Timbuktu Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
city in Mali
About Timbuktu
—Dr. Seuss, 1963, "Hop on Pop" Its long history as a trading outpost that linked black Africa below the Sahara Desert with Berber and Islamic traders throughout north Africa, and thereby indirectly with traders from Europe, has given it a fabled status. Combined with its relative inaccessibility, "Timbuktu" has come to be used as a metaphor for exotic, distant lands. It was once the capital of the Mali Empire, and home to Mansa Musa, the king of the Mali Empire who is regarded as the richest person in history. Today, Timbuktu is an impoverished town, although its reputation makes it a tourist attraction, and it has an airport. It is one of the eight regions of Mali, home to the local governor. It is the sister city toDjenne(also in Mali). Timbuktu is aUNESCO World Heritage Sitesince 1988.
Top Attractions in Timbuktu
Explore the best things to see and do in Timbuktu:
- ★Djinguereber Mosque
- ★Flame of Peace Monument
- ★Gordon Laing House
- ★Grand Marché
- ★Heinrich Barth's House
- ★René Caillié House
- ★Sankore Mosque
- ★Sidi Yahya Mosque
Where to Eat in Timbuktu
Must-try local food and restaurants:
- 🍴Hotel Le Colombe Restaurant
Where to Stay in Timbuktu
- 🏨Hotel Azalai
- 🏨Hotel Campement Bouctou
- 🏨Hotel Hendrina Khan
- 🏨Hotel le Colombe
- 🏨Sahara Passion
Timbuktu Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 10 sections including: