5 Things to Book Before You Travel to Sierra Leone in 2026

Every December, I watch the same thing happen at Lungi. Someone lands without a plan and spends their first day in Salone sorting out what they could have booked from their couch in London or Maryland.

Don’t be that person. This year, thousands of us are coming home for Diaspora Week, and the good stuff books up fast. Here are the five things I’d lock in before you land in Freetown.

This is free so you don’t need to book it but it is a requirement. Fill out the Ministry of Health’s declaration form before you land. Access it here. You will need to also fill it out before departure.

1. Your eVisa

Start here. You can apply online at evisa.sl. A single-entry visa is $80, and a multiple-entry visa is $160. If you plan to come back and forth, and I think you will, the multiple entry is worth it.

2. Your Lungi transit

The airport is in Lungi, and Freetown is across the water. Pre-book your SeaCoach ticket online before you land so you’re not negotiating at arrivals after a long flight. Land, collect your bags, cross over, and you’re in Freetown.

3. Your nail appointment

Ladies, I’m talking to you. You WILL need a fill-in. December in Freetown is back-to-back events, and every salon in town is full. Book now. My go-to is Nali Spa.

4. A beachfront stay

Book your hotel on the Lumley Beach and Aberdeen strip. Listen, the strip is where it’s at every single night. You want to be close to the action, not stuck in traffic trying to get to it. I love The Lead Hotel.

5. Your Diaspora Week pass

Don’t land without access to the premium nine days where business meets culture. Diaspora Week runs from December 28 to January 5, with the investment conference, the Gala, the beach and the culture all in one pass.

Register for Diaspora Week →

Book these five and your trip starts the moment you land, not two days later.

This post is part of my Diaspora Week travel series on Instagram. Follow along at @vickieremoe for more tips on coming home.