Dakhlet Nouadhibou · Mauritania
Nouadhibou travel guide
Nouadhibou is a city in Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Mauritania, home to about 174,000 people.
- Best months
- November to August
- Nearest airport
- NDB3 km · Nouadhibou International Airport
- Currency
- MRUMauritanian ouguiya
- Time zone
- Africa/Nouakchott
- Language
- Arabic, French
About
About Nouadhibou
A key economic centre, it's home to roughly 120,000 people. Before independence, the city was called Port-Étienne by the French colonists after the first boat which arrived here, the Tienne. Since independence in 1960, it has been called Nouadhibou, which means Place of the Jackal. Many jackals used to come and drink water in a well.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Nouadhibou
1 hotel within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Tasiast | 1.0 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Nouadhibou
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Nouadhibou are November to August. September is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; September is the wettest, with about 5 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Nouadhibou: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Nouadhibou International Airport (NDB), about 2.9 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting around
The city centre can be walked in under 15 minutes, so take a walk-about and see the sights. Taxis are amazingly cheap and everywhere but not marked as taxis, when a car honks when approaching it is a taxi. The one-way taxi fare on the main roads in town is 20 ouguiyas. Taxis from the city centre to the Port Autonome area or Cansado are an additional 20 ougiyas. Two passengers are expected to fit in the front passenger seat and four passengers in the back seat. Should a woman get in the car, men may be asked to move to help her maintain an appropriate distance.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
NDB · Nouadhibou International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Nouadhibou
Eat
As Nouadhibou has a big commercial fishing and traditional fishing port, there is a lot of fresh seafood and fish available. Many immigrants from Senegal have restaurants here, serving fish with rice and other delicious meals. A normal price is around 70 ouguiyas. If you like Chinese food, there are several restaurants on the lower road, which cater to foreigners. For football, the FC Nouadhibou restaurant serves hamburgers, French fries and other hot sandwiches in front of several large TV screens. It's between the second and third robinets on the middle road.
Stay safe
Nouadhibou is a relatively safe city, but there are almost no street lights. Remember to take a torch when going out in the evening. The biggest danger is undisciplined road traffic. Be careful, especially in the central area. Do not cross the train tracks as many areas, even fairly close to the city centre, have not yet been cleared of mines. Only surfaced roads past the tracks are absolutely safe. If you must cross the tracks, or do so with a trusted friend who knows the area or with a local authority. Women generally stay indoors after dark. Going about town in groups is wise for both men and women. Local women are usually escorted by their male relatives at night.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Nouadhibou: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Nouadhibou?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Nouadhibou are November to August. September is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; September is the wettest, with about 5 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Nouadhibou?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Nouadhibou International Airport (NDB), about 2.9 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in Nouadhibou?
Mauritanian ouguiya (MRU).
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.