Abidjan

Côte d'Ivoire's economic capital: the lagoon-ringed skyline of the Plateau and St. Paul's Cathedral, the rainforest of Banco National Park within the city, and to the east the colonial town of Grand-Bassam and the beaches of Assinie.

Abidjan is Côte d'Ivoire's largest city and economic capital, set on the Ébrié Lagoon along the Gulf of Guinea, with a metropolitan population of about 6 million; the official language is French. The lagoon splits the city into several districts. The Plateau is the high-rise business and government center, home to St. Paul's Cathedral, the Museum of Civilizations and the Great Mosque. To the north, Cocody is the embassy district and an upscale residential area, with the Hôtel Ivoire and contemporary art spaces. On the south shore, Treichville and Marcory are packed with big markets, craft centers and nightlife. In the northwest, Banco National Park is a primary rainforest within the city. The classic day trip is to the World Heritage colonial old town of Grand-Bassam, about 40 km east; Assinie, about 80 km east, and Jacqueville to the west are beach resorts, while the Bingerville botanical garden and Île Boulay in the lagoon make good half-day trips. With more time, take the long round trip to Yamoussoukro to see the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace. The climate is tropical, hot and humid all year; the Dec–Mar dry season is the best time to visit, May–Jul is the main rainy season and Oct–Nov brings a minor rainy season. The Atlantic coast has big waves and strong rip currents, so swim only where lifeguards are on duty. Chinese travelers need a visa (an e-visa can be applied for and collected on arrival at the airport; check the embassy's latest policy), must be vaccinated against yellow fever and carry proof, and malaria prevention is recommended. Getting around is mainly by taxi and ride-hailing; lagoon ferries are cheap and scenic, and rush-hour traffic is very heavy. Plan on 3–4 days.

Top sights

• St. Paul's Cathedral – A modernist cathedral designed by an Italian architect, whose slanted tower evokes St. Paul with his arms outstretched in blessing. It is a…
• Le Plateau – A skyscraper business district on a lagoon peninsula. The skyline of 'West Africa's Manhattan', the Pyramid building, and the government bu…
• Banco National Park – A primeval rainforest national park in the heart of the city, with towering ancient trees and forest trails. On the riverbank is the famous…
• Historic Town of Grand-Bassam – The first capital of French Côte d'Ivoire, with a UNESCO-listed colonial old town and Atlantic beaches. It is Abidjan's classic day trip.
• Museum of Civilisations of Côte d'Ivoire – A national museum holding around 15,000 masks, sculptures and ethnographic objects, offering a window into the more than 60 ethnic groups o…
• Treichville Market – A large multi-storey market selling wax-print fabrics, handicrafts and everyday goods, offering a real taste of Abidjan's street life.
• Ébrié Lagoon Boat Ride – Take a public ferry or charter a boat across the Ébrié Lagoon, and see the Plateau skyline and fishing villages from the water.
• Grand Mosque of Plateau – A large mosque in the southern Plateau, whose white minaret and green dome form part of the business district skyline.
• Hôtel Ivoire – A legendary landmark hotel built in the 1960s, whose lagoon-side tower, ice rink and bowling alley reflect Côte d'Ivoire's 'economic miracl…
• Centre Artisanal de la Ville d'Abidjan (CAVA) – A handicraft market with wood carvings, masks, jewellery and wax-print textiles, where you can watch artisans at work.
• Abidjan National Zoo – A long-established zoo opened in 1953, where you can see African forest elephants, chimpanzees, lions and other West African species.
• Fondation Donwahi – A contemporary art space in a Cocody garden, showing works by emerging artists from Côte d'Ivoire and across Africa.
• Bingerville Botanical Garden – A tropical botanical garden opened in 1904 in the former colonial capital, with towering old trees, and the colonial-era governor's residen…
• Île Boulay – The largest island in the Ébrié Lagoon, reachable by boat, with fishing villages, mangroves and small lagoon beaches far from the bustle of…
• National Costume Museum, Grand-Bassam – Housed in a colonial governor's residence built in 1893, the museum showcases the traditional dress and masks of Côte d'Ivoire's ethnic gro…
• Assinie – A narrow sandbar between the lagoon and the Atlantic, lined with palm-fringed beaches and resorts, and the favourite seaside weekend getawa…
• Jacqueville – A seaside town west of Abidjan with palm-fringed beaches and colonial-era houses. Since the lagoon bridge opened, it has become a popular w…
• Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro – A giant domed church modelled on St Peter's Basilica and counted among the largest churches in the world, a classic long day trip from Abid…

Where to eat

• Saakan – A modern African restaurant on the Plateau known for braised oxtail and grouper choukouya, and long ranked first on Tri…
• Maquis du Val – A long-running upscale maquis in Cocody founded in 1988, a favourite with both locals and expatriates in Abidjan.
• Bushman Café – A cultural landmark combining restaurant, bar, art gallery and boutique hotel; the rooftop restaurant serves Ivorian ho…
• Chez Miss Zahui – A humble eatery opposite the Riviera Palmeraie market, considered the top choice in Abidjan for attiéké with grilled fi…

Itineraries

• Southern Côte d'Ivoire: Cathedrals, Cities & Lagoons – Depart from Abidjan and travel via the Yamoussoukro Basilica to Grand-Bassam and the beaches of Assinie.