8 of the Absolute Best Things to do in Cotonou, Benin

I loved visiting and finding things to do in Cotonou!

Cotonou was the first destination of my West Africa trip and so I was so excited and energized to visit! People sometimes say that Cotonu is boring, but I disagree!

I decided to list some of my favorite things to do in Cotonou so that you can maximize your time in this vibrant city.

If you are interested in planning a larger trip around Benin, be sure to check out my long Benin Travel Guide and Itinerary!

If you’re just visiting Cotonou, then here is my list of 8 of the best things to do in Cotonou:

1. The Dantokpa Market

This place is HUGE and definitely tops my list of things to do in Cotonou. There are so many colors and smells and things to see among  the planned chaos. Go to the spice section, or get lost among woven baskets. Chat with the women selling anything, or goof off with the men in the electronics section. You cannot visit Cotonou, or even Benin without visiting this amazing market!

Be sure go to early in the morning to avoid the scorching sun. As always, keep an eye on your belongings, though I never had any issues.

If you want to see the unique Voodoo Fetish Market, you will have to go north of the big market building along the water. Keep going until you pass the plastic bottle area. Finding it is apparently half the fun! This market is apparently more authentic than the Voodoo market in neighboring Lomé. Expect to pay to take photos.

2. Notre Dame des Apotres Cathedral

There are a lot of Catholics in Benin, and they have a really unique Cathedral in the center of Cotonou. It is unique enough to be included in my list of things to do in Cotonou!

The pope even visited this cathedral!

I think it looks like a candy cane…

3. The Artisanal Center

This is a market geared towards tourists and is the place to go to buy souvenirs and gifts for family and friends. Although the big Dantokpa Market is the more exciting place to visit, you will have a hard time finding souvenirs there.

The people at the Artisanal Center are outgoing and friendly, but be prepared to bargain!

But you’ll have to forgive me, I didn’t take my camera out when I was there so I don’t have any pictures!

4. See L’étoile Rouge

You pretty much can’t avoid this giant monument in the center of Cotonou. You may need to go to it to find a bush taxi to take you to other parts of the country!

Although this big red star won’t take a long time to see, I think it is worth including in this list of things to do in Cotonou because of the history it represents.

It was a gift to Benin from Russia in 1975 because in 1974 Benin adopted Marxism-Leninism as its political ideology.

Benin transitioned to democracy in 1991, but this monument remains as a memory to that time.

5. Go to the Foundation Zinsou

This is an awesome artistic space where you can enjoy amazing art from local and regional artists. There is also a branch of the foundation in neighboring Ouidah as well. See extremely high quality contemporary art from African artists of the past and present.

It is one of the best cultural things to do in Cotonou!

6. Go walk the calm streets of Cocotiers

This calm neighborhood is full of coconut tree lined streets and hip little cafés. It also isn’t so far from the beach! I loved just wandering the streets and enjoying the different types of architecture and colors and murals.

There are also some nice places to stay there! I will link where I stayed below!

7. Go to the beach!

Soaking up the sun at a local beach is one of the best things to do in Cotonou, hands down! Fidjirosse Beach is a local favorite, or for something more upscale (with a pool, restaurant, hotel, etc.) check out Hotel El Dorado Beach Club.

Just note that the ocean is really rough in the region. It is a great place to soak up some sun on the beach, but don’t expect to really swim!

I didn’t bring my camera to the beach oops!

8. Go visit the floating village of Ganvie

Ok this isn’t technically in Cotonou, but it is just around 30 minutes away and I thought it would be worth adding to my list of things to do in Cotonou. Ganvie was one of my favorite places I visited in Benin, and you really feel like you are in another world of floating markets and buildings. It was just so beautiful. Just don’t forget to be respectful and ask the locals before taking their pictures!

Most importantly, go and meet some amazing people!

Benin has some amazing, friendly people! I loved getting to know them over meals or in busy bush taxis. Sure you can see everything in the world but its the people that really make a place special!

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Cotonou, I stayed at Guesthouse Cocotiers and I loved it!