Whether you’re traveling from India, China, the UAE, or Southeast Asia, Benin is an increasingly attractive destination in West Africa for tourism, business, and cultural exploration. Here’s your full 2025 guide for a smooth journey.
🛂 1. Visa Requirements
✅ Do Asian travelers need a visa?
Yes – most Asian nationals require a visa to enter Benin.
📌 How to get it:
- Type: eVisa (Tourist, Business)
- Apply Online: https://evisa.gouv.bj
- Types Available:
- 30-day single entry
- 30-day multiple entry
- 90-day multiple entry
- Processing Time: 1–3 working days
- Cost: Approx. $60–$100 (USD)
💡 Pro tip: Always print a hard copy of your eVisa and carry a digital copy.
✈️ 2. Flights from Asia to Benin
🛬 Main Airport:
Cotonou Cadjehoun International Airport (COO)
🛫 Flight Routes (as of 2025):
| Country | Example Routes |
|---|---|
| India | Delhi/Mumbai → Addis Ababa → Cotonou (Ethiopian Airlines) |
| UAE | Dubai → Lomé → Cotonou (ASKY or Emirates + regional) |
| China | Beijing/Guangzhou → Istanbul/Addis Ababa → Cotonou |
| Thailand/Malaysia | Bangkok/KL → Doha/Istanbul → Cotonou |
- Expect 1–2 stopovers
- Flight time: 13–20 hours depending on connections
- Round-trip fares: Approx. $700–$1,100 USD
💉 3. Health Requirements
🧬 Mandatory:
- Yellow Fever Vaccine Certificate – required for entry
💊 Recommended Vaccines:
- Hepatitis A & B
- Typhoid
- Tetanus
- Antimalarial medication (Benin is in a malaria zone)
⚠️ Drink only bottled or filtered water – tap water is not considered safe.
🕓 4. Best Time to Visit Benin
- November to March: Dry season – ideal for travel
- April to October: Rainy season, especially in the south
💸 5. Currency & Payment
- Currency: West African CFA Franc (XOF)
- $1 ≈ 600 XOF (approx.)
- ATMs available in major cities (Cotonou, Porto-Novo)
- Credit cards accepted in hotels and restaurants, but cash is essential in markets or rural areas
🏨 6. Where to Stay
Top accommodations in Cotonou and beyond:
- Golden Tulip Le Diplomate
- Hotel Maison Rouge
- Novotel Orisha
- Benin Royal Hotel
- Budget options: Ibis Cotonou, guesthouses, Airbnb
🚕 7. Transportation Inside Benin
| Method | Use Case | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi (private) | Airport, city rides | Use hotel or app-based taxis |
| Zémidjan (moto) | Local short trips | Negotiate fare; wear helmet |
| Coach bus (STIF, ATT, Confort Lines) | Intercity travel | Safe, affordable, comfortable |
| Rent a car w/ driver | Long-distance or business | Ask hotel or agency |
🌍 8. Top Places to Visit
- 🛶 Ganvié – Lake village on stilts
- 🐘 Pendjari National Park – Safari experience
- 🕍 Ouidah – Voodoo history & slavery route
- 🏖️ Cotonou beaches & markets
- 🏛️ Porto-Novo – The official capital, culture & museums
📶 9. Internet & SIM Cards
- Local SIMs (MTN or Moov) are cheap and widely available
- Data is fast (4G in cities)
- Wi-Fi in hotels, restaurants, and cafés
🛃 10. Safety & Etiquette
- Benin is one of West Africa’s safest countries
- Respect local traditions and religions
- Avoid political demonstrations
- Do not take photos of government buildings
✅ Final Travel Checklist:
| Item | Needed? |
|---|---|
| Valid passport (6+ months) | ✅ |
| eVisa (print + digital copy) | ✅ |
| Yellow fever certificate | ✅ |
| Vaccines/medications | ✅ |
| Flight & hotel bookings | ✅ |
| Travel insurance | ✅ |
| USD or XOF cash | ✅ |
| Power adapter (Type E plug) | ✅ |
