Tourist Places to Visit in Abomey, Zou, West Africa, Africa

Tourist Places to Visit in Abomey, Zou, West Africa, Africa

Abomey belongs to the Zou Department in the West African country, Benin, spanning over a total area of 142 square kilometers. Abomey was the capital of the Kingdom of Dahomey and the Republic of Dahomey, which changed as the today’s Benin. Situated around 221 meters above sea level, Abomey is located around 140 kilometers northwest of Cotonou and 170 kilometers northwest of the national capital, Porto Novo.

Abomey is widely renowned for the royal palaces constructed between the 17^th and 19^th Centuries that are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. Abomey is also famous as a crafts center. The geographical coordinates of Abomey are 7°11′8″ N 1°59′17″ E.

How to reach Abomey?

Cotonou Airport in Cotonou is the closest international airport to Abomey, located around 140 kilometers away from the midpoint of Abomey and receives flights from Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels, Nairobi, Istanbul and many other European and African cities.

Taxis from the Cotonou Airport to Abomey take around 3 hours and cost about CFA 2000, otherwise one can take bus or train from Cotonou to Bohicon from where bush taxis cost around CFA 300 to Abomey.

A scooter like taxi, Zemi-johns are the special and cheaper way to get around Abomey.

Culture, Shopping and Food in Abomey:

Abomey is one of the cultural identities of Benin holding a group of royal places designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Abomey is famous for traditional shopping, mainly for the traditional items such as bronze figurines, craft work and souvenirs which can be purchased at Musée Historique d’Abomey and Chez Yemadje.

The two famous tourist favor restaurants in Abomey are as follows:

Maquis Delphano
Rasta Cafe

Things to do in Abomey:

Visiting palaces
Shopping
Walking

Places of interest in Abomey:

Royal Palaces of Abomey:

Located in the heart of the city, the Royal Palaces of Abomey are the most important tourist attractions of Abomey, constructed between 17^th and 19^th Centuries by the Fon people during the rule of the Dahomey Kingdom. Some major places include Akaba Royal Palace, Palace of King Agaja, Palace of King Ghezo and Gbehanzin Royal Palace.

Musée Historique d’Abomey:

The Musée Historique d’Abomey is concentrated on describing the history of Abomey, mainly focused on the Dahomey Kingdom. Other than artifacts and relics, one can also spot banners showcasing the torture and war methods used by the former Kingdom. The museum is open from 8:30am-6pm (Monday-Friday) and 8:30am-5pm (Saturday-Sunday), including a guided tour, the entrance fee is CFA 2500.

Chez Yemadje:

Chez Yemadje is a family running craft shop housed inside the palace Rue du Palais Royal. It is open from 7 am-7 pm. Other than purchasing craft works, one can also get the importance of the royal palace.

Bohicon:

Bohicon is a nearby city of Abomey, around 10 kilometers. Bohicon is home to many interesting sites such as the Parc Archéologique d’Agongointo, Bohicon Mosque and Lycée Technique de Bohicon. Bohicon city is also famous for the locally made cushions and mattresses.

List of other places of interest in and around Abomey includes:

Palace of King Tegbessu
Palace of King Kpengla
Palace of King Angoglo
Palace of King Agaja
Palace of King Ghezo
Palace of King Agoli-Agbo
Palace of King Glele

Best time to visit Abomey:

Probably from November to February is the best time to visit Abomey in Algeria.

Accommodation options in Abomey:

Despite being a tourist destination, hotels are limited in Abomey, not more than 10. At this point, one can find hotels in Cotonou (around 140 kilometers) for memorable hospitality services. The prominent hotels in Abomey and Cotonou in Benin are listed below: