Country - Africa

Burkina Faso

culturenatureadventure

Why visit

Burkina Faso is known for the Gorom-Gorom market, the painted houses of Tiebele, and FESPACO in Ouagadougou, Africa's biggest film festival. Security conditions have curtailed most travel in recent years; check current conditions carefully.

How to use this result

Use it as a country shortlist

Burkina Faso works best as a first-pass travel idea. Start with the region, season, and themes on this page, then compare flights, entry rules, safety guidance, and local transport before treating it as a real option.

Compare the capital and side trips

Use Ouagadougou as the administrative starting point, then check whether the strongest trip idea is actually the capital, a coastal area, a nature route, or another city in Burkina Faso.

At a glance

Location

13.0°, -2.0°

Coast

Landlocked

Country area

272,967 km²

105,393 mi²

Country population

23.6 million

86/km²

Subregion

Western Africa

Currency

West African CFA franc (Fr)

XOF

Dial

+226

Language

French

Demonym

Burkinabe

Internet

.bf

Member state

ISO code

BF / BFA

Where in the world

13.0° - -2.0°

Burkina Faso Open in Google Maps

Click the map to open in Google Maps. Outline via svg-maps/world - CC BY 4.0

Did you know

Burkina Faso was renamed in 1984: the name means "Land of Upright People" in local languages Mooré and Dioula.
The country hosts the largest film festival in Africa, FESPACO in Ouagadougou, held biennially since 1969.
Banfora's Karfiguela waterfalls and the Sindou Peaks are among West Africa's most striking landscapes.

Bordering Burkina Faso

Traveler notes

Tiebele's decorated Kassena houses are hand-painted by women each dry season
FESPACO film festival runs in odd-numbered years
The Sindou Peaks form a striking sandstone skyline in the southwest

Plan checks

Start research with the capital Ouagadougou, then compare two or three other regions.
Check passport validity, visa rules, health requirements, and travel insurance for current conditions.
Bring layered clothing and verify trail/park access before arrival.

Explore more

Facts last reviewed June 2026 against GeoNames and national statistics sources. See the editorial policy for how destination data is maintained.

Frequently asked about Burkina Faso

What is the capital of Burkina Faso?

Ouagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso.

What currency does Burkina Faso use?

Burkina Faso uses the West African CFA franc (Fr), ISO code XOF.

What languages are spoken in Burkina Faso?

The primary language is French.

Is Burkina Faso landlocked?

Yes, Burkina Faso is landlocked: it has no sea coastline.

What countries border Burkina Faso?

Burkina Faso borders Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Togo.

What is the international calling code for Burkina Faso?

The calling code is +226.

Other Africa destinations

Namibia

Namibia is desert travel at scale. Sossusvlei dunes, the Skeleton Coast, Etosha safari, and enormous empty distances that need a self-drive plan.

Niger

Niger reaches across the Sahara to the Aïr Mountains and the Ténéré desert, with the W National Park complex in the green southwest. Agadez's mud-brick minaret marks the old caravan crossroads. Security limits most routes today.

Nigeria

Nigeria is Africa's cultural powerhouse. Lagos for music, fashion, food, and galleries, with Yankari for wildlife and Calabar for carnival energy.

Rwanda

Rwanda is Volcanoes National Park, mountain-gorilla trekking, a remarkable Kigali, and Lake Kivu. A short, high-impact East Africa itinerary.

São Tomé & Príncipe

São Tomé and Príncipe, Africa's second-smallest country, is two volcanic islands of cocoa plantations, empty beaches, and rainforest peaks. Príncipe is a UNESCO biosphere with a single small town.

Senegal

Senegal runs from Dakar's surf and music to the pink water of Lake Retba, Saint-Louis' faded colonial grid, and the Sine-Saloum delta. Gorée Island's slave-trade memorial is the essential, somber visit.