change every year and are to be checked on an official calendar.
Did you know?
Three things to remember.
The country’s highest point, Mount Agou, reaches 986 m.
8,591,626 inhabitants in 2025 on 56,785 km², about 151 per km².
Independence on 27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship).
The country on video
Togo, in motion.
Gallery
See it before you go.
Real photographs: free images under a verified licence and Viafro images. Never a generated image. Credits in the footer.
Share your trip with #viafro: the best images will join this gallery, with your credit.
Live, work, invest
A few key figures.
Sourced data (World Bank). No investment advice.
GDP per capita (current US$)1.4World Bank · 2025GDP growth6.3 %World Bank · 2025Inflation (consumer prices)0.4 %World Bank · 2025Unemployment (ILO estimate)2 %World Bank · 2025International tourist arrivals482World Bank · 2020
World Bank data (World Development Indicators), consulted on 28 Oct 2026. Tourist arrivals are the latest year published.
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Sources and verification dates · 21 sources, checked on 28 Oct 2026
Travel advice · GOV.UK (FCDO)Entry, visa, safety: the official page, kept up to date by the ministry. Travel health · US CDCVaccines and precautions from a reference medical source. World Heritage · UNESCOThe country’s inscribed sites and tentative list. WikidataCapital and currency, verified structured data.
- Wikidata · Togo (Q945)
- World Bank · World Development Indicators
- GOV.UK (FCDO) · Togo · Foreign travel advice · Entry requirements (page updated on 19 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK (FCDO) · Togo · Foreign travel advice · Health (page updated on 19 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK (FCDO) · Togo · Foreign travel advice · Safety and security (page updated on 19 Oct 2026)
- Rough Guides · Togo Travel Guide · Best time to visit
- Wiktionary · Checked entries (French)
- Wikipedia · Ablo
- Wikipedia · Kom (nourriture)
- Wikipedia · Sauce gombo
- Wikipedia · Kenkey
- Wikipedia · Akpan (dessert)
- Wikipedia · Djenkoumé
- Wikipedia · Lomé
- Wikipedia · Kpalimé
- Wikipedia · Agbodrafo
- Wikipedia · Kara (Togo)
- CIA World Factbook · Togo (public domain) (page updated on 29 Oct 2026)
- France Diplomatie · Togo · Travel advice · Security (zones, in French) (page updated on 15 Sept 2026)
- Wikidata · Airports of the country (IATA code, traffic) (page updated on 29 Oct 2026)
- Wikipedia (climate normals) · Lomé · monthly normals (NOAA (humidity and sunshine 1961–1990){{cite web) (page updated on 29 Oct 2026)
Information checked on 28 Oct 2026. Check the official source before you travel. Viafro gives no safety rating and publishes no price without a source.
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