Ivory Coast Flights and Travel Guide

Travelers interested in African history, art, music, and the African culture will find pleasure in a vacation on the Ivory Coast (officially called Cote d'Ivoire). From towering mountains to intimate villages, booking flights to the Ivory Coast will land travelers in a world of African mystique and wonder. The Ivory Coast is flanked by mountains in the northwest and vast plateaus throughout the rest of the country, but the country’s history is what brings tourists to the region.

The capital city, Yamoussoukro, is rich in African arts and culture and boasts a full-sized replica of St Peter's Cathedral in Rome. Travelers booking Ivory Coast flights for a stay in Abidjan – the country’s largest city – will find it’s surprisingly modern. High-rise buildings grace the city and the St. Paul Cathedral serves as the city’s most famous landmark.

Still, despite its attempts at becoming a more modern and independent country, the Ivory Coast is still under turmoil. The Ivory Coast is inhabited by Africa’s most passionate people, but many foreign nationals have left the country and the Ivory Coast remains a blacklisted destination by many nations. Those travelers booking flights to the Ivory Coast should obtain proper vaccinations prior to departure and pack all necessary identification and documentation prior to entering the country.

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Ivory Coast Climate

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When to Fly to Ivory Coast

Peak Season:

Because of the cooler temperatures, November through to March are the best times to book flights to the Ivory Coast. Two popular festivals take place during this period – the Fetes des Masques near Man and the Fete du Dipri in Gomon.

Off Season:

The least popular time to visit is the wet season, between May and November, but this is also the best time to find cheap flights to the Ivory Coast. Temperatures still remain extremely hot.

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Getting Around Ivory Coast

There is only one internal Ivory Coast flight available in the country – from Abidjan to San Pedro.

Taxis are available from the airport at Abidjan to the city center and are much safer than the buses. Travel on the public buses or shared taxis is not advised for tourists.

Trains run daily on the line to Ougadougou in Burkina Faso from various points. Service is often slow or disrupted, though it is among the best available in West Africa. Most travel outside Abidjan is considered unsafe in the current climate, and if needed should be carried out in convoy. There are many roadblocks, especially in the north of the country.

The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Abidjan to other major cities and towns in Ivory Coast.

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Ivory Coast Insider Information

• Visiting Ivory Coast after spending any time in the surrounding West African countries can be something of a shock. Compared to Ghana or Burkina Faso, the Ivory Coast seems far more built-up and technologically advanced – even the construction of the roads seems better here. The apparent sophistication of the country can be something of an illusion though, as the violent riots of recent years showed. Travelers should take extreme caution when visiting the country and be sure to check advice from relevant foreign offices before their trip.
• Abidjan is the country’s main city and administrative center, though not its official capital. Far more developed than the cities of surrounding countries, its resemblance was closer to a French town, with cafés and boulevards, before the unrest and riots of the late 1990s struck.
• Grand Bassam is a small city on the coast to the east of Abidjan, with a tropical and lush feel. Old and often crumbling colonial buildings and jungle vegetation are housed in the middle of a stunning lagoon. Finding a café – often on stilts in the water – and sitting back to watch the sun go down will offer one of the most peaceful and stunning views you’re likely to find in the entire country.
• Yamoussoukro is the country’s capital and a lively city worth visiting (safety allowing). The city contains a giant Catholic basilica (consecrated by the Pope as a “minor basilica” though it is actually taller than St Peter’s in Rome) surrounded by lush jungle, which V. S. Naipaul described as one of the “wonders of Black Africa”.

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Ivory Coast Airports

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Passport/Visa

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Entry Requirements

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