Pointe-Noire Department · Republic of the Congo
Pointe-Noire travel guide
Pointe-Noire is a city in Pointe-Noire Department, Republic of the Congo, home to about 1,421,000 people.
- Best months
- June to September
- Nearest airport
- PNR5 km · Antonio Agostinho-Neto International Airport
- Currency
- XAFCentral African CFA franc
- Time zone
- Africa/Brazzaville
- Language
- French
About
About Pointe-Noire
Pointe-Noire is the second largest city and main economic centre in the Republic of the Congo, with a population of 1,420,612 inhabitants in 2023. Since the 2002 constitution, it is also an autonomous department and a commune; before this date it was the capital of the Kouilou region (now a separate department).
The city, commonly known as PNR, had almost 1.2 million residents in 2017. Pointe-Noire is the centre of the oil industry of the Republic of Congo, one of the main oil producers in Central Africa. Pointe-Noire is also known for its fishing industry, which is often at odds with the oil development. Pointe-Noire has a wet season that spans from October through April, while the remaining 5 months form the dry season.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Pointe-Noire
See
- African Circle Museum of Pointe-Noire
- Mâ-Loango Regional Museum
Do
- Diosso Gorge
- Côte Sauvage
- Tchimpounga Animal Sanctuary
- Conkouati-Douli National Park
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Pointe-Noire to stay in
Hotels in Pointe Noire are very expensive given the standard of accommodation. Also, not many accept credit cards.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Pointe-Noire
2 hotels 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 |
|---|---|---|
| DoubleTree by Hilton Pointe-Noire | 2018 | 0.7 km |
| Hôtel elaïs | 0.2 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Pointe-Noire
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Pointe-Noire are June to September. March is the warmest month, with average highs of 31 °C; November is the wettest, with about 218 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 Pointe-Noire: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Antonio Agostinho-Neto International Airport (PNR), about 4.5 km from the city centre in a straight line; Cabinda Airport (CAB, 97 km) is also within reach.
Getting around
It is OK to walk around the main parts of town. In Pointe-Noire, public transport is provided by private operators who operate buses, taxis or common taxis. It is very safe to travel around with a taxi. Taxis in PNR are shared so if you are in a hurry tell him to take you straight where you want to go, and pay FCFA 700-1000. If you take other people from the road you pay FCFA 150-350, depending on the length. For a longer trip (from the airport to the city), it takes FCFA 1000 to 2000. If you use a taxi more than 1 hour you will have to pay FCFA 3000 for that hour.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
PNR · Antonio Agostinho-Neto International Airport
CAB · Cabinda Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Pointe-Noire
Stay safe
Unlike many African cities, it is quite safe to walk in the main parts of the city and the beach area. There are relatively few beggars.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Pointe-Noire: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Pointe-Noire?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Pointe-Noire are June to September. March is the warmest month, with average highs of 31 °C; November is the wettest, with about 218 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Pointe-Noire?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Antonio Agostinho-Neto International Airport (PNR), about 4.5 km from the city centre in a straight line; Cabinda Airport (CAB, 97 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Pointe-Noire?
Central African CFA franc (XAF).
Nearby
Destinations near Pointe-Noire
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.