Ouidah, from Cotonou.

What you see at Ouidah

Ouidah is walked, then driven: the old Portuguese fort that became the history museum, the Temple of Pythons facing the basilica, the sacred forest of Kpassè and its statues, then the four kilometres of the Slave Route that run down to the Door of No Return, on the sand. It is also the capital of Beninese vodun: every January the town hosts the national festival of traditional religions and the Vodun Days.

• The history museum, in the old Portuguese fort
• The Temple of Pythons, facing the basilica
• The sacred forest of Kpassè and its sculptures
• The Slave Route down to the Door of No Return
• Ouidah beach, wide and near-empty on weekdays

In practice

Leave in the morning: the light on the Door of No Return is better before noon and the heat is bearable. Take a guide at the entrance to the sites; it changes everything, because most of what there is to see is told rather than looked at. Bring cash in FCFA: entries and guides are not paid by card.

Common questions

Can Ouidah be done in a day from Cotonou?

Yes, comfortably. Forty-one kilometres, forty minutes to an hour depending on traffic leaving the city westward. Half a day covers the main sites, a full day if you add the beach.

Do I need a driver?

It is the simplest way, and it is what we arrange for our guests: a driver who knows the road, waits during the visits and brings you back in the evening. Tell us your dates and we handle the rest.