Abidjan
Abidjan is Côte d'Ivoire's largest city, a lagoon port with office towers, music venues and grilled fish at open-air maquis restaurants.
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Abidjan is Côte d'Ivoire's largest city and its commercial center, on the Gulf of Guinea coast around the Ébrié Lagoon. Yamoussoukro is the official capital, but Abidjan is where most international flights land. The Plateau is the downtown core, with office towers, banks and bridges over the lagoon. Cocody, Marcory and Treichville are districts visitors often use as a base.
Go for urban pace, music venues and food more than beaches. Eat attiéké (fermented cassava couscous) with grilled fish at open-air maquis restaurants. Banco National Park, a forest reserve inside the city, has shaded walking trails. Grand-Bassam, about 40 km east, is a former colonial capital and UNESCO World Heritage site that works as a day trip. The drier months, roughly December to March, are the best time to visit. Three days covers the city and the day trip.
Abidjan in five
- Carry CFA francs and mobile moneyCards work in larger hotels and shops. Many markets, taxis and small restaurants take cash or mobile money such as Orange Money or Wave.Money and costs
- Buy an Orange, MTN or Moov SIM on arrivalPhone shops sell local SIMs and data bundles, and registration needs your passport. Ride apps and maps work much better with mobile data.Phones and eSIM
- Agree the taxi fare before you get inPlain taxis are usually not metered, so settle the price first and keep small notes for the driver.
- Check your visa before you book flightsVisa rules depend on your nationality and change over time, so confirm them with the Ivorian embassy or consulate before you pay for a flight.Visas and entry
- Visit Banco National Park earlyThe rainforest park is inside the city. Go in the morning, when it is cooler, and carry your own water.
Things to do in Abidjan
See all attractions in Abidjan
Need to know
- Currency
- West African CFA franc (XOF)
- Entry
- Visa rules depend on your passport; check before you fly
- Emergency
- 110 police, 180 fire, 185 ambulance (SAMU)
- Tipping
- Not required in most places
- Time
- UTC+0, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain16 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Dry, hazyJanuaryRain
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hazy
- FebruaryRain17 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Dry, sunnyFebruaryRain
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, sunny
- MarchRain20 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Hot, dryMarchRain
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 116 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- AprilRain22 rainy daysHigh30°Low27°Rains returnAprilRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 138 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains return
- MayRain26 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Heavy rainMayRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 249 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Heavy rain
- JuneRain28 rainy daysHigh27°Low25°Heavy rainJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 383 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Heavy rain
- JulyRain20 rainy daysHigh26°Low24°Rain, coolerJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 135 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, cooler
- AugustRain14 rainy daysHigh26°Low23°Short dry spellAugustRain
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Short dry spell
- SeptemberRain19 rainy daysHigh26°Low24°Humid, showersSeptemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Humid, showers
- OctoberRain27 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Short rainsOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 145 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Short rains
- NovemberRain25 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°RainyNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 124 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy
- DecemberRain21 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Dry, dustyDecemberRain
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 85 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, dusty
Average daily high and low in Abidjan, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Abidjan
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
28
- Feels like
- 31°
- Humidity
- 77%
- Wind
- 17 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 95%
Abidjan
08:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today32°26°95%Monday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 95%.
- Tue30°25°100%Tuesday: Rain. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed30°24°100%Wednesday: Rain. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Thu31°24°92%Thursday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 92%.
- Fri30°25°99%Friday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 99%.
- Sat31°25°100%Saturday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sun31°25°96%Sunday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 96%.
Updated 04:47 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 587.8 XOF
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Grand-Bassamabout 1 hour by roadA former colonial capital with an old town on the UNESCO list, on the coast east of Abidjan.
- Yamoussoukroabout 3 hours by roadThe official capital, home to the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, a very large church built in the late 1980s.
- Assinieabout 2 hours by road, depending on trafficA beach resort east of Abidjan, reached along the coast road.
Before you go to Abidjan
Rules for Abidjan, checked
- Check visa rules for your nationality with the Ivorian embassy or consulate before you fly.
- Do not photograph police, military or government buildings without asking. Officers may question you at a checkpoint.
- Carry your passport or a certified copy at all times. Identity checks at police roadblocks are common in Abidjan.
Plan around Abidjan
Cities beyond Abidjan, entry and money
Read the guideMoney and costsPaying in CFA francs and mobile money
Read the guideVisas and entryChecking the rules for your passport before you fly
Read the guideWhere to stayPlateau, Cocody, Marcory and Treichville compared
Read the guideGetting aroundTaxis, shared transport and the airport run
Read the guideMusic in AbidjanCoupé-décalé and live music nights in the city
Read the guideAbidjan FAQ
Is Abidjan worth visiting?
Yes, for two or three days. Plateau's towers, the lagoon bridges, Banco National Park and the nightlife in Cocody and Zone 4 give a clear picture of the city.
How many days do you need in Abidjan?
Three days covers Plateau, Cocody and Banco National Park at an easy pace. Add a day for Grand-Bassam, a former colonial capital about an hour away by road.
Where should I stay in Abidjan?
Plateau for business trips and walking to the lagoon, Cocody for restaurants and quieter streets, and Treichville for markets and budget rooms near the port.
Do I need cash in Abidjan?
Yes. Carry CFA francs for markets, taxis and small restaurants. Cards work in larger hotels and shops, and mobile money also works at many small businesses.
What language is spoken in Abidjan?
French is the official language and the one you will use most. Learn a few French greetings before you go.
Is Abidjan safe for tourists?
Check your government's current travel advice before you go. After dark, take a taxi rather than walking, and avoid quiet streets.
Can you day-trip to Grand-Bassam from Abidjan?
Yes. It takes about an hour by road, depending on traffic, so leave in the morning to see the old town before the heat builds.