City guide

Abidjan

Abidjan is the largest city and the former capital of Ivory Coast. 5 percent of the overall population of the country, making it the sixth most populous city proper in Africa, after Lagos, Cairo, Kinshasa, Dar es Salaam, and Johannesburg.

Type CityPopulation 6,300,000

Why go

  • Largest city and district of Ivory Coast.
  • Served by Aboisso Airport (ABO).

History

Abidjan is the largest city and the former capital of Ivory Coast. As of the 2021 census, Abidjan's population was 6.3 million, which is 21.5 percent of the overall population of the country, making it the sixth most populous city proper in Africa, after Lagos, Cairo, Kinshasa, Dar es Salaam, and Johannesburg. A cultural crossroads of West Africa, Abidjan is characterised by a high level of industrialisation and urbanisation. It is the most populous French-speaking city in West Africa.

Airports

Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport (ABJ) 12 km to the centre
Abidjan, AB, CI — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 25 airlines (Hapagfly, Ethiopian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eagle Atlantic Airlines…) · direct flights to 21 destinations incl. Accra, Ouagadougou, Lome, Brussels, Lagos… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 25 airlines, 21 direct destinations
  • Hapagfly HF (A319, Embraer 170) · 8 routes: Accra, Bamako, Conakry, Dakar, Douala, Libreville, Lome, Ouagadougou
  • Ethiopian Airlines ET (DH8, 757-200, 737-700) · 5 routes: Conakry, Cotonou, Lagos*, Lome, Ouagadougou
  • Brussels Airlines SN (A330-300, A330-200) · 3 routes: Brussels, Lome, Ouagadougou
  • Eagle Atlantic Airlines E2 (M82) · 3 routes: Accra, Freetown, Monrovia
  • Lufthansa Cargo LH (A330-300, A330-200) · 3 routes: Brussels*, Lome*, Ouagadougou*
  • United Airlines UA (A330-300, A330-200) · 3 routes: Brussels*, Lome*, Ouagadougou*
  • Air Burkina 2J (CRJ, Embraer 170, M87) · 2 routes: Bobo-dioulasso, Ouagadougou
  • Air Canada AC (A330-200, A330-300) · 2 routes: Brussels, Ouagadougou*
  • Kenya Airways KQ (737-800, 737-700) · 2 routes: Dakar, Nairobi
  • Mauritania Airlines International L6 (737-700) · 2 routes: Bamako, Cotonou
  • Middle East Airlines ME (A330-200) · 2 routes: Accra, Lagos
  • Senegal Airlines DN (A320) · 2 routes: Cotonou, Dakar
  • Air Algerie AH (737-800) · 1 route: Algier
  • Air France AF (777-200) · 1 route: Paris
  • Alitalia AZ (777-200) · 1 route: Paris*
  • Camair-co QC (737) · 1 route: Lagos
  • Corsairfly SS (A330-300) · 1 route: Paris
  • Egyptair MS (737-800) · 1 route: Accra
  • Emirates EK (777-300ER) · 1 route: Accra
  • Royal Air Maroc AT (737-800, 737-700) · 1 route: Casablanca
  • South African Airways SA (A330-200) · 1 route: Accra
  • Starbow Airlines S9 (143) · 1 route: Accra
  • Tunisair TU (A320) · 1 route: Tunis
  • Turkish Airlines TK (737-900) · 1 route: Istanbul
  • World Scale Airlines W3 (CRJ-900) · 1 route: Lagos

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Aboisso Airport (ABO) 88 km to the centre
Aboisso, CM, CI — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Indoor | Outdoor
Dabou Airport 43 km to the centre
Dabou, LG, CI
Outdoor
Assouindé Airport 63 km to the centre
Assouindé, CM, CI
Outdoor
Cosrou Airport 70 km to the centre
Cosrou, LG, CI
Outdoor

Getting there by ferry

Gare lagunaire Aqualines du Plateau
Ferry terminal · 0.5 km from the centre
Outdoor
Gare Lagunaire du Plateau Sotra
Ferry terminal · 0.7 km from the centre · Société de Transport Abidjanais (SOTRA)
Outdoor
Gare Lagunaire Plateau STL
Ferry terminal · 0.7 km from the centre
Outdoor
Gare Lagunaire Treichville STL
Ferry terminal · 1 km from the centre
Outdoor
Gare lagunaire Aqualines Treichville
Ferry terminal · 1 km from the centre
Outdoor
Gare Lagunaire de Treichville Sotra
Ferry terminal · 1.1 km from the centre · Société de Transport Abidjanais (SOTRA)
Outdoor
Aqualines ligne A
Ferry route
Outdoor
STL
Ferry route
Outdoor
Sotra 503
Ferry route · Société de Transport Abidjanais (SOTRA)
Outdoor
bateau-bus 503: Plateau → Yopougon (Abobo Doumé)
Ferry route · SOTRA
Outdoor
bateau-bus 503 : Yopougon (Abobo Doumé) → Plateau
Ferry route · SOTRA
Outdoor
Sotra 502 – Transport Lagunaire Treichville - Plateau - Blokaus
Ferry route · Société de Transport Abidjanais (SOTRA)
Outdoor
bateau-bus 502: Blockauss → Treichville
Ferry route · SOTRA
Outdoor
bateau-bus 502 : Treichville → Blockauss
Ferry route · SOTRA
Outdoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping →
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Aboisso Airport (ABO); 4 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: ABJ has direct flights to 21 destinations on 25 airlines (incl. Accra, Ouagadougou, Lome, Brussels, Lagos…). By water: 6 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Gare lagunaire Aqualines du Plateau, 0.5 km); routes include Aqualines ligne A, STL, Sotra 503.

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Abidjan. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Local transit

Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data

Private aviation

On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.

Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.
Charter, management, FBO, MRO · Managed fleet worldwide · General Dynamics company: charter, completions and FBOs in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US.

Tours & experiences

Sightseeing