The checklist as a PDF
Entry, health, money, transport and safety, laid out for print, with their sources and verification date.
Côte d’Ivoire
West Africa
Magnificent beaches, nature reserves and buzzing cities. Grand-Bassam, northern mosques and the forests of Taï.
- On the map
CapitalYamoussoukro
When to goDecember to February
Suggested length10 days min.
CurrencyWest African CFA franc
LanguagesFrench
The Viafro verdict
For whom, and for which trip.
An editorial bearing, with no percentage and no rating: our criteria are written down, and every “good to know” links to its source.
- For which trip
- Abidjan · Assinie · Yamoussoukro · San Pedro · Bouaké
- Best season
- December to February, from Abidjan’s normals
- Length
- Allow at least 10 days for these 5 essentials, one stop every two or three days. (Viafro’s rule of thumb)
Best time to visit
Twelve months, in colour.
Hover or tap a month: its reading and its source appear. Bars measure rain, the figure is the capital’s mean maximum.
Avoid
November
Abidjan: mean maximum 32 °C, 170 mm of rain · rainy season.
- Mean maximum
- 32 °C
- Rain
- 170 mm
- Station
- Abidjan
Source: Wikipedia (climate normals)
Before you go
The essentials, tab by tab.
Entry, health, safety, money and facts: dated official extracts, never paraphrased.
Visa, passport, customs
GOV.UK advice, written for British passport holders. Other nationalities should check the country’s official website.
- To enter Côte d’Ivoire, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive. Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
- You must have a visa to enter Côte d’Ivoire.
- To enter Côte d’Ivoire, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination. For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Côte d’Ivoire guide.
Vaccines, malaria, water
This is not medical advice: talk to your doctor or an international vaccination centre before you travel.
- At least 8 weeks before your trip:
- Medical facilities in Abidjan are of a reasonable standard but can be expensive. Emergency facilities are limited to a few major hospitals. Outside of Abidjan medical facilities are rudimentary. Serious medical treatment could require medical evacuation back to the UK.
Per the ministries
Viafro gives no safety rating: here are the zones and advice published by the French ministry (in French) and the official extracts, with their dates.
- There is a risk of violent crime in Abidjan, including armed break-ins to private residences and armed hold-ups in the street. Though not common, they do occur.
- There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
What the country’s law provides
Photography, alcohol, drugs, relationships: the rules published by the ministries, quoted as they stand, without comment.
- Drug trafficking and possession are illegal. If you’re found guilty, you could receive a long prison sentence or a heavy fine.
Currency
West African CFA francViafro publishes no price or budget range without a source: amounts will come from our own expenses recorded on the ground, dated and itemised.
- There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Côte d’Ivoire (in French). You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
Express card
Structured data from Wikidata and the CIA World Factbook, re-checked at every site update.
- Population · 2025
- 32,711,547
- Time zone
- −1 h from Paris
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C and E plugs · 230 V
- Driving side
- Driving on the right
- Calling code
- +225
- Languages
- French
- Area
- 322,463 km²
- Highest point
- Mount Richard-Molard, 1,752 m
- Main religions
- Muslim 42.9%, Catholic 17.2%, Evangelical 11.8%, Methodist 1.7%, other Christian 3.2%, animist 3.6%, other religion 0.5%, none 19.1%
Getting there and around
Airports, roads and transport.
- ABJPort Bouet AirportAbidjan2.3 M passengers · official site
- SPYSan Pédro AirportSan-Pédro40,814 passengers
- HGOKorhogo AirportKorhogo28,616 passengers
- BYKBouaké AirportBouaké23,143 passengers
Direct flights from Paris are to be checked on the airport’s or airline’s website.
On the road
- If you are planning to drive in Côte d’Ivoire, see information on driving abroad. You must have the 1968 version of the international driving permit (IDP) or a local driving licence. You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel.
Destinations
The essentials.
Abidjan
Assinie
Yamoussoukro
San Pedro
Bouaké
Abidjan
Filmed by usMust-try food
Six dishes, and where to taste them.
Garba
Le garba est un plat populaire ivoirien à base de semoule de manioc, appelée attiéké, accompagnée de poisson thon. Il est essentiellement vendu dans de petites échoppes de rue généralement tenues par des hommes haoussa. (summary in French)
Attiéké
Acheke, is a dish made from cassava that is popular and traditional in the Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. The dish is prepared from fermented cassava pulp that has been grated or granulated. Dried acheke is also prepared, which is similar in texture to couscous.
Placali
Plakali is a staple food mainly prepared by the Ahanta and Nzema peoples of the Western region of Ghana and Akan people of Ivory Coast. It consists of cassava dough cooked in hot water, and it is similar to banku, another Ivorian and Ghanaian staple food, and
Attoukpou
L'attoukpou est un mets traditionnel de la gastronomie ivoirienne à base de manioc consommé en Côte d'Ivoire. Il se présente en galettes souples. C'est une spécialité des Akans Lagunaires notamment les Abouré, Nzima et Adioukrou. (summary in French)
Alloco
L'alloco, aloco ou encore aloko est l’appellation ivoirienne d’un plat traditionnel africain à base de bananes plantains. Dans d’autres régions d'Afrique, ce plat est encore appelé plantain frites ou Misolè (Msolè) (Cameroun), beignets (Gabon), dodo (Bénin) lo (summary in French)
Sauce gombo
La sauce gombo est une sauce gluante à base de gombos frais ou secs, originaire d’Afrique de l'Ouest. Elle accompagne les plats de poisson ou de viande. On la trouve au Mali, en république démocratique du Congo, en Guinée-Conakry,en Côte d’Ivoire,au Cameroun, (summary in French)
Culture and etiquette
Customs, dress, useful words.
- Bonjourhello
- Mercithank you
- S’il vous plaîtplease
- Entries checked on Wiktionary.
- Religions: Muslim 42.9%, Catholic 17.2%, Evangelical 11.8%, Methodist 1.7%, other Christian 3.2%, animist 3.6%, other religion 0.5%, none 19.1%.
- Languages: French (official), 60 native dialects of which Dioula is the most widely spoken.
Festivals and events
The big dates.
- National holiday
Independence Day, 7 August (1960) ; independence: 7 August 1960 (from France).
Fixed dates and moveable events, each with its source; moveable dates change every year and are to be checked on an official calendar.
Did you know?
Three things to remember.
The country’s highest point, Mount Richard-Molard, reaches 1,752 m.
32,711,547 inhabitants in 2025 on 322,463 km², about 101 per km².
Independence on 7 August 1960 (from France).
The country on video
Côte d’Ivoire, in motion.
Gallery
See it before you go.
Real photographs: free images under a verified licence and Viafro images. Never a generated image. Credits in the footer.
Share your trip with #viafro: the best images will join this gallery, with your credit.
Live, work, invest
A few key figures.
Sourced data (World Bank). No investment advice.
GDP per capita (current US$)3.1World Bank · 2025GDP growth6.5 %World Bank · 2025Inflation (consumer prices)0.1 %World Bank · 2025Unemployment (ILO estimate)2.3 %World Bank · 2025International tourist arrivals668World Bank · 2020
World Bank data (World Development Indicators), consulted on 28 Oct 2026. Tourist arrivals are the latest year published.
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Sources and verification dates · 15 sources, checked on 28 Oct 2026
Travel advice · GOV.UK (FCDO)Entry, visa, safety: the official page, kept up to date by the ministry. Travel health · US CDCVaccines and precautions from a reference medical source. World Heritage · UNESCOThe country’s inscribed sites and tentative list. WikidataCapital and currency, verified structured data.
- Wikidata · Côte d’Ivoire (Q1008)
- World Bank · World Development Indicators
- GOV.UK (FCDO) · Côte d’Ivoire · Foreign travel advice · Entry requirements (page updated on 19 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK (FCDO) · Côte d’Ivoire · Foreign travel advice · Health (page updated on 19 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK (FCDO) · Côte d’Ivoire · Foreign travel advice · Safety and security (page updated on 19 Oct 2026)
- Wiktionary · Checked entries (French)
- Wikipedia · Garba (plat ivoirien)
- Wikipedia · Attiéké
- Wikipedia · Placali
- Wikipedia · Attoukpou
- Wikipedia · Alloco
- Wikipedia · Sauce gombo
- CIA World Factbook · Côte d’Ivoire (public domain) (page updated on 29 Oct 2026)
- Wikidata · Airports of the country (IATA code, traffic) (page updated on 29 Oct 2026)
- Wikipedia (climate normals) · Abidjan · monthly normals (Deutscher Wetterdienst{{cite web) (page updated on 29 Oct 2026)
Information checked on 28 Oct 2026. Check the official source before you travel. Viafro gives no safety rating and publishes no price without a source.
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