The hook
West Africa's slickest, most cosmopolitan city, spread across lagoons and skylines with a buzzing music and food scene, next door to a crumbling former colonial capital of faded mansions on the beach.
01Why it's worth it
Abidjan is the economic powerhouse and cultural capital of Ivory Coast, and one of the most developed and lively cities in West Africa: a skyline of towers rising above palm-fringed lagoons, crossed by bridges and water-taxis, with upscale districts, markets, galleries, and an outstanding nightlife and music scene, the home of coupé-décalé and a thriving Afropop culture, plus the informal open-air maquis restaurants where the city eats grilled fish and attiéké late into the night. A short trip along the coast lies Grand-Bassam, the country's first colonial capital, now a UNESCO-listed historic town of grand, decaying French-colonial buildings along a beach and lagoon, atmospheric in its faded elegance and popular as a weekend beach escape. Together, the dynamic modern metropolis and the ghostly old colonial port capture the range of Ivory Coast, and Abidjan makes a comfortable, cosmopolitan, and genuinely fun base in a region where big-city travel can be hard. It rewards those who come for the energy, music, and food.
02How to experience it
Dive into Abidjan's music, nightlife, and maquis food scene, cross its lagoons by water-taxi, and browse its markets and galleries. Take a trip to Grand-Bassam for the faded colonial architecture and the beach. Go in the drier months, and lean into the city's cosmopolitan energy.