The Musée National (National Museum; CFA3000; h9am-6pm Tue-Sun), a 10-minute walk north of the centre, is outstanding. Its permanent collection includes stunning textiles, masks, statues and archaeological artefacts. The expansive grounds have scale models of Mali’s major architectural landmarks.

The mother of all Bamako markets is the Grand Marché, a warren of streets overtaken by traders of food, clothing and household goods. The fetish stalls near the Maison des Artisans, offer up a stomach-turning array of bones, skins, dried chameleons and rotting monkey heads.