Bamako: how to get there and around
Airports, stations, ports, where the hotels are and what the numbers say, from public data rather than a brochure.
Bamako is the capital of Mali, 374 m (1,227 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Modibo Keita International Airport (BKO), 9 km (6 mi) from the centre. Our booking partner lists 51 places to stay.
Key facts
Daylight in Bamako runs from about 11 h 25 min a day in late December to 12 h 54 min in late June (computed for 12.61° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.
Getting there
Bamako is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Modibo Keita International Airport (BKO), 9 km (6 mi) from the centre, whose 10,498-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft.
Flights to Bamako: every airport, routes and times
Buses to Bamako · Driving and car hire
Where to stay
Our booking partner lists 51 places to stay in Bamako. Of the 28 with a star rating, the largest group is 3-star (14), and 3 are five-star. Guests have left 1,122 reviews in total.
Hotels in Bamako: the full picture, and book
Nearby cities, and how to get between them
- Sikasso, 289 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Kankan, 287 km (Guinea)
- Koutiala, 274 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Ségou, 208 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Kalaban Koro, 7 km
- Siguiri, 185 km (Guinea)
- Kati, 18 km — tours
- San, 342 km — buses · car rental
Common questions
Which airport serves Bamako?
Modibo Keita International Airport (BKO), 9 km (6 mi) from the centre.
How big is Bamako?
About 4.2 million people live in Bamako (GeoNames).
What time zone is Bamako in?
Africa/Bamako, currently UTC+0.
What currency is used in Bamako?
The Franc (XOF). Traffic drives on the right.
How many hotels are there in Bamako?
Our booking partner lists 51 places to stay in Bamako, bookable on this site.
Which cities are near Bamako?
Sikasso (289 km), Kankan (287 km), Koutiala (274 km), Ségou (208 km), Kalaban Koro (7 km).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.