Zou plateau, north of Cotonou
Abomey, from Cotonou.
The capital of the kingdom of Dahomey, and its royal palaces, on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1985.
The distance
133 km from Cotonou, 1 h 30 to 2 h 30 of driving.
When to go
November to March, the road and the visit are easier. In the rainy season, allow margin on the drive.
Where it is
Zou plateau, north of Cotonou
What you see at Abomey
Twelve kings ruled at Abomey, each building his palace beside his father's: it is that ensemble of red earth, with its polychrome bas-reliefs, that UNESCO listed. The historical museum occupies the palaces of Ghézo and Glèlè, and tells the kingdom's story plainly, the slave trade included. It is the longest trip from Cotonou, and the one that leaves the sharpest memory.
- The royal palaces of Abomey, World Heritage
- The historical museum and its bas-reliefs
- The craft workshops, appliqué hangings and brass casting
- Goho square and the market
In practice
It is a full day: leave at six or seven, back late afternoon. The museum is visited with a guide, included in the ticket. If you would rather not do the round trip in one day, tell us: we arrange the night there and you keep your Cotonou home.
Where to sleep between trips
Keep your home in Cotonou and travel out from it: cheaper than a hotel at every stop, and you come back to your own place each night.
Common questions
- Are the Abomey palaces UNESCO-listed?
- Yes. The royal palaces of Abomey have been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1985.
- Can Abomey be done in a day?
- Yes, if you leave early: one hundred and thirty-three kilometres, one and a half to two and a half hours depending on traffic leaving Cotonou. Allow twelve hours door to door.
We arrange the trip
Driver, timings, a guide on site: tell us the date and we handle the rest.
+229 01 67 60 80 60
Photograph : Karalyn Monteil · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO