Abidjan is part of the Ivory Coast and is also West Africa's second-largest city. Despite political issues in the Ivory Coast, the city remains extremely important for the country's economy and attracts many tourists with its upscale restaurants, hotels and attractions. The city itself lies between lagoons and waterways and overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. The city centre features modern skyscrapers but local neighbourhoods show Abidjan life at its best, and here, the city's colourful tropical atmosphere comes alive.
Abidjan is a vast city connected by a network of roads, and catching a taxi is one of the best ways to get around. Visiting the different neighbourhoods reveals a true mix of wealthy and humble surroundings which all contribute to the city's unique charm. Top attractions include the modern St Paul's Cathedral, the city's parks and local street-food stops. There are also art galleries, museums, sleek bars and a dynamic nightlife to discover. The city hosts an array of annual festivals, including an Urban Music Festival (FEMUA) in March, the MASA performing arts festival also in March and FESNACI, a fascinating annual film festival, in November.
The cosmopolitan city of Abidjan boasts of lovely skylines, superb outdoor areas, malls, cinemas and incredible buildings like the Cathedral, making it an essential place to visit in West Africa.
A splendid cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral is possibly the city's number one attraction and a has a captivating modern design. Built in 1985, Italian architect Aldo Spirito designed this magnificent building which also hosts artistic events.
Pretty botanical gardens... and even a forest
The Jardin Botanique de Bingerville is a large, peaceful park with a picnic area and a good selection of plant species. However, one of the city's best-kept secrets is the forest of Banco in the Attécoubé district, a place where everyone gets a chance to relax and soak up nature in this 30-square-kilometre area.
Tasty street food
Sampling the city's street food is a must. Simply head to the city centre and you can't miss the many street sellers offering dishes like garba, alloco, l'attiéké and braised fish and poultry.
A whole host of cultural events takes place in the city throughout the year including film, music, dance and fashion events that portray the true cultural diversity of Abidjan.
FEMUA. One of the Ivory Coast's biggest music festivals, this event is held in March. As well as showcasing national and international musical talent, the festival runs annual themes such as Africa facing the challenge of global warming.
MASA. The MASA festival has been running since 1993 and is a superb performing arts festival. It takes place every two years in March and artists come from all over Africa for this event.
FESNACI. In November every year, this festival celebrates the film and cinema world of the Ivory Coast. Running since 2007, this ambitious event promotes the values of local cinema to film lovers from the region and beyond.
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