If you plan a trip to Sierra Leone, you will most likely arrive in the capital city, Freetown.
If you’re wondering where to stay in Freetown and the pretty beaches nearby, we’ve got some suggestions for you.
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This post has recommendation for where to stay in Freetown, but first, let’s explain a little more about this nation.
Sierra Leone is a small country along the coast of West Africa, nestled between Liberia and Guinea.
A devastating civil war broke out in the 90s, bringing the country to its knees.
As it started to recover and was on track to becoming one of the fastest-growing economies in West Africa, it suffered an Ebola outbreak in 2014.
It has been clear of Ebola since 2016, and tourism here is slowly starting to return. Compared to other countries in West Africa though, accommodation in Sierra Leone is expensive.
We researched a few decent accommodation options for where to stay in Freetown, and we have some good options for those wanting an affordable beach break, too.
Where to stay in Freetown Sierra Leone
It’s unavoidable. From the little information available online, even budget accommodation is very scarce in the capital city of Freetown.
We searched everywhere for where to stay in Freetown for a room under USD 50 per night, with no luck.
The Swiss Hotel is the best option here; it is clean, comfortable, and well-located, priced at USD 90 per night.
The Mamba Point Hotel is another good choice, with rooms starting from USD 120; however, it’s just a little further out of town.
The beaches along the Freetown Peninsular are the drawcard for most people visiting Sierra Leone.
The city is busy, polluted, and fast-paced, so an escape to the solitude of the pristine beaches, only thirty minutes drive from Freetown, is the way to go.
Best Beaches in Sierra Leone and where to stay
The most popular beaches to chill out and relax at are River Number 2 and Tokeh Beach.
1) River Number 2 in Sierra Leone
This beach has gorgeous white sand, lazy palm trees, and surf that is safe to swim in. The special thing about this beach is that it’s run by the community.
This means the money you pay to stay here will go back into the community.
They cook meals, serve cold drinks and look after you during your stay. They also keep this beach incredibly clean and free of garbage.
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Where to stay in Sierra Leone at the beach
River Number 2 Guesthouse – They offer some basic guestrooms, including breakfast. The rooms look out onto the beach, and the price is always negotiable. We were initially quoted USD 60 per night; however, after some negotiation, we agreed on USD 40 per night.
NOTE: River Number 2 is very busy with tourists and locals partying over the weekend and the music continues well into the early hours. For this reason, don’t expect much (if any) sleep at all.
They offer camping space for those who bring their own tent too. The price is approximately USD 15 per night.
Cockle Point Resort– This is the place to come and relax if you want the best of both worlds. Access to the gorgeous beach (10min walk along the beach to River Number 2) and right next to the cool lagoon.
You’ll get a clean and colourful room for USD 40 per night.
Check out their website here for more details.
Check it out! AFRICA Food Map – African Food Guide to 54 Countries
2. Tokeh Beach in Sierra Leone
Tokeh Beach – This is arguably the best stretch of pristine white sandy beach on the Peninsular. The options for accommodation here are only in swanky resorts, but they’re good value for what you pay.
The best option is The Place Resort. Prices here start from around $100 per night. Not only do you have the most beautiful beach on your doorstep, but this place also has a pool, an on-site restaurant (with char-grilled lobster and a fantastic wine list), and a fast wifi connection.
3. Banana Island
For those travellers who would like to escape the mainland and experience some real solitude or hiking, perhaps a trip to nearby Banana Island might be for you.
The most popular place to stay is at Dalton’s Banana Guesthouse. The simple bungalows here are all that you need to spend a night or two.
The only way to reach the island is by small boat. This can be arranged in advance by the man that runs the guesthouse.
NOTE: Eat fantastic meals here in the evenings. It was some of the best food we’ve eaten in Sierra Leone. I’d recommend ordering the catch of the day!
If you decide to explore more of what Sierra Leone has to offer, I’d recommend you check Booking.com to get the best deals on accommodation.
We really enjoyed this country; the people are friendly, the seafood is delicious, and the beaches were a highlight.
There you go, a few good options for where to stay in Freetown, and some recommendations for beaches to stay, too. Have you visited Sierra Leone? Do you have any tips for where to stay in Freetown? Please share them with us below.
Travel Tips for Africa
We have many travel guides and tips for Africa – what a massive continent!
Have you ever wondered how many countries in Africa there are? 54 or 55? We cover them in depth in our ultimate Africa bucket list.
There is some delicious cuisine to be enjoyed across Africa, and these ten best African countries for food will inspire your food journey.
Check out how many of these 15 most popular foods you can taste.
If you’re wondering what they eat for breakfast in Africa, check out these 20 popular breakfast foods.
For food lovers, our Food Map of AFRICA lists the quintessential dish you need to eat in every nation!
It’s worth reading these 17 ESSENTIAL Things to know before travelling to West Africa, and our packing list for Africa may be helpful to you.
Don’t miss our recap of our travels across West Africa for even more helpful tips, and try these popular West African dishes; they’re fantastic!
You’ll need to stay connected while travelling in Africa. We recommend eSIM. It’s easy, reliable and affordable. View eSIMs for individual countries in Africa, or consider a regional eSIM for Africa (which covers 36 countries)
If your travels in Africa are part of a much larger global adventure, then a Global eSIM may be the answer. It connects you in 124 countries, offering data-only eSIM and data/call/text Global eSIM. This eSIM has been a game-changer for us, and we couldn’t imagine travelling without it now.
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4 Comments. Leave new
Hi
how recently have you been in Sierra Leone? We are looking to travel there in October but also need to visit makeni inland
Did you travel inland at all? I have heard mixed reports
Hi Anne, we travelled through Sierra Leone in 2018. It was an overland journey from Liberia and then north into Guinea. The trip from Monrovia to Freetown took 2 days as the public transport is very slow (shared jeeps/cars/vans). I think it took us about 14 hours just to get from Monrovia to Bo – it was a tough day.
Traveling in this part of the world is a real adventure so I guess the mixed reports reflect the different expectations people have when they travel here. But overall we found Sierra Leone very interesting, with beautiful beaches and friendly people.
If you need to get to Makeni, you can certainly get there from Freetown – either public shared taxis or you can maybe negotiate a private ride? Your hotel might be able to help. Whatever you choose, make sure you have anough cash in local currency (and USD as a backup). From memory we could only get about $40 worth each time from the ATM (because you literally get a stack of notes) so you will need to exchange money or do multiple withdrawls. Hope this helps.
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Hey Rach,
Im planning to go to freetown end of Jan and will travel to Conakry by road. Did you do that as well ? if you did – can you give me some pointers please ?
Best Regards,
Joshi
Hello,
We travelled overland from Sierra Leone to Guinea, but we didn’t stop in Conakry – we visited some smaller towns, areas, and villages in Guinea instead. It was definitely an adventure!