Toamasina
Toamasina is a port city on the east coast of Madagascar. It is still commonly called Tamatave, which was its official name until 1977.
The population of Toamasina was just over 500,000 as of 2023.
Get in
By plane
- Air Austral from Saint-Denis de la Reunion.
(You can use Air Austral to go via Reunion too Mauritius or Nosy Be.)
- Air Madagascar & Tsaradia airlines Avenue De Independence. from Antananarivo and Sainte-Marie.
By car
- From Antananarivo to Toamasina is 355 km, which takes six hours by car.
By bus
- Cotisse Transport to and from Antananarivo, (9 hours) 7 trips a day. Lite 30,000, Premium 45.000.
By boat
By train
- 1 Toamasina railway station. Tthe train runs every Saturday to Moramanga 152 km via Brickaville 102 km.
Get around
First when you come at the first time, there are many places that you have to visit during your trips, they are the following ones
- Bord de la mer: the seaside is a few hundred meters from the city hall to the north point, it has many attractions like the view of the Port and also some domestic bars and restaurants.
- La Mairie (in Malagasy, "Lapan'ny tanana"): the city hall is the one of the most known places in Toamasina. It is where people prepare their civilian documents like marriage certificates.
Map of Toamasina
See
- 1 Saint Joseph Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Joseph de Toamasina).
Do
Canal des Pangalanes. There are overnight trips on this amazing man-made and natural canal that effectively extends half way down the east coast of Madagascar. Ask at the Hotel Joffre or the travel agents nearby. The boat service is run by a French man who only runs services when there is sufficient clientele.
Buy
Banks & ATMs
- BFV-SG. Avenue De L'Independance. 24-hour ATMs take Mastercard, Visa card, Diners Club, American Express, Discover card, Union Pay.
- MCB. Boulevard Joffre. 24-hour ATM take Mastercard, Visa Card, Diners card, Union Pay.
- BOMI.Boulevard Joffre. ATMs take only Visa card.
- BOA. Boulevard Augagneur. ATMs take only Visa card.
- BNI. Boulevard Joffre. 24-hour ATMs take Mastercard and Visa card.
- AccesBanque, Boulevard De La Fidelite. 24 hour ATM. Mastercard and Visa card.
- Master Bureau De Change, Boulevard Joffre (next to La Terrasse), ☏ +261 341711610. 09:00-18:00. The exchange rate is not so good as in Tana: 500 Ar less per euro.
Supermarkets
- Super U supermarket, Fokontany 23/41. 08:00-20:00. Large supermarket chain part of Super U france.
- Score supermarkets, Boulevard Augagneur. 08:00-20:00. There are two Score supermarkets in Toamasina.
- Leader Price Supermarket, Rue Flacourt. 09:00-21:00. Many imported goods from France. Higher prices. good quality.
- Supermaki has two stores in Toamasina: in Ankirihiry and Morafeno.
Eat
Budget
- LA Terrasse Bar and restaurant. Good priced food and drinks.
Mid-range
Splurge
Drink
- Sarkis Bar, Boulevard De La Liberation.
- Queens Disco & bar, Boulevard De La Liberation. Sells pizza. Free wifi.
Sleep
Budget
- Hotel Plage, Boulevard De La Liberation, ☏ +261-20-5332090. Old and rundown. Large double room with own cold water bathroom 40,000 Ar. It is near many bars and a 5-minute walk to the beach.
- Hotel Les Flamboyants, Rue de La Liberation, ☏ +261 032-71-09351, +261 034-78-74595. closed for repairs.
- JRJ Hotel, En Face De L'eglise Fjkm Betela Bazarikely, ☏ +261 034-6814074. Check-in: 11:00, check-out: 10:00. Clean, air-con double room with hot water bathroom. Cable TV, free Wi-fi. depending on room size 45,000-55,000 Ar.
- Hotel Mahatoky, Immeuble Mahatoky, Boulevard De La Liberte 12/13 (behide the Cotisse transport.). Check-in: 11:00, check-out: 11:00. Clean double rooms with or without own bathroom 20,000/25,000 Ar. Has nets in all rooms.
- Beryl Hotel, Logt 200 Cilte Beryl rose Tanambao, ☏ +261 34 6801304. Check-in: 11:00, check-out: 11:00. Double room with own bathroom, free Wi-Fi. From 40,000 Ar.
Mid-range
- 1 Hotel Joffre, 18 Bd Joffre, ☏ +261 20 53-323-90. Hotel Joffre is an excellent mid-range hotel. Classic old-style fully renovated hotel in downtown with excellent French restaurant. Try to get the 1st floor rooms - the top floor rooms get very hot through sun on the roof. Old wing: double 122 500 Ar, twin 137 500 Ar, family room 167 500 Ar, large family room 200 000 Ar; new wing: double 202 500 Ar, twin 217 500 Ar.
Splurge
Connect
- Telma (next to the post office) Avenue De Independent. It has good 4G internet. 12GB of data cost 75,000 Ar, good for 30 days. Most hotels now have free Wi-Fi.