Set along Sierra Leone's western coast, this port city has rebuilt itself with lively markets, colonial buildings from the 1800s, and long stretches of Atlantic beaches.
Freetown, Sierra Leone's capital and largest city, extends from white sand beaches up into mountainous slopes. Walk through the 500-year-old Cotton Tree in the city center, explore the artifacts at the Sierra Leone Museum, or spend an afternoon at Aberdeen-Lumley Beach where local food vendors sell fresh seafood. The city's streets mix churches and mosques, reflecting the daily life of Muslim and Christian communities.
Getting to Freetown from the Airport
The Freetown International Airport sits in Lungi, across the river estuary from the city center. You can reach Freetown by hovercraft, ferry, speedboat, water taxi, or helicopter. The ferry costs less but takes longer, while water taxis make faster crossings. If you choose to drive around the estuary, expect a 5-hour journey.
Beaches Along the Peninsula
The Freetown Peninsula has several beaches within reach of the city center. Lumley-Aberdeen beach stretches from Cape Sierra Leone to Lumley with white sand and calm waters. At River Number 2 Beach, you can swim in protected waters. Tokeh Beach has stronger waves suitable for surfing, while Bureh and Mama Beach attract fewer visitors.
Museums and Historical Sites
The Sierra Leone Museum exhibits precolonial tools, masks, and colonial-era items in central Freetown. The National Railway Museum contains steam engines and railway equipment from the 1900s. You can take a boat to Bunce Island to see the ruins of an 18th-century slave fortress. The Cotton Tree in Central Freetown marks where freed slaves gathered in 1792 after arriving in Sierra Leone.
Climate and Weather
The city has high humidity year-round, with temperatures from 15°C (59°F) to 38°C (100°F). Between December and February, the Harmattan wind blows from the Sahara Desert, bringing lower temperatures and less humidity to Freetown.
Getting Around Freetown
To move around Freetown, you can use motorcycle taxis (okadas) and three-wheelers (kekehs). The city runs 66 public buses, but service is limited. Trips to hillside and outer areas can take more than 60 minutes from the city center. The steep streets make some neighborhoods difficult to reach.
Environmental Challenges
Freetown's location makes it vulnerable to environmental risks. Many houses built on coastal areas and hillsides face dangers from flooding and landslides. In 2017, the Regent landslide destroyed 400 buildings and affected 5,000 people, showing the risks of building on unstable ground.
