Antsirabe

Antsirabe needs a day: pousse-pousse (local rickshaw) rides through the colonial center and its semi-precious stone workshops are the main activities. April-November is the dry season, with notably cool weather due to its altitude (1,500m), the highest among the country's major cities. It's inexpensive, with one of the best value-for-money ratios in Madagascar. It was founded by Norwegian missionaries in the 19th century and is known as the «city of water» for its hot springs, as well as the country's main center for cutting precious and semi-precious stones.