Things to do in Côte d'Ivoire

Stand beneath one of the world’s largest church domes, modelled on St. Peter’s but soaring even higher, surrounded by Italian marble and vast colonnades.

Wander past faded pastel façades, the former Governor’s Palace and the old post office in this evocative, sea-breezed historic town.

Drive through West Africa’s largest protected savannah ecosystem, home to huge herds of savannah wildlife and over 500 bird species.

Hike deep into one of the last primary rainforests in West Africa, listening for the calls of habituated chimpanzee troops and rare pygmy hippos.

Climb through montane forests and unique grasslands on this transboundary UNESCO site, home to endemic viviparous toads and chimpanzees.

Unwind at this favourite weekend escape where the Atlantic rollers meet the Ebrié Lagoon, with beachside maquis serving fresh fish.

Dive into the infectious Ivorian nightlife in ‘Yop’, sipping a chilled flag beer and moving to the fast-paced beats of coupé-décalé till dawn.

Browse an outstanding collection of masks, statues and artefacts from the Akan, Kru, Senufo and other ethnic groups in a modern setting.

Cross a swaying walkway high above the forest floor in Abidjan’s urban rainforest, surrounded by cathedral-sized trees and the hum of cicadas.

This futuristic concrete cathedral with a towering cross-shaped spire and striking stained-glass windows was designed by Aldo Spirito.

Tour the peace research centre and mausoleum of Côte d’Ivoire’s founding president, set within a sprawling, manicured estate with a vast reflecting pool.

Taste the national dish: fermented cassava couscous served with perfectly charred tilapia, spicy tomato-onion sauce and fresh chilli.

Grab a paper cone of golden fried plantains with salty-sweet pork, a beloved Ivorian street snack eaten with a fiery piment sauce.

Haggle for Senufo bird masks, Dan spoons and Baule statuettes in this atmospheric covered craft market, a collector’s treasure trove.

Glide past Abidjan’s glittering skyline as the sun sinks behind the Plateau towers, with a cool breeze off the lagoon and city lights reflecting on the water.

Follow a forested trail to a powerful waterfall tumbling into a natural pool, framed by lianas and the lush green of the Dix-Huit Montagnes region.

Visit a small forested pool where clusters of eels are considered sacred guardians; local guardians can lure them to the surface with a call.

See master woodcarvers and textile painters in this northern city, famous for hand-painted canvas korhogo cloths and intricate masks.

This crossroads market in the savannah region brims with fresh produce, livestock and vivid textiles from Mali and Burkina Faso.

This imposing modern basilica, with its striking triangular spire and luminous interior, is a key landmark of Côte d’Ivoire’s second city.

Take a pirogue through coastal waterways to spot manatees, crocodiles and a profusion of waterbirds in this Ramsar-listed wetland.

Venture into a mosaic of forest and savannah that protects rare species like the giant forest hog and the elusive yellow-backed duiker.

Scale towering rock outcrops and hike through open woodlands for sweeping views over western Côte d’Ivoire and the Sassandra River valley.

Stroll along pristine beaches, the old wharf and faded colonial buildings in this once-bustling timber port where the Sassandra River meets the ocean.

Take a wooden pirogue to see stilt-built settlements, massive raffia mats drying in the sun, and the meeting of the Bandama River with the Atlantic.