MacCarthy Square
Place · Arch 22 and Independence Drive
The island's central public square and parade ground, a short walk from Arch 22: a quiet ten to fifteen minutes on the way between the arch and the market, not a destination on its own.
- Free, open public square
- Short add-on to Arch 22
- Independence Day parade ground
- Free entry
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 10Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Carry an original yellow fever vaccination certificate on…Uneven pavements, crowds and touts
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- West Africa ↗Carry an original yellow fever vaccination certificate on any West African trip: several countries on the coast road demand it of every arrival, and the rest demand it after you have passed through a neighbour.
- West Africa ↗Cross land borders and drive between cities in daylight only; plan each crossing as a full travel day with cash for fees and passport copies for checkpoints.
- The Gambia ↗Check visa and entry rules for your passport on official Gambian government sources before booking.
- The Gambia ↗Dress modestly away from the beach: shoulders and knees covered in towns and villages.
- The Gambia ↗Keep about US$20 or €20 in cash for the airport security fee charged on arrival and again on departure; card machines at the desk are unreliable.
- Atlantic Coast ↗Taxis are yellow and unmetered: agree the fare and the return before you get in.
- Banjul ↗Uneven pavements, crowds and touts: bags go from the car to the hotel door, never on a walk.
- Banjul ↗Unofficial guides (bumsters) approach visitors: a polite firm no is enough; agree any price first.
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Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, best time to go, opening hours
Go now?
hours and prices: check on the day- Open
- Hours unknown
- Crowds
Quietest around 07:00–12:00
MonTueWedThuFriSatSunQuietest Mon–Sun · desk estimate
- Tickets
- Adult: free
- Time to spend
- 15–20 min · up to 35 min if you linger
Best time to go
Quiet most of the year; busy and closed to casual visits during Independence Day parades on 18 February.
By weekday: quietest Mon–Sun.
Opening hours
- Note
- Open public square with no gate or ticket; there is nothing to close.
- Hours note
- Always open; an outdoor public square.
Which month is quietest
- Janquiet
- Feblight
- Marquiet
- Aprquiet
- Mayquiet
- Junquiet
- Julquiet
- Augquiet
- Sepquiet
- Octquiet
- Novquiet
- Decquiet
Quietest Mar–Jan · busiest Feb.
Estimate: desk reasoning from the Independence Day date and general foot traffic; not counted. Holidays and events move these weeks.
Weather here, next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
On the ground
Getting in, access, sensory load, what to bring, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- Walk from Arch 22 or a taxi to the square
- Ticket
- free · official site
- Stairs
- None; flat open ground
- Shoes
- Shoes on.
Sensory load
- Sensory load1/5 Very low
- Peak crowd2/5 Low
Exposure: high
What to bring and the rules
- Water, a hat and sun or rain cover · Rated high exposure: little shelter while you walk.
Rules and prices change: check the official site before you go.
Bailouts
- heat: A shaded bench or a nearby café
Nearest rescue anchor: D — Park bench shade (field-verify)
Problem
Red lines
- Do not photograph any police or military personnel stationed nearby.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
Map and nearby
Where it is, how to get there from your hotel or from where you stand, and what is around it
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Nearby places
Eat nearby
More detail
Everything else we know about this place
Tickets, prices and entry
Know before you go
- This is an open parade ground and park, not a monument with a gate: there is nothing to buy and no set hours.
- It is the site of Independence Day parades on 18 February and other state ceremonies; on those dates access and the atmosphere both change (check before you plan a visit that day).
- There is little shade in the middle of the square; the perimeter trees give the only real cover.
Best time of day
Plan 15–20 min inside.
quietlightbusyheavypacked· desk estimate for an ordinary day; add several levels on 18 February and during any state event
Tickets & entry
- Where to buy
- No ticket needed.
- No ticket of any kind; it is public open ground.
| Ticket | Price | Where to buy | Skip-the-line reality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | free | — | — |
Time on site, inside and your plan
Time on site
Minimum
10min
Worthwhile
15min
Typical
20min
p95
35min
How much time do you have?
Enough for a typical visit (20 min).
Visit times are typical figures, not promises; queues and closing times can change them.
Inside, in order
The parade ground and war memorial
10 minA memorial to Gambian soldiers stands at one end (confirm the exact inscription and history locally).
Perimeter walk under the trees
5 minShaded benches on the edges of the square.
Plan this visit
- Crowd on arrival
- quiet
- Worst while inside
- quiet
- Leave by
- 07:207:20 AM
- Closing buffer
- unknown
Good window: go.
- Closing buffer is measured against a planning close of n/a. No closing time; an open public square.
- Crowd levels are a desk estimate by hour, not live data.
Step-free check, who it suits, facilities
Step-free check
Step-free route
- 1Flat, open ground with no steps; the easiest of the new Banjul places for a wheelchair or stroller, aside from cracked paving at the entrances.
Facilities on site
| What | Status | Where / note |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | no | None on site; use a hotel or café nearby. |
| Shade | limited | Perimeter trees only; the centre of the square is open. |
| Seating | yes | A few benches around the edge. |
Seasons, festivals and night openings
| When | What happens | Effect on your visit | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 February | Independence Day parade | Closed to casual visitors or heavily restricted while the parade runs; road closures nearby. | check |
“Check” rows move every year; confirm dates on the official calendar before you plan around them.
Who it suits
| Traveler | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Photographers | ok | An open, uncluttered foreground for a memorial or wide shot. |
| Wheelchair users | good | The flattest of Banjul's outdoor sights. |
| Visitors short on time | caution | Skip it if the day is tight; Arch 22 and the market matter more. |
Skip it if
- You only have a couple of hours in Banjul: put the market and the arch first.
Combine with
Combine with
- 8 minArch 22 — The natural first stop of the morning; the square is a short add-on.
- 12 minAlbert Market — Continue on to the market once you have seen the square.
Walk the Arch 22 and Independence Drive area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes
Best photo time
Best photo time today
Sun times for today load in your browser.
| Spot | When | Rule on the spot |
|---|---|---|
| Across the open ground toward the memorial | Morning | Do not photograph any uniformed personnel present. |
Deep dive
Questions, photos, and where our facts come from
Questions and answers
Questions and answers
Do I need much time here?
No. Ten to fifteen minutes is enough unless there is a parade or state event on.
Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk
Is there an entry fee for MacCarthy Square?
No. It is an open public square with no gate or ticket.
What is there to see?
An open parade ground with a war memorial and perimeter trees; it is a short stop on the way between Arch 22 and Albert Market, not a destination in itself.
Photos
Photos
MacCarthy Square Photo: Atamari, CC BY-SA 3.0
Deep dive
Sources
- officialThe Gambia Tourism Authority (official)
- secondaryWikivoyage — Banjul
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Source: Price
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
Prices are 2026 estimates. The official site has the current price.
Source: Opening hours
Source: Best hour
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Taken from the desk crowd estimate by hour. It is not a count of visitors.
Source: Bag rating
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Rated for the whole walking cluster, from desk research, not for this entrance.