The Gambia National Museum and Arch 22 show two different sides of Banjul: the history of an old colonial building and the architecture of a striking landmark. If you’re looking for a hotel in Banjul, first consider which themes you want to shape your stay: museum history, architecture, or a broader look at Gambia’s cultural and natural heritage.
Museum history in Banjul
The Gambia National Museum opened in 1985 and is housed in an old colonial building in Banjul. The building’s former uses are also part of its history. In the 1920s, it served as the Bathurst Club for European residents. Later, it housed the British Council and, in the 1960s, the Legislative Assembly. From 1970 to 1985, the building was used as the Gambia National Library.
This sequence gives the museum a distinctive architectural and historical setting: the building was associated with various institutions in turn before becoming the national museum. Its main mission includes collecting, preserving, and displaying objects related to Gambia’s material culture. The museum also introduces the country’s history and culture to visitors and residents. For anyone interested in history, both the building itself and the museum’s mission are worthwhile themes to consider when choosing where to stay.
Arch 22: height, form, and views
Arch 22 is 35 metres tall, stands on eight pillars, and has three floors. The structure is also depicted on the reverse of the 100-dalasi banknote. Its dimensions and straightforward design make Arch 22 an accessible architectural subject: its height, supporting structure, and floors can be readily described without requiring an extensive historical overview.
The second floor houses a gallery overlooking the city, Banjul’s harbour, and the mangrove forests of the Tanbi Wetland Complex. A small textile museum is on the top floor. If you plan to visit the gallery or textile museum, check current access arrangements before your visit. This will help you distinguish the building’s architectural features from the interior spaces described here as you plan.
Gambia’s cultural and natural context
Beyond Banjul’s two attractions, Gambia offers other points of cultural and historical interest. The Stone Circles of the Senegambia comprise stone circles made of laterite pillars and associated burial mounds; together, they form a sacred landscape that developed over more than 1,500 years. One of the four major groups is a concentration of more than 1,000 monuments in a strip about 100 kilometres wide, extending for approximately 350 kilometres along the Gambia River. Wassu and Kerbatch are the Gambian sites within the World Heritage property, which was inscribed in 2006 under criteria I and iii.
Another historical focus is Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites. The sites lie at the mouth of the Gambia River and recall its development into an important trading waterway connecting the interior, the coast, and more distant regions. At the same time, they represent the significant and painful history of the slave trade, its expansion, and its end. These country-wide themes add a broader historical perspective to Banjul’s museum and architecture.
Nature and crafts are also part of the Gambia experience. Birdwatching tours are offered daily in the country; key areas mentioned include Abuko Nature Reserve, Tanji, and Kiang West. Tour offerings and site operations may change, so check dates and availability when making specific plans. Gambia’s craft markets offer items including carved masks, batik products, handwoven fabrics, leather goods, and jewellery. Conversation and bargaining are part of the market experience.
Choose the focus of your stay
The stone circles, Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites, birdwatching, and crafts offer additional themes across Gambia. If you have limited time, it helps to decide first whether you want to focus on Banjul itself or explore Gambia more broadly.
Discover more destinations: Kombo North, Banjul, Kanifing Municipal Council, Sukuta, Lower River, West Coast Region, North Bank Region, North Bank Division.
For the main travel overview: Gambia.
