Ivory Coast: Travelling

Means of Transport Recommended in Town

Recommendation

The road network is well developed and many roads are asphalted.

Taxis are a practical and cheap means of transport, the fare is fixed however many kilometers are covered. You can recognize them by their orange color in Abidjan and Bouaké; in Yamoussoukro they are white with green and orange stripes.

Each large town has at least one bus station serving Abidjan at least. The most comfortable and reliable public transport is the bus. The use of the bush-taxi has fallen off since a real bus network at the national level has been developed.

The train is also used less and less. It links Abidjan to Dimbokro, Bouaké, Ferkéssédougou, Bobo Dioulasso and Ouagadougou.

Maps of Urban Networks

UT Library on line
Mapblast

Transportation From Airport to City Centre:

Airport	Distance	Taxi	Bus	Train	Car Rental
Abidjan - Houphouët-Boigny (ABJ)	15 km / 9 miles	XOF 1500 - USD 12 / 20-30 min	XOF 210 / 25 min	-	Available

Means of Transport Recommended in the Rest of the Country

Recommendation

The road is the best means of transport.

Airlines

You Can Consult The EU Air Safety List. Look Also at the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Travelling By Yourself

Recommendation

Most of the Ivorian road network is asphalted. However, you should avoid driving at night because of the many hold-ups.

Road Maps

Bing Maps
Map of Côte d'Ivoire

Find an Itinerary

Map of Ivory Coast - Via Michelin

Different Forms of Tourism

Historical

From the North to the South, there are many historical monuments: the French district in Bassam, the Governors' house in Bingerville.

Cultural

Bonoua (residence of the king of the Abouré), Krinjabo (Agni country), Sénoufo country, Dan country, Sakassou (capital of the Baoulé kingdom).

Nature

A succession of rocky cliffs and sandy creeks on the south-west coast ( Lahou-Fresco-Sassandra-san Pédro, etc....). Ecological tourism: 6 national parks ( Azagny - Comoé - Banco - Tai - Marahoué - Péko - Sanglé Mount - the Ehotilés islands ). Apart from these parks there are the reserves of Divo, Mount Nimba, Lamto and the Abokouamekro Game Reserve.

Religious

The mosques of Kong and Kawara, not forgetting the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro ( a copy of St Peter's Basilica in Rome).

Thermal

Nonexistent.

Beach

Seaside tourism: 500 km of beaches with coconut palm plantations in the south-east (Abidjan-Bassam-Assinie).

Winter Sports

Nonexistent.

Outdoor Activities

All water sports can be practiced on 300 000 hectares of lagoon.  There are golf courses in Abidjan, Bouaké, San Pédro and Yamoussoukro; the Abidjan marathon and many sports events.

Shopping

Awélé (an abstract strategy board game), masks, bronze, gold or silver jewelry, colored material, drums, leather goods, Korhogo fabrics.

Tourism Organisations

Côte d'Ivoire Tourism
Information portal on tourism in Côte d'Ivoire
Réseau Ivoire (Network Ivoire - in French)

Health and Safety

Health Precautions

A certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is required for all travelers over one year old. There is a risk of malaria in its malignant P. falciparum form all year round throughout the country. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported. Recommended prophylaxis: MEF. Vaccination is strongly advised against tetanus, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, meningococcal disease, typhoid fever, hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
To avoid traveler's diarrhea, you should avoid the foods most at risk: dishes prepared and then eaten cold later; seafood, meat, fish which are badly cooked or not cooked enough, and raw vegetables and fruit you have not peeled yourself. Drinking water must be boiled and filtered or drunk from sealed bottles. You are also advised to wash your hands with water and soap or with a hydroalcoolic solution.

International Hospitals

Sainte Marie International Polyclinic

For Further Information on Sanitary Conditions

Recommendations for travelers from the World Health Organization (WHO) (in English)

For Further Information on Safety Conditions

The UK Foreign Office Travel Advice
Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
U.S. Department of State Crime & Safety Report

Time Difference and Climate

Time and Time Difference

It is %T:%M %A In Yamoussoukro, Abidjan (GMT)

Summer Time Period

The hottest period is from March to May.