Organize your stay Benin
Covid-19 : current situation Benin
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, entry and travel restrictions may apply Benin. Remember to visit the site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you leave for the latest information
Money Benin
The CFA franc (for Communauté financière africaine) is the legal tender in Benin. It is issued by the BCEAO (Central Bank of West African States), based in Abidjan. Benin is one of the West African states like Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Guinea Bissau and Togo. These countries all use the same currency: the CFA, so you can use the CFA franc in these eight countries. The ISO code is : XOF.
Bills come in denominations of 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000 CFA francs; coins come in denominations of 25, 50, 100, 200, 250 and 500 CFA francs. Most transactions are carried out with small change and bills of 500 and 1,000 FCFA. Inaccessible to most Beninese, the large denominations of 5,000 and 10,000 FCFA are difficult to use, for example in the markets and in small street restaurants (maquis). It is therefore necessary to carry change at all times and to make change whenever the opportunity arises, i.e. in hotels, supermarkets, gas stations, etc
Exchange rates. The CFA franc is pegged to the euro at a fixed rate, as was previously the case with the French franc. One euro is exchanged for 655.95 CFA francs. In other words, for those who are still used to French francs, 1 FF = 100 CFA.
Budget & Tips Benin
Foreigners, especially if they are white, are considered rich. In fact, the price of a plane ticket alone to Benin represents a fortune for the vast majority of the population. To get an idea of the gap between income and living standards, you should remember that the minimum wage in Benin is 40,000 FCFA, which is the equivalent of barely 60 €.
Many things will seem very cheap compared to what you are used to. However, in order to travel, you may have to use expensive services such as car rentals, tours organized by travel agencies, luxury hotels or high-end restaurants. Then, the bill can become expensive. On the other hand, travelers can get by just fine if they travel by bush cab or bus, eat in maquis and sleep in small hotels.
Small budget:
between 15,000 FCFA and 25,000 FCFA, including accommodation in a ventilated room, travel by bus and meals in small maquis.Medium budget:
between 20,000 FCFA and 60,000 FCFA, including accommodation in small hotels with air-conditioned rooms, travel by bus and meals in quality restaurants.Big budget:
from 60 000 FCFA and the price becomes very high when traveling by rental car, count about 75 000 FCFA per day for a 4x4 with driver outside Cotonou.In Benin, haggling is the order of the day when buying souvenirs or staying in small hotels. A little tip: divide the advertised price (at least) by two, then increase it little by little until you reach an agreement with your interlocutor.
Passport and visas Benin
A visa is required for nationals of European Union countries and Canada. Since 2018, it is taken online (link on the consulate website). You will need to fill in your passport number, its expiration date (still valid at least 6 months from the day of application), your email and your bank references (Visa or Mastercard) for secure payment. The time required to obtain the passport is usually almost instantaneous, but can take up to 96 hours.
For a stay of 1 month:
50 € (single entry).For a stay of 1 month:
75 € (multiple entries).For a stay of 3 to 6 months:
100 € (multiple entries).Attention, do not forget to print it once you receive the PDF. You should also bring another copy, as you may be asked for it when you leave the country.
Driver's license Benin
As everywhere, you will obviously need to show your driver's license to rent a vehicle. But in Benin, the most common and practical solution is to rent a car with a driver, especially when you leave Cotonou and, even more so, when you go to the North. With a driver, you can fully enjoy the landscapes, while chatting pleasantly with him, he may give you some information and advice and, above all, in case of breakdown or any problem, he will know how to do what is necessary.
Health Benin
Remember to consult your doctor before leaving and possibly your dentist. It is advisable to bring a first aid kit with a mosquito repellent, an antidiarrheal, an intestinal antiseptic, a disinfectant, a preventive treatment against malaria, prescribed by your doctor, sunscreen and after-sun, etc.
Mandatory vaccination Benin
The yellow fever vaccine is mandatory to enter Benin, and your vaccination booklet may (theoretically) be requested upon arrival. Please note that until a few years ago, a booster vaccination was required every 10 years. Today, the vaccine is valid for life.
Security Benin
Cotonou has a reputation for being a safe city, but this does not mean that there are no problems. Tourists and Westerners are sometimes victims of robberies, especially snatching. It is therefore necessary to remain cautious, not to carry too much money on you, not to show bundles of money, nor to leave your bag half-opened... Moreover, in order not to find yourself in a lost corner and to be robbed, it is necessary to avoid taking a zem, alone in the evening. Similarly, it is more prudent not to ride behind a zem that is not wearing a yellow top or does not have a visible registration number (the number is registered by the Cotonou Urban Community).
Finally, some neighborhoods should be avoided in the evening, especially on the side of the "rails" (the railroad tracks) and the beach in front of the big hotels. In addition, the stretch of beach between the port and the Plakodji district is not recommended during the day, especially for single women.
Outside Cotonou , you can travel alone, provided that you do not drive at night, because of the frequent road accidents and, above all, the "coupeurs de route". On some roads, they stop vehicles by blocking the road or by throwing nails, and then rob passengers. On some stretches, the police sometimes even stop traffic until the early morning, or until there are enough vehicles for them to leave in convoy.
In recent years, northern Benin has experienced significant upheaval, with several attacks in national parks and possible incursions by armed terrorist groups. Moreover, the Pendjari Park was closed for many months and the W was still closed at the time of writing this guide, in the summer of 2022. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs website at that time listed both parks in red ("formally inadvisable").
Time difference Benin
When it is 12:00 in Paris, it is 12:00 in Cotonou in winter and 11:00 in summer.
Spoken languages Benin
The official language is French, and it is often also the language of communication between different ethnic groups, as it is the language of instruction in school. In general, therefore, those who have not attended school and who live in disadvantaged regions or remote villages do not master French and speak Fon, Bariba, Dendi, Yoruba, Nago, Adja-Ewé, Ditammari..
Communication Benin
Except in the Pendjari Park where there is no reception, you should not have any major network problem. Or at least not for too long!
Electricity and measurements Benin
The voltage is 220 volts and the electrical outlets are the same as in Europe. The power supply is sometimes irregular and subject to untimely load shedding. Moreover, rural electrification is still to be done in several regions. To compensate for the lack of power or to ensure continuity of supply, hotels and even restaurants often have a generator.
Luggage Benin
In Benin, it is hot all year round. Light clothing is therefore necessary. If you are attending a ceremony or being received in audience by a king, it goes without saying that you need decent, even neat, clothes. The same is true if you are a guest in someone's home. Bring a long-sleeved shirt or top and pants for the cooler evenings and to protect yourself from mosquitoes. For the rainy season, you need a windbreaker. Finally, in December and January, a light sweater is not useless for the end of the evening. Flip-flops or sandals are essential because of the heat and also for convenience. In palaces and sacred places, visitors are often asked to take off their shoes! Also take a pair of closed shoes, such as tennis shoes (leather is more fragile and should be avoided), so as not to wade in the mud when it rains. A cotton loincloth or a sleeping bag sheet are very practical when the cleanliness of the beds is doubtful or to sleep on a mat on the ground in the villages.
