Côte d'Ivoire is best known for its vibrant economic capital, Abidjan. However, it hides many other treasures for travelers curious to go further afield. Between ocean and lagoon, its 350 kilometers of coastline offer enchanting landscapes, where fishing villages continue to live to the rhythm of ancestral traditions. Inland, lush nature unfolds in eight protected national parks. But it's Côte d'Ivoire's living heritage that most appeals to visitors. With nearly 60 ethnic groups, Côte d'Ivoire is a veritable kaleidoscope of customs and traditions that can be discovered in rural areas, where mask dances and initiation rites perpetuate a tribal and mystical heritage. Here's an overview of the country's must-sees.
1. Abidjan, capital of Côte d'Ivoire
Arriving in Abidjan, you're immediately struck by the height, excess and immensity of this sprawling megalopolis, dubbed "Africa's little Manhattan" when the Plateau towers were built. Once inside, the city is an urban whirlwind. The city, one of Africa's 10 must-see destinations, hides a fascinating architectural and social syncretism: vertically aggressive and modern on the Plateau; luxuriously languid and secretive in the villas of the tree-lined valleys of Cocody, where art galleries flourish; industrialized and portside on the lagoon in Treichville; trendy, chic and shocking in Marcory, chaotic and exuberant in Abobo and Yopougon... It takes time to discover and enjoy Babi's charms, and that's what makes it so interesting: it' s a cosmopolitan city with a host of places to try out : maquis, restaurants, cafés, bars and, of course, clubs, to keep the party going all night long.
2. The peaceful atmosphere of Yamoussoukro
Founded by the "Old Man", the father of the nation Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who wanted to turn his village into the country's capital, Yamoussoukro is best discovered forits peaceful atmosphere and monumentalarchitectural beauty . Its immense basilica, its Peace Research Foundation, its presidential palace with 200 sacred crocodiles and its retro-futuristic Hôtel Président are emblematic. But the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, the world's largest Christian edifice, is THE must-see on the vast avenues of "Yakro". A replica of the Vatican's St. Peter's Basilica, it stands in a landscape of ochre earth and savannah, surrounded by a formal garden and a huge forecourt. The 90-meter-diameter dome, which crowns the building at a height of 60 meters, is impressive, as are the 7,360 m² of colorful stained-glass windows that decorate the basilica.
3. Grand-Bassam, a must-see!
Grand-Bassam is a must for any visitor to Côte d'Ivoire. As the first coastal town to emerge from Abidjan, of which it is now practically a suburb, it is a popular ocean destination. Hotels and beachside maquis follow one another between lagoon and beach. It's also a cultural destination, with its old French quarter listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A charming little town, "the city of the four winds" is much more than just a seaside resort. The first capital of the Ivory Coast colony and cradle of the fight for independence, this daughter of water and wind also embodies the confluence of past and present, globalized modernity and firmly rooted traditions, the boisterous excitement of working-class neighborhoods and the languid gentleness of the seaside. Consumerist hedonism, whose high mass is played out every weekend on the beach, coexists with ancestral beliefs.
4. Fresh air in the mountains of Man
The mountainous west of Côte d'Ivoire, close to the borders with Liberia and Guinea, stands out clearly from the rest of the country. This region is covered in dense forest, dotted with forested mountains peaking at over 1,000 meters, including Mount Nimba and Mount Tonkpi, as well as imposing granite peaks shaped by erosion, such as the famous Dent de Man. At the heart of this verdant Dix-Huit Montagnes region lies Man, the Yacoubas' stronghold and a city not to be missed. Despite its war-torn past, Man is enjoying a dynamic renaissance and boasts great tourist potential, thanks to its mountains, liana bridges, waterfalls and the mystical culture of the Yacoubas.
5. Assinie, Côte d'Ivoire's chic seaside resort
Assinie is Côte d'Ivoire 's chic seaside resort, popular at weekends. Between the two villages, Assouindé on one side and Mafia on the other, a 20 km road is lined with fairly luxurious hotel complexes. They are located on the edge of the lagoon, while boats provide the link to the beach, where you can also find rentals. Assinie was the first destination where Club Med opened a village outside Europe. The beach here is very long (20 km), and has retained its enchanting wild aspect on many undeveloped sections, no doubt due to the narrowness of this strip of sand between ocean and lagoon. It's also a very safe place to swim, unlike Grand-Bassam.
6. Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire's must-see nature reserve
Taï National Park is the must-see nature park in Côte d'Ivoire. Located in the west and south-west of the country, 200 km from the town of Man between the Sassandra and Cavally rivers, it is a unique nature reserve covering over 300,000 hectares of dense rainforest. It is home to some 140 species of mammal, including 12 species of primate, hundreds of species of bird, dozens of species of amphibian and reptile... The site's exceptional biological and ecological value earned it UNESCO World Heritage status in 1982. Since 1978, it has also belonged to the network of Biosphere Reserves, and since 1991 it has been included on the list of the world's 11 most endangered sites. Indeed, it is subject to numerous poaching attacks.
7. The port of San Pedro and Grand Bereby's Siren Bay
Close to neighboring Liberia, San Pedro is the large western town known for its port and also an interesting seaside resort for mixing city atmosphere with markets and scrubland and beach farniente, from budget to luxury hotels. Less than an hour's drive away, we reach Grand-Béréby, a famous spot that is home to the famous "Bay of Sirens". It stretches across a beautiful site, at the end of an unspoilt bay. The bungalows blend harmoniously into this wonderful natural environment. Other hotels and camps have since been established in this idyllic setting. The surrounding area boasts magnificent wild beaches such as Dawa, Mani and Mékéné, where eco-camps have been set up.
8. Meet the real Africa in Korhogo
In the north, Korhogo is the capital of the Savanes District and the Poro region, and is now the fourth largest city in Côte d'Ivoire in terms of population and economy. The mythical capital of the Savanes region, Korhogo is seven centuries old and counting, transported from neighbouring countries via neighbouring Burkina Faso by the incessant ballet of motorcycles and dump trucks. As the city of the Senoufo people, Korhogo is the ideal base for visiting the region. The Senoufo community is essentially peasant, animist and hierarchically organized into castes of initiates, with a strong socio-religious cohesion that has long aroused fascination and questions. And indeed, for many people, a trip to the "Far North" is an encounter with the real Africa.
9. Grand-Lahou, an authentic village to visit in Côte d'Ivoire
Grand-Lahou, the city of three waters, is the last stop before the thick coastal jungle. An authentic village with pretty surroundings and an ideal base for visiting the nearby Azagny National Park and the mouth of the Bamdama River. Côte d'Ivoire's third colonial town was built on a narrow strip of sand between the Atlantic Ocean and Tagba Lagoon, at the mouth of the Bandama River. Apart from a picturesque, lively market on Fridays and a few religious buildings, Grand-Lahou's main attraction is a trip by pirogue to Lahou Plage, the mouth of the Bandama River and the sacred lake. A must is a boat trip to the Azagny National Park and the village of Lahou Plage.
10. Try out Ivorian gastronomy
Sauce claire, sauce graine, sauce feuille, sauce arachide, chicken kédjénou, yam stew, chicken, carp and braised mutton... The list is long, non-exhaustive, musical and mouth-watering... Côte d'Ivoire, land of a thousand flavours? Located in the heart of West Africa, Côte d'Ivoire offers a rich overview of the region's gastronomy. It's a cuisine that can be savoured in the maquis, the small, modest, family-run restaurants that are at the heart of Ivorian social life. Inhabitants come here not only to enjoy tasty dishes at affordable prices, but also to chat and spend time with their loved ones.
11. Party into the night
Abidjan, one of the 10 destinations for music lovers, never sleeps. It's as if the Ivoirians, hedonists and enjoyers to the core, champions of "vivance" as they say in the country, wanted to get ahead of any possible misfortune, living to the rhythm of the little promises and joys of everyday life: drinking, eating, dancing, chatting, laughing out loud... To taste it is to embrace it... And if the restaurants close around midnight, there's no real closing time for the clubs: the party goes on all night long, as long as the dance floor is lively! Ivorians love to get drunk and go out... in every city in the country. So don't waste a second in trying your hand at coupé-décalé!
Did this selection convince you? Discover our article How to obtain a visa for Côte d'Ivoire?
