Gheos
Lomé
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There is not a whole lot to see in Lomé, but it is an excellent place to stay for a few days, when you are travelling through western Africa. Lomé sits in the southwestern corner of Togo, on a lagoon on the Gulf of Guinea. The border with Ghana is only a few hundred meters west of the city center and the Ghanaian city of Aflao on the other side of the border is a de facto suburb of Lomé.

In Lomé's central business district are many modern high-rise offices and some early 20th-century buildings, while the rest of the city is low rise and on the outskirts you'll find the usual slums.

Some remains of colonial archutecture in Lomé include the neo-Gothic Sacred Heart Cathedral and the Palace of the Governors. The statues of President Eyadéma and his mother on Place de l'Independence were removed during civil disturbances in 1991. The Palais des Congrès is on the seafront, west of the center. It used to be Eyadéma's party headquarters. The National Museum is directly behind it on Avenue Albert Sarraut. It has a nice collection of historical artifacts and woodcarvings.

The Grand Marché is a three-storey building in the center of town, two blocks from the seafront. The market, as well as the surrounding area is extremely busy. On the market everything from food to modern utensils is sold, but for traditional handicrafts it is better to go to the Marché des Féticheurs (Fetish Market) in the Akodesséwa quarter, 8 km (5 mi) west from the city center. There you can also find traditional medicines such as shriveled bird carcasses and dried animal organs. The easiest way to get there is along Boulevard de la République, until the port roundabout. At the roundabout you should turn left and continue for about 1.5 km. At the Village Artisanal, just west of the Grand Marché you can see the artisans at work.

West of the city center is a residential area that faces the ocean. The area is home to several embassies and consulates, as well as the Palace of Justice. To the north is the Independence Monument with a convention center adjacent to it.

There is a lot of accommodation in Lomé. Most hotels are in the west of town, close to the border with Ghana. Hotel du 2 Févrieris a modern 102-m tall building. it is the tallest building in Togo. There are food stalls all over town, as well as many restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

East of Lomé are three beach resorts. At Robinson Plage you'll find mainly British tourists and overland trucks. There are campsites, as well as huts and rooms for rent. Further east is Ramatou Plage, where the clientele is mostly French. Campings and hotels are available there. Both the above areas are close to an industrial area and the beaches are not all that great. More to the east is Alice Place, which sits right on the beach. The beach there is a little better and you can camp or stay at the hotel.

The gare routière is some 10 km north of the city center. Buses and taxis connect it with downtown. The railway station is in the center and the airport northeast of town.


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Lomé ©Eiti
Lomé ©Eiti

Lomé ©Shrinidhi Takle
Lomé ©Shrinidhi Takle

Church ©Polyrus
Church ©Polyrus




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