Côte d'Ivoire Travel Guide - Getting There

Airlines serving Côte d’Ivoire include Air Burkina, Air France, British Airways, Egyptair, Kenya Airways, SN Brussels, South African Airways, Trans African Airlines and VLM. Côte d’Ivoire has a shareholding in Air Afrique, although the future of this airline, due to financial difficulties, is still under negotiation. It is recommended that visitors reconfirm returns flights 72 hours in advance.

From London to Abidjan is 6 hours, and from New York is 12 hours.

Abidjan (ABJ) (Félix Houphouët-Boigny) (website: www.aeria.ci) is 16km (10 miles) southeast of Abidjan. To/from the airport: Buses and taxis are available to the city (journey time - 25 minutes). Facilities: Duty-free shop, restaurant, shops, banks/bureaux de change, post office, pharmacy and car hire.

Yamoussoukro (ASK) (San Pedro) has been upgraded to international standard.

XOF3,000 for African destinations and XOF5,000 for all other departures (from Abidjan airport - prices differ according to airport flown from).

Main ports: Abidjan is the main port in Cote d'Ivoire; however, there are no regular passenger sailings. Cargo liners provide limited accommodation for passengers travelling from Europe.

The Abidjan-Niger Railway extends to Burkino Faso. There are two through-trains with sleeping and restaurant cars from Abidjan to Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) daily (journey time – 25 to 27 hours). Those intending to travel should be aware that the Burkina Faso rail network is under constant threat of closure because of financial difficulties; check with the appropriate authorities before finalising arrangements.

There are road links of varying quality from Kumasi (Ghana) and from Burkina Faso, Guinea and Liberia and Mali. Borders close at night.

Bus: Frequent services operate to Accra (Ghana) and Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). There is a service approximately once a week to Bamako (Mali); the journey can be very long (36 to 96 hours).

Bush taxis also operate on these routes.