Nouakchott-Nord · Mauritania
Nouakchott travel guide
Nouakchott is a city in Nouakchott-Nord, Mauritania, home to about 1,447,000 people.
- Best months
- January
- Nearest airport
- NKC25 km · Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport
- Currency
- MRUMauritanian ouguiya
- Time zone
- Africa/Nouakchott
- Language
- Arabic, French
About
About Nouakchott
Nouakchott ( nwa(h)k-SHOT) is the capital and largest city of Mauritania. Located in the southwestern part of the country, it is one of the largest cities in the Sahara.
Nouakchott is built around a large tree-lined street, Avenue Gamal Abdel Nasser, which runs northeast through the city centre from the old airport. It divides the city into two, with the residential areas in the north and the medina quarter, along with the kebbe, a shanty town formed due to the displacement of people from other areas by the desert. Nouakchott was a large, fortified fishing village (ksar) in pre-colonial times and under French rule.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Nouakchott
See
Attractions in Nouakchott include the National Museum of Mauritania, the National Library and the National Archives.
- National Museum of Mauritania
Do
5 km west from central Nouakchott are beaches, the fishing wharf and a few seaside hotels.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Nouakchott
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Nouakchott are January. October is the warmest month, with average highs of 38 °C; August is the wettest, with about 51 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 Nouakchott: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport (NKC), about 25 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting around
Normal fare in a shared taxi is 100 UM, but taxis around the city for non-set routes can cost up to 300 UM per person.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
NKC · Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Nouakchott
Eat
There is a decent variety of restaurants in Nouakchott with plates from 1,000 to 3,500 UM. Most restaurants in the capital offer pretty much the same menu: pizzas, hamburgers, sandwiches and salads. Nicer places, such as Iman, will have steaks, brochettes, seafood and even curry.
Drink
Mauritania is a dry country, but alcohol can still be found if you know where to look. Many of the French- and Spanish-owned clubs and restaurants will have some whisky or beer available, depending on their supply, and cost from 2,000-3,000 UM a drink. If you're checking in the United States embassy, ask the Marines on duty (be subtle about it) if they're having a party. You'll have a great time in a safe place. Same can be said at just about every embassy, as the expat community is very close and will spend the weekends together.
Stay safe
Like anywhere else, try to stay in groups after dark. You might occasionally run into some rude people, but by and large, Mauritanians are a very nice people. Don't be surprised to be offered a glass of tea in a shop.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Nouakchott: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Nouakchott?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Nouakchott are January. October is the warmest month, with average highs of 38 °C; August is the wettest, with about 51 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Nouakchott?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport (NKC), about 25 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in Nouakchott?
Mauritanian ouguiya (MRU).
Nearby
Destinations near Nouakchott
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.