Abomey
The former capital of the Kingdom of Dahomey. The UNESCO-listed Abomey royal palaces and history museum tell the dynasty's story, and nearby Bohicon has an underground village and a large market.
Abomey lies on a plateau in Zou Department in southern Benin, about 130 km north of Cotonou. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Dahomey from the 17th century until 1894. Successive kings built their own palaces here, forming a complex of earthen palaces covering about 47 hectares, which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. The palace reliefs, the corps of Amazon women warriors, the slave trade and Vodun beliefs form the core of what visitors come to see.
There are four areas to explore. (1) The core palace complex: the Ghezo and Glele palaces (now the history museum), along with the scattered palaces of Agongolo and Akaba nearby. (2) East of town: Goho Square, with the statue of Béhanzin and the Béhanzin Palace. (3) North of town: the Zomadonu Vodun temple. (4) Neighbouring Bohicon to the east: its large market and the underground village of Agongointo-Zounkpodo. Appliqué workshops cluster at the entrance to the museum. The new Museum of the Kings of Dahomey and Amazon Warriors (MuRAD) within the grounds will display royal treasures returned by France. As of 2026 it is still under construction, and the palaces are being restored in phases, so check opening status in advance.
The climate is tropical. November to March is the dry season and the best time to visit. December to February brings the harmattan, a dusty wind from the Sahara. April to July and September to October are the rainy seasons, when dirt roads turn muddy.
It takes about 2.5–3 hours by road from Cotonou. You can hire a car or take a minibus to Bohicon and then a Zémidjan (motorcycle taxi) to Abomey. The sights are spread out, so motorcycle taxis are the most convenient way to get around. Allow one day, which can be combined with Ouidah and Ganvié as a cultural route through southern Benin. When visiting the palaces, hire a guide from the museum, and photograph Vodun sites only with prior consent.
Top sights
- Royal Palaces of Abomey & Historical Museum – Mud-brick palaces built by twelve kings of the Kingdom of Dahomey, a World Heritage Site, with relief murals telling of dynastic wars and m…
- Agongointo-Zoungoudo Underground Village – A group of underground dwellings near Bohicon, unexpectedly discovered; believed to be hideouts from the Dahomey period, with narrow chambe…
- Place Goho & Statue of King Béhanzin – A commemorative square east of Abomey, with a tall statue of King Behanzin, who resisted the French, and a wall lined with reliefs of the e…
- Palace of King Akaba – The relatively intact courtyard of King Akaba's palace, dating from the early 18th century, north of the palace complex, with red earth wal…
- Palace of King Agonglo – The courtyard of King Agonglo, the eighth king of Dahomey; restored and open, with well-preserved colourful reliefs and gatehouse, it can b…
- Zomadonou Vodun Temple – A Vodun temple beside Akaba Palace, reportedly closely linked to the Akaba dynasty and a window into Dahomey's Vodun beliefs.
- Abomey Appliqué Workshops – A street of craftsmen by the palace gate, keeping alive the colourful appliqué hangings that once commemorated kings; you can watch artisan…
- Bohicon Market – A large market in the transport hub town just east of Abomey, with everything from farm produce to voodoo offerings, offering a taste of in…
- Houndjro Market – A traditional large market in Abomey selling daily goods, fabric, food and traditional medicines, ideal for experiencing everyday local lif…
Where to eat
- Chez Monique à la Lune – Abomey's best-known family guesthouse restaurant, set in a teak grove garden full of wood carvings, where you dine unde…