Porto-Novo

Porto-Novo is the capital of Benin, located on the coast in the southeastern part of the country.

Porto Novo is the capital of Benin. 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. 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, is still today showing significant Portuguese influence. For its size, Porto Novo has quite of bit of culture and tourist attractions. Ouando, a district 3km north of the city center, has a large market and pretty good nightlife.

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 CFA 1,000 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. Entrance fee CFA 1,000.
• 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 Headquaters. 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. your visit should be free.
• Lycee Behanzin. lycee Behanzin is the first secondary school of Benin. The school celebrated its centennial in 2015.

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 CFA 1,000 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. Entrance fee CFA 1,000.

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 Headquaters. 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. your visit should be free.

Lycee Behanzin. lycee Behanzin is the first secondary school of Benin. The school celebrated its centennial in 2015.

• 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.

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 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.

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.

• Comme Chez Soi, western side of Rond-Point Ataké. Good, cheap African food.
• Maquis Katchi Ambiance, Carrefour Catchi. Inexpensive place where the local specialty is bush rat, and is quite good.
• Restaurant Mahi, just south of Place Kokoyé. Hearty, Beninese style meals, good prices.

Comme Chez Soi, western side of Rond-Point Ataké. Good, cheap African food.

Maquis Katchi Ambiance, Carrefour Catchi. Inexpensive place where the local specialty is bush rat, and is quite good.

Restaurant Mahi, just south of Place Kokoyé. Hearty, Beninese style meals, good prices.

• Buvette Escale du Pont, right near the bus station or gare. Cheap drinks and good African menu.
• Java Promo. Nice atmosphere, great service, and good food.
• Casa Danza, a block south of Ethnographic museum. A good selection of more expensive western dishes and some Beninese food.

Buvette Escale du Pont, right near the bus station or gare. Cheap drinks and good African menu.

Java Promo. Nice atmosphere, great service, and good food.

Casa Danza, a block south of Ethnographic museum. A good selection of more expensive western dishes and some Beninese food.

Hotels Dona and Beaurivage have restaurants with both big menus and big prices.

There are plenty of internet cafes that work well especially in the town center. Prices are usually around 400cfa per hour.

• Dangbo
• Aguegue
• Avrankou