Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Antananarivo
POP 1.2 MILLION
Includes ยป
Why Go?
Tana, as the capital is universally known, is all about eating, shopping, history and day trips.
The town centre itself, with its pollution and dreadful traffic, puts off many travellers from
staying, but bypassing the capital altogether would be a mistake: Tana has been the home
of Malagasy power for three centuries and there is a huge amount of history and culture to
discover by visiting its sacred hills.
In the city itself, the Haute-Ville, with its beautiful colonial buildings, steep streets and
cool climate (average altitude in Tana is 1400m), is a great place to wander about. There are
also some excellent markets and shops that stock products and crafts from across the coun-
try at very competitive prices. Finally, Tana is
the
place in Madagascar to treat yourself to a
fine meal: some establishments rival Europe's Michelin-starred restaurants, but without the
price tag.
