Things to Do in Madagascar: The Ultimate Travel Guide

Many travelers first experience Madagascar in Antananarivo, or 'Tana,' as it is often called. The capital has character, with steep hills and busy streets layered with markets, churches, viewpoints, restaurants, and old royal sites. It might look chaotic at first, but give it time, and you start to get the hang of the city.

Things to Do in Antananarivo, Madagascar: See Tripadvisor's 48,024 traveler reviews and photos of Antananarivo attractions. Stroll the local markets, try some Malagasy food in a small restaurant, visit the handicraft shops, and enjoy the mix of French colonial architecture and Malagasy daily life.

Antananarivo is also the perfect place to start one of Madagascar’s most memorable rainforest experiences: Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. This misty forest, just a few hours from the capital, is known for indri, the largest living lemur. It has one of those morning calls that haunts you and that you never forget. Walk slowly with a local guide, looking for orchids, chameleons, birds, and other lemurs in the trees

Toamasina (also known as Tamatave) is Madagascar’s main port and one of the best places to really get a feel for the energy of the east coast. It’s humid, buzzing, and seaside-shaped, with palm-lined streets, markets, and a laid-back coastal vibe that’s different from the highlands.

Visitors can walk along the seafront, visit local markets, sample street food and seafood, and use the city as a base to explore nearby natural areas. The east is often thought of as the Pangalanes Canal area with its watercourses, villages, and lakes.

Toamasina is also a fantastic gateway to the island of Île Sainte-Marie, or Nosy Boraha. This peaceful island has white sandy beaches, sleepy villages, coconut palms, and a history of pirates and tales of old shipwrecks. July through September finds boat trips looking for humpback whales on their annual migration. Outside whale season, the island is lovely for swimming, cycling, seafood, beach walks, and gentle island days.

Mahajanga, or Majunga, is a warm seaside personality. On the northwest coast it is famous for its sunsets, seafood, beaches, and a huge old baobab tree in town. It has a relaxed promenade, where the locals gather in the evenings.

Good place for travelers looking for coastal Madagascar without heading straight for Nosy Be. Take a stroll along the waterfront, enjoy grilled seafood, browse local markets, and enjoy the more relaxed pace of the city. The sunset light can be lovely, especially by the seafront.

Mahajanga is also the gateway to the Ankarafantsika National Park, one of the best places in the region to see dry forest, birds, lemurs, and lake scenery. It is ideal for travelers who like to combine wildlife with local city life

Toliara, the main city of southwest Madagascar, also called Tulear, is a gateway to beaches, spiny forests, and reef-fringed coastlines. It is dry and sunny here, and the whole area seems very different from the wetter east and cooler highlands.

Toliara is a base for many travelers heading to Ifaty, Mangily, or Anakao, where beach stays, snorkeling, diving, and pirogue boat trips are popular. If you want to get a feel for the unusual plants of Madagascar’s dry south, the nearby Arboretum d’Antsokay is well worth a visit.

Toliara is often combined with a visit to Isalo National Park, especially if you’re traveling overland from the highlands to the coast. Sandstone canyons, natural pools, and tumbling waterfalls make Isalo one of the best hiking areas in the country. After days of walking through dry canyon and open rock scenery, the beaches outside Toliara seems like a perfect place to slow down

Diego Suarez (officially Antsiranana) is one of the most picturesque towns in northern Madagascar. It has a breezy, slightly remote feel and is located next to a large natural bay. Traces of French colonialism, colorful streets, and easy access to the northern landscapes.

Nearby, Ramena Beach is popular, as is the Emerald Sea and Amber Mountain National Park. This makes the city a perfect base for travelers who want to combine beaches, hiking, viewpoints, and unusual geology in one area.

One of the most striking sights in the area is Tsingy Rouge, a rust-colored formation carved by erosion. It is often seen as a more accessible place to visit than the more dramatic limestone formations of Tsingy de Bemaraha, but the two places look very different. Tsingy Rouge is particularly photogenic in warm light, with reds, oranges, and creams creating a surreal desert-like scene in the north of Madagascar

Madagascar food is simple, filling, and attached to everyday life. Rice is the basis of many meals, served with meat, vegetables, beans, fish, or sauce. Local flavors range from the cool highlands to the coast, and you will find more seafood, coconut, and spices closer to the ocean.

Romazava is a very popular Malagasy dish and is usually made with meat, greens, and broth, while ravitoto is made from crushed cassava leaves and is commonly cooked with pork. Meat, especially grilled or in stews, is normally eaten. On the coast, sample grilled fish, prawns, crab, coconut-based dishes, and tropical fruit.

Snacks include mofo gasy, a sweet Malagasy rice cake often eaten at breakfast, and koba, a dense treat made with peanuts, rice flour, and banana. Madagascar is also known for vanilla so vanilla teas, desserts and market-bought pods make great travel memories and gifts