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Nouakchott — travel, stays & events guide
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Nouakchott city overview
Nouakchott is Mauritania's Atlantic-coast capital, a planned city of wide boulevards built up rapidly since the 1960s around fishing and trade. First-time visitors should watch the colourful pirogues unload at Port de Peche, browse the stalls of Marche Capitale, and admire the twin minarets of the Grand Mosque of Nouakchott. Nouakchott-Oumtounsy International Airport connects the city to the Sahara interior and the coastal Banc d'Arguin further north.
City facts
Airport baseNouakchott-Oumtounsy International Airport (NKC)
Known forPort de Peche, Saudi Mosque Nouakchott, National Museum of Mauritania, Nouakchott Beach
RegionMauritaniaMauritania
Time zoneAfrica/Nouakchottlocal time
Founded1958historical origin
City history
Before 1958, Nouakchott was a small fishing town, having been a fortified fishing village (ksar) in pre-colonial times and under French rule.
Construction began in March 1958 to enlarge the village to house a population of 15,000, in 1959 Nouakchott started with its founding by indigenous people from the surrounding region, and the basics were completed.
The city was attacked twice in 1976 by the Polisario Front during the Western Sahara conflict, but the guerrillas caused little damage.
The official censuses showed 134,000 residents in 1977 and 393,325 in 1988, although both figures were probably smaller than reality.
The city has had massive and unconstrained growth, driven by the North African drought, since the beginning of the 1970s; hundreds of thousands moved there in search of a better life.
As Mauritania prepared for independence, it lacked a capital city.
The area of present-day Nouakchott was chosen by Moktar Ould Daddah, the first President of Mauritania, and his advisors.
Ould Daddah desired the new capital to symbolize modernity and national unity, which ruled out existing cities or towns in the interior.
The village was selected as the capital city for its central location between Saint-Louis, Senegal, the city from which the colony of Mauritania was governed, and Nouadhibou.
The village of Nouakchott was originally inhabited by the tribe of Bouhoubainy who are of Amazigh origin and are native to it.
They have since been moved to different settlements notably Aknodert which is situated between Nouakchott and the International Airport.
One of the intentions of choosing this location was to avoid the sensitive issue of whether the capital was built in an area dominated by the Arabs and Amazigh (Berbers) or Sub-Saharan Africans.
Nouakchott was planned with the expectation that commerce and other economic activities would not take place in the city.
Nouakchott's central business district was planned with broad streets and a grid-like structure; the new Cinquième Quartier (Fifth District) was located close to this area and became the location of a large open-air market.
Worth seeing
Port de Peche
Port de Peche adds the water-facing side of Nouakchott, making it a good break from museums, traffic and dense historic streets.
Saudi Mosque Nouakchott
Saudi Mosque Nouakchott anchors the historic and ceremonial side of Nouakchott, making it a practical stop for architecture, local memory and orientation.
National Museum of Mauritania
National Museum of Mauritania is a key Nouakchott culture stop, useful for understanding local history, collections and rainy-day planning near the main sightseeing route.
Nouakchott Beach
Nouakchott Beach adds outdoor time to a Nouakchott stay, with open space, views or waterfront breathing room between denser city sights.
Camel Market
Camel Market gives Nouakchott a concrete street-life stop, with food, everyday shopping and local movement that helps visitors read the city.
Galerie Zeinart
Galerie Zeinart gives Nouakchott a strong culture stop for museums, exhibitions or local collections, and works best as an indoor anchor in the day's route.
Stay overview
Tevragh-Zeina offers the easiest first stay, close to embassies, hotels and good restaurants, while Ksar suits visitors wanting to be near Marche Capitale and the original town centre. Sebkha and Arafat provide quieter, more affordable alternatives further from the coast.
Hotels & areas
Nouakchott's better hotels concentrate in Tevragh-Zeina, close to embassies and restaurants, while Ksar offers simpler options nearer the markets. Sebkha and Arafat suit longer, budget-conscious stays away from the main tourist areas.
Tevragh-Zeina
Tevragh-Zeina is Nouakchott's upscale district, home to embassies, international hotels and the city's best restaurants.
Best for: hotels, embassies, diningCompare staysKsar
Ksar is the original town centre, a dense grid of shops and markets near Marche Capitale, good for a first orientation.
Best for: markets, first visits, walkingCompare staysSebkha
Sebkha is a dense, working-class district west of the centre, known for its lively daily market and craft workshops.
Best for: markets, local lifeCompare staysArafat
Arafat is a residential district south of the centre, a quieter, more affordable base within reach of downtown.
Best for: budget stays, quiet streetsCompare staysFlights & airports
Nouakchott-Oumtounsy International Airport (NKC) arrival plan
- Nouakchott-Oumtounsy International Airport (NKC)Nouakchott-Oumtounsy International Airport, Nouakchott, Mauritania
Nouakchott-Oumtounsy International Airport sits about 25 kilometres north-east of the centre; pre-arrange a hotel transfer since taxis are limited outside the terminal.
Rental cars
Nouakchott day-trip car use
A rental car with a driver helps for trips to Banc d'Arguin or the desert interior, but is unnecessary for the compact, walkable city centre.
Compare rental carsTravel tips
Best base
Choose Tevragh-Zeina for an easy first stay near embassies, hotels and restaurants close to the coast.
Visit the fishing port at dawn
Arrive at Port de Peche early morning to watch hundreds of wooden pirogues bring in the day's catch.
Cash and dress
Carry Mauritanian ouguiya in cash for markets, and dress modestly given the country's conservative Islamic customs.
Plan desert side trips
Arrange a guide in advance for any trip toward Banc d'Arguin or the Sahara interior, since infrastructure outside the city is limited.
Nearby ideas
Nature
Banc d'Arguin National Park
Banc d'Arguin National Park, a UNESCO-listed wetland north of the city, is one of the world's most important bird migration stopovers.
Heritage
Chinguetti
Chinguetti, a historic desert town with ancient manuscript libraries, makes a longer overland trip for travelers heading into the Sahara.
Upcoming events
No upcoming Nouakchott events in the shared event index yet.