How to get around Ouagadougou using taxis, buses, and airport transfers

Getting Around Ouagadougou

Ouagadougou is known for its motorbikes, but visitors rely primarily on green taxis and private vehicles to navigate the city.

• Green Taxis: Shared green cabs are the standard option. Flag one down roadside; they win for quick hops along main avenues. You can also negotiate a private charter to travel directly without intermediate stops.
• City Buses: Municipal SOTRACO buses run on key arteries. They are cheap but infrequent, slow, and lack route signage, making them impractical for most visitors.
• Private Drivers: Hiring a dedicated car with a driver is best for business in Ouaga 2000 or travel after dark.

Fares and Ticketing

There are no travel passes or transit smart cards in Ouagadougou. Every trip requires cash in local currency. Drivers rarely carry change, so keep coins and small banknotes handy. Fares are unmetered, making it essential to agree on the price before boarding.

Airport Transfers

Thomas Sankara International Airport sits right by the city center, keeping travel times under twenty minutes.

• Airport Cabs: Queuing outside arrivals, they offer a moderate cost band and low effort, handling luggage with ease.
• Pre-Booked Transfers: Arranged in advance, this option requires minimal effort and sits in the highest cost band, ideal for late arrivals.
• Street Hail: Walking past the airport gates to flag a green taxi offers the lowest cost band, but carrying luggage in the heat requires high effort.

Practical Considerations

Rush hours run from 07:30 to 09:00 and 17:00 to 19:00, creating bottlenecks at major roundabouts. Green taxis thin out sharply after 21:00, making pre-booked cars essential at night. Trunks are often cluttered, so large bags may require paying for an extra seat. Unpaved verges, gutters, and missing sidewalks leave public transport inaccessible for wheelchair users.