Overview

The Ivory Coast’s capital city is Abidjan, nestled along the southern Atlantic coast of Cote d’Ivoire in West Africa. This booming capital is brimming with skyscrapers that rise above the Ebrie Lagoon, some of the tallest buildings in the country. There are several upscale neighborhoods dotted around the city center including Le Plateau, Cocody, Marcory, Yopougon, and Port Bouet. Abidjan is home to some popular landmarks including La Pyramide, a ziggurat-style building, the elaborate St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Le Musee des Civilisations de Cote d’Ivoire.

The city of Abidjan has historically been the economic center of the region boasting a large selection of stylish restaurants, upscale hotels, large shopping centers, sightseeing, and lively nightlife. It is one of the largest and most populous cities in the country and is home to over 20% of the entire population of the Ivory Coast. It is the expat capital of the region with 5 million expats and foreigners from all over Europe and Africa, particularly French, as this is the official language in Abidjan. This beautiful city is filled with wide, shady boulevards and verdant garden squares. Abidjan has a museum of traditional Ivoirian art, a national library, and several agricultural, and scientific research institutes.

Abidjan is the chief port of the Cote d’Ivoire, it quickly expanded after the construction of a new wharf in 1931, and the completion of the Vridi Canal in 1951. The port city is separated from the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic by the Vridi Plage sandbar. It has been an important rail hub in the region since 1904. The Vridi Canal opened the lagoon to the sea in 1950 and the city then became a major shipping and financial center of French-speaking West Africa. Petit-Bassam Island was built in 1958 and is the industrial area where the mineral and petroleum docks are located along the Vridi Canal.

Things to see and do

Banco National Park is located immediately north of Abidjan. The large national park was established in 1953 and conserves both flora and fauna. Filled with verdant tropical hardwood trees that occupy most of the park, an arboretum displaying trees and shrubs from all over the country. There are different animals that roam the park including African civet, genet, bushbuck, duiker, and monkies.

Take a stroll through the lovely neighborhood of Le Plateau, the commercial and administrative heart of the Ivory Coast. This area is home to several iconic buildings, shopping centers, and sprawling parks, it is often nicknamed “Little Manhattan” or “Little Paris” and is home to tall buildings that date back to the early 70s and 80s. This district is great to explore on foot and check out some of the best dining, entertainment, and nightlife options in Abidjan, much of which can be found on Blvd De la Republique.

St. Paul’s Cathedral is on the popular Blvd de la Republique, a modern and imposing cathedral and one of the main landmarks in the city. This striking cathedral was designed by Aldo Spirito an Italian architect, construction began on May 11, 1980, when the first stone was laid by Pope John Paul II during his first pastoral visit to Cote d’Ivoire. It is the second-largest church on the African continent, one of the largest cathedrals in the world, and can hold 3,500 people.

The Grande Mosquee du Plateau is one of the largest Muslim religious sites in the country. Construction began in 1996 as a place of worship for the Plateau’s Muslim population. The stunning mosque features a richly decorated facade, with tall minarets and topped by a blue dome with marble floors inside.

Visit the Amani Gallery and check out the displays of paintings, and home decor created by local artists. The gallery allows visitors to discover contemporary African art with a wide selection of tables, chairs, mirrors, benches, and statues, most of which are handmade. Each piece of art is for sale, so visitors can select their favorite piece to call their own.

CAVA, or the Center Artisanal de la Ville is a town of artisans with workshops selling a variety of unique handicrafts. Visitors can pick up Korhogo cloth paintings, batiks, loincloths, jewelry, and folk art. There are countless authentic stalls, cabins, galleries, and souvenir shops to explore and to see local artisans at work.

The Musee National des Costumes is located outside of the city, a great place to visit to learn about the clothes and culture of the peoples of the Ivory Coast. It was established in 1981 and features a variety of exhibits on traditional clothing, and crafts from different ethnic groups from the region. The first floor features mannequins modeling colorful clothing, and the second floor features a collection of old photos and postcards of local history.

Shopping

There are some great shopping opportunities in Abidjan. There is an amazing array of malls and markets to satisfy your shopping needs. Abidjan has been dubbed the “Paris of West Africa” due to the number of shopping opportunities, with popular items such as African crafts, Ivorian masks, and unique trinkets.

Explore the bustling markets in the capital city such as Abidjan’s artisanal center (known as the CAVA - Centre Artisanal de la Ville d’Abidjan) an absolute must-see. The markets are made up of fifty or so stalls, with red brick and earthenware huts that make up some sort of little village where local craftsmen sell their specialized creations from jewelry to sculptures, fashion to painting, and musical instruments to crystal work. There is a popular market in the Treichville neighborhood selling a variety of items including second-hand clothing, high-tech gadgets, and smoked fish. The Cocody Saint Jean market is located at the heart of the affluent Embassy District, a sprawling modern labyrinth of over 400 shops. Cap Sud is a large shopping center featuring luxury boutiques, a 3D cinema, and plenty of dining options. Sococe is another landmark in the city, a local mall featuring a big grocery store, sports and clothing shops, and a majestic cinema. The Playce Marcory shopping center is one of the largest in the city with a food court that seats over 400 people.

Dining

Nightlife