Benin
Republic of Benin
Western Africa · BEN
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Benin
Benin is one of West Africa's most rewarding cultural trips for travelers who want history, living traditions, and a compact route. It works best as a short loop from Cotonou into Abomey and the coast rather than a long overland circuit.
Popular For
Things To See
- Cotonou
- Abomey
- Ouidah
- Lake Nokoue
- Ganvie
- Pendjari National Park
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- The dry season is the easiest time for road travel and outdoor sightseeing.
- Abomey and Ouidah are the clearest first-trip anchors.
- A compact route is more rewarding than trying to cover every region in one pass.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Benin.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Benin Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Benin.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Porto-Novo
- Population
- 13,224,860
- Area
- 112,622 km²
- Region
- Western Africa
Languages
- French
Currency
West African CFA franc (Fr)
XOF
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
33.5
Price level index (US = 100)
Safety & Peace
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Porto-Novo (6.48°N, 2.62°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
28/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 20/100
- Lived safety
- 44/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.515
Low human development
- 5-year change
- +0.008
- 10-year change
- +0.009
- Trend
- stable
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.866
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.573
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.504
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (3)
- 🏛️
Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba
Inscribed 2004
- 🌿
W-Arly-Pendjari Complex
Inscribed 1996
- 🏛️
Royal Palaces of Abomey
Inscribed 1985
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 29.7%
- Forest cover
- 26.5%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 16
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 14
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
30/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
77/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Exercise increased caution in Benin due to unrest, crime, terrorism, and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Do Not Travel to areas of Benin bordering Burkina Faso; Niger; and the Nigerian states of Kebbi, Niger, and Kwara due to crime, terrorism, and kidnapping. Do not travel to the border region in northern or northeastern Benin for any reason. U.S. government employee travel restrictions U.S. government employees working in Benin are not allowed to travel to the following areas without Ambassador approval due to safety risks: Alibori Department Atacora Department Borgou Department in areas north, east, and west of Parakou Donga Department in the area north of Djougou Official travel in Borgou Department north, east, and west of Parakou as well as official travel in Donga Department north of Djougou is authorized for day trips only. Safety risks prevent emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in the areas of Benin bordering Burkina Faso; Niger; and the Nigerian states of Kebbi, Niger, and Kwara. There are no safety risks in Benin that would stop the U.S. government’s ability to offer routine or emergency services, except in the identified areas of concern. Crime Most coastal and southern areas of Benin are safe. However, violent crime can occur in remote locations. These crimes often happen at night and include kidnapping, assault, and armed robbery. Stay aware of your surroundings in: Urban areas and crowded markets. Areas near roadblocks, which may be manned by armed groups. Armed groups are present throughout the country. Terrorism There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Benin. Visit the U.S. Department of State’s country reports on terrorism to learn more. Terrorist and armed groups have attacked areas near the borders with Burkina Faso and Niger. There have also been kidnappings for ransom in areas of the Alibori and Borgou Departments near the Nigerian border. Terrorists may target: Places frequented by foreigners anywhere in the country Popular hotels, clubs, and restaurants Schools Places of worship International diplomatic missions Local security forces Unrest There have been instances of military activity and civil unrest that resulted in violence in Benin. This type of violence may lead to road and land border closures as well as impacted operations at the Cotonou International Airport. Although U.S. citizens have not been targeted, sporadic military activity or civil unrest may happen suddenly and poses a risk. Kidnapping Kidnapping for ransom occurs in Benin. Criminal groups and terrorist organizations target both locals and foreign visitors.
Read full advisory →Data current as of June 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data