Fianarantsoa

Fianarantsoa Safari Trips & Tours

Discover a different side to Madagascar from this Italian-style hilltop town surrounded by vineyards and tea plantations.

If there’s one thing you might not expect from Madagascar, it’s the highland town of Fianarantsoa. Split into upper and lower town, it’s the old quarter, with its attractive red-roofed buildings, schools, bookstores and traditional churches, that really captures the imagination. Stroll around the vertiginous streets, then head out to the surrounding valleys and vineyards (really!) to see an entirely different side of Mada. And there’s the famous Fianarantsoa railway line. The steepest in the world, it winds its way through forests, along cliff-edges and down dramatic descents. If you don’t have time to embark on the full 163-kilometre adventure (including all 48 tunnels and 67 bridges!), make the 25-kilometre journey to Sahambavy and visit the beautiful tea plantations instead.

What to do in Fianarantsoa

Prepare for a proper surprise in these highlands, where red-roofed buildings cascade down steep streets and church bells chime between bustling bookshops. This rather scholarly spot offers more than just atmospheric wanderings - venture beyond the old quarter to discover vineyards that wouldn't look out of place in a European postcard (though we'd bet the local vintners might raise an eyebrow at that comparison). For railway enthusiasts, there's a treat in store - the world's steepest railway line puts on quite the show, snaking through 48 tunnels and across 67 bridges. Rather fancy the full 163-kilometre adventure? Pack a good book and settle in for the long haul. Though if time's a bit tight, the 25-kilometre jaunt to the tea plantations proves equally rewarding. Watch pickers navigate the emerald slopes with remarkable precision, while you contemplate which brew might accompany your evening nibbles. The surrounding valleys offer splendid walking opportunities - just mind those vertiginous drops as you snap photos of the rather spectacular views.