Abidjan is the largest city of Cote d'Ivoire and its economic centre. Yamoussoukro is the official capital, but the weight of population and business sits here. The city spreads around the Ebrie Lagoon, with districts joined by bridges and by boats working across the water. The business district of Le Plateau rises in high office towers on the north bank, with the markets of Treichville to the south and the quieter avenues of Cocody to the east. The city is also where coupe decale music was born.
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See flights to Abidjan →When to visit Abidjan
December to April is the long dry season and the easiest time to travel. May to July is the long rainy season with daily downpours. Temperatures stay between 26C and 32C all year and humidity is high in every season.
Things to do in Abidjan
St Paul's Cathedral
Designed by the Italian architect Aldo Spirito and opened in 1985, the cathedral hangs its roof from cables spreading out of a concrete figure. It stands at the edge of Le Plateau and its stained glass front facing the lagoon makes it the city's best known modern building.
Banco National Park
This rainforest of about 30 square kilometres inside the city limits was declared a national park in 1953. Walking paths under giant trees and an arboretum make a few hours of forest walking possible in the middle of the metropolis.
Grand-Bassam
The former colonial capital about 40 kilometres east of Abidjan was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2012. Streets lined with abandoned colonial buildings run down to the sea, where a long beach follows the shore.
Museum of Civilisations of Cote d'Ivoire
The museum in Le Plateau gathers the masks, sculpture and weaving of the country's more than sixty ethnic groups. West African mask carving forms the core of the collection and the rooms are arranged by region.
Ebrie Lagoon
The lagoon that splits the city is part of a water system running about 130 kilometres parallel to the Atlantic. Some of the public transport works by boat across it, and the Plateau skyline is best seen from those crossings.
Treichville Market
The two storey covered market on the south bank of the lagoon is the city's largest for food and cloth. The upper floor is given to wax print fabric and tailors, the lower to vegetables, fish and spice.
Flights from Turkey to Abidjan
A direct flight from Istanbul to Abidjan takes about 7 hours 15 minutes and the route is operated by Turkish Airlines. Frequencies are limited to a few days a week, so the return date needs to be planned around the days the service runs.
Abidjan FAQ
How many days do you need in Abidjan?
Three days cover the centre, the museum and the markets. Adding Grand-Bassam and the coastal towns makes four or five days a comfortable programme.
How far is the airport from the city centre?
Felix-Houphouet-Boigny International Airport is about 16 kilometres from Le Plateau. The taxi ride takes between 30 and 50 minutes depending on traffic.
What do you need to enter Cote d'Ivoire?
A visa is required for a Turkish passport and the application is made before travel. A yellow fever vaccination is also mandatory and the certificate is checked on arrival.
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