Yamoussoukro
The political capital Houphouët-Boigny built in his home town, where a basilica dome rises 158 metres over the city and a 3,000-metre runway lies fifteen kilometres away.
- Arrival
- Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International, Abidjan · ABJ
- To the city
- About 240 km north-west of Abidjan
- Private jets
- Yamoussoukro · ASK, 3,000 m runway
- Best time
- November to February · July to August
The city
A capital made in a home town.
Félix Houphouët-Boigny was born here, and in 1983 he made Yamoussoukro the legal capital of the country, although Abidjan kept much of the business of government. Today some 420,000 people live here, among monuments on a national scale: the basilica, the foundation for peace, and the Hôtel Président with its tower and golf course.
It is hot all year, with afternoons above 30 °C. November to February are the dry months; the rains build from March to June, ease a little in July and August, and return in September and October.
- Basilica of Our Lady of Peace Pierre Fakhoury's dome, 158 metres high and lit by 8,400 square metres of French stained glass, consecrated by John Paul II in 1990.
- Fondation pour la paix The peace foundation's headquarters, by Olivier Cacoub, the architect of the Hôtel Président.
- Président golf course Eighteen holes laid out in a 25-hectare park beside the Hôtel Président.
Arriving
Abidjan for airlines, Yamoussoukro for jets.
Yamoussoukro has a long runway but no regular airline service. Scheduled passengers land at Abidjan, about 240 kilometres to the south-east, and continue by road; a private jet can fly straight to Yamoussoukro's own airport, fifteen kilometres north-west of the city.
- Abidjan 40 min
- Lagos 1 h 35
- Rome 5 h 50
- Nice 5 h 50
- Miami 10 h 50 long-range jet
When to go
November to February, and July to August.
Inland and hotter than the coast, with highs from 29 °C in the rainy midsummer to 35 °C in February. November to February is dry, and July and August bring a drier spell between the two rainy seasons.
- 33° J 14
- 35° F 51
- 34° M 115
- 33° A 138
- 32° M 151
- 30° J 163
- 29° J 98
- 29° A 89
- 30° S 158
- 31° O 126
- 32° N 49
- 32° D 23
Where to stay
Where to stay.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
Elsewhere in Côte d'Ivoire
More reasons to come.
Flying to Yamoussoukro?
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