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Things to Do in Benin

From the Royal Palaces of Abomey to the stilt village of Ganvie - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.

Travel guide - last updated September 2026

Benin is widely considered the birthplace of Vodun (voodoo), still practiced openly and respectfully as an official religion rather than the misrepresented version popularized in Western media. The country also holds a former West African kingdom's royal palaces and a lake village built entirely on stilts as a historic refuge from slave raiders. Here are 4 places worth building a trip around.

Top attractions

The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.

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Royal Palaces of Abomey

A UNESCO World Heritage complex of palaces built by successive kings of the Dahomey Kingdom between the 17th and 19th centuries, with bas-relief walls depicting the kingdom's history.

📍 Abomey

🚉 Abomey is 130km north of Cotonou, about two and a half hours by bush taxi or the Baobab Express coach - the palace museum is a short zemidjan motorbike-taxi ride from the station.

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Ganvie

A village built entirely on stilts over Lake Nokoue, founded centuries ago as a refuge from slave raiders who could not cross the water - often called the 'Venice of Africa.'

📍 Lake Nokoue, near Cotonou

🚉 The stilt village on Lake Nokoue is reached by motorised pirogue from Abomey-Calavi, 30 minutes from Cotonou by taxi, and the boat crossing itself takes about 45 minutes.

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Ouidah

A town central to the history of the transatlantic slave trade, with the Door of No Return monument marking the point where captives were forced onto ships, and Benin's Python Temple reflecting its Vodun heritage.

📍 Ouidah

🚉 Ouidah is 40km west of Cotonou on the coast road, an hour by bush taxi - the Route des Esclaves runs 4km from the town to the Door of No Return on the beach, usually covered by zemidjan.

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Pendjari National Park

One of West Africa's best remaining wildlife reserves, part of a larger cross-border conservation area with lions, elephants and cheetahs.

📍 Atacora Department, Northern Benin

🚉 The park is in the far north-west near Natitingou, ten hours from Cotonou by road; entry is by 4x4 only, and the park is closed during the wet season from May to December.

Mark Benin, get the stamp

🇧🇯BENINVISITED

🇧🇯BENINLIVED

🇧🇯BENINWISHLIST

In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.

Open MyPassportStory

Planning questions

How many days do you need in Benin?

A week suits Cotonou, Ganvie, Ouidah and Abomey well, with Pendjari National Park in the north as a further extension for those with more time.

What's the best time to visit Benin?

November-February is the dry season and the most comfortable time to visit. The wet season brings heavier rain, particularly April-July.

Is Benin good for a first-time visit?

Yes - it's considered one of the more stable and accessible countries in West Africa for tourism, with French as the official language.

Do I need a visa to visit Benin?

Most nationalities can get an e-visa online in advance for short tourist stays. Check the official visa information for your nationality: evisa.bj.gouv.bj.

What are some things to do in Benin on a tight budget?

Local Beninese food is inexpensive, the boat trip to Ganvie is affordable relative to the experience, and shared taxis (zemidjan motorbike taxis in cities) are a cheap way to get around.

Can I rent a car in Benin, and what licence do I need?

Yes, and hiring with a driver is common and inexpensive - which most visitors prefer, since zemidjan motorbike taxis dominate the towns and the northern roads are demanding. A foreign licence with an International Driving Permit is accepted for visits, and the minimum age is generally 23. A 4x4 is needed for Pendjari, which closes in the wet season. Check current travel advice for the northern border areas before planning that far. Official visitor information is published by the government at gouv.bj.