A country · 29 places · 9 regions

Côte d'Ivoire, all of it.

29 curated places across 9 regions — photographed, mapped, and noted with the season each is best in.

Basilica of Our Lady of Peace · via Wikimedia Commons

The 4 biggest regions — Abidjan Autonomous District, Montagnes District, Comoé District and Lacs Region — read below as chapters, with 5 more waiting past them.

Chapter I · Abidjan Autonomous District · 8 places

Abidjan Autonomous District

The Musée des Civilisations de Côte d'Ivoire, in the Plateau district of Abidjan, is the national museum, founded in 1942 during the colonial era. Its collection of several thousand objects spans masks, gold weights, statuary, instruments and everyday tools from the country's many ethnic groups. Exhibits highlight the artistry of Baoulé, Senufo, Dan and Guro carving traditions. Despite periods of instability and looting, it remains the principal repository of Ivorian cultural heritage.

Musée des Civilisations de Côte d'Ivoire

Abidjan Autonomous District, Côte d'Ivoire

✦ November–February · $

Treichville

Abidjan Autonomous District, Côte d'Ivoire

✦ November–February · $

Abidjan

Abidjan Autonomous District, Côte d'Ivoire

✦ December to March, the driest and sunniest stretch · $$

All 8 places in Abidjan Autonomous District →

via Wikimedia Commons

Chapter II · Montagnes District · 4 places

Montagnes District

A market city ringed by the green peaks of western Côte d'Ivoire, nicknamed the city of 18 mountains. From here travellers hike to La Cascade waterfall, cross vine bridges in nearby Dan villages and climb the toothy summit of Mount Tonkoui.

✦ November to February, when mountain trails are driest · $

Meet Man, Ivory Coast All 4 places in Montagnes District →

Chapter III · Comoé District · 2 places

Comoé District

A slender sandbar between the Aby Lagoon and the Atlantic, long the weekend beach escape for Abidjan. Surf schools, lagoon-side lodges and boat transfers to the beach strip give it an easygoing resort feel east of the city.

Assinie-Mafia

Comoé District, Côte d'Ivoire

✦ December to March, for the sunniest beach weather · $$

Grand-Bassam

Comoé District, Côte d'Ivoire

✦ November to March · $

All 2 places in Comoé District →

via Wikimedia Commons

Chapter IV · Lacs Region · 2 places

Lacs Region

Rising from the plains of Yamoussoukro, this basilica modelled on St Peter's in Rome ranks among the largest churches in the world. Its 7,000 square metres of French stained glass and colossal dome make a surreal contrast with the quiet capital around it.

✦ November to March, during the dry season · $

Meet Basilica of Our Lady of Peace All 2 places in Lacs Region →