Getting into Togo takes a little planning. The visa has to be applied for online at least five days before you arrive, and a yellow fever vaccination is compulsory. Once the paperwork is sorted, arrival itself is easy: the airport is 6 km from our apartments in Kégué. Here is what to arrange, in order.
Before you fly: visa, passport, jabs
Apply on the official portal, voyage.gouv.tg, at least 5 days before arrival. Visas on arrival and express visas are suspended until further notice, so you cannot sort it out at the airport. Payment is online, by Visa, Mastercard or mobile money; cash is not accepted. The visa arrives by email.
Holders of a valid African passport enter visa-free for 30 days. Everyone else should check their situation on the portal before booking flights.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months after your planned return date. Yellow fever vaccination is compulsory: get it at an approved centre, ideally at least 10 days before you travel, and keep the certificate with your passport, as you will be asked for it. For malaria, see a doctor before you go; prevention means avoiding bites and taking preventive treatment. Our Lomé practical guide covers all this in more detail.
The airport and the road to Kégué
You land at Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport, code LFW, known as Lomé-Tokoin until 2016. Its new terminal opened on 25 April 2016, and it is the home base of the airline ASKY.
From the terminal to Kégué is 4.7 to 6 km depending on the address, or 6 to 10 minutes without traffic. At rush hour it takes longer.
Simone can arrange your airport transfer for 10,000 FCFA (about €15) per ride. After a long flight it is the simplest option, especially in the evening: the French foreign ministry advises against getting around Lomé on foot or by motorbike at night.
Money and SIM cards
The currency is the CFA franc (XOF), pegged to the euro at €1 = 655.957 FCFA. As a rule of thumb, €100 is about 65,600 FCFA.
Sources disagree on which cards work. The French foreign ministry says only Visa cards can be used for withdrawals and payments, and the Routard guide adds that very few businesses take cards at all. Our advice: bring a Visa card and some euros in cash, which banks change without fuss.
There are two mobile networks, Yas (formerly Togocom) and Moov Africa. Buy a prepaid SIM when you arrive, often possible at the airport, and make sure your phone is unlocked. Every subscriber has to be identified, so take your passport along. Mobile money is called Moov Money Flooz on Moov and Mixx by Yas (formerly TMoney) on Yas.
Your first day in Lomé
Lomé keeps GMT all year: the same time as London in winter, an hour behind in summer. Power is 230 V, with type C and E sockets, so UK plugs need an adaptor.
To get around, the Gozem app runs 24 hours a day, with fares set in the app and payment in cash, by card or by mobile money. Taxis have yellow number plates; always agree the fare before you get in. The French foreign ministry advises against motorbike taxis, known locally as zémidjans, because of the number of accidents.
From Kégué, the city centre and the Grand Marché are about 11 km away, a quarter of an hour without traffic. The beach on Boulevard du Mono is the same distance. Walk there by all means, but don’t swim, as the currents are strong, and leave before sunset.
Where to stay when you land
All three of our apartments are in Kégué, a few minutes from the airport, and Simone welcomes you there with Chantal.
- Le Nid des Lys, for two, with a terrace;
- La Petite Cachette, for two, in a quiet spot;
- Le Cocon Coloré, for four, with two bedrooms.
Compare them on our apartments page. You can pay by card or by Mobile Money (Flooz, TMoney).
Our tip
Apply for the visa as soon as your flights are booked, not five days before. Keep your passport, a printed copy of the visa and your vaccination certificate together. Bring a few euros in cash for the first hours, and book the transfer at the same time as your apartment.
FAQ
Can I get a visa on arrival in Lomé?
No. Visas on arrival and express visas are suspended until further notice. Apply on voyage.gouv.tg at least 5 days before you arrive.
How far is the airport from Kégué?
4.7 to 6 km, or 6 to 10 minutes without traffic. Our transfer costs 10,000 FCFA (about €15) per ride.
Do people speak English in Lomé?
Very little, outside offices and the big banks. French is the official language, and Mina is the common language of Lomé and the south.
