Overview
Porto-Novo is the capital of Benin, located on the coast in the southeastern part of the country. Benin’s second largest city of approximately 250,000 people is a nice change of pace from the bustling Cotonou and has many nice features.
Understand
It is an easy one-hour car ride from Cotonou, and only 20 minutes from the beach.
Porto-Novo, named by the Portuguese in the 1500s, still shows significant Portuguese influence. For its size, Porto-Novo has quite of bit of culture and tourist attractions. Ouando, a district 3 km north of the city center, has a large market and pretty good nightlife.
Get in
By plane Although its capital of Benin, you must fly in to Cotonou and take a taxi to Porto Novo.
By minibus or taxi Minibuses and taxis go to Cotonou regularly and are cheap for the 45-minute trip). You will most likely end up at the big market Dantopka in Cotonou unless you choose to descend somewhere before that. It can be quite intimidating getting out there especially in peak times. You will be immediately surrounded with people wanting to give you rides. They will grab your bags and start to usher you to their moto or car, so make sure you have a good handle on things before stepping out of the car.
Also, from the Porto-Novo auto gare, there are taxis to Abomey and Lagos, Nigeria. For traveling north, head to Marche Ouanho and say you are looking for a car for your destination. Every hour or so, when filled, cars leave for Pobé and Ketou.
By boat There are pirogues leaving from Porto arriving less-visited lake villages nearby. Ask around down by the lagoon, about 50 m east of the bridge for prices. No fixed prices.
Get around
Traffic isn't overwhelming as in Cotonou. However, like Cotonou, the best way and easiest way to see Porto Novo is by zemidjan.
See
The unique and perhaps most colorful building in West Africa is the 19th century Brazilian style church now converted into a mosque. A must-see.
Ethnographical Museum of Porto Novo. This is an interesting museum that takes an intensive look into the past of Porto Novo’s kings. Displaying a good selection of fetishes, old Yourba king masks, costumes, and some musical instruments, this is definitely worth the entrance fee.
Honmé Museum. Former residence of King Toffa. Well maintained, rather simple, palace is a nice look into how Beninese royalty really lived. 1883 was the year King Toffa signed the treaty with French, agreeing to hand over land. The kingdom of Porto Novo was one of the longest lasting in Africa, lasting up until 1976.
Jardin Place Jean Bayol. Large plaza which contains a statue of the first King of Porto-Novo.
Governor's Palace. Home of the national legislature.
Museé da Silva. Celebrating Afro-Brazilian influence on the city, this fairly new museum offers a lot of variety. The museum grounds consist of a traditional house, a small library, an open-air cinema showing French films, and a hotel.
Celestial Church of Christ's Headquarters. Celestial Church of Christ (Eglise du Christianisme Celeste) is a Christian denomination, which has grown world wide. The church was founded by S.B.J. Oschoffa.
Lycée Behanzin. Lycée Behanzin is the first secondary school of Benin. The school celebrated its centennial in 2015.
Great Mosque of Porto-Novo. The mosque was established in 1925 with chapel architectural style.
Do
Centre Songhai. Project Songhai has an interesting story and is a good example of a self-sustaining learning community. They attract students from all over West Africa for agriculture studies and they are pioneers in waste management and resourcefulness. The compound includes a dormitory residence, beautiful open-air conference centers, cyber café, nice restaurants and bar, and a small general store with fresh produce.
There is in mid- January a fete which celebrates Afro-Brazilian legacy is a large festival of food, music, and dancing; definitely worth checking out if you are around. Contact Musee de Silva for more information.
Ask around in Ouando, there is a decent swimming pool.
Across from the National Assembly, there are two nice parks with an outdoor patio/restaurant, and walking paths.
Buy
There are about four supermarkets with lots of variety. The big ones to ask for are Champignon, Paniere, Universe 7, all located on the same boulevard through town.
Adjarra Market, located 10 km north of Porto. Held every fourth day, this market is certainly one of the best in Benin. One can find unique types of tie-dyed fabric, amazing pottery, unusual musical instruments, various voodoo ornaments, and of course mainstream market items. Ouando Market is the largest market in the city.
Eat
Budget Loving Hut, vegetarian or probably even vegan.
Mid-range AfricanFoodseum, 3ème Arrondissement.
Splurge Hotels Dona, Beaurivage, and Ambassadeurs have restaurants with both big menus and big prices.
Sleep
21 23 99. Comfortable, air-conditioned rooms overlooking the lagoon in the western part of town. 22 30 52. Just north of city center, this hotel is most expensive but nicer than the others. Hotel with glass exterior juxtaposed with surrounding mud/metal shanties. MB-Group Hotel, has a dining area on site as well.
Make Porto-Novo your own.
Before committing, pick one main reason for this visit and two nearby experiences that support it. Check the guide’s transport sections against current operator information. A convenient base can save more time than adding another attraction.
- Choose your arrival point and one base. Write down the real transfer time, not just the map distance.
- Build a first-day plan with room to settle in. Cluster the places you want to see rather than crossing the city repeatedly.
- Use actual accommodation and transport quotes in your budget. Add fees to the quote before comparing it.
- Keep one uncommitted block. Weather, energy and a good local recommendation can all change your plan.
Source transparency
This guide adapts licensed text by Wikivoyage contributors. It is not a claim that Lakhou has visited or independently verified every listing. We converted the source to plain text, selected practical sections and removed price sentences and private contact information. The planning framework and any related-business booking recommendations above are Lakhou editorial additions.
Original revision 5135701 · Contributor history · CC BY-SA 4.0. Reused text and adaptations on this page are available under that license. Source revision date: 2025-10-04. This is not a date of field verification.
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