Hotels in Benin

Hotels in Benin: your guide to where to stay

How much does a hotel in Benin cost?

The price depends on the standard, the city and the dates. The table shows indicative nightly rates for a double room. The cheapest months are usually September and November, while December is the priciest. Booking ahead usually brings better rates.

Indicative rates, updated periodically. For exact prices and availability, select your dates in the search above.

Where to stay in Benin: most popular cities

Most properties are concentrated along the southern coastal strip. These are the destinations travellers choose most often:

• Cotonou. The largest city and business hub, home to the airport and the widest choice of hotels, including 5-star properties. This is where most travellers stay.
• Porto-Novo. The capital, with Brazilian-influenced architecture, the Great Mosque and museums. A quieter alternative to Cotonou.
• Ouidah. A former slave-trade centre and cradle of voodoo, with the Slave Route and beaches. Plenty of guesthouses and coastal resorts.
• Grand-Popo. A seaside town with wide beaches and a holiday feel. Beach hotels and small auberges.
• Abomey-Calavi. The gateway to the floating village of Ganvie on Lake Nokoue. Residences and budget stays.

Nightly rates vary between cities. Here are indicative prices per night for a double room:

What to see in Benin

Benin packs history, culture and nature into a small area.

• Porto-Novo. The Great Mosque, King Toffa's Palace and the da Silva Museum tell the story of the country and its Brazilian influence.
• Cotonou. The huge Dantokpa Market, the Notre Dame des Apotres cathedral and the Zinsou Foundation promoting regional art.
• Ouidah. The Slave Route and memorials marking one of the main centres of the historic slave trade.
• Ganvie. A floating village on Lake Nokoue, built in the 16th century and reachable only by boat.
• Kota Falls. Waterfalls around 20 metres high, a fine spot for a quiet break among the greenery.

How much does a trip to Benin cost

Beyond the room, daily costs are low. A cheap meal runs about 2,000 CFA and a mid-range meal around 4,000 CFA. Cards are not widely used, so cash (the CFA franc) is the norm. Visa and Mastercard work at ATMs of the larger banks (Banque Atlantique, Ecobank, SGB) in Cotonou and Porto-Novo. Outside the cities, carry cash.

When is the best time to visit Benin

The best time is October to December, when the weather is dry and a little cooler. The cheapest months for a room are September and November, while December is the most expensive. The rainy season mainly falls between April and July. Entry requires a valid yellow fever vaccination.

Getting to and around Benin

The main airport is in Cotonou, with direct flights from Paris, Amsterdam and many African cities. You can enter by road from Nigeria and Togo, and daily buses run from Lagos and Niamey, all heading to Cotonou. Within the country, the most common way to get around is the zemidjan moped taxi (agree the fare before you set off) and buses run by lines such as Benin-Routes or Confort Lines. A single rail line links Parakou in the north with Cotonou in the south, but it does not run daily. Renting a car requires an International Driving Permit.

Example hotels in Benin

A few recognisable properties for reference:

• Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa in Cotonou (the most popular 5-star property, from approx. 160,000 CFA).
• Golden Tulip Le Diplomate and Nobila Airport Hotel in Cotonou (4-star, from approx. 64,000 CFA).
• Hotel Du Lac and Tahiti Hotel in Cotonou (3-star, from approx. 26,000 CFA).