Ouidah
A coastal town in southern Benin where the history of the Atlantic slave trade and living Vodun traditions sit close together, a short trip from Cotonou.
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Ouidah is a coastal town in southern Benin, a short drive from Cotonou, the country's largest city. For about two centuries it was a major port in the Atlantic slave trade, and that history shapes the visit. The Route des Esclaves runs from the old town to the beach, past sites tied to the departure of enslaved people, and ends at the Gate of No Return. A Portuguese-era fort and the town's museum add the wider story.
Ouidah is also a center of Vodun, the religion practiced widely in Benin. Shrines, sacred forests and the Python Temple, where pythons are kept as sacred animals, are part of daily life here. Ask before photographing shrines and ceremonies. The town suits travelers interested in history and culture. The dry months, November to March, are the easiest time to visit. Plan one to two days, or add a longer stop if you are combining Ouidah with the coast or other parts of Benin.
Ouidah in five
- Carry West African CFA francs (XOF)Small guesthouses, stalls and moto-taxi drivers mostly want cash, so bring enough CFA francs for the days in town. MTN Mobile Money and Moov Money are also options.Money and costs
- Set up a local SIM from MTN or MoovPhone shops in Cotonou and Ouidah sell MTN and Moov SIMs, but they ask for your passport to register the line. Do it on arrival, before you need maps or a ride.Phones and eSIM
- Agree the fare before you get on a zemidjanZemidjan, the motorbike taxis most people use around Ouidah, do not run meters. Agree the price before you set off and ask for a helmet.Getting around
- Hire a guide at the Python Temple and the Route des EsclavesThe sites are short walks apart, but the history and the Vodun practices are hard to follow without someone to explain them. Ask for a guide at the entrance before you start.
- Learn French greetings and pricesFrench is the official language. Learn the greetings and the numbers for prices before you bargain at the market.
Things to do in Ouidah
See all attractions in Ouidah
Need to know
- Currency
- West African CFA franc (XOF)
- Entry
- Visa needed for many passports; check the official entry rules before you book Read more
- Emergency
- 117 police, 118 fire; ask your lodging for an ambulance
- Tipping
- Small tips appreciated, not required
- Time
- UTC+1, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCool mornings, dry
- FebruaryHarmattan dust
- MarchVodun Days
- AprilDry, hot
- MayHot, dry
- JuneRains start
- JulyRainy season
- AugustRainy, humid
- SeptemberShort dry spell
- OctoberRains return
- NovemberRains ease
- DecemberDry, pleasant
Festivals: Jan Fête du Vodoun
Right now in Ouidah
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
28
- Feels like
- 33°
- Humidity
- 81%
- Wind
- 8 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Ouidah
10:56 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today32°26°100%Monday: Thunderstorms. High 32°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue32°26°99%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 32°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 99%.
- Wed31°25°90%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 90%.
- Thu31°25°90%Thursday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 90%.
- Fri31°26°83%Friday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 83%.
- Sat32°25°76%Saturday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 76%.
- Sun31°26°87%Sunday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 87%.
Updated 09:26 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 587.8 XOF
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- JanFête du VodounOuidah
Day trips by train
- Cotonouabout 1 hour by road, longer in trafficBenin's largest city and home to the main international airport.
- Abomeyabout 2 to 3 hours by roadThe former royal palaces, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Ganviéabout 1.5 to 2 hours by road and boatA village built on stilts over Lake Nokoué, reached by boat.
- Grand-Popoabout 1 hour by roadA quieter beach town farther west along the coast.
Before you go to Ouidah
Rules for Ouidah, checked
- Many nationalities need a visa for Benin. Check the rules for your passport on the UK government travel advice page before you book.Source
- Cover shoulders and knees at the Python Temple and other shrines, and ask before you photograph a ceremony or a person.
- Ask for a receipt and check Benin's export rules before you buy masks, statues or other antiques to take home.
- Declare large sums of cash on arrival, and check the current threshold with Beninese customs before you travel.
Plan around Ouidah
Regions, entry, transport and money for a Benin trip
Read the guideVisas and entryWhat to check for your passport before you book flights
Read the guideMoney and costsCash, mobile money and typical prices for a day in Ouidah
Read the guideGetting aroundMoto-taxis, shared taxis and the road to Cotonou
Read the guideWhere to stayGuesthouses in town and near the beach
Read the guideFestivalsVodun ceremonies and festival dates in southern Benin
Read the guideOuidah FAQ
Is Ouidah worth visiting?
Yes, if you want the history of the slave trade and the Vodun sites in one place. It is a small town, so one or two days covers most trips.
How do you get from Cotonou to Ouidah?
By taxi or shared minibus from Cotonou, about an hour by road, longer in traffic. Agree the fare before you get in.
What is the Gate of No Return in Ouidah?
A monument on the coast that marks the place where captives were taken from the shore onto ships. It is the end point of the Route des Esclaves, the walk through town.
Can you see the sacred pythons in Ouidah?
Yes, at the Python Temple in town, where the snakes are kept as sacred. Ask the guide about the rules for getting close before you go in.
How many days do you need in Ouidah?
One full day covers the Python Temple, the Route des Esclaves and the Gate of No Return. Two days lets you add the beach and the Brazilian Quarter.
When is the Vodun festival in Ouidah?
Vodun Days is the main festival in Ouidah, and local ceremonies are not always fixed in advance. Check the dates with your lodging before you plan.