Visitor Attractions in and near Tana
Travel advisory: A transitional government has been in charge of Madagascar since October 2025, and elections are not expected before 2027. The US State Department’s Level 2 rating means increased caution, while six named areas, including the RN34 between Miandrivazo and Malaimbandy and the Menabe region south of Morondava, are at Level 3 (reconsider travel). The UK FCDO does not advise against travel but reports armed robbery on main roads after dark, attacks on isolated beaches and demonstrations that can turn violent, and it advises avoiding taxi-brousse. Because kidnappings have been reported in and around Antananarivo, often in daylight on busy streets, treat every city visit below as a daytime outing: go with a guide or driver who waits nearby, carry few valuables and head back to your hotel before dusk. Current guidance is at gov.uk and travel.state.gov . Entry rules are changing, so check them before you fly, especially on routes through Nairobi.
Antananarivo, known as Tana, has a short list of paid attractions, and most of them are quick to combine. Two sit in the old Haute-Ville on the same hill, two need a car out of town, and one is on the road south at Ambalavao. The table gives the basics, and the sections after it add the detail.
| Attraction | Where | Entry (foreign adult) | Time to allow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rova of Antananarivo | Analamanga hill | about 40,000 Ar | about 2 hours |
| Andafiavaratra Palace | Haute-Ville | about 10,000 Ar, undated report | short visit |
| Lemurs’ Park | RN1, PK 22 | 75,000 Ar | up to 1.5 hours |
| Peyrieras reserve | Marozevo, RN2 | ask for the current fee | about 2 hours |
| Antemoro paper workshop | Ambalavao | free | a short stop |
Two stops on the Haute-Ville hill
The Rova is the royal palace and tomb complex above the city. It was gutted by fire in 1995 and reopened to the public in June 2023. It opens from Wednesday to Monday, 9:00 to 17:00, and it is closed on Tuesdays. Newsmada reported the foreign fee rising from 30,000 to 40,000 Ar in March 2026. A guide is strongly recommended, but there is no confirmation that one comes with the ticket, so ask at the desk. The tombs are sacred to many Malagasy people, so dress and behave accordingly, and expect steep, uneven ground.
Andafiavaratra Palace, once the prime minister’s residence, is nearby at 9 Lalana Printsy Ratsimamanga. Only the ground floor is a museum, and many of the objects were rescued from the 1995 fire. A price of about 10,000 Ar is reported, but opening hours are not confirmed, so ask your hotel to phone ahead.
Out of town by car
Lemurs’ Park occupies 5 ha beside the Katsaoka river, about 22 to 25 km from Tana on the road toward Ampefy, and traffic decides how long the drive takes. Seven lemur species live there, and more than 70 plant species grow in the grounds. Visits are always with a naturalist guide. The park opens daily from 08:00, with last reception at 16:00. Adults pay 75,000 Ar, children aged 5 to 12 pay 30,000 Ar, and cards are not accepted. Its own website states that captive-born lemurs have been released into the wild since 2015. The park does not promote handling, so keep your hands to yourself and let the lemurs come and go as they please. See lemurspark.com for current details.
The Peyrieras reserve at Marozevo, about 75 km along the RN2 and roughly 2 hours from Tana, keeps chameleons, Uroplatus geckos and tomato frogs. Guided visits last about two hours. Opening hours and the fee are unconfirmed, so ask before you go. You can pair it with the first stretch of the Andasibe road.
Antemoro paper at Ambalavao
The Antemoro paper workshop stands in the grounds of the Aux Bougainvillees hotel in Ambalavao, on the RN7. Visitors watch the paper being made, entry is free and a shop sells the results. Mornings are best, and published hours disagree, so call ahead. Anja Community Reserve is 13 km south of town and works as a second stop. Buy paper, raffia, embroidery or silk as souvenirs, and never rosewood or ebony, which are CITES Appendix II species under a national export ban.
Paying and booking
Take ariary in cash for every ticket, since Madagascar runs largely on cash and banks often refuse $100 bills. Prices are sometimes quoted in old Malagasy francs, where 1 ariary equals 5 francs, so confirm the unit. Drink bottled or treated water. For a guide and car for the day, compare Antananarivo city tours .
Read more: sightseeing in Madagascar and the 2-day Madagascar itinerary .