Albert Market — Local services in Banjul

We are staying in Kololi and wanted to go to the Albert Street market, in banjul. We hired a taxi 🚖 that we used the day before to go to Jungle beach. Lamin drives a daihatsu jeep, which is a 4x4 that can manage the roads. He took us to the market and walked around with us. The market is a maze I recommend you go with someone that knows their way around.

The market wasn't as busy as usual due to Eid.

There is no fixed price on anything in the market, bartering is required to get to the price you want to pay! If they name a price respond with a maximum of half that price and see how it goes.

Goods for sale vary from food, clothes, shoes, fish, meat, vegetables, phones and accessories, wooden crafts, cloth and tailoring and leather goods.

We brought a handbag, which for 2900 dalasi you could probably get it cheaper, but it cost £30.00 which I thought was a bargain. We brought some fridge magnets and a pair of men's leather sandals. We were given a free gift of a bracelet by the stall holder.

Once you show interest in an item, the seller will try and sell it to you or something else. You may feel under pressure.

Depending which route your driver takes, it can be very scenic and interesting watching the Gambian population shop and drive in the busy traffic.

I highly recommend Lamin Sankareh as a taxi driver and guide. You can find him in Kololi by the El Sol restaurant. He's a good driver and an excellent source of information about Gambia and the towns you may...

A must on a visit to Banjul. Not necessarily to buy anything but for the experience. Make sure you stick with your trusted driver or guide and watch your pockets and bags - wear your backpack at the front! Also be aware of people around you. Each time we visited we noticed we were being followed from a distance by a man. Every turn we made he would also turn, every time we stopped at a shop he too would stop and wait from a distance, watching. Luckily nothing sinister has ever happened but it's sensible to just be aware. Also be wary of taking too many photos. Some of the local people are not used to cameras and don't like their photos taken.

I feel this review could be seen as negative, however, visiting Albert Market is one of my favourite things to do when visiting Banjul. It's a really good experience.

Oh and lastly be prepared for the sights and smells.... Particularly the smells in the...

This is a huge market, the largest im Banjul. They sell all sorts of things. From clothing to kitchenware to food.

Very interesting but not unlike other markets in The Gambia or Africa.

I’m giving the experience only 4 starts because of the people who are outside just waiting to “guide” you through the market. I understand that they’re trying to make a living, and it may work for some people, however, I like to walk alone and take my time absorbing the experience.

It’s hard to “shake them off”, and doing it takes away from the experience. If you arrive with your own guide, then this won’t be a...