Togo is a narrow West African nation stretching from the Gulf of Guinea to the Sahel, offering diverse landscapes from pristine beaches to lush mountains. This compact country combines vibrant markets, UNESCO heritage sites, rich Voodoo culture, and warm hospitality, making it an off-the-beaten-path destination for adventurous travelers.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Kente cloth and Togolese wax print fabric
Vibrant machine-woven and hand-printed fabrics in bold geometric patterns unique to Togo and West Africa. These make excellent tablecloths, clothing, or wall hangings and are available in a huge range of colours.
Price: $5-40
Where: Grand Marché, Lomé fabric section (Nana Benz stalls)
Carved wooden masks and statuettes
Traditional Ewe and Kabye ceremonial masks and figurines hand-carved from local hardwoods. Skilled craftsmen produce both decorative pieces and faithful reproductions of ritual objects.
Price: $10-80
Where: Artisanal Centre Lomé, Kpalimé craft market
Voodoo talismans and ritual items
Small protective charms, carved figures, and symbolic objects from the Fetish Market representing Togo's living voodoo tradition. A uniquely Togolese keepsake not found elsewhere in Africa.
Price: $5-30
Where: Fetish Market (Marché des Fétiches), Akodésséwa, Lomé
Traditional Togolese pottery
Hand-thrown earthenware pots, bowls, and decorative pieces made by village potters using centuries-old techniques. The pottery village of Assahoun near Lomé is the best source.
Price: $5-25
Where: Assahoun village, Grand Marché craft section
Beaded jewellery and brass ornaments
Colourful beaded necklaces, bracelets, and anklets alongside cast brass figurines and pendants inspired by Togolese motifs. Lightweight and easy to pack, they make popular gifts.
Price: $3-20
Where: Grand Marché, Centre Artisanal de Lomé
Woven baskets and hats
Intricate baskets, trays, and wide-brimmed hats woven from raffia, sisal, and straw by artisans in the Kpalimé and Kara regions. Functional and decorative with distinctive local patterns.
Price: $5-30
Where: Kpalimé market, Centre Artisanal de Kpalimé
Shea butter and palm oil products
Pure unrefined shea butter harvested from northern Togo and cold-pressed palm oil are natural beauty and cooking staples. Widely available and inexpensive, they keep well for the journey home.
Price: $2-10
Where: Grand Marché, markets throughout Lomé
Tailor-made clothing in African print
Lomé's tailors can sew a custom shirt, dress, or suit from wax print fabric in 24-48 hours at very low cost. Choose your fabric from the Grand Marché then take it to any of the tailors in the surrounding streets.
Price: $10-40
Where: Tailors around Grand Marché, Avenue du 24 Janvier
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Grand Marché de Lomé
The largest market in Togo and one of West Africa's most vibrant, sprawling across several city blocks. Thousands of stalls sell fabrics, spices, produce, household goods, electronics, and crafts in a sensory kaleidoscope of colour and noise.
Where: Boulevard du 13 Janvier, Lomé
Hours: Daily 7AM-6PM
Fetish Market (Marché des Fétiches)
The largest voodoo market in West Africa, selling animal skulls, dried herbs, talismans, and ritual objects used in traditional medicine and voodoo ceremonies. A must-see cultural experience unlike any other market in Africa.
Where: Akodésséwa, Lomé
Hours: Daily 8AM-5PM
Marché d'Assiyéyé
A large neighbourhood market popular with locals for fresh produce, fish, and everyday goods. Less touristy than Grand Marché, offering authentic insight into daily Lomé life at lower prices.
Where: Assiyéyé neighbourhood, Lomé
Hours: Daily 6AM-7PM
Kpalimé Saturday Market
The main weekly market in Kpalimé town, where farmers and craftspeople from surrounding villages sell fresh produce, crafts, pottery, and baskets. Busiest and most colourful on Saturdays.
Where: Centre-ville, Kpalimé
Hours: Saturdays 6AM-4PM
Marché de Kara
The principal market in northern Togo serving the Kara region, featuring northern crafts, leather goods, and produce not found in Lomé. Excellent for Kabye-style basketwork and leather sandals.
Where: Kara city centre
Hours: Daily 7AM-5PM, peak on Wednesdays
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Boulevard du 13 Janvier
Lomé's main shopping boulevard runs through the heart of the city and is flanked by shops, banks, pharmacies, and small businesses. The Grand Marché sits at its northern end, making it the city's busiest shopping corridor.
Best for: General shopping, banking, pharmacy
Avenue du 24 Janvier
A street known for its concentration of tailors, seamstresses, and small craft workshops. Bring fabric from Grand Marché and have custom clothing made here within 24-48 hours at very reasonable prices.
Best for: Custom tailoring, fabric shops, small workshops
Centre Artisanal de Lomé
A purpose-built artisan centre near the city centre where craftspeople sell wood carvings, jewellery, leather goods, and textiles in a fixed-price environment. Prices are slightly higher but quality is consistent and no haggling required.
Best for: Quality crafts, gifts, hassle-free shopping
Akodésséwa Market Area
The northeastern neighbourhood hosting the famous Fetish Market, surrounded by small shops selling traditional medicine, ritual objects, and local remedies. A unique shopping experience for ethnographic curiosities.
Best for: Voodoo items, traditional medicine, cultural souvenirs
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
CDPA Commercial Centre
A modern commercial centre in Lomé offering a concentration of formal retail shops, electronics stores, and a supermarket under one roof. Popular with the middle-class and expat community for groceries and branded goods.
Hours: Monday-Saturday 9AM-8PM, Sunday 10AM-6PM
Cashew and Supermarché Leader Price
The best-stocked supermarkets in Lomé carrying imported French goods, wine, cheese, and packaged foods alongside local products. Essential for self-catering visitors and digital nomads needing familiar items.
Hours: Monday-Saturday 8AM-9PM, Sunday 9AM-7PM
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
At Grand Marché and most markets, bargaining is expected — start at 50% of the asking price and work up from there
Fixed-price shops (supermarkets, Centre Artisanal) do not negotiate; check for posted prices before assuming
Build rapport with vendors before bargaining — a friendly greeting in French or Ewe goes a long way
Walk away slowly if negotiations stall; vendors will often call you back with a better offer
Avoid bargaining aggressively for very small amounts — a dollar difference matters more to a vendor than to most visitors
For tailoring, agree on the full price including fabric before work begins to avoid misunderstandings
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Restrictions: Export of archaeological artefacts, antique religious objects, and items from the Fetish Market may require documentation; declare items of cultural heritage value honestly at customs
Tax Refund: No formal VAT refund scheme for tourists in Togo; prices in local markets are generally inclusive of all applicable taxes
Duty Free: Duty-free allowances include 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, 1 litre of spirits, and personal effects. Check current allowances with your home country customs authority before departure
Shipping: DHL and EMS (Togo postal service) offer international shipping from Lomé for larger purchases; pack fragile carvings carefully as handling can be rough; allow 2-4 weeks for postal shipping