The first platform of international trade in Egypt
Register here  |  Forgotten password?

Home > Country profiles > Traveling

flag Ivory Coast Ivory Coast: Traveling

Entry Requirements | Organizing Your Trip | Visiting | Living Conditions | Eating | Paying | Speaking | Useful Resources

Entry Requirements

Passport and Visa Service
Visa HQ
Diplomatic Representations
List of diplomatic representations (in French)
 
For visa requirements and health advices based on your personal details and itinerary, check IATA Travel Website.
 

Return to top

Organizing Your Trip

Means of Transport Recommended in Town

Recommendation
The road network is well developed and many roads are asphalted.

Taxis are a practical and cheap means of transport, the fare is fixed however many kilometers are covered. You can recognize them by their orange color in Abidjan and Bouaké; in Yamoussoukro they are white with green and orange stripes.

Each large town has at least one bus station serving Abidjan at least. The most comfortable and reliable public transport is the bus. The use of the bush-taxi has fallen off since a real bus network at the national level has been developed.

The train is also used less and less. It links Abidjan to Dimbokro, Bouaké, Ferkéssédougou, Bobo Dioulasso and Ouagadougou.

Maps of Urban Networks
Maporama
UT Library on line
Mapblast

Return to top


Transportation From Airport to City Centre:


Airport

Distance

Taxi

Bus

Train

Car Rental
Abidjan - Houphouët-Boigny (ABJ) 15 km / 9 miles XOF 1500 - USD 12 / 20-30 min XOF 210 / 25 min - Available

Means of Transport Recommended in the Rest of the Country

Recommendation
The road is the best means of transport.

Return to top

Airlines

Name Type Domestic Flights International Flights
Air Ivoire Major No Yes
Air France Major No Yes
Air Sénégal InterNational Major No Yes

You Can Consult the List of Airlines Banned Within the EU. Look Also at the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Return to top

Traveling By Yourself

Recommendation
Most of the Ivorian road network is asphalted. However, you should avoid driving at night because of the many hold-ups.
Road Maps
Multi Map
Map of Côte d'Ivoire
Find an Itinerary

Return to top

Visiting

Different Forms of Tourism

Historical
From the North to the South, there are many historical monuments: the French district in Bassam, the Governors' house in Bingerville.
Cultural
Bonoua (residence of the king of the Abouré), Krinjabo (Agni country), Sénoufo country, Dan country, Sakassou (capital of the Baoulé kingdom).
Nature
A succession of rocky cliffs and sandy creeks on the south-west coast ( Lahou-Fresco-Sassandra-san Pédro, etc....). Ecological tourism: 6 national parks ( Azagny - Comoé - Banco - Tai - Marahoué - Péko - Sanglé Mount - the Ehotilés islands ). Apart from these parks there are the reserves of Divo, Mount Nimba, Lamto and the Abokouamekro Game Reserve.
Religious
The mosques of Kong and Kawara, not forgetting the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro ( a copy of St Peter's Basilica in Rome).
Thermal
Nonexistent.
Beach
Seaside tourism: 500 km of beaches with coconut palm plantations in the south-east (Abidjan-Bassam-Assinie).
Winter Sports
Nonexistent.
Outdoor Activities
All water sports can be practised on 300 000 hectares of lagoon.  There are golf courses in Abidjan, Bouaké, San Pédro and Yamoussoukro; the Abidjan marathon and many sports events.
Shopping
Awélé (an abstract strategy board game), masks, bronze, gold or silver jewelry, colored material, drums, leather goods, Korhogo fabrics.
Tourism Organizations
Côte d'Ivoire Tourism
Information portal on tourism in Côte d'Ivoire
Réseau Ivoire (Network Ivoire - in French)

Return to top

Living Conditions

Health and Safety

Health Precautions
A certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is required for all travelers over one year old. There is a risk of malaria in its malignant P. falciparum form all year round throughout the country. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported. Recommended prophylaxis: MEF. Vaccination is strongly advised against tetanus, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, meningococcal disease, typhoid fever, hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
To avoid traveler's diarrhea, you should avoid the foods most at risk: dishes prepared and then eaten cold later; seafood, meat, fish which are badly cooked or not cooked enough, and raw vegetables and fruit you have not peeled yourself. Drinking water must be boiled and filtered or drunk from sealed bottles.
International Hospitals
Sainte Marie International Polyclinic,
For Further Information on Sanitary Conditions
Recommendations for travelers from the World Health Organization (WHO) (in English)
For Further Information on Safety Conditions
Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Contact Your Embassy
Egyptian Embassy in Ivory Cost
Rue Du Commerce Immeuble El Nasr 1er Etage
O1 2104 ABIDJAN 01
Phone: (00225)20226231 - 20327925
Fax: (00225)20223053
 

Emergency Numbers

Police 111/170
Firemen 180
Emergency medical services 185
 

Return to top

Time Difference and Climate

Time and Time Difference
It is %T:%M %A In Yamoussoukro, Abidjan (GMT)
Summer Time Period
The hottest period is from March to May.
 

Map of the Time Zone

Fuseau(x) horaire

Type of Climate
Equatorial climate in the South (rains from April to July and October to November), becoming tropical in the North (rains from April to October). Take light clothing for all times and protection from the rain in that season.
For Further Information
Côte d'Ivoire weather forecast (in French)
 

Average Annual Temperatures and Rainfall

Climate

 

Return to top

Eating

Food Specialties
Abidjan is the city where you can find different kinds of restaurants: French, Vietnamese, Lebanese, Italian, exotic food (Creole etc.). The district of Treichville is famous for its spicy dishes.
Kedjenou: Banana skins stuffed with chicken and vegetables.
N'voufou: chopped up bananas with palm oil, served with an eggplant sauce.
Attieké (manioc couscous)

Aloko: (plantains fried in oil).

Drinks
Bissap (decoction of hibiscus flowers), niamakou (decoction of ginger), bangui (palm tree sap).

Tchapalo (millet beer), koutoukou (brandy made from bangui).

Dietary Restrictions
Dietary restrictions vary according to a person's religion.

Return to top

Paying

Domestic Currency
CFA Franc BCEAO
ISO Code
XOF
To Obtain Domestic Currency
The currency is the CFA franc.
Possible Means of Payment
You must take a very large quantity of cash, as shopkeepers often have little change. Visa and Mastercard cards can be used in the large hotels in Abidjan.

Return to top

Speaking

Official Language
French
Other Languages Spoken
There are numerous local dialects such as Dioula (a language close to Bambara), Sénoufo (in the North), Bété and Baoulé (in the South).
Business Language
French
Getting Some Knowledge
Wikibooks.
Free Translation Tools
Babel Fish : Free French-English-French translation of texts and web pages
Terminological dictionary : Free French-Engish-French dictionary with 3 billion terms
French-Bambara glossary :
Sakhr : Free dictionary arabic-french-arabic
Google : Free translation arabic-french-arabic

Return to top

Useful Resources

To Find an Apartment
Accommodation in Côte d'Ivoire
Extended stay corporate housing directory

Abidjan Maison (in French)
Abidjan.net (in French)
Mbolo (in French)
To Find a Job
Afric Search
Afro Job

Return to top

Any Comments About This Content? Report It to Us.

 
 
Learn more about Travel in the Côte d'Ivoire on Globaltrade.net, the Directory for International Trade Service Providers.
 

© Export Entreprises SA, All Rights Reserved.
Last Updates: May 2012

Copyright 2011 © Crédit Agricole Egypt
CA Egypt website  |  Sitemap  |  Terms and Conditions  |  FAQ  |  Contact us  |  Customer Support 19191
Print
Download in PDF format