Things to Do in Abidjan in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
December Weather in Abidjan
Long-run averages for December
86°F (30°C)
High Temp
74°F (23°C)
Low Temp
3.0 inches (76 mm)
Rainfall
83%
Humidity
9
Sunny-Day UV
⚠ Very high UV on sunny days: use sunscreen and seek shade at midday
Making the most of December in Abidjan? Browse tours and activities in Abidjan on GetYourGuide.
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + You'll catch the final weeks of the dry season's grace period. The air carries that fresh, scrubbed-clean feel after heavy rains. The oppressive humidity of summer months hasn't fully returned yet. It won't last long. Enjoy it.
- + December in Abidjan means a city in full swing. Ivorians fill the tables at maquis and pack the beaches at Vridi. International tourists? Not here. The energy feels local. It feels real. Less performative, more lived-in.
- + The temperature is about as perfect as it gets here. Warm enough for a full day at Assinie or a lagoon-side restaurant like Bini Lagune without feeling baked. Cool enough in evenings that a light breeze off the Ébrié Lagoon becomes welcome company, not desperate necessity.
- + It's a fantastic month for food. The mangoes are finishing their run. You'll find spectacularly fresh lagoon fish instead. Roadside grills operate at peak efficiency. They fill the Plateau's evening air with braised chicken and smoky kelewele. That's spicy fried plantain. The smell alone is worth the trip.
Considerations
- − This is the start of the 'Harmattan' season. By late December, you might catch the leading edge. It's a fine, dusty haze blown in from the Sahara. The sun becomes a pale orange disc. Everything gets a gritty film. It doesn't happen daily. When it does, visibility drops. The air feels dry in a way Abidjan rarely does.
- − Not a tourist peak, but a busy social season locally. Getting a last-minute reservation at the legendary Chez Georges in Treichville requires planning. Prime beach cabana at Assinie on a weekend? Call a week ahead. Not a day. Locals know this. You should too.
- − The sea at beaches west of town, like Grand-Bassam, can still be rough. Churned up from the tail end of rainy season. It's swimmable. Don't expect glassy, turquoise calm from January brochures. The ocean is still settling. Be patient.
Settled on December? Compare hotel prices in Abidjan for your dates on Trip.com.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
In December, Abidjan's climate shifts noticeably from the heavy rains that define the earlier months. The air feels lighter and warmer, with average highs of thirty degrees Celsius and a sky more often clear than not, interrupted by brief, dramatic showers that leave the city's abundant greenery glistening. The rhythm of the city quickens as the dry Harmattan winds begin to whisper down from the Sahara, bringing a hazy glow to the afternoon light and a faint, dusty scent to the breeze. Locals spend more time outdoors, filling the terraces of lagoon-side cafes and the paths of the Banco National Park. While there are no major festivals that define the calendar this month, the city settles into a productive, festive hum in the lead-up to the year's end, with markets full of seasonal fruits and a palpable energy along the Corniche. This is a time to experience Abidjan not battling the intense humidity of the wet season nor the dense dust of peak Harmattan. But in a state of lively equilibrium.
Découverte Bini Lagune
otherA serene escape from the city's roadways, placing you on the calm, reflective waters of the Ébrié Lagoon in a traditional pirogue. You glide past floating villages where life develops on stilts, see fishermen casting nets by hand, and watch the modern skyline of Le Plateau recede into a silhouette against the sun.
To understand Abidjan's intimate relationship with its lagoon, seeing the city from the perspective that has defined it for centuries.
Insider tip: Book for the late afternoon, when the lowering sun casts a golden path across the water and the day's heat has softened.
Abidjan Walking Tour (French and English)
walking_tourWeaves through the core of the central business district, Le Plateau, where you feel the cool shade of towering skyscrapers like the twisting La Pyramide and hear the purposeful click of heels on mosaic sidewalks. The tour reveals the district's post-independence architectural ambition, punctuated by stops at the stark concrete Cathedral of Saint Paul and its sweeping views over the lagoon.
To grasp the audacious modern vision that defines this part of the city, a stark contrast to its older neighborhoods.
Insider tip: Focus on your guide in the busy central square, Place de la République, as the whirl of traffic and street vendors can be distracting.
Alternative City Tour
guided_experienceVentures into the pulsating heart of Treichville and Adjame, where the air fills with the smoky aroma of grilled alloco and the percussive beat of coupé-décalé music spills from maquis restaurants. This guided experience takes you through markets where stalls are piled high with bright wax print fabrics and the chatter of negotiation in Dioula and French creates a constant din.
Essential for anyone wanting to move beyond Abidjan's glossy facades and taste the raw, entrepreneurial energy that fuels the city.
Insider tip: Carry small bills for spontaneous purchases, like a cold bissap juice or a skewer of brochettes, from street vendors you'll encounter.
Private Tour of Abidjan
private_tourAllows for a completely tailored exploration, whether you wish to examine the scented alleyways of the Cocody market to find rare spices or request an unplanned stop to photograph the well-known Félix Houphouët-Boigny Bridge. Your personal vehicle navigates between the cool, marbled halls of the National Museum and the lively, paint-splattered studios of the Anono artists' village at your own pace.
For the ultimate flexibility to craft a day that aligns precisely with your interests, from political history to contemporary art.
Insider tip: Clearly communicate your desired balance between sightseeing, photography stops, and cultural interaction with your guide at the very start.
Abidjan and Grand Bassam A Tour of Two Cities
guided_experienceContrasts the modern economic capital with the faded grandeur of a former colonial seat, a UNESCO World Heritage site. You will feel the Atlantic Ocean breeze on your face as you walk Bassam's quiet, sandy streets past crumbling, pastel-colored mansions adorned with wooden fretwork, then return to Abidjan to see the gleaming steel and glass of the Riviera district.
To physically experience the historical narrative of the Ivory Coast within a single day, from the poignant silence of the former slave port to the dynamic buzz of the present-day metropolis.
Insider tip: Wear sturdy, comfortable shoes suitable for walking on uneven sandy paths in Grand Bassam.
Hippos Watching Tour
guided_experienceA unique journey into the wildlife surviving at the edge of the urban expanse, taking you by boat into the protected shallows of the Banco National Park. You sit in quiet anticipation, listening to the splash of water and the calls of birds, until you see the dark, rounded backs of hippopotamuses breaking the surface of the muddy river.
A rare chance to observe these massive creatures in their natural habitat, a surprising wilderness minutes from downtown Abidjan.
Insider tip: Bring binoculars for better viewing and to wear neutral-colored clothing to blend with the environment.
Where to Stay in Abidjan in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
Public Holidays in December
Dates that affect opening hours, transport and crowds
Christmas Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Christmas Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Christmas Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
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Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
The absolute best time to photograph the well-known St. Paul's Cathedral in the Plateau is late afternoon in December. The sun sits lower, casting long, dramatic shadows across the plaza and lighting the modern stained glass from behind without the harsh midday glare.
For an authentic local dinner, skip the restaurant and head to a *maquis* in Yopougon or Treichville after 8 PM. Don't look for a menu. Just point at what's simmering in the pots, likely *kedjenou* (chicken stew) or *grillé* (grilled fish), and they'll bring you a plate with *alloco* (fried plantain) and a cold Flag beer. The sound of chatter and highlife music is the real soundtrack of Abidjan.
If you want to buy fabrics, the Marché de Gros in Adjamé is the source, but it's overwhelming. For a more curated, if slightly pricier, experience with less hassle, go to the Marché de Cocody. The vendors are used to foreigners. The selection of wax prints and bazin riche is still excellent. You can browse without being jostled.
Abidjan's traffic is legendary and doesn't take a holiday in December. Your best strategy is to plan your days geographically. Do everything in the Plateau in one go, everything in Cocody another. Use the Hévéan app (the local Uber) or negotiate a fixed price with an orange taxi for several hours. Never get in a cab without agreeing on the fare first.
Avoid These Mistakes
Underestimating the sun and humidity. Even at 30°C (86°F), the 83% humidity and intense UV index will dehydrate you and burn you faster than you think. Drink water constantly. Don't wait until you're thirsty.
Trying to see 'all of Abidjan' in a couple of days. The city is a large collection of distinct communes. Pick two or three neighborhoods to explore, like Plateau for architecture, Treichville for nightlife, Cocody for upscale dining. Don't spend your entire trip in traffic.
Sticking only to French cuisine or hotel restaurants. The soul of Ivorian food is in the *maquis* and the street-side *alloco* stands. Not trying *attieké* (grated cassava) with grilled fish or a *garba* (fried tuna with attieke) from a plastic bag is like visiting Naples and skipping pizza.
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