Lungi International Airport: where to stay, areas and recommended…

Lungi Airport is separated from Freetown by a wide estuary, not by a simple suburb: there's no bridge at all, and the city can only be reached by sea or by a very long road all the way around the bay. The option most used by travellers is the water taxi, a fast boat that takes 30-40 minutes to reach the jetty at Aberdeen, Murray Town or Government Wharf; the public ferry is cheaper but takes about an hour, while a private speedboat can get it down to 20-30 minutes. The road alternative, via Port Loko, instead takes over four hours and is meant only for those arriving when the sea is too rough or outside boat hours: that's why, unlike other airports, there are no hotels right outside the terminal here, and the choice is only among Freetown's districts after the crossing.

Aberdeen and Lumley Beach

Neighbourhood · The water taxi from Lungi arrives right at the Aberdeen jetty in 30-40 minutes; from the jetty the area's hotels are a few minutes on foot or by taxi.

Best for: Those who want Lumley beach, the city's highest concentration of restaurants and bars, and the jetty where almost all the water taxis from Lungi arrive.

Pros

Many water taxis from Lungi dock right here, avoiding a further transfer across the city
Lumley beach, restaurants and nightlife within walking distance of the area's hotels

Cons

A touristy area, so prices are higher than in the rest of the city
Busy and poorly lit streets in the evening outside the hotels' seafront stretch

Recommended hotels in this area

Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel: On Lumley beach, Freetown's best-known hotel; outdoor pool, beach bar and conference rooms among the few in the city suited to large groups.
Mamba Point Hotel: A 5-minute walk from Lumley Beach, on Cape Road in Aberdeen; outdoor pool, restaurant with local and international cuisine and an in-house nightclub.
Home Suites Boutique Hotel Freetown: A minute's drive from Lumley Beach, with spacious rooms and high-speed Wi-Fi; among the most highly rated addresses in the area in recent reviews.
Sierra Palms Resort: Less than 1 km from Lumley Beach, with outdoor pool, garden and a private beach area; a more modest resort option than the large chain hotels in the area.

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Hill Station

Neighbourhood · From the jetties at Aberdeen or Government Wharf, another 15-20 minutes by taxi uphill to the embassy district.

Best for: Those seeking peace and views over the city and the ocean from above, accepting a taxi ride for the beach or the centre.

Pros

Panoramic views over the city and the Atlantic from the rooms and the breakfast terrace
The district of embassies and colonial houses, among the quietest in the capital in the evening

Cons

A taxi is always needed for Lumley beach or the historic centre
Some reviews report problems with damp and mould in the rooms despite the praised views

Recommended hotels in this area

The Country Lodge Hotel: On the Hill Station hillside, 4 km from the beach and near the embassy district; pool, tennis court and breakfast terrace with panoramic views of Freetown and the ocean.

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City centre and Brookfields

Neighbourhood · From the central jetties (Government Wharf), a few minutes by taxi; from Aberdeen, 15-20 minutes crossing the city.

Best for: Business trips tied to the offices and institutions of the city centre, or those arriving with a water taxi direct to Government Wharf.

Pros

A central position relative to offices and institutions, handy for those in Freetown on business
Closer to the Government Wharf jetty than the Aberdeen area

Cons

Less evening life on foot than Aberdeen and Lumley Beach
No beachfront, unlike the other two areas

Recommended hotels in this area

New Brookfields Hotel: About 2 km from the city centre, in the Brookfields district; outdoor pool and spacious rooms, appreciated for its calm atmosphere compared with the Aberdeen area.
The Swiss Hotel Freetown: In the business district, about 2.4 km from Lumley Beach; airport shuttle (to the jetty) and free parking.

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