Gao: 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.
Gao is a city of 133,110 people in Mali, 257 m (843 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Gao International Airport (GAQ), 5 km (3 mi) from the centre.
Key facts
Daylight in Gao runs from about 11 h 12 min a day in late December to 13 h 8 min in late June (computed for 16.27° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.
Getting there
Gao is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Gao International Airport (GAQ), 5 km (3 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 8,202 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft.
Flights to Gao: every airport, routes and times
Buses to Gao · Driving and car hire
Nearby cities, and how to get between them
- Niamey, 384 km (Niger) — flights
- Ouahigouya, 393 km (Burkina Faso)
- Kaya, 371 km (Burkina Faso)
Common questions
Which airport serves Gao?
Gao International Airport (GAQ), 5 km (3 mi) from the centre.
How big is Gao?
About 133,110 people live in Gao (GeoNames).
What time zone is Gao in?
Africa/Bamako, currently UTC+0.
What currency is used in Gao?
The Franc (XOF). Traffic drives on the right.
Which cities are near Gao?
Niamey (384 km), Ouahigouya (393 km), Kaya (371 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 13 September 2026. Hotel 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.