Freetown
Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, is known for its settler history, its old forts and the beaches on the peninsula.
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Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, on a peninsula that runs into the Atlantic on the west coast. The city was settled in 1792 by formerly enslaved people from North America and Britain, and that history still shows in its streets, its churches and Krio, the creole spoken widely across town.
Visitors come for the colonial-era buildings and museums, Fourah Bay College (founded in 1827, one of the oldest universities in West Africa), and the beaches along the coast. Bunce Island, a former slave-trading fort in the Sierra Leone River, is reached by boat. Freetown suits travelers who want history and beaches, or a first stop before going farther into the country. November to February is the dry season, with harmattan haze in December and January. Two or three days cover the city and one day trip.
Freetown in five
- Get leones before you need themCarry cash in leones (SLE) for taxis, markets and small shops. Bring clean, undamaged US dollars or euros to exchange.Money and costs
- Check the visa before you book flightsMost passports need a visa for Sierra Leone. Apply through the embassy or the official immigration service before you pay for flights.Visas and entry
- Book the transfer from Lungi airportLungi International Airport is across the Sierra Leone River from Freetown, so the trip into town needs a ferry or helicopter plus a road transfer. Book the onward ride before you land.Getting around
- Buy an Orange or Africell SIMOrange and Africell are the main mobile networks. Bring your passport to register the SIM, and make sure your phone is unlocked.Phones and eSIM
- Agree the fare before you rideOkadas (motorbike taxis) and poda-podas (shared minibuses) are the cheapest way across town. Agree the fare before you set off, and keep small notes ready.
Need to know
- Currency
- Leone (SLE)
- Entry
- Visa for most passports; check before you book
- Emergency
- Confirm local numbers with your insurer or embassy before you go
- Tipping
- Small tip for good service; check the bill for a service charge
- Time
- UTC+0, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryDry, harmattan haze
- FebruaryDry, harmattan
- MarchDry, hot
- AprilHot, dry
- MayHot, rains close
- JuneRains begin
- JulyHeavy rain
- AugustHeavy rain
- SeptemberHeavy rain
- OctoberRains easing
- NovemberDry season starts
- DecemberDry, harmattan haze
Right now in Freetown
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
27
- Feels like
- 30°
- Humidity
- 81%
- Wind
- 10 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 95%
Freetown
11:25 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today29°25°95%Monday: Rain. High 29°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 95%.
- Tue28°24°75%Tuesday: Rain. High 28°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 75%.
- Wed28°23°69%Wednesday: Rain. High 28°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 69%.
- Thu30°23°49%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 49%.
- Fri30°24°31%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 31%.
- Sat30°27°47%Saturday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 47%.
- Sun29°25°76%Sunday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 76%.
Updated 10:20 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 22.87 SLE
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Bunce Islandabout 1 to 2 hours by boatThe old slave-trading fort on an island in the Sierra Leone River, reached by boat.
- Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuaryabout 45 min to 1 hour by roadA forest sanctuary for rescued chimpanzees in the hills above Freetown.
- Lakkaabout 1 to 1.5 hours by roadA coastal village on the peninsula with beach restaurants and a quieter sea.
Before you go to Freetown
Rules for Freetown, checked
- Visa rules change, so check the Sierra Leone embassy or immigration service before you book flights.
- Check the current rules on carrying cash across the border with the Bank of Sierra Leone before you travel.Source
- Dress modestly when you visit churches and mosques, and take off your shoes before entering a mosque.
Plan around Freetown
Regions, entry rules, transport and money for a Sierra Leone trip
Read the guideVisas and entryWhat most passports need before you fly to Freetown
Read the guideMoney and costsCash, cards and typical prices for a day in the city
Read the guideGetting aroundAirport transfers, okadas, shared taxis and hired drivers
Read the guideWhere to stayPlaces to base yourself in Freetown and the peninsula
Read the guidePhones and eSIMMobile networks, SIM registration and offline maps
Read the guideFreetown FAQ
Is Freetown worth visiting?
Yes for the beaches, the Krio culture and the hillside views over the bay. It is busy and hard to get around, so pick a base near the places you want to see and plan your transfers.
How do you get from Lungi airport to Freetown?
Lungi airport is across the Sierra Leone River, so you take a ferry or helicopter, then a road transfer. Book the onward ride before you land, since the crossing and the road each add time.
What language is spoken in Freetown?
English is the official language, and most people speak Krio, the everyday language of the city. Greetings in Krio are useful in markets and shared taxis.
How many days do you need in Freetown?
Two or three days cover the city, a beach and one day trip. Add more if you plan a boat trip to Bunce Island or a longer stay on the peninsula.
Is Freetown safe for tourists?
Use normal city care: keep bags closed in markets, avoid walking alone at night, and ask your hotel to book a driver for evening trips.
When is the best time to visit Freetown?
November to February is the dry season. From June to September heavy rain makes roads and beaches hard going, and the harmattan haze in December and January dims the views.