A country · 24 places · 6 regions
Benin, all of it.
24 curated places across 6 regions — photographed, mapped, and noted with the season each is best in.
The 4 biggest regions — Littoral, Atlantique Department, Atakora Department and Mono Department — read below as chapters, with 2 more waiting past them.
Chapter I · Littoral · 7 places
Littoral
A coastal lagoon near Cotonou, Lake Nokoue is home to Ganvie, a large stilt village built entirely over the water. Fishers navigate the reed channels in narrow canoes.
via Wikimedia CommonsChapter II · Atlantique Department · 4 places
Atlantique Department
Often called the largest lake village in Africa, Ganvie houses tens of thousands of Tofinu people in stilt homes across Lake Nokoué. Founded centuries ago as a refuge from slave raiders, its floating market and canoe traffic are best seen in the early morning.
✦ November to March, during the dry season · $
Chapter III · Atakora Department · 2 places
Atakora Department
A hillside town in northwestern Benin serving as a gateway to the Atakora mountains and Pendjari park. Its regional museum showcases Somba and Betammaribe culture.
via Wikimedia CommonsChapter IV · Mono Department · 2 places
Mono Department
A laid-back coastal town in southwestern Benin known for long palm-fringed beaches and colonial-era buildings. The Mono river estuary nearby offers boat trips through mangroves and lagoons.
✦ November to February · $$
Regions of Benin
Every place in Benin
24 places, one country.
Ganvie
Atlantique Department, Benin
✦ November to March, during the dry season · $
Nokoue Lake
Littoral, Benin
✦ Dry season · $
Grand-Popo
Mono Department, Benin
✦ November to February · $$
Natitingou
Atakora Department, Benin
✦ November to February · $
Dassa-Zoumè
Collines department, Benin
✦ November to February · $
Cotonou
Littoral, Benin
✦ November to February · $
Possotomè
Mono Department, Benin
✦ November to February · $
Dantokpa Market
Littoral, Benin
✦ November–February · $
W-Arly-Pendjari Complex
Benin, Benin
✦ June–October · $$
Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba
Benin, Benin
✦ June–October · $$
Royal Palaces of Abomey
Abomey, Benin
✦ June–October · $$
Ouidah
Atlantique Department, Benin
✦ November to March; the Vodun festival falls on 10 January · $
Pendjari National Park
Atakora Department, Benin
✦ December to April, when wildlife concentrates at waterholes · $$
Porto-Novo
Ouémé Department, Benin
✦ November to March, during the dry season · $
Door of No Return, Ouidah
Atlantique Department, Benin
✦ November to February · $
Ouémé Valley
Ouémé Department, Benin
✦ November to February
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Cotonou
Littoral, Benin
✦ November–February
Amazon Statue, Cotonou
Littoral, Benin
✦ November–February
Ancien Pont, Cotonou
Cotonou, Benin
✦ November–February
W National Park
Alibori Department, Benin
✦ December to April
Tata Somba Country
Atacora Department, Benin
✦ November to February
Central Mosque, Cotonou
Littoral, Benin
$
Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Ouidah
Atlantique Department, Benin
Stade de l'Amitié
Littoral, Benin