Abidjan

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Abidjan, Abidjan Autonomous District, Ivory Coast

La lagune Ebrié Abidjan, Abidjan, Abidjan Autonomous District, Ivory Coast

Vue d'ensemble du pont Hauban Abidjan depuis la Cour de la Cathédrale Saint Paul du Plateau, Abidjan, Abidjan Autonomous District, Ivory Coast

Le Plateau depuis le Pont ADO – Abidjan, Abidjan, Abidjan Autonomous District, Ivory Coast

Abidjan's plateau district view, Abidjan, Abidjan Autonomous District, Ivory Coast

About Abidjan

Wrapped around the arms of the Ebrié Lagoon, Abidjan is West Africa's great French-speaking metropolis, a city of bridges, water taxis and glass towers that rises from the lagoon at Le Plateau. It is the economic capital of Côte d'Ivoire and one of the region's busiest ports, with an energy that spills out of its markets, maquis restaurants and music venues.

The city grew quickly in the 20th century after a canal opened the lagoon to the Atlantic, and its modern skyline, including the stepped Pyramide building and the soaring St Paul's Cathedral, became a symbol of post-independence ambition. Each district, or commune, has its own character, from the business streets of Plateau to lively Treichville, leafy Cocody and the huge markets of Adjamé.

Nature is surprisingly close: the rainforest of Banco National Park lies within the city, and the old botanical garden of Bingerville sits on the lagoon to the east. Try attiéké with grilled fish and alloco fried plantain, and ride a lagoon boat for the best view of the skyline.

Best seasonDecember-March, the main dry season

Ideal stay2-3 days

ArrivingFélix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport in Port-Bouët, south of the centre

Top 10 Experiences in Abidjan

Sacred Sites 1

St Paul's Cathedral Abidjan, Abidjan, Abidjan Autonomous District, Ivory Coast

St Paul's Cathedral Abidjan

Designed by Italian architect Aldo Spirito and consecrated in 1985, this striking Catholic cathedral on the edge of Le Plateau has...

Neighborhoods 1

Le Plateau Abidjan, Abidjan, Abidjan Autonomous District, Ivory Coast

Le Plateau Abidjan

Abidjan's central business district sits on a peninsula in the lagoon, its towers giving the city the nickname of the Manhattan of...

Nature 2

Banco National Park, Abidjan, Abidjan Autonomous District, Ivory Coast

Banco National Park

A protected area of dense tropical rainforest survives inside the city limits, crossed by trails beneath tall trees and home to bi...

Ebrié Lagoon, Abidjan, Abidjan Autonomous District, Ivory Coast

Ebrié Lagoon

The long Ebrié Lagoon shapes Abidjan, separating its districts and giving the city its sparkling waterfronts. Public boat services...

Museums 1

Museum of Civilisations of Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Abidjan Autonomous District, Ivory Coast

Museum of Civilisations of Côte d'Ivoire

In the Plateau district, the national museum presents the cultural heritage of Côte d'Ivoire's many peoples through masks, carved...

Shopping 2

Treichville Market

Treichville's large market building is packed with stalls selling colourful wax-print fabrics, clothing, household goods, spices a...

Adjamé Market, Abidjan, Abidjan Autonomous District, Ivory Coast

Adjamé Market

One of the largest markets in West Africa, Adjamé is a vast, chaotic trading hub next to the city's main bus stations, with lanes...

Landmarks 1

Henri Konan Bédié Bridge, Abidjan, Abidjan Autonomous District, Ivory Coast

Henri Konan Bédié Bridge

Opened in 2014, this toll bridge spans the Ebrié Lagoon between the Riviera area of Cocody and Marcory, creating a fast link acros...

Beaches 1

Port-Bouët Beach, Abidjan, Abidjan Autonomous District, Ivory Coast

Port-Bouët Beach

South of the lagoon, the Port-Bouët area faces the open Atlantic with long sandy beaches lined with palms and small restaurants se...

Parks 1

Bingerville Botanical Garden, Abidjan, Abidjan Autonomous District, Ivory Coast

Bingerville Botanical Garden

In Bingerville, the former colonial capital on the lagoon east of the city, this botanical garden dates back to the early 20th cen...

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Photo credits

Photo: RyansWorld, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: Yduffi, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

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Photo: Edison McCullen, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

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Photo: Citizen59 from Tunis, Tunisie, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

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Photo: Edison McCullen, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

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Photo: Kod B, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Kod B, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Kod B, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photo: Cyriac Gbogou, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Kod B, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Kod B, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photo: Kod B, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Kod B, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Kod B, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Kod B, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photo: Kayi Komaclo, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0