Why go
- Largest city in Benin.
- Known for Cotonou Cathedral, Haie Vive district, Fondation Zinsou museum, Dantokpa Market.
- Served by Cotonou Cadjehoun International Airport (COO).
History
Cotonou is the seat of government and largest city of Benin. The official city proper population was 679,012 in 2012; however, over two million people live in the larger urban area. The urban area continues to expand, notably toward the west. The city lies in the southeast of the country, between the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Nokoué.
Where to stay
Cotonou, Benin · klikklakappart-hotel.com
1820 Boulevard de la Marina, Cotonou, Benin · sofitel.accor.com
6°21'14.6"N 2°25'21 Rue 235, Cotonou, Benin · bnbchezrita.com
993R+354, Rue 933, Cotonou, Benin · booking.com
9C93+68M, Rue 562, Cotonou, Benin · lapero-hotel.com
12ᵉ Arrondissement, Rue 12 355, Cotonou, Benin · maryhouse.bj
9FG3+8CR Akpakpa, Rue 1458, Cotonou, Benin · hotelmavillacotonou.com
Boulevard De La Marina, 08 Bp 0929, Cotonou, Benin · all.accor.com
Carré 93, Zone des Ambassades Rue 1.120 Akpakpa, Cotonou, Benin · beachsandhotel.com
N° 90 rue 12.017 - Boulevard de la Marina, Cotonou, Benin · goldentuliplediplomatecotonou.com
Rue du Centre Nationale de Casier Judiciaire, Rue 231, Cotonou, Benin · tamarinhotel.com
Boulevard de la Marina, Cotonou, Benin · hotel-benin-maison-rouge-cotonou.com
Rue 753, Finagnon, Cotonou, Benin · galileehotel.com
Place de Martyrs, Cotonou, Benin · lekareebene.com
Quartier Ganhi - Cotonou, Cotonou, Benin · azalai.com
Boulevard de la Marina, Cotonou, Benin · hotellesorchidees.com
Rue 1531, Cotonou, Benin · sites.google.com
Avenue Jean-Paul II, Cotonou, Benin · nobilaairporthotel.com
Marina PK 10 Route de Porto-Novo Agblangandan/Cotonou, Benin · hotel-casacornelia.com
Pont Martin Luther King, Cotonou, Benin · norahotelbenin.com
Benin, Cotonou, Rue Dako Donou, Quartier Tokpa Hoho Carré 57 · rivierahotelbenin.com
Rue 391, Cotonou, Benin · villa-ekabo.com
Cotonou, Benin · hotelleprince.com
Rue 1322, Cotonou, Benin · booking.com
BP: 31, Cotonou, Benin · reservation.hotelbelazurbenin.com
Carrefour Cossi Quartier Saint Jean, Cotonou, Benin · hotelsaintjeanctn.com
Gbegame 4 Vons Gnonas Pedro, Rue 616, Cotonou, Benin · noahgardenhotel.com
Quartier Jak-Aledjo, Rue PLM-ALEDJO 4884, AKPAKPA, Cotonou, Benin · benin.bkbghotels.com
Rue 230, Boulevard de la Marina, Cotonou, Benin
Ave Yekpe, Cotonou, Benin
9C5C+5QF, Face Hall des Arts Carré 368, 369 Boulevard Saint Michel, Cotonou, Benin
Avenue du Canada, Cadjehoun, Cotonou, Benin
Face à ECOBANK direction general, Ganhi, Cotonou, Benin
9C5H+CJ6, Cotonou, Benin
Proche du Commissariat, Rue 704, Cotonou, Benin
JAK, Cotonou, Benin
Lot 551-552, Rue de la Poste, Cotonou, Benin
Rue 382, Cotonou, Benin · cocoonguesthouse.com
9C5P+2C3 Care 16, Centre Commercial du Benin, Avenue Dorothee lima, Cotonou, Benin
Cotonou, Benin
Indoor
Indoor
Indoor
00229, Cotonou, Benin · guesthouse-cocotiers.com
Indoor
3 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Restaurants & places to go
African, Fast Food · cuisine : riz, attassi, wô+man Opening hours: 08:00-15:30 Features: takeaway
International, Restaurant · Restaurant · facebook.com
Food Court · Viande de Porc
Burger, African, Sandwich, American, Pasta, Italian, Pizza, Italian Pizza, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-02:00 Features: outdoor seating · lot 17… · livingstonehotelbenin.com
Sandwich, Frozen Yogurt, Fish And Chips, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Sa 09:00-20:00 Features: takeaway, delivery · Akpakpa, Cotonou
Pizza, Coffee Shop, Burger, Sandwich, Chicken, Barbecue, Bubble Tea, Noodle, Pasta, Fish, Diner, Breakfast, Cafe · Opening hours: Tu-Su 08:30-04:00 Features:…
Fast Food · Vente de Gbo kpètè et boisson
Chicken, Fast Food · Opening hours: Tu-Su 17:00-01:00
Fries, Salad, Sandwich, Regional, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-19:00 Features: delivery · Zogbadjè, Abomey–Calavi
Regional, Pizza, Burger, African, European, Restaurant · Opening hours: 24/7 Features: takeaway · 151 Rue 1322, Cotonou
Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-00:00 · Avenue Saint Michel · cigusta.com
Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-20:00; Sa-Su 07:00-13:00 · Lot G19 Les cocotiers · patiserrie-omani.com
French, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 08:30-20:00, Tu-Su 08:00-15:00; Sa 08:00-12:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, step-free access
Seafood, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-22:00 Features: outdoor seating
Ivorian, Restaurant · Ivorian restaurant · restaurantpimentrouge.business.site
Russian, Restaurant · Russian restaurant
Thai, Restaurant · Thai restaurant
Chawarma, Fast Food · Chawarma fast food
Italian, Restaurant · Italian restaurant
Chinese, Restaurant · Chinese restaurant
Spanish, Restaurant · Spanish restaurant
Lebanese, Pizza, Restaurant · Lebanese/Pizza restaurant
Italian Pizza, Italian, Restaurant · Italian Pizza/Italian restaurant · Boulevard Steinmetz
Indian, Restaurant · Indian restaurant
Ice Cream · ice cream
African, American, Arab, Coffee Shop, Ice Cream, French, Mexican, Friture, Steak House, Cake, Burger, Breakfast, Pizza, Fish, Chicken, Pasta, Sandwich,…
International, Restaurant · Features: vegan options · Cotonou
Food Court · Opening hours: 08:30-12:30,15:30-20:00
Sandwich, Juice, Regional, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-We 09:00-22:00; Th-Sa 10:00-20:00 Features: takeaway · Fifadji, Cotonou
Pizza, Restaurant · Features: takeaway, step-free access
Fast Food · Opening hours: 24/7
Chicken, Restaurant · Chicken restaurant
Regional, Cafe · Features: outdoor seating · Abomey-Calavi
Restaurant · Restauration sur place et à emporter, simple et pas cher dans un cadre soigné et accueil chaleureux.
Cafe · Opening hours: 24/7
French, Seafood, Fish, Chicken, Sandwich, Restaurant · Features: outdoor seating, takeaway
Thai, Vietnamese, Restaurant · Thai/Vietnamese restaurant
Italian, International, Restaurant · Italian/International restaurant
Chinese, Restaurant · Chinese restaurant
Lebanese, Restaurant · Lebanese restaurant
African, Restaurant · Opening hours: 10:00-24:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, step-free access
International, Belgian, Congo, Restaurant · International/Belgian restaurant
Food Court · Opening hours: 24/7 Features: step-free access
Pizza, Restaurant · Pizza restaurant
Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 09:00-01:00
265 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
Cotonou Cadjehoun International Airport (COO) 4.5 km to the centre
Cotonou, AQ, BJ — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 19 airlines (Ethiopian Airlines, Senegal Airlines, Mauritania Airlines International, Hapagfly…) · direct flights to 18 destinations incl. Abidjan, Douala, Pointe-noire, Bamako, Brazzaville… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Serves Lagos (111 km) — the low-cost way in
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 19 airlines, 18 direct destinations
- Ethiopian Airlines ET (DH8, 757-200, 737-700) · 5 routes: Abidjan, Abuja*, Addis Ababa, Lome*, Niamey*
- Senegal Airlines DN (A320) · 5 routes: Abidjan, Bamako, Dakar, Douala, Libreville
- Mauritania Airlines International L6 (737-700) · 4 routes: Abidjan, Bamako, Brazzaville, Pointe-noire
- Hapagfly HF (Embraer 170, A319) · 3 routes: Abidjan, Accra, Lome
- Pacific East Asia Cargo Airlines Q8 (732, 737-300) · 3 routes: Brazzaville, Libreville, Pointe-noire
- Varig Log LC (737) · 3 routes: Brazzaville, Douala, Pointe-noire
- World Scale Airlines W3 (CRJ-900, 737-700) · 3 routes: Dakar, Douala, Lagos
- Air Burkina 2J (M87) · 2 routes: Lome, Ouagadougou
- Chicago Express C8 (146) · 2 routes: Bata, Malabo
- Dennis Sky DH (ATR 72) · 2 routes: Bamako, Libreville
- Air Canada AC (A330-200) · 1 route: Abidjan*
- Air France AF (A340-300) · 1 route: Paris
- Brussels Airlines SN (A330-200) · 1 route: Abidjan
- Camair-co QC (737) · 1 route: Douala
- Kenya Airways KQ (737-800) · 1 route: Nairobi
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (A330-200) · 1 route: Abidjan*
- Royal Air Maroc AT (737-800) · 1 route: Lagos
- South African Airways SA (A320) · 1 route: Pointe-noire
- United Airlines UA (A330-200) · 1 route: Abidjan*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Getting there by ferry
Embarcadère pour Ganvié
Ferry terminal · 12 km from the centre
Adounko Kpèvi
Ferry terminal · 16 km from the centre
Togbin Adounko
Ferry terminal · 16 km from the centre
Adounko Daho
Ferry terminal · 16 km from the centre
Embarcadère "Bab's Dock"
Ferry terminal · 17 km from the centre
Hio Houta
Ferry terminal · 20 km from the centre
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
May – September
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Shoulder season
April, October
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Worth avoiding
Deep winter
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Cotonou Cadjehoun International Airport (COO). Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: COO has direct flights to 18 destinations on 19 airlines (incl. Abidjan, Douala, Pointe-noire, Bamako, Brazzaville…). By water: 6 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Embarcadère pour Ganvié, 12 km).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Cotonou, Bénin. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.
Charter, management, FBO, MRO · Managed fleet worldwide · General Dynamics company: charter, completions and FBOs in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US.