Benin: Travelling

Entry Requirements

Check IATA Travel Website for visa requirements and health advices.

Airport	Distance	Taxi	Bus	Train	Car Rental
Cotonou Cadjehoun Airport (COO)	4 km/2.5 miles	10 min XOF 2,500-5,000	Hotel shuttles are available	N/A	Available

Health Precautions: There are no specific vaccination requirements to enter Benin (except for vaccine against yellow fever which is required for any travellers aged one year or more and for travellers coming from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission). Nevertheless, WHO and foreign ministries of various countries recommend the following vaccines before entering the country: Hepatitis A, Malaria, Typhoid, Hepatitis B, Meningitis, Cholera and Rabies. Vaccination against Measles is also required.
For Further Information on Sanitary Conditions: CDC - Health Information for Travellers to Benin
For Further Information on Safety Conditions: U.S. Department of State - Benin Travel Information
Government of Canada - Benin Travel Advice

Time and Time Difference: It is %T:%M %A In Porto Novo (GMT+1)
Summer Time Period: There are no daylight saving time clock changes in Benin

Time zone

Type of Climate: Benin is located in the Gulf of Guinea and has a tropical climate, with two rainy and two dry seasons: the main rainy season goes from April to late July, with a less intense rainy period from late September to November; whereas the main dry season is from December to April, with a short cooler dry season from late July to early September.
A dry wind from the Sahara (known as “harmattan”) blows from December to March in the north. In Cotonou, the average maximum temperature is 31 °C, the minimum is 24 °C.
For further information: National Meteorological or Hydrometeorological Service (METEO BENIN)

Climate

Domestic Currency: CFA Franc BCEAO
ISO Code: XOF
Possible Means of Payment: Only some upmarket hotels take credit cards, as cash is the general payment method.
International Traveller's Cheques are accepted in major cities if denominated in EUR or GBP.

Official Language: French
Other Languages Spoken: A total of 55 languages are spoken in Benin, of which 50 are indigenous. Fon and Yoruba are spoken in South of Benin, with six major tribal languages being spoken in the North (including Bariba and Fulfulde).
Business Language: French and English

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