7 Days in Ivory Coast
Trip Overview
Seven days in Ivory Coast juggle city grit, beach laze, and forest encounters. You'll spoon garba from Treichville street-side stalls, watch fishermen mend nets beneath crimson Atlantic sunsets, and push through Taï National Park while colobus monkeys crash through mahogany canopy. The rhythm swings from high-octane Abidjan to slow coastal hours, finishing with forest hikes and village markets. Expect dawn markets scented with dried fish and attiéké, afternoons on palm-lined Ivory Coast beaches, and nights driven by coupé-décalé beats.
Pace
Moderate
Daily Budget
$120-180 per day
Best Seasons
November through March, after the rains and before serious heat
Ideal For
Culture seekers, Beach lovers, Food enthusiasts, First-time visitors to West Africa
Day-by-Day Itinerary
A complete plan for every day of your trip
1
Abidjan Awakening: Markets, Museums & Lagoon Views
Jump straight into Ivory Coast's commercial capital by heading for its pulse: Treichville market and the National Museum.
Morning
Treichville Market & breakfast at Chez Gnamankoudji
Thread narrow alleys where women pound attiéké beside pyramids of red peppers. Butchers slice beef to the metronome of knife taps while grilled-fish smoke coils above. Sip strong Nescafé laced with condensed milk as morning light slips through tarpaulin gaps.
Lunch
Restaurant des Combattants
Afternoon
National Museum & St. Paul's Cathedral
Follow Ivory Coast's artistic arc from Baule masks to Senoufo carvings. Then climb St. Paul's Cathedral's modernist frame for sweeping Ébrié Lagoon views where wooden fishing boats drift like stray leaves.
Evening
Dinner and live music in Marcory
Le Bambou for alloco plantains and coupé-décalé performances
Where to Stay Tonight
Plateau district (Hotel Tiama or similar business hotels)
Central location for tomorrow's airport transfer to Assinie
See all Ivory Coast accommodation options →Queue with locals for garba, cassava and fiery sauce, from vendors beside Treichville mosque.
Day 1 Budget: $140
2
Assinie's Atlantic Embrace
Trade city concrete for endless Atlantic horizons and thatched-roof beach bars.
Morning
Transfer to Assinie & Assouindé Beach
A two-hour coastal run past rubber plantations and roadside plantain hawkers. Humid air turns salty as you hit Assouindé's 20-kilometer Ivory Coast beach. Watch fishermen drag pirogues while women balance crab baskets on their heads.
Reserve a 4WD through your hotel, regular taxis bog down in the final sandy stretch.
Lunch
Chez Hortense
Afternoon
Lagoons & Pirogue ride
Slide through Assinie's twin lagoon system where water hyacinth mirrors sky. Palm fronds rustle and kingfishers knife between mangroves. Pause at pocket fishing villages where kids wave from stilt homes.
Negotiate directly with pirogue captains on the beach
Evening
Sunset at Bar Le Rasta with reggae beats
Try their palm wine cocktails
Where to Stay Tonight
Assinie-Mafia (Ecolodge Assinie or beach bungalows)
Steps from beach and lagoon activities
See all Ivory Coast accommodation options →Bring cash - ATMs are 30km away in Abidjan
Day 2 Budget: $150
3
Grand-Bassam's Colonial Ghosts
Grand-Bassam
Stroll French colonial ruins where Atlantic spray lashes crumbling offices.
Morning
UNESCO Old Town & Costume Museum
Step inside the abandoned governor's palace as bougainvillea punches through broken windows. Damp limestone and sea salt mingle in narrow lanes. The Costume Museum pairs intricate Kente cloth with colonial uniforms, spelling out a layered story of contact.
Lunch
La Madrague
Afternoon
Local artisan workshops
Watch glassblowers coax molten sand into bright beads over open furnaces. Heat rolls off the fire while craftsmen stretch goat skin across carved drum shells. Buy straight from their hands.
Evening
Dinner at Le Nautilus with ocean views
Their grilled capitaine fish is legendary
Where to Stay Tonight
Grand-Bassam old town (Hotel Etoile du Sud or colonial guesthouses)
Walking distance to evening beach bars and sunrise photography spots
See all Ivory Coast accommodation options →Catch the old post office at golden hour, light pours through the broken roof like liquid gold.
Day 3 Budget: $125
4
San Pédro's Fishing Heritage
San Pédro
Fly south to Côte d'Ivoire's second port where an industrial harbor rubs shoulders with traditional fishing life.
Morning
Flight Abidjan-San Pédro & harbor tour
A 45-minute hop over cocoa farms and primary forest. At San Pédro harbor, Chinese trawlers dwarf pirogues painted with football badges. Diesel fumes mix with drying fish on wooden racks.
Book Air Côte d'Ivoire flights 2-3 days ahead online
Lunch
Maquis Chez Maman
Afternoon
Dagbego fishing village
Walk plank bridges between stilt houses where women mend nets with quick fingers. Kids leap from platforms into clear lagoon water while pelicans roost on floating fish crates. Eat hot smoked barracuda straight from clay ovens.
Hire a local guide at the harbor - they'll negotiate better boat prices
Evening
Beach dinner at Le Paradis
Order grilled lobster with attiéké
Where to Stay Tonight
San Pédro city center (Hotel des Sports or similar)
Close to morning transport for Taï National Park
See all Ivory Coast accommodation options →Bring small bills for village visits - nothing larger than 1000 CFA
Day 4 Budget: $180
5
Taï National Park's Primeval World
Taï National Park
Slip into West Africa's last primary rainforest where pygmy hippos leave prints on muddy banks.
Morning
Transfer to Taï & Park headquarters
Three hours through cocoa villages where red-dirt roads slice endless plantations. At the park gate, register for chimp tracking while damp earth rises and howler monkeys howl from the green.
Email park office 48 hours ahead - permits limited to 8 visitors daily
Lunch
Park canteen
Afternoon
Chimpanzee tracking
Trail expert trackers through cathedral forest where strangler figs arch into tunnels. Wild ginger scents the air and branches crack as chimps swing above. Diana monkeys with white beards watch from mahogany limbs.
Bring binoculars - guides provide but quality varies
Evening
Traditional Guéré village visit
Share village meal of foutou and palm nut sauce
Where to Stay Tonight
Taï village (Basic guesthouse or park lodge)
Required overnight before early forest departure
See all Ivory Coast accommodation options →Pack long sleeves and strong repellent - forest mosquitoes are relentless
Day 5 Budget: $140
6
Yamoussoukro's Surprising Grandeur
Tour Ivory Coast's political capital crowned by the world's largest basilica rising from savanna.
Morning
Gaze up at the 158-meter dome where Italian marble flashes under African sun. Pass 36 towering columns while organ notes drift through cavernous space. Outside, sacred crocodiles snap at chicken gifts in the moat.
Dress modestly - shoulders and knees covered
Lunch
Le Concorde
Afternoon
Presidential Palace & Crocodile Lake
Snap palace guards in bright uniforms guarding six-lane highways with no cars. Toss live chickens to prehistoric crocodiles, the splash and lunge give heart-stopping photo ops as reptiles surface from green water.
Bring small bills for crocodile feeding
Evening
Sunset drinks at Hotel President
Their rooftop overlooks the basilica's illuminated dome
Where to Stay Tonight
Near basilica (Hotel President or La Residence)
Easy access for sunrise basilica photography tomorrow
See all Ivory Coast accommodation options →Be at the basilica by 6 AM, you'll probably have the entire architectural giant to yourself.
Day 6 Budget: $120
7
Back to Abidjan: Last Tastes & Souvenirs
Head home with timed stops for final Ivory Coast bites and market finds.
Morning
Morning market in Yamoussoukro & transfer to Abidjan
Scan stalls stacked with woven baskets and sharp spices before the three-hour drive. Pull over at a roadside maquis for one last kedjenou, chicken slow-cooked in clay with okra and eggplant, the smoke lingering long after.
Arrange shared taxi from hotel - cheaper than private transfer
Lunch
La Maison des Expatriés
Afternoon
Cocody craft market & departure preparations
Bag last-minute loot: hand-beaten bronze masks, indigo cloth, and coffee from northern estates. Watch weavers work ancient looms while you haggle over fragrant vanilla.
Prices drop 30% when you pay in CFA versus USD
Evening
Airport transfer
Allow 2 hours for international departure
Where to Stay Tonight
Near airport (Ibis Abidjan Airport)
Early flight convenience
See all Ivory Coast accommodation options →Grab attiéké spice mix at the airport, customs clears it and it packs well as gifts.
Day 7 Budget: $110
Practical Information
Everything you need to know before you go
Getting Around
Book Ahead
Taï National Park permits (48 hours ahead), domestic flights, and Assinie beach transfers during December-February peak.
Packing Essentials
Pack lightweight long sleeves for the forest, strong insect repellent, CFA francs in cash, European-plug converter, and water shoes for coral beaches.
Total Budget
$1050-1260 for the week excluding international flights
Customize Your Trip
Adapt this itinerary to your travel style
Budget Version
Swap flights for overnight buses (FCO buses run well), sleep in hostels or basic guesthouses, eat at maquis instead of restaurants, and stick to shared taxis. Total falls to $600-700.
Luxury Upgrade
Family-Friendly
Skip the overnight in Taï National Park, make it a sharp day trip instead. Head straight for Assinie's quiet beaches and pick hotels with pools so the kids can cool off. Slot in Abidjan's zoo between surf sessions. Keep the budget where it is, reserve private transfers for easy moves, and request connecting rooms so everyone sleeps better.
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