Plizio Visual Lab

Hell-Ville

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

City

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Practical info — Hell-Ville

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🌤 Weather — 5 days

📍 Nearby

Sights nearby

💡 Tips

Tuk-tuks (locally called bajaj) are the best way to get around, but always negotiate the price before getting in.
Enjoy the decaying French colonial architecture during an early morning walk when it's cooler.
The hot and humid climate requires light clothing and good sun protection; it often gets sweltering at midday.
Bring small bills of the local currency (Ariary), especially if you plan to shop at the market.
Always keep an eye on your valuables in the dense crowds at the bustling main market.

🍽 Food

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Romazava

Try the Malagasy national dish, a light meat and leafy green stew, in local restaurants.

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Zebu skewers (Brochettes)

Freshly grilled at street stalls in the evening and often served with a spicy local sauce.

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Fresh seafood

Look for small restaurants near the port for the freshest catch of the day.

🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots

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Hell-Ville Central Market

The excellent, albeit noisy, place to buy fresh Malagasy spices, vanilla pods, and local rum.

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Ylang-Ylang oil

Nosy Be is famous for ylang-ylang; buy the fragrant essential oils in small, specialized boutiques.

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Malagasy crafts

Find beautifully embroidered tablecloths and detailed wood carvings in the markets.

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The old port area

Watch the traditional dhows and arriving fishing boats in relative peace in the late afternoon.

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Outskirts with colonial villas

A quiet walk in the streets away from the main center reveals ruined but extremely photogenic architecture.

Hell-Ville, now officially known as Andoany, is the administrative capital of Nosy Be island in northwestern Madagascar. Established in 1841, the town was named in honor of the French Admiral de Hell, who brokered the treaty for the island's annexation. Geographically, Hell-Ville is situated on a sheltered bay on the southern coast of the island and has a significant deep-water port used for exporting ylang-ylang essence, sugar, and various spices. The cityscape is distinguished by its 19th-century colonial architecture, featuring well-preserved administrative buildings and broad, tree-lined avenues. Hell-Ville serves as the tourism and economic epicenter of Nosy Be, acting as the primary hub for excursions to surrounding islets and coral reefs. Today, the local economy is anchored by international tourism, commercial fishing, and the processing of aromatic plants for the global perfume industry. Its tropical setting and rich historical layers make it one of the most compelling urban centers in the region.

Location: Madagascar
Top sights: LemuriaLand · L'arbre sacré Sakalava · Nosy Easy Rent
Nearby: Nosy Komba (11 km)
Population: ~53.219 (2023)

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	26	26	26	26	26	24	24	24	25	27	27	27
Rain mm	343	281	259	83	31	17	13	11	14	25	92	239

Geography

Population

53,219 (2023)

Coordinates

-13.40000, 48.26670

Facts

Hell-Ville was founded in 1841 as one of Madagascar's earliest French settlements.
The town is a global center for the export of ylang-ylang essential oil.
The port of Hell-Ville is the primary docking point for cruise ships visiting Nosy Be.
Numerous buildings in the town date back to the early colonial period of the 19th century.
The official name Andoany was formally introduced following Madagascar's independence.
The town is situated on a sheltered natural bay on the southern tip of Nosy Be.