Stand on Avenue Gamal Abdel Nasser in the late afternoon and you will see the city the way it is actually shaped: a broad, tree-lined street running northeast from the airport through the centre, one-storey buildings on either side, sand gathering at the edges. Nouakchott is largely flat, spread out and low-rise, and much of it sits below sea level.
It suits travellers who are passing through the capital on the way to the coast or the desert, and who are content to spend a day between the museum, the market streets and the fishing wharf rather than ticking off monuments. The coastal strip is mostly left empty and allowed to flood, so the sea is something you go to deliberately.
This guide covers the sights named in the source material, the practical ways to fill a day, and what to know before you set out.
Top things to do in Nouakchott
1. National Museum of Mauritania
The National Museum of Mauritania is one of the city's named attractions, alongside the National Library and the National Archives. It is the most straightforward place to start if you want context before walking the rest of the city.
Pair it with the National Library and the National Archives, which are listed together with it, so you cover the three in a single outing.
2. Port de pêche
The fishing wharf, known as the port de pêche, is where you see Mauritania's artisanal fishing industry at work. In the evenings, teams of fishermen bring in the day's catch on brightly painted sea-canoes.
The catch is sold on the spot and loaded onto donkey carts or old Renault 12s to be resold in town. Go in the evening for the landings, and note that the wharf lies about 5 km west of central Nouakchott, in the same coastal strip as the beaches and a few seaside hotels.
3. The beaches west of the centre
About 5 km west of central Nouakchott you reach the beaches, the fishing wharf and a few seaside hotels. Nouakchottois go to the beaches on weekend evenings, especially in the hot season.
Swimming in the sea at Nouakchott can be dangerous because of the treacherous and strong current, so treat the beach as a place to walk and watch rather than to swim. The same stretch also offers surf-casting if you bring your own equipment.
4. Franco-Mauritanian Cultural Center
The Franco-Mauritanian Cultural Center puts on movies, concerts and exhibits. It is a useful option for an evening when you want something indoors and scheduled rather than a walk in the heat.
Check what is on rather than assuming a fixed programme, and combine it with an evening in the centre, since the city's main axis runs through the middle of town.
5. Stade Olympique
At the Stade Olympique you can run laps or watch a football match. It is one of the few named sporting venues in the city and an easy way to spend an active hour.
If you go to run, go early or late in the day; if you go for a match, the crowd is the point as much as the game.
6. Surf-casting from the beaches
Surf-casting is possible from the beaches near Nouakchott. Bring your own equipment, as the source notes only that some basic fishing supplies can be bought from Lebanese-owned shops in the city.
Travel in groups only, for security reasons. This pairs naturally with the port de pêche, since both sit in the same coastal area west of the centre.
7. The Cinquième Quartier shopping area
The Sebkha (Cinquième) Arrondissement is home to a large shopping area. The Cinquième Quartier, or Fifth District, was laid out close to the central business district and became the location of a large open-air market and residential area.
Come here for the market streets and everyday commerce rather than for a single sight, and expect a working district rather than a visitor attraction.
8. Walking Avenue Gamal Abdel Nasser
Nouakchott is built around Avenue Gamal Abdel Nasser, a large tree-lined street that runs northeast through the city centre from the airport and divides the city in two, with residential areas to the north and the medina quarter and the kebbe to the south.
Use it as your orientation line. Other major streets carry the names of notable Mauritanian or international figures of the 1960s, including Avenue Charles de Gaulle, Avenue Kennedy and Avenue Lumumba.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the National Museum of Mauritania, then continue to the National Library and the National Archives, which are grouped with it. Afterwards, walk a stretch of Avenue Gamal Abdel Nasser to get your bearings on the city's main axis.
Afternoon: Head about 5 km west of the centre to the beaches and the port de pêche. Spend the afternoon on the sand and around the wharf, keeping in mind the strong current if you are tempted to swim.
Evening: Stay on the coast for the fishing boats coming in at the port de pêche, when teams of fishermen land the day's catch on brightly painted sea-canoes and sell it on the spot. If you would rather be indoors, the Franco-Mauritanian Cultural Center shows movies, concerts and exhibits.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to swim at the beaches near Nouakchott?
Swimming in the sea at Nouakchott can be dangerous due to the treacherous and strong current. The beaches are better suited to walking, and to the weekend evenings when Nouakchottois come out, especially in the hot season.
When is the best time to visit the port de pêche?
In the evenings, when teams of fishermen bring in the day's catch on brightly painted sea-canoes. The catch is sold on the spot and loaded onto donkey carts or old Renault 12s for resale in town.
Can I go fishing while I am in Nouakchott?
Surf-casting is possible from the beaches near Nouakchott. Bring your own equipment, and note that some basic fishing supplies can be bought from Lebanese-owned shops in the city. Travel in groups only for security reasons.
What else is there to see besides the museum?
The National Library and the National Archives are named alongside the National Museum of Mauritania. Beyond those, the city's interest lies in its streets and its coast: Avenue Gamal Abdel Nasser, the Cinquième Quartier shopping area, the beaches and the port de pêche.
Decide which end of the day you want on the coast and which in the centre, and you can plan a straightforward visit to Nouakchott from the places above.