Antananarivo
Capital and largest city of Madagascar
Antananarivo, also known by its colonial shorthand form Tana, is the capital and largest city of Madagascar. The administrative area of the city, known as Antananarivo-Renivohitra, is the capital of Analamanga region. The city sits at 1,280 m (4,199 ft) above sea level in the center of the island, making it the highest national capital by elevation among the island countries. It has been the country's largest population center since at least the 18th century. The Presidency, National Assembly, Senate, and Supreme Court are located there, as are 21 diplomatic missions and the headquarters of many national and international businesses and non-governmental organizations. It has more universities, nightclubs, art venues, and medical services than any city on the island. Several national and local sports teams, including the championship-winning national rugby team, the Makis, are based here.
Read more on Wikipedia →- Population
- 321,600
- Coordinates
- -18.914, 47.536
- Timezone
- Indian/Antananarivo
- Elevation
- 1276 m
Overview of Antananarivo
Part of Madagascar, Antananarivo is a large city. Some 321,600 inhabitants call it home. It sits at about 1,276 m above sea level. Handy context when you build an itinerary. Visitors mostly come here for nature, water sports and culture. Because it is southern-hemisphere, timing matters.
Things to do in Antananarivo
Nature in Antananarivo
(21)Our data lists Beaches, Caves, Countryside, Desert and Forest as nature options here. Counting everything, 21 activities fall under this heading. Straight from the activity profile stored for Antananarivo.
Water Sports in Antananarivo
(19)Water Sports lovers get Bodyboard, Canoeing, Diving, Jet Skiing and Kayaking. It is a direct read of Antananarivo's activity profile. Altogether 19 options are tagged here.
Culture in Antananarivo
(18)On the culture side, Antananarivo offers Ancient Ruins, Architectural Buildings, Art Galleries, Bridges and Castles. It is a direct read of Antananarivo's activity profile. That is 18 tagged options in total, so there is room to pick and choose.
Sports in Antananarivo
(14)Our data lists Biking, Golf, Hiking, Hiking Trails and Horse Trails as sports options here. Counting everything, 14 activities fall under this heading. Straight from the activity profile stored for Antananarivo.
Adventure in Antananarivo
(13)Adventure lovers get Abseiling, Adventure, Adventure Parks, Amusement Parks and Boat Rides. Everything listed here comes from what Antananarivo is actually tagged with. There are 13 tagged experiences in this group.
Nightlife in Antananarivo
(10)The nightlife shortlist for Antananarivo: Bars, Casinos, Clubs, Disco and Events. Everything listed here comes from what Antananarivo is actually tagged with. There are 10 tagged experiences in this group.
Wellness in Antananarivo
(7)Our data lists Farms, Hammam, Ranches, Spa and Therms as wellness options here. Counting everything, 7 activities fall under this heading. Straight from the activity profile stored for Antananarivo.
Family in Antananarivo
(4)The family shortlist for Antananarivo: Aquariums, Playgrounds, Water Parks and Zoo. All of it is drawn from Antananarivo's recorded activities. These pair well with anything else on this page.
Shopping in Antananarivo
(2)Antananarivo records Food and Shopping under shopping. Everything listed here comes from what Antananarivo is actually tagged with. A short list, but an easy way to shape a day.
More to do in Antananarivo
(2)Under other activities, Antananarivo is tagged with Fishing and Secret. Enough to anchor an afternoon or a full day. Straight from the activity profile stored for Antananarivo.
Best time to visit Antananarivo
The cultural and nightlife layer works whatever the month. Winter-sports plans point to June to August. Walking and nature outings are most comfortable in October to November and March to April. Plan water days for December to March.
Getting there & around
Getting to Antananarivo rarely needs a car — connections and city transport do the work. The local time zone is Indian/Antananarivo.
Similar destinations
Places near Antananarivo that share the same kinds of activities.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Antananarivo known for?
- Antananarivo is mainly a destination for nature, water sports and culture, set in Madagascar with around 321,600 inhabitants.
- What can you do in Antananarivo?
- You can plan around Beaches, Caves, Countryside, Desert and Forest in Antananarivo. Each is tagged in our dataset rather than guessed at.
- When is the best time to visit Antananarivo?
- The cultural and nightlife layer works whatever the month. Winter-sports plans point to June to August. Walking and nature outings are most comfortable in October to November and March to April. Plan water days for December to March.
- Where is Antananarivo located?
- Administratively, Antananarivo sits in Madagascar — handy when you group several destinations into one trip.
Personal notes
Loading…