Côte d’Ivoire · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Côte d’Ivoire
These are the places worth your time in Côte d’Ivoire, from Abidjan’s galleries, markets and maquis to the colonial streets of Grand-Bassam, the beaches of Assinie and the mountains around Man. Classics sit beside lesser-known corners, so every kind of traveller finds something to love.
Places to Visit in Abidjan
Arts and Culture
- Cathédrale Saint-Paul (Plateau)
A soaring modern cathedral with a dramatic tilted tower and lagoon views, consecrated by Pope John Paul II. - Musée des Civilisations de Côte d’Ivoire (Plateau)
The national museum, with masks, statues, textiles and regalia from across the country’s many cultures. - Fondation Donwahi (Cocody)
A contemporary art foundation in a villa garden, showing Ivorian and international artists in thoughtful exhibitions. - Galerie Cécile Fakhoury (Cocody)
A leading contemporary African art gallery with bright, airy rooms and regular openings. - La Rotonde des Arts Contemporains (Plateau)
A free contemporary art space in the business district, perfect for a cool break between errands. - MuCAT, Musée des Cultures Contemporaines Adama Toungara (Abobo)
A striking modern museum in the northern suburb of Abobo, celebrating contemporary Ivorian culture and urban life. - Palais de la Culture (Treichville)
A large lagoon-side cultural centre that hosts concerts, theatre and big festivals including MASA. - Institut Français de Côte d’Ivoire (Plateau)
Concerts, films, talks and exhibitions in a lively cultural hub with a programme worth checking each week.
Nature and Outdoors
- Parc National du Banco (Adjamé)
A patch of primary rainforest inside the city, with walking trails and the famous open-air laundry of the fanicos at its edge. - Île Boulay (Ébrié Lagoon)
A large lagoon island reached by boat, with villages, mangroves and quiet beaches. - Baie des Milliardaires (Ébrié Lagoon)
A cluster of lagoon islands near the city where boat trips stop for swims and grilled fish.
Shopping and Markets
- Marché de Treichville (Treichville)
A big, busy covered market for wax print fabrics, tailors, spices and everyday Abidjan life. - Marché d’Adjamé (Adjamé)
One of West Africa’s largest and most chaotic markets, best visited with a local friend and a firm grip on your bag. - Marché artisanal de Cocody (Cocody)
A compact craft market for masks, carvings, bronze, beads and Korhogo cloth, with room to bargain. - Cap Sud (Marcory)
A mall with a supermarket, cafés and shops, easy for essentials and SIM cards. - PlaYce Marcory (Marcory)
A modern mall with a cinema, supermarket and food spots, handy on a rainy day. - Marché de Cocody (Cocody)
A neighbourhood market with tailors, fabrics and fresh produce, calmer than Adjamé.
Bars and Nightlife
- Rue Princesse (Yopougon)
The legendary nightlife strip of Yopougon, where coupé-décalé and zouglou blast from packed maquis late into the night. - Parker Place (Zone 4)
A long-running live music bar famous for reggae nights and a friendly, mixed crowd. - Bushman Café rooftop bar (Riviera)
Sunset cocktails surrounded by African art, with views across Abidjan.
Restaurants
- Allocodrome de Cocody (Cocody)
An open-air food court of grills where women fry alloco and grill fish and chicken in the evening. - Rue Paul Langevin restaurants (Zone 4)
The heart of Zone 4 dining, lined with Lebanese, French, Ivorian and Asian restaurants and terrace bars. - Garba stalls of Adjamé (Adjamé)
Taste garba, attiéké with fried tuna and chilli, the true street breakfast and lunch of Abidjan.
Things to Do
- Zoo National d’Abidjan (Cocody)
The city’s long-standing zoo, a simple and popular family outing near the Banco forest. - Lagoon ride on the SOTRA bateau-bus (Plateau)
Cross the Ébrié Lagoon on a public water bus for skyline views at local fares. - Abidjan Plateau skyline walk and La Pyramide (Plateau)
Walk the business district for its bold 1970s architecture, including the pyramid-shaped tower. - Plage de Port-Bouët (Port-Bouët)
The city beach near the airport, lively at weekends, though the currents mean wading only. - Bingerville Botanical Garden (Bingerville)
Shaded colonial-era gardens in the former capital, a short drive east of Abidjan.
Stays
- Sofitel Abidjan Hôtel Ivoire (Cocody)
The landmark modernist hotel on the lagoon, with pools, gardens and an iconic tower. - Pullman Abidjan (Plateau)
A central business hotel in the Plateau with a rooftop pool and an easy base for the city. - Mövenpick Hotel Abidjan (Plateau)
A polished modern hotel with lagoon views and a pool, close to the cathedral and museums. - Azalaï Hôtel Abidjan (Marcory)
A comfortable hotel near Zone 4, handy for the airport and the best restaurant streets. - Bushman Café (Riviera)
An art-filled boutique hotel and rooftop bar packed with African sculpture and contemporary pieces. - Noom Hotel Abidjan Plateau (Plateau)
A sleek, modern hotel by the lagoon with a rooftop bar and good value for its comfort. - Radisson Blu Hotel Abidjan Airport (Port-Bouët)
A reliable hotel by the airport for late arrivals and early flights. - Seen Hotel Abidjan Plateau (Plateau)
A design-led hotel with a rooftop terrace overlooking the lagoon and the Plateau towers. - Heden Golf Hotel (Riviera)
A resort-style hotel by the lagoon and golf course in leafy Riviera.
Cafés
- Paul (Zone 4)
A French bakery café for croissants, coffee and a calm air-conditioned breakfast.
Events
- FEMUA, Festival des Musiques Urbaines d’Anoumabo (Marcory, Anoumabo)
A huge urban music festival founded by Magic System, usually held in spring. - MASA, Marché des Arts du Spectacle d’Abidjan (Treichville)
A biennial performing arts market and festival bringing dance, theatre and music from across Africa.
Places to Visit in Grand-Bassam
Arts and Culture
- Quartier France (Quartier France)
The UNESCO-listed colonial quarter of the first capital, with faded mansions, arcades and sea breezes. - Musée National du Costume (Quartier France)
Traditional dress, jewellery and village models in the old governor’s palace. - Centre Céramique de Grand-Bassam (Quartier France)
A pottery workshop where you can watch local ceramicists at work and buy their pieces. - Cathédrale Sacré-Cœur de Grand-Bassam (Quartier France)
An early colonial church, part of the heritage walk through the old town.
Shopping and Markets
- Grand-Bassam craft market (Main road)
Roadside stalls of masks, wooden carvings, beads and paintings, best with patient bargaining. - Grand-Bassam central market (Impérial)
An everyday market for fruit, fish and fabric away from the tourist stalls.
Things to Do
- Heritage walk of the old town (Quartier France)
Wander past the old customs house, post office and Maison Varlet with a local guide. - Grand-Bassam beach (Quartier France)
A long Atlantic beach with maquis under palms, for watching the waves rather than swimming far.
Events
- Fête de l’Abissa (Quartier N’zima)
The N’zima people’s great annual festival of renewal, with drums, dance and forgiveness, usually around late October or November.
Stays
- Hôtel Étoile du Sud (Quartier France)
A long-standing beachfront hotel with a pool, popular for weekends out of Abidjan. - La Taverne Bassamoise (Quartier France)
A relaxed hotel and restaurant by the sea with bungalows and a laid-back weekend mood.
Restaurants
- Beach maquis of Grand-Bassam (Quartier France)
Grilled fish, attiéké and cold drinks with your feet in the sand.
Nature and Outdoors
- Comoé river mouth (Quartier France)
Where the Comoé River meets the ocean, a quiet spot for photos and fishing boats.
Bars and Nightlife
- Sunset drinks on the Bassam seafront (Quartier France)
End a day trip with a cold drink as the sun sets over the Atlantic.
Places to Visit in Assinie
Nature and Outdoors
- Assinie-Mafia beach (Assinie-Mafia)
A thin strip of sand between lagoon and ocean, with palm-shaded beaches and calm lagoon swimming. - Lagune Aby (Adiaké)
A vast lagoon near the Ghana border, dotted with fishing villages and islands. - Assouindé (Assouindé)
A quieter beach strip west of Assinie, good for long walks. - Sandbanks of the Assinie lagoon (Assinie-Mafia)
Shallow sandbanks where families swim in calm, warm water.
Things to Do
- Lagoon boat trips to the islands (Assinie-Mafia)
Hop between lagoon islands and sandbanks by boat for swimming and lunch. - Water sports on the Assinie lagoon (Assinie-Mafia)
Jet skis, kayaks and paddleboards on the sheltered lagoon side.
Stays
- Coucoué Lodge (Assinie-Mafia)
A chic lodge of thatched bungalows between lagoon and ocean, made for slow weekends.
Restaurants
- Village maquis of Assinie (Assinie village)
Grilled fish, attiéké and kedjenou served at plastic tables by the lagoon.
Bars and Nightlife
- Beach bars of Assinie-Mafia (Assinie-Mafia)
Weekend beach parties and sunset drinks where Abidjan comes to unwind.
Events
- Assinie weekend high season (Assinie-Mafia)
From December to Easter, the resorts come alive with parties and live music on weekends.
Places to Visit in Yamoussoukro
Arts and Culture
- Basilique Notre-Dame de la Paix (Riviera)
One of the largest churches in the world, with a vast dome and stained glass you have to see to believe. - Grande Mosquée de Yamoussoukro (Centre)
A large modern mosque with a tall minaret, a striking partner to the Basilica. - Fondation Félix Houphouët-Boigny pour la Recherche de la Paix (Riviera)
A grand marble complex built for peace talks, impressive for its scale and setting. - Basilica gardens and dome visit (Riviera)
Climb to viewpoints inside the Basilica on a guided visit and walk its huge gardens.
Nature and Outdoors
- Lac aux Caïmans (Presidential Palace)
The sacred crocodile lake beside the presidential palace, a strange and memorable sight.
Things to Do
- INP-HB campus (Nord)
The modernist campus of the national polytechnic, with bold architecture to admire from outside. - Boulevards and lakes drive (Centre)
Drive the oversized avenues and artificial lakes of a capital built from a village.
Stays
- Hôtel Président (Centre)
The grand 1970s hotel of the capital, with a tower restaurant, golf course and big pool. - Hôtel des Parlementaires (Centre)
A large hotel built for parliamentarians, a comfortable base near the main sights.
Shopping and Markets
- Grand marché de Yamoussoukro (Centre)
A busy town market for fabrics, fruit and Baoulé crafts.
Restaurants
- Maquis of Yamoussoukro (Habitat)
Simple maquis for foutou, sauce graine and grilled meats, popular with students.
Places to Visit in Man
Nature and Outdoors
- La Dent de Man (Outskirts)
The tooth-shaped peak that dominates the town, a classic half-day hike with sweeping views. - La Cascade de Man (Outskirts)
A pretty waterfall in a forest of bamboo, a short trip from town and lovely after rain. - Forêt sacrée des singes de Gbêpleu (Gbêpleu)
A sacred forest where villagers protect the monkeys, which come close for bananas. - Mont Tonkoui (Outskirts)
One of the country’s highest peaks, with misty forest roads and wide views on clear days. - Man hills viewpoint (Outskirts)
A short climb above town for a panorama of green hills and the Dent de Man.
Things to Do
- Pont de lianes de Lieupleu (Danané area)
A swaying bridge woven from forest vines, part of a tradition of the Yacouba people.
Events
- Dan mask dances (Villages around Man)
The Dan and Yacouba mask traditions, including stilt dancers, seen at village festivals.
Shopping and Markets
- Grand marché de Man (Centre)
The lively market of the west, good for masks, fabrics and mountain produce.
Restaurants
- Maquis of Man (Centre)
Mountain cooking such as sauce feuille and rice with fresh greens.
Places to Visit in San-Pédro
Nature and Outdoors
- Plage de Monogaga (Monogaga)
A long, wild beach west of Sassandra, with forest behind and few people. - Grand-Béréby (Grand-Béréby)
A string of gorgeous coves, including the Baie des Sirènes, south of San-Pédro. - Parc National de Taï (Taï)
A UNESCO-listed rainforest famous for its chimpanzees, reached on a long trip inland with a guide.
Shopping and Markets
- Marché de San-Pédro (Bardot)
A bustling port town market full of seafood, cocoa traders and daily life.
Things to Do
- San-Pédro city beach (Balmer)
The town beach, popular on weekends with families and football games. - Sassandra (Sassandra)
A sleepy old trading town at a river mouth with crumbling colonial buildings and fishing pirogues. - Port de San-Pédro (Port)
One of the world’s great cocoa ports, fascinating to see from the waterfront.
Restaurants
- Fish grills by the port (Port)
Fresh catch grilled by the harbour, simple and delicious.
Places to Visit in Jacqueville
Nature and Outdoors
- Jacqueville beaches (Jacqueville)
A coastal town across the lagoon from Abidjan, reached by bridge, with long empty beaches.
Places to Visit in Bouaké
Shopping and Markets
- Grand marché de Bouaké (Centre)
A huge regional market at the crossroads of north and south.
Places to Visit in Gomon
Events
- Fête du Dipri (Gomon)
A dramatic Abidji purification festival of trance and dance in a village north of Abidjan, usually in March or April.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Maquis of Biétry (Biétry, Abidjan)
A cluster of relaxed open-air maquis for braised fish, chicken and cold drinks with locals. - Sunset at the Plateau lagoon promenade (Plateau, Abidjan)
Watch the sun drop over the lagoon and the bridges from the waterfront. - Saakan (Riviera, Abidjan)
A well-loved restaurant for refined Ivorian and West African cooking in a calm setting. - Musée Charles Combes (Bingerville, Abidjan)
A small museum of Ivorian art in an old colonial building in the former capital. - Chez Ambroise (Cocody, Abidjan)
A long-standing local favourite for kedjenou and braised fish, in classic maquis style. - Maquis of Yopougon Selmer (Yopougon, Abidjan)
Neighbourhood maquis with live bands and dancing, where Abidjan really lets loose. - Café Cacao Abidjan (Cocody, Abidjan)
Try a bean-to-bar Ivorian chocolate and cocoa drink in the world’s biggest cocoa country. - Koral Beach Hotel (Quartier France, Grand-Bassam)
A beach hotel with a pool and restaurant on the seafront. - Lagoon pirogue trip (Quartier France, Grand-Bassam)
A wooden boat ride on the Ouladine lagoon past mangroves and fishing villages. - Phare de Grand-Bassam (Quartier France, Grand-Bassam)
The old lighthouse area, a quiet viewpoint over town, lagoon and sea. - Restaurant La Paillote (Quartier France, Grand-Bassam)
A beach restaurant serving seafood and Ivorian classics under a thatched roof. - Akwa Beach Hotel (Assinie-Mafia, Assinie)
A beach resort with a pool and lagoon access. - Assinie Beach Hotel (Assinie, Assinie)
A family-friendly beach hotel with bungalows facing the sea. - Guesthouses of Assinie village (Assinie village, Assinie)
Simple rooms in the old village end of Assinie, quieter and kinder on the budget. - Mangrove canoe trip (Assinie-Mafia, Assinie)
Paddle through mangroves with local boatmen for birdlife and calm water. - Yamoussoukro Golf Club (Centre, Yamoussoukro)
A green and quiet course laid out in the president’s era, open to visitors. - Hôtel Président tower restaurant (Centre, Yamoussoukro)
Dinner high above the town with views over the lakes and boulevards. - Baoulé weaving villages (Around Yamoussoukro, Yamoussoukro)
Visit nearby villages where Baoulé cloth is still woven on narrow looms. - Hôtel Les Cascades (Centre, Man)
A simple hotel with a pool and views of the surrounding hills. - Hôtel Amointa (Centre, Man)
A modest, central base for exploring the mountains. - Village visits around Biankouma (Biankouma, Man)
Traditional round-hut villages in the hills north of Man, best with a local guide. - Baie des Sirènes hotel (Grand-Béréby, San-Pédro)
Bungalows above a sheltered cove, a classic escape on the southwest coast. - Hôtel Le Cosmos (Centre, San-Pédro)
A central hotel with a pool for an overnight stop. - Plage de Taki (Grand-Béréby, San-Pédro)
A wide beach near Grand-Béréby, quiet and backed by palms. - Beach bars of Grand-Béréby (Grand-Béréby, San-Pédro)
Simple bars on the sand for sundowners far from the crowds. - Jacqueville colonial houses (Jacqueville, Jacqueville)
Old Afro-Brazilian style merchant houses from the town’s trading past. - Carnaval de Bouaké (Centre, Bouaké)
A colourful carnival in the country’s second city, historically held in spring.