Grand-Bassam
The first capital of Côte d'Ivoire, a town of galleried colonial houses on the Ébrié lagoon and the Atlantic shore, twenty-odd kilometres from Abidjan's airport.
- Arrival
- Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International · ABJ
- To the town
- About 22 km east of the airport
- Private jets
- At ABJ, open around the clock
- Best time
- December to February · August
The city
A capital for seven years.
The French made Grand-Bassam the capital of their new colony in 1893. It was the country's main port and its seat of trade and justice, laid out in separate quarters for merchants, officials and residents. Yellow fever struck in 1899, and the following year the government left for Bingerville; the colonial town that remained was listed by UNESCO in 2012.
The Ébrié lagoon cuts the town in two. Ancien Bassam, the colonial quarter, keeps its houses with verandas, galleries and gardens, the old Governor's Palace and the N'zima fishing village; Nouveau Bassam grew up across the water. Come between December and February, when the days are dry and the sea is at 27 °C.
- Ancien Bassam The old French town, planned in quarters for trade, government and housing, its houses wrapped in verandas and galleries.
- National Museum of Costume The national collection of costume, housed in the former Governor's Palace in the old town.
- The N'zima village An African fishing village within the listed town, part of what UNESCO protects alongside the colonial quarters.
Arriving
Port-Bouët, then east along the coast.
There is no airport in Grand-Bassam. Arrivals use Abidjan's Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International at Port-Bouët, some twenty-two kilometres to the west, and finish the journey by car along the coast.
- Accra 55 min
- Lagos 1 h 25
- Madrid 5 h 25
- Rome 6 h 00
- Dubai 8 h 55 long-range jet
When to go
December to February, and August.
Abidjan's figures, thirty kilometres along the coast. The dry season runs from December to February, warm at 30 to 31 °C; June brings the heaviest rain of the year, and August a short, cooler pause before the autumn showers.
- 31° J 16 27°
- 31° F 57 27°
- 31° M 121 28°
- 32° A 145 28°
- 31° M 233 28°
- 29° J 374 27°
- 28° J 137 25°
- 27° A 50 24°
- 28° S 110 24°
- 29° O 149 26°
- 31° N 109 28°
- 30° D 44 28°
On the calendar
A date to plan around.
Dates as published by the organisers. Runways, hotels and slots fill early around these weeks: the sooner we know, the more choice you have.
-
3–4 May 2027
Finance
Africa CEO Forum
Yearly meeting of African private sector leaders and investors, organised by Jeune Afrique Media Group with the International Finance Corporation.
Abidjan, about 34 km away
In 6 months
Where to stay
By the airport and on the beach.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
Elsewhere in Côte d'Ivoire
More reasons to come.
Flying to Grand-Bassam?
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A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.