Things to Do in Abidjan

About Abidjan

Abidjan sits where the Atlantic meets West Africa, and the city won't choose between its French past and African present. Glass towers rise over Ébrié Lagoon while Coupé-Décalé music pounds from markets into shopping malls. This works. In Cocody's tree-lined streets, women in colorful pagnes walk alongside suited businesspeople, and the smell of attiéké mixes with café au lait outside bistros. Each district tells a different story—Grand-Bassam displays colonial architecture, Plateau hums with banking energy, Treichville delivers authentic street life. You can't see one Abidjan. The city greets visitors with warm smiles and real complexity, then leaves them changed by an energy that is hard to shake.

Travel Tips

Transportation: Grab a shared orange taxi for 200-500 CFA ($0.30-0.80) or flag down a woro-woro minibus for 100-300 CFA ($0.15-0.50). Yango ride-hailing works well in Cocody and Plateau districts. For the airport, negotiate a taxi for 5,000-10,000 CFA ($8-16) from Plateau. Traffic on Boulevard Houphouet-Boigny can double travel times during rush hour - travel between 10am and 3pm when possible.

Money: West African CFA franc (XOF) is pegged to the euro at 656 CFA per EUR. ATMs at SGBCI and Ecobank in Plateau are reliable. Orange Money and MTN MoMo handle most transactions - even street vendors accept mobile money. Budget $24-40 daily for comfortable travel. Visa and Mastercard work at restaurants in Zone 4 and Cocody, but carry cash everywhere else.

Cultural Respect: Greet with a handshake and ask about family before discussing business - rushing is considered rude. French is official, but learning Dioula basics like 'I ni che' (hello) opens doors in markets. Dress smartly in Plateau business district. When visiting mosques in Adjame or Treichville, remove shoes and cover shoulders. Photography of government buildings is prohibited.

Food Safety: Attieke with grilled fish at Maquis du Port costs 1,500-2,500 CFA ($2.40-4). Garba - attieke with fried tuna and onions - is the street food king at 300-500 CFA ($0.50-0.80). Alloco (fried plantains with chili) in Cocody runs 500-1,000 CFA ($0.80-1.60). Fresh bissap juice costs 100-200 CFA ($0.15-0.30). Eat where locals queue and avoid tap water - sachets of pure water cost 25 CFA ($0.04).

When to Visit

Abidjan's tropical climate offers two distinct seasons, each with unique advantages. The dry season (November-March) brings the most comfortable weather with temperatures ranging 24-32°C, minimal rainfall (under 60mm monthly), and cooling harmattan winds from the Sahara. This peak period sees hotel rates increase 40-60%, but you'll enjoy perfect beach weather and clear skies for exploring. December-January is particularly busy with French holidays and local festivities. The wet season (April-October) divides into lighter rains (April-July, September-October) with temperatures of 25-30°C and heavy downpours (August-September) reaching 400mm monthly. Budget travelers benefit from 30-50% lower accommodation rates, lush green landscapes, and fewer crowds, though afternoon thunderstorms are frequent. Key festivals include FEMUA music festival (March), showing African artists, and Fête du Dipri in nearby villages (March-April). The Abidjan Carnival occurs in February during peak dry season. Business travelers should avoid August when many locals vacation. First-time visitors should choose November-February for optimal weather, while culture ensoiasts might prefer the lively wet season when local life is most authentic, despite occasional travel disruptions from flooding.