Tourist Attractions in Madagascar

The most interesting and beautiful tourist sites in Madagascar

Photos, reviews, descriptions, and links to maps

About Madagascar

“Madagascar is often referred to as a “”continent in miniature”” due to the unique nature and wide variety of endemic animals inhabiting the island. Excursions to the national parks of the state will interest tourists inclined to exploration and contemplation, as well as active travellers who are fond of trekking.

Madagascar can also be considered as a place for beach holidays, but you should know that the hotel base on the island is quite scarce, and the beach infrastructure is poorly developed. Few tourists prefer to stay on the island of Nosy Be, where there is more entertainment and better service.

Often, travellers come to the island as part of a combined tour, after visiting mainland Africa. Travellers are taken to Antsirabe, Murundava, St. Mary’s Island (Nosy Boraha) and some other places.”

Top-14 Tourist Attractions in Madagascar

Antananarivo

The capital of the state, it is translated from the local language as “the city of a thousand”. The city’s affectionate diminutive name is “Tana”. The city is strongly influenced by the French, who left only in the 1960s. In the centre you can find many shops with French names, a French hotel and many bakeries offering fresh croissants

Reserva natural de Tsingy de Bemaraha

 4.3/5

58 reviews

The territory with unusual karst landscapes (rocks), which resemble a stone forest. The road to the reserve is a separate adventure, as you will have to overcome kilometres of off-road and difficult hiking routes, so such a trip can be made by physically fit tourists. There are several species of lemurs on the territory. These animals are considered the symbol of Madagascar

Rovan' Ambohimanga

 4.2/5

148 reviews

A historical monument, a valuable testimony of Malagasy culture. There used to be a large town around the hill, where the royal residence of the island’s rulers was located. It is believed that the settlement was already flourishing by the 16th century. The hill had a ritual significance – rituals and sacred acts were performed here for many centuries. The area has a special significance for the identity of the Malagasy, as it holds the secrets of their traditional culture

Open time

Andafiavaratra Palace

 3.6/5

63 reviews

Located in the capital, it used to be the residence of the country’s Prime Minister Rainilayarivuni, who headed the government in the late 19th century. The building now houses a museum with 1,466 artefacts on display. These artefacts have important historical significance to the culture and history of the country. Many items were restored and brought here after the great fire of 1995 in Ruwa Palace

Open time

Hôtel Le Royal Palace

 4.1/5

170 reviews

Located in Antananarivo on Mount Analamanga (almost 1.5 kilometres above sea level). The palace was originally made of wood, later faced with stone. The building was built in the 19th century for the first queen of the island, Ranavaluna. After a fire in 1995, it has still not been rebuilt. Mount Analamanga offers a panoramic view of the surrounding area and the entire city is clearly visible from here

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Isalo National Park

 4.6/5

381 reviews

The reserve was created in 1962. Its landscapes resemble an African savannah. There are almost no animals, rather poor plant life due to unsuitable weather conditions. Izalo was created to preserve the natural landscapes of the area, as they are recognised as unusual and valuable. The reserve has several very scenic hiking trails along natural riverbeds

Atsinanana

 0/5

Relict (prehistoric) forests located on the east coast of the island of Madagascar. More than 12,000 plant species are recognised as unique and endemic. It is believed that the isolated ecosystem of the region was formed 60 million years ago. It is home to rare species of animals, some of which are endangered. In 2010, the forests were included in the list of sites that may soon disappear from our planet

حديقة جبل آمبر القومية

 4.2/5

105 reviews

A natural attraction in the northern part of Madagascar. Unlike the surrounding arid valleys, this park has a humid climate and it rains every day. A large amount of water is collected here to supply the nearest town. There are also 70000 hectares of rice fields cultivated around. Montagne D’Ambre is home to the miniature brukesia chameleon, only about 2cm long

Ankaratra

 5/5

1 reviews

It is part of the Ankaratra mountain massif, which was formed as a result of the splitting of the continents millions of years ago during the formation of the modern appearance of the planet. The volcano has been extinct for a long time, and now it is only reminded of itself by rare earthquakes and steam emissions. The crater, which has become a natural attraction, attracts tourists who want to “conquer” the once raging Ankaratra

Lake Tritriva

 4.5/5

79 reviews

A volcanic reservoir with many hot springs in central Madagascar. It is located in a former volcanic crater. Maximum depth is about 150 metres. It has unknown sources of water replenishment (possibly underground), as the water level rises during the dry season. If an object is thrown into the lake, it can be found later in the valley below the shore level

Baobab Avenue

 4.6/5

102 reviews

The road between the villages of Morondava and Beloni, which attracts tourists from all over the world. Giant baobabs, many of them hundreds of years old, grow along the edges of this “avenue”. The height of these unusual trees reaches up to 30 metres, the trunk girth can also be a couple of tens of metres. The alley is a protected area. The locals believe that the baobab is the origin of all Madagascar forests

Nosy Be

 4.6/5

406 reviews

A secluded place with beautiful beaches, popular with foreign tourists. The country’s largest plantations of ylang-ylang and coffee are cultivated here. Rare species of lemurs can be found in the local Lukube reserve. Travellers tired of lying on the beach and traditional holiday activities are invited to visit a village of natives, the ruins of a Portuguese fort and a silver waterfall.

Nosy Boraha

 4.5/5

171 reviews

Located seven kilometres off the east coast of Madagascar. The island was named by the French in honour of the Virgin Mary, the local Malagasy name is “Nozi Boraha”. Nowadays this place is a beach resort, popular mainly with Madagascans themselves, but foreigners can also be found here. There is a legend that pirates buried many millions of pounds sterling worth of treasure on St Mary’s Island.

Lemurs are the symbol of Madagascar

These funny animals live only in Madagascar and the Comoros Islands. They are considered to be the ancestors of monkeys. There are several species of lemurs on the island. The rarest of them is a small aye-aye, which, according to mythology, was considered a harbinger of death. The animal is characterised by its large “surprised” eyes, flexible body and long tail. It is thanks to its funny “facial expression” that the lemur has become the hero of many popular Internet memes.