Antananarivo walking tour & city guide

Upper and lower town

The Rova, the palace complex of the Merina kings and queens, crowns the highest hill and has been restored after a fire in 1995. Below it, the upper town has churches, the old prime minister's palace and quiet streets with views across the plain.

Analakely, the lower town, is the commercial heart, with the long Avenue de l'Indépendance, the colonial-era railway station at its end and a market spreading through the surrounding streets.

A classic walk

Start on the Avenue de l'Indépendance, explore the market of Analakely, then climb the stairways up to the upper town and the Rova for the panorama. On the way down, stop at Lake Anosy, whose jacarandas turn purple in October and November around the white monument to the dead of the First World War.

Good to know

Tana lies at around 1,280 metres, so evenings are cool, especially from June to August. The dry season, April to November, is best for travelling around the island. Traffic is slow and pickpocketing can happen in crowded markets, so keep valuables close.