Abidjan was once the proud and flourishing capital city of the Ivory Coast, and a jewel in the continent of Africa's crown; however, years of civil unrest and a lack of maintenance have seen the city slowly move away from the reputation it once held as the 'Paris of West Africa'.
For those travelling to Ivory Coast, Abidjan will more than likely be their first introduction to the country. The city is testament to what the country once was and what it could be again. This is evident in sites such as the Hotel Ivoire, which was constructed in the sixties at the edge of the Ebrie Lagoon. Visitors will relish how the hotel's contemporary architecture, furniture and decor blend French luxury with African charm. Some sites in the city include a popular beach area known as Grand Bassam, the public zoo, a rainforest park in the city called Park du Banco, and Saint Paul's Cathedral.
Otherwise, the destination isn't especially friendly, items aren't cheap and barely anyone speaks English. Still, visitors can expect things to move reasonably fast in this business-minded city, where they'll find designer brands, large supermarkets, fancy restaurants and other modern amenities.
Abidjan is not known as a tourist Mecca, but there are a couple of interesting sites to visit while in the city. It is a spread out city made up of a handful of districts but a good place to start a tour probably the only place is Le Plateau. Starting at Laza De la Republique and heading into the Tourist Information centre in the Air Ivoire Building will give visitors a good idea of what can be seen in Abidjan.
From there they can walk up Blvd De la Republique. Travellers will pass the flea market on the left-hand side of the road and will find places to eat, but they should definitely take some water along. Visitors who stay on this road will make their way to the Cathedral St. This modern imposing Cathedral is certainly one of the major landmarks in Abidjan.
