--- title: "Top 10 Things To Do in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea | Wimup" description: "The 10 best things to do in Malabo: the Santa Isabel cathedral, the Paseo Marítimo at dusk, the road up Pico Basilé, turtle nights at Ureca, Arena Blanca's butterflies and the wooden church at Batete." url: https://wimup.com/city/malabo type: City guide updated: 2026-10-07 publisher: Wimup (https://wimup.com) --- # Top 10 Things To Do in Malabo Malabo, Equatorial Guinea · Africa · By Wimup Editorial, 10 min read Malabo was founded by the British in 1827 as Port Clarence, ran as Spanish Santa Isabel for over a century and took its current name in 1973. It handed the title of capital to Ciudad de la Paz in January 2026, but it remains the way in to Bioko. ## Quick answer The best things to do in Malabo are the Santa Isabel cathedral, the old town around Casa Verde, the Paseo Marítimo at dusk and the Mercado Central, then Bioko itself: the road up Pico Basilé, Arena Blanca, the church at Batete and the turtle beaches at Ureca. Allow three or four days. December to February is the dry season. ## Quick facts - **Best months:** Dec–Feb - **Ideal length:** 3–4 days - **Budget per day:** $180–300 - **Language:** Spanish, with French and Portuguese also official - **Getting around:** Shared taxis and hired drivers - **Tourism board:** [Official site](https://equatorialguineatourism.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## The 10 best things to do in Malabo ### 1. See the Catedral de Santa Isabel Landmark · Plaza de la Independencia, old town Malabo's twin-towered neo-Gothic cathedral, begun in 1897 to a design by Luis Segarra and finished in 1916. A fire took the roof in January 2020 and it reopened restored in August 2022. Go to a Sunday Mass to see it full. - **Time:** 45 min - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Sunday morning - **Tip:** Dress for church, and keep the camera off the Presidential Palace next door, where photography is banned. ### 2. Walk the Paseo Marítimo at dusk Landmark · The seafront, below the old town The waterfront promenade is where Malabo comes out when the heat drops, to walk, fish and eat. A 60 m flagpole on a marble base and a national shield inlaid in the paving mark its centre. - **Time:** 1 hr - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Late afternoon into dusk - **Tip:** Walk it from the old town end. Photograph the sea, not the port or anything in uniform. ### 3. Drive to the summit of Pico Basilé Nature · Parque Nacional de Pico Basilé, south of the city At 3,011 m it is the highest point in the country, and a paved road climbs through forest to the top. The summit is a military and broadcast post, so the trip runs on a permit and a driver arranged through an operator. - **Time:** Half day - **Cost:** Permit and driver, via an operator - **Best at:** Early morning - **Tip:** Go in the dry season and bring a warm layer: the summit is far cooler than the coast. ### 4. Watch sea turtles nest at Ureca Nature · Ureca, south coast of Bioko Leatherback, green, olive ridley and hawksbill turtles nest on the black-sand beaches around Ureca, inside the Gran Caldera reserve. The season runs November to February and peaks in January. - **Time:** Overnight - **Cost:** Permits and transport, via an operator - **Best at:** January nights - **Tip:** Ureca is one of the wettest places on earth. Pack rain gear and sort the reserve permit before leaving Malabo. Links: [Website](https://www.biokoturtles.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 5. Find the butterflies at Arena Blanca Nature · Near Luba, southwest Bioko A white-sand beach on an island of black ones, about 50 km from Malabo. In the dry season, roughly December to February, butterflies gather in clouds on the damp sand. - **Time:** Half day - **Cost:** Free beach, transport extra - **Best at:** Dry-season mornings - **Tip:** Pair it with Luba and the church at Batete, and carry your tourism permit for the checkpoints. ### 6. Visit the wooden church at Batete Landmark · Batete, near Luba An all-timber neo-Gothic church built by Claretian missionaries between 1922 and 1926, the work of carpenters trained at Banapá. UNESCO added it to Equatorial Guinea's Tentative List in April 2026. - **Time:** 1 hr - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** On the way back from Arena Blanca - **Tip:** Ask before photographing a service, and leave something in the box for upkeep. Links: [Website](https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/7006/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 7. Walk the old town to Casa Verde Landmark · Old town, a few blocks from the cathedral A 19th-century timber house prefabricated in Belgium from American pine and shipped to Bioko, later the Portuguese consulate and a trading house. It anchors a walk through the colonial grid. - **Time:** 1 hr - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Morning, before the heat - **Tip:** The house has been under restoration for years, so plan to see it from the street. ### 8. Browse the Mercado Central Market · Central Malabo The city's main market sells everything from sewing needles to fridges out of a warren of makeshift stalls. The government decided in 2023 to move it, so confirm where it trades before you go. - **Time:** 1 hr - **Cost:** Free to enter - **Best at:** Weekday mornings - **Tip:** Carry small CFA notes, watch your pockets and ask before photographing anyone. ### 9. Catch a show at the Centro Cultural de España Culture · Carretera del Aeropuerto, Caracolas The busiest stage in the city, with films, concerts, exhibitions and talks. It is the home of the Malabo International Hip Hop Festival and the itinerant film festival FECIGE. - **Time:** 2 hr - **Cost:** Varies by event - **Best at:** Evenings - **Tip:** Check the programme on the centre's site before you go. Links: [Website](https://ccemalabo.aecid.es/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 10. Spend an afternoon in the Parque Nacional de Malabo Park · Malabo II An 84-hectare urban park opened in 2016, with a lake for pedal boats, sports grounds, play areas and a protected strip of forest. The easiest green space in the city for an afternoon. - **Time:** 2 hr - **Cost:** Check at the gate - **Best at:** Late afternoon - **Tip:** Go on a weekend to see it busy with families. ## Best landmarks in Malabo Colonial churches, the independence square and a summit city cut from the forest. 1. **Plaza de la Independencia** (Square · Old town): Where independence was declared in 1968. The palace beside it is off limits to cameras. 2. **Casa Verde** (Colonial house · Old town): A 19th-century timber house shipped in pieces from Belgium. 3. **Iglesia de San Francisco Javier** (Church · Ela Nguema): The Salesian church on the landscaped plaza of Ela Nguema. 4. **Sipopo Conference Centre** (Modern landmark · Sipopo): Built in 2011 for an African Union summit, with 52 villas for heads of state. 5. **Ayuntamiento de Malabo** (Civic building · Malabo II): The new town hall, opened in June 2023 after 15 years in temporary offices. ## Best cultural centres in Malabo Three foreign and national cultural centres carry most of the city's films, concerts and exhibitions. 1. **Centro Cultural de España en Malabo** (Cultural centre · Caracolas): Films, concerts, talks and the city's hip-hop festival. [Website](https://ccemalabo.aecid.es/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 2. **Institut français de Guinée équatoriale** (Cultural centre · Calle Acacio Mañé): The French cultural centre, in a 1987 building by Pierre Vigor. [Website](https://www.institutfrancais-malabo.org/es/ifge?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 3. **Centro Cultural Ecuatoguineano** (Cultural centre · Avenida de la Independencia): The national house of culture. [Website](https://ccecuatoguineano.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 4. **Museo de Arte Moderno de Guinea Ecuatorial** (Museum · Malabo): Contemporary and traditional African art. ## Best restaurants in Malabo Harbour views, hotel dining rooms and a two-floor Spanish and Chinese address. 1. **La Luna** (Fine dining · Harbour): Terrace tables above the harbour, long rated the best table in town. 2. **Le 19** (Brasserie · Sipopo): The Sofitel's brasserie, in the golf clubhouse at Sipopo. [Website](https://sofitel.accor.com/en/hotels/8212.html?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 3. **Gusto** (Italian · Hilton Malabo): The Hilton's Italian dining room, with a cellar of about 2,500 bottles. 4. **Hotel Anda China** (Spanish and Chinese · Near the Paseo Marítimo): Spanish food on the ground floor, Chinese on the second. ## Best bars & nightlife in Malabo A rooftop, a late lounge and a hotel pool bar. 1. **Olympus Sky Bar** (Rooftop bar · Malabo): Cocktails, wine and food on a rooftop over the city. 2. **Kristal Lounge** (Lounge · Malabo): Cocktails and live entertainment, open late. 3. **Aqua Bar and Grill** (Pool bar · Hilton Malabo): The Hilton's poolside bar and grill. ## Malabo neighborhoods Five districts, from the colonial grid to the purpose-built resort coast. 1. **Old town** (Historic centre · Malabo I): The colonial grid around the cathedral, Casa Verde and the independence square. 2. **Ela Nguema** (Residential · East of the centre): A residential district around a landscaped plaza and its Salesian church. 3. **Caracolas** (Central · Airport road): Close to the centre on the airport road, home of the Spanish cultural centre. 4. **Malabo II** (New town · West of the centre): The planned expansion district, with the new town hall and ministries. 5. **Sipopo** (Resort · East coast): A 2011 resort and conference enclave about 15 km east, with the Sofitel. ## Best nature near Malabo A volcano, a waterfall, a crater lake and the reserve where the drills live. 1. **Pico Basilé** (Volcano · North Bioko): 3,011 m, the country's highest point, with a road to the top. 2. **Cascadas de Iladyi** (Waterfall · Moka valley): A drop of about 250 m in the Moka valley, the country's largest waterfall. 3. **Lago Biao** (Crater lake · Southern highlands): A crater lake in the southern highlands, reached on foot from Moka. 4. **Gran Caldera de Luba** (Reserve · South Bioko): 51,000 ha of reserve, home of drills and red colobus. Permit needed. ## Best day trips from Malabo Bioko's second town, the highlands and the south coast, each a day with a permit. 1. **Luba** (Town · 52 km southwest): Bioko's second town, 52 km southwest, once called San Carlos. 2. **Moka** (Highlands · South Bioko): Highland village at about 1,380 m, base for the lakes and the falls. [Website](https://bioko.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 3. **Riaba** (Town · East coast): East-coast town founded in 1779 as Concepción; the Moka road climbs from here. 4. **Ureca** (Village · South coast): The only south-coast village, and the way to the turtle beaches. ## Festivals & annual events in Malabo (2026) - **President's Day** (5 June): A public holiday for President Obiang's birthday. - **Corpus Christi** (June (moveable)): A public holiday, with processions from the city's churches. - **Freedom Day** (3 August): A public holiday marking the 1979 coup that ended the Macías regime. - **Constitution Day** (15 August): A public holiday for the national constitution. - **Independence Day** (12 October): Independence from Spain in 1968, the biggest date of the year. - **Santa Isabel de Hungría** (17 November): Malabo's patron saint festival, named for the cathedral's saint. - **Immaculate Conception** (8 December): A public holiday and a major feast in the cathedral. - **Turtle nesting season** (November to February): Four species nest on the south coast, with the peak in January. ## Must-try dishes in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea - **Succotash**: Beans, corn and vegetables, often called the national dish. - **Pepesup**: Peppery fish soup with tomato, garlic and onion. - **Ocrosoup**: Okra soup with fish, palm oil and chilli, a Bioko staple. - **Aballah**: Bubi taro pounded with palm oil and steamed in banana leaf. - **Mbinga**: Okra and palm-oil stew with meat or fish, eaten with rice. - **Malanga and plantain**: Taro and plantain, boiled or fried, under a stewed sauce. - **Topé**: Palm wine, tapped and drunk fresh. - **Malamba**: A home brew made from sugar cane. ## Malabo transport & airports - **Malabo International Airport** (SSG): At Punta Europa, about 9 km west of the centre. E-visa holders must enter here. Shared taxis to town run about 3,000 XAF. - **Ceiba Intercontinental** (Air): The national airline flies Malabo to Bata daily, the fastest way to the mainland. [Website](https://ceibaintercontinentalairlines.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - **Ferry to Bata** (Sea): About 12 hours across the Gulf of Guinea. Schedules change, so confirm at the port before planning around it. - **Shared taxis** (Car): Unmetered shared taxis charge about 500 XAF a hop by day, more at night. Agree the fare before getting in. ## Malabo at a glance - **Country:** Equatorial Guinea - **Region:** Bioko Norte, on the north coast of Bioko island - **Population:** About 297,000 (2018 estimate) - **Founded:** 1827, by the British as Port Clarence; Santa Isabel under Spain, Malabo since 1973 - **Capital:** Until January 2026, when Ciudad de la Paz on the mainland took over - **Language:** Spanish, French and Portuguese are official; Fang, Bubi and Pichi are widely spoken - **Currency:** Central African CFA franc (XAF), pegged to the euro - **Time zone:** West Africa Time (UTC+1) - **Calling code:** +240 - **Airports:** Malabo International (SSG), at Punta Europa - **Power:** 220 V, plug types C and E - **Visas:** Required for most nationalities; e-visa since 2023, with entry via Malabo ## Interesting facts - The city is named after Malabo Lopelo Melaka, the last Bubi king, who died in 1937. - The British founded it in 1827 as Port Clarence, a base for anti-slavery naval patrols. - Pico Basilé, which rises over the city to 3,011 m, last erupted in 1923. - Sipopo was cut from forest in 2011 to host an African Union summit. - Malabo stopped being the capital in January 2026, when Ciudad de la Paz took over. ## Watch [Best of Malabo](https://wimup.com/watch/malabo.md), 12:11 ## Malabo travel FAQ ### How many days do you need in Malabo? Three or four. One for the city (the cathedral, the old town, the market and the Paseo Marítimo at dusk) and the rest for Bioko: Pico Basilé, Luba with Arena Blanca and Batete, and the Moka highlands or the turtle beaches at Ureca. ### Do I need a permit to travel around Bioko? In practice, yes. Travellers report needing a tourism authorisation to pass the checkpoints outside Malabo, and since 2024 it has usually gone through a local agency. It takes days, so arrange it before you arrive. ### Can I take photos in Malabo? Carefully. Photographing the Presidential Palace and its surroundings, military sites, airports, harbours and government buildings is illegal and can mean fines or detention. Ask before photographing people. ### When is the best time to visit Malabo? December to February, Bioko's dry season. It is the best window for the summit of Pico Basilé, the butterflies at Arena Blanca and the turtle beaches, which peak in January. ### Is Malabo still the capital of Equatorial Guinea? No. A decree of 2 January 2026 made Ciudad de la Paz, on the mainland, the capital, with ministries given a year to move. Malabo remains the largest city on Bioko and the country's main international gateway. ## Nearby guides - [Douala](https://wimup.com/city/douala.md): Cameroon · 10 picks - [Yaounde](https://wimup.com/city/yaounde.md): Cameroon · 10 picks - [Lagos](https://wimup.com/city/lagos.md): Nigeria · 10 picks - [All of Africa →](https://wimup.com/africa): 54 cities Part of the [Equatorial Guinea guide](https://wimup.com/country/equatorial-guinea.md) · [Africa](https://wimup.com/africa.md) ## Sources - [Malabo tourism board](https://equatorialguineatourism.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Watch sea turtles nest at Ureca (official site)](https://www.biokoturtles.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Visit the wooden church at Batete (official site)](https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/7006/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Catch a show at the Centro Cultural de España (official site)](https://ccemalabo.aecid.es/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Institut français de Guinée équatoriale (official site)](https://www.institutfrancais-malabo.org/es/ifge?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Centro Cultural Ecuatoguineano (official site)](https://ccecuatoguineano.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Le 19 (official site)](https://sofitel.accor.com/en/hotels/8212.html?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Moka (official site)](https://bioko.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Ceiba Intercontinental (official site)](https://ceibaintercontinentalairlines.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - Rankings are Wimup editorial picks. Prices, durations and budgets are editorial estimates, not live quotes; check the official site before you go.