Conakry is the capital of Guinea and sits at the tip of a narrow peninsula jutting into the Atlantic. The city has grown far beyond this peninsula in recent decades, sprawling inland with little planning and heavy traffic. Getting from the center to the outskirts can take hours.
The main axis runs from the old center along the Avenue de la Republique, changing names to Route du Niger and eventually Autoroute as it stretches north. This is where most of the city's life happens — markets, mosques, government buildings, and the constant hum of shared taxis.
What Conakry offers above all else is energy and music. This is one of West Africa's great music cities, and on any given evening you can find live djembe, kora, or guitar in neighborhood bars and cultural centers. The markets are intense and genuine. The sights are modest, but they reward a slow walk through the old peninsula.
South of Conakry, the Iles de Los are a group of small islands ideal for a day trip. Boats leave from the beach near the old Novotel hotel.