Travel advisory · Burkina FasoGovernments advise against all travel to Burkina Faso.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- National parks · avoid all travel · Germany, France
- Ouagadougou–Bobo-Dioulasso road (N1) · avoid all travel · Germany, Spain, France
- Wildlife reserves and hunting concessions · avoid all travel · Germany, France
- Burkina Faso outside Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, Spain
Also named by one government: All border zones (Spain), Bazoulé sacred crocodile site (France), Capital periphery (France), Classified forests (France), Diapaga (Tapoa) (Spain), Gourma (Spain), Kénédugu (Guiriko) (Spain), Kopienga (Goulmou) (Spain), Kossi (Spain), Kulpélogo (Nakambe) (Spain), Liptako (Spain), Lorum (Spain), Military restricted zone along the Mali border (Germany), North of Ouahigouya–Bogandé axis (Spain), Sourou (Spain), Titao (Yaagda) (Spain), Yatenga (Spain), Ziniaré archaeological site (France)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | advises against all travel | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Level 4: Do Not Travel | May 4, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Avoid all travel | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | Erhöhte Vorsicht in Ouagadougou und Bobo-Dioulasso; Warnung vor Reisen in den übrigen Landesteil (regional advisories) | Oct 13, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Do not travel (level 4 of 4) | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | Tout déplacement formellement déconseillé sur l'ensemble du territoire | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso draws travelers for the FESPACO film festival in Ouagadougou, Mossi royal traditions and elephants in its national parks, though security conditions limit where you can safely go.
Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West Africa, bordered by Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana and Ivory Coast. Its capital and largest city, Ouagadougou, is the center of government, universities and most commercial activity. The name combines a Mooré word meaning 'upright' and a Dyula word meaning 'fatherland', and it replaced Upper Volta in 1984.
The Mossi kingdoms shaped the country for centuries, and the Mogho Naba, the Mossi ruler, still has his court in Ouagadougou. FESPACO, the film festival held in the capital every two years, is a reason many people plan a visit. The country has a large elephant population for West Africa, and W National Park in the east, shared with Benin and Niger, is one of its protected areas. The dry season, when the harmattan blows from the Sahara, is generally the more comfortable time to travel. Security conditions change, so check them before you go, especially in the north and east.
Five things to know before Burkina Faso
- Read the current travel advisory first
Governments including the UK and US advise against all travel to all or large parts of Burkina Faso. Most travel insurance will not cover you where your government advises against travel. UK travel advice
- Apply for a visa before travel
Visitors need a visa, applied for online or through an embassy. It cannot be obtained in the UK, and requirements can change at short notice.
- Carry a yellow fever certificate
Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required to pass border control in Burkina Faso.
- Know that consular help is limited
The UK has no in-person consular service in Burkina Faso; support comes from the embassy in Ghana. Other governments have similar limits.
- Check your insurance in writing
If you must travel, get written confirmation from an insurer that you are covered, including for medical evacuation.
Burkina Faso travel guides
Practical guides from writers who live there.
Coast forts, Accra and Mole National Park, to the south
Read the guideTogoLomé, Kpalimé and Koutammakou, along the southern border
Read the guideCôte d'IvoireAbidjan, Grand-Bassam and Yamoussoukro, to the south-west
Read the guideVisas and entryVisa and yellow fever paperwork to check for Burkina Faso
Read the guideTravel insuranceWhat policies say when the UK advises against all travel
Read the guideAll of AfricaOpen West African countries with full guides
Read the guide
Destinations in Burkina Faso
When to go
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- JanuaryClear0 rainy daysHigh34°Low18°Dry, harmattanJanuaryClear
Best
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 0 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, harmattan
- FebruaryClear0 rainy daysHigh37°Low21°Dry, hotFebruaryClear
- High
- 37°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 0 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hot
- MarchClear1 rainy dayHigh40°Low25°Very hotMarchClear
- High
- 40°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 4 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot
- AprilClear1 rainy dayHigh41°Low28°HottestAprilClear
- High
- 41°
- Low
- 28°
- Precipitation
- 5 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hottest
- MayClear7 rainy daysHigh39°Low29°Hot, stormsMayClear
- High
- 39°
- Low
- 29°
- Precipitation
- 31 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, storms
- JuneClear11 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh36°Low27°Rains startJuneClear
- High
- 36°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 86 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Rains start
- JulyRain20 rainy daysHigh33°Low25°RainyJulyRain
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 194 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy
- AugustRain25 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low23°WettestAugustRain
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 302 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Wettest
- SeptemberRain17 rainy days2 days with stormsHigh32°Low24°RainySeptemberRain
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 185 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 2
Rainy
- OctoberClear6 rainy daysHigh35°Low24°Drying outOctoberClear
- High
- 35°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 45 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drying out
- NovemberClear0 rainy daysHigh37°Low22°DryNovemberClear
Best
- High
- 37°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 0 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry
- DecemberClear0 rainy daysHigh35°Low19°Dry, harmattanDecemberClear
Best
- High
- 35°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 0 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, harmattan
Average daily high and low in Ouagadougou, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Burkina Faso
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
32
- Feels like
- 30°
- Humidity
- 21%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Ouagadougou
12:54 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today38°27°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 38°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed38°27°2%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 38°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Thu39°25°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 39°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri39°24°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 39°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat39°24°0%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 39°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun38°25°0%Sunday: Clear. High 38°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 10:23 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 587.8 XOF
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Before you go to Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso FAQ
Is it safe to travel to Burkina Faso right now?
Governments including the UK and US advise against all travel to Burkina Faso. Read the current official advisory before making any plans; it is updated when the situation changes.
Do I need a visa for Burkina Faso?
Yes. Apply online or through an embassy of Burkina Faso before you travel, and carry a yellow fever certificate.
Will travel insurance cover a trip to Burkina Faso?
Most policies exclude areas where your government advises against travel. Specialist cover exists; get the terms in writing before you go.
What currency is used in Burkina Faso?
The West African CFA franc (XOF), which is pegged to the euro and shared with neighboring countries.
What is Burkina Faso known for?
The FESPACO African film festival in Ouagadougou, the painted Kassena houses of Tiébélé and the Sindou rock formations in the southwest.