Why go
- Capital and largest city of Mali.
- Served by Modibo Keita International Airport (BKO).
History
Bamako is the capital and largest city of Mali with a 2022 population of 4,227,569. It is located on the Niger River, near the rapids that divide the upper and middle Niger valleys in the southwestern part of the country, and the city is surrounded on all sides by the Koulikoro Region.
Restaurants & places to go
289 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 14 airlines, 16 direct destinations
- Ethiopian Airlines ET (767-300, DH8, 737-700) · 5 routes: Addis Ababa, Conakry*, Dakar, Lome*, Ouagadougou*
- Air Burkina 2J (M87, CRJ) · 3 routes: Abidjan, Dakar, Ouagadougou
- Dennis Sky DH (ATR 72) · 3 routes: Conakry, Cotonou, Lagos
- Mauritania Airlines International L6 (737-700) · 3 routes: Abidjan, Cotonou, Nouakschott
- Senegal Airlines DN (A320) · 3 routes: Cotonou, Dakar, Ouagadougou
- Kenya Airways KQ (737-700) · 2 routes: Dakar, Nairobi
- South African Airways SA (757) · 2 routes: Addis Ababa*, Dakar*
- Aigle Azur ZI (A320) · 1 route: Paris
- Air Algerie AH (737-800) · 1 route: Algier
- Air France AF (A340-300) · 1 route: Paris
- Hapagfly HF (A319) · 1 route: Abidjan
- Royal Air Maroc AT (737-800) · 1 route: Casablanca
- TAP Portugal TP (A319, A320) · 1 route: Lisbon
- Tunisair TU (A320) · 1 route: Tunis
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Where things are
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Modibo Keita International Airport (BKO); 1 other airport serves the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: BKO has direct flights to 16 destinations on 14 airlines (incl. Dakar, Abidjan, Cotonou, Ouagadougou, Addis Ababa…).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Bamako. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.