Sign in with Facebook- Join for free
- Sign In
Sign in with FacebookLatest Cotonou hotel reviews
Helpfulness
Cotonou Cadjehoun Airport is located in the western side of Cotonou. It is an old and small airport terminal with both arrival and departures in the ground floor.
The check-in procedure and the security was fast in african terms the evening I left for Paris. Air France had its own computerized passport control which made a small queue before the check-in counter. The local Air France staff at the check-in counter were skilfull and worked fast. The immigration service was just behind the wall on the right side. No question was asked, and they stamped the passport.
It all stopped at the queue right in front of the Xray machine when a policeman walked around and asked all white passengers to show their Benin visa. This was a weird situation, since the immigration service had already checked and stamped the passports. Was it just a greedy policeman searching for a bribe on potential passengers who had exceeded their legal time of stay in Benin? It is well known that some tourists have only a 48 hours transit visa and take the chance of exceed the time with some hours. (I had many days left). Checking the passengers took so long time that it was no time left for a duty-free shopping.
GPS location is 6°21'11.42" N 2°23'6.54" E
Updated Nov 8, 2010
Air France flies to Cotonou. If you have a short connection in Paris your luggage won't make it.
We took Royal Air Maroc last time--much better fare, but on the way back to europe it's a very long layover in Casablanca. The service was great and our luggage made it
Friends have flown through Libya which is a pretty good connection
Updated Nov 28, 2006
CTI (Central Transport International) is a bus company operating from the Gare Station, just opposite the cathedral. GPS location is 6°21'19.37" N 2°26'23.91" E.
Buses are departing to Mali/Bukina Faso, Nigeria, Togo and Ghana.
Written Nov 6, 2010
Bush taxis (taxi-brousse) departs all time of the day from Gare de Dantokpa to Nigeria, or from Gare Jonquet to Lomé. It is ordinary private cars packed with passengers.
Written Nov 6, 2010
A lot of Zemijan motorcycle taxis are cruising around with their yellow waistcoat. Just make a "psst sound", and the nearest one will stop. Just say where you are going and settle the price. To ride them expect to pay anything from 200 to 500 CFA (less than 1 USD). But make sure you have the exact amount of money. Most of them will not change. To be a passenger on a motorcycle without a helmet is a safety consideration, but the mode of transport is very quick and easy. Only one passenger is allowed on the bike.
Updated Nov 11, 2010
Agence de voyages et de tourisme.
Sai Tours is a good travel agency in the busy Boulevard Steinmetz. Ask for Olivia, the french speaking woman.
Updated Nov 6, 2010
Phone: +229 317355
Zimmedjans! (moto-taxis) They're great! Fast and very unsave. In night the drivers can be drunk, but forget about that and use them. Nearby Marche Dantokpa it can be very hard to bargaining. Walk to a less special place and try again. Stay also alert. Very sometimes the guys don't speak french or have problems in their head, but they won't bring you to the right place. Let them stop and take another one. You can play saver by using only the guys with clean cloths and to talk a little to check their language skills. If you're with another person it's sometimes cheaper to go with two on one zimme.
If you stay for a long time, you can get your own zimme.
Very slower, but cheaper and saver are the taxicars. But they aren't very useful for citycrossing.
Don't use a bike in Cotonou.
For short distances you can take a walk. Cotonou is save to walk. Not much criminality and often trottoirs, but don't fall into the riols (they're open at some places).
Written Nov 25, 2003
The traffic on the main drag is CRAZY and I don't think it would be pleasant on the side roads when there's rain. My husband doesn't want me to take a scooter taxi, but everyone rides them.
Updated Aug 3, 2008
1 - 8 of 8
Sponsored Links
Ibis Cotonou Cotonou
1 Review and 13 Opinions Hotel Ibis Cotonou in Boulevard de la Marina is the cheaper alternative if you can not afford to...
Novotel Orisha Cotonou (Bld De La Marina.) Cotonou
25 Opinions
Hotel du Lac Cotonou
1 Review and 14 Opinions This lovely hotel sits on the edge of the Lagoon and my room overlooked it quite literally – the...
Insider advice and photos on Cotonou flights and airports in the Cotonou area posted by real travelers and locals.
The traffic on the main drag is CRAZY and I don't think it would be pleasant on the side roads when there's rain. My husband doesn't want me to take a scooter...
5 members live in Cotonou
Q: Will be one day in Cotonou May 2010, can anybody recommend tour guides? Thank you
A: Hi Our VT member janiebaxter has travelled extensivly in Africa, including Benin , and has made a page about Cotonou. Regarding the guide, maybe you could email Janie...
Read 3 Replies
1
Cotonou sits on the Atlantic’s Bight of Benin where the sea runs inland to form a large lagoon, and is next to Lake Nakoue. It is one of the most surrounded-by-water main cities I have ever visited......
2
I lived in Cotonou for 2 years and enjoyed it very much. Great beaches (if you like strong waves), a very interesting country and very friendly people! Although there are no so called "top sights"...
3
Go for the Benin Marina Hotel. It's big, it's safe, it's clean and you will have a great time there. Only 2 minutes from the airport, hotel provides shuttle. It is an oasis away from the hectic hassle...
4
I've got some interesting experiences in Cotonou. I'd love to share with you the 4 tips I've written, the 28 photos uploaded, and 1 travelogue I've created.
5
Cotonou is the largest city in Benin with 1.2 million inhabitants. It is also the economic capital of Benin. The city is very spread out and more westernized than other West-African cities. The...
Build your own Cotonou page
Sponsored Links
