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Côte d’Ivoire.
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Travelling to Côte d’Ivoire: what to know before you go

Côte d'Ivoire, also known as Ivory Coast, sits on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, with lagoons and palm-lined beaches on the coast, rainforest in the south-west and savannah in the north. Abidjan is one of West Africa's liveliest cities, known for its skyline, music and food, while the countryside holds national parks, mask traditions and colonial towns. It suits travellers interested in culture, city life and nature, with tourism facilities concentrated around Abidjan and the coast.

Where to go

• Abidjan. The economic capital spreads around the Ébrié Lagoon.
• Banco National Park. A patch of primary rainforest inside Abidjan's city limits, with walking trails among giant trees.
• Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, Yamoussoukro. A domed basilica modelled on St Peter's in Rome and one of the largest churches in the world, built in the political capital in the late 1980s.
• Grand-Bassam. The first colonial capital, a short drive east of Abidjan, has a historic quarter of faded colonial buildings listed by UNESCO, a national costume museum and long Atlantic beaches popular with Abidjan residents at weekends.

Best time to visit

The south is hot and humid year-round. The main dry season, roughly from December to March, is the most comfortable time to visit, though the dusty harmattan wind can make skies hazy in the north.

Staying online in Côte d’Ivoire

Mobile coverage is good in Abidjan and other cities, with 4G widely available, and generally reasonable along the main roads. Coverage gets patchier in rural areas, the far north and deep in the forests of the south-west. Wi-Fi is common in hotels, cafés and restaurants in Abidjan, but less so elsewhere. Download offline maps for longer road trips, install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.