Abidjan Walking Tour: History & Hidden Treasures

We start at Place de la Republique every Saturday at 9am!

We are the only weekly walking tour of Abidjan. Discover the history & hidden treasures of this beautiful city.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • The Plateau - We will learn the history of the name Abidjan, pagne fabric, and many sites including the cathedral, pyramid, and mosque. We’ll also check out the bats who commute to Abidjan each day!
  • Mosquee SALAM du Plateau - The Plateau Mosque is one of the largest and most modern religious buildings in the country.
  • St. Paul’s Cathedral - The cathedral is a must-see for Abidjan
What's Included
  • Expert guide
  • Informative content
Location
Place De La Republique
We meet at Place de la Republique (northeast quandrant in front of Office of Tourism Cote d'Ivoire & Air Cote d'Ivoire Office at 9am on Saturdays!
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.3
(38 Ratings)
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Tanyath9897eb
Mar 18, 2025
Highlights in Abidjan á city to explore - This walking tour was exactly what I was looking for in Abidjan. Josiane did a great job of ensuring I understood the information and in not giving too much information as to be overwhelmed. I am passionate about the history of architecture and she was able to explain the history of all of the buildings we saw. She went over and above in helping me choose Bagne and a tailor to sew some articles. We definitely went over the allocated two hours! Well worth it! Tanya
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cai_d
Dec 28, 2024
Josiane was an amazing... - Josiane was an amazing guide. She knew her stuff, and takes you around all the major sites of the city. She gave me a gift as well which was unexpected and even went out of her way to help me find a working Cash machine. I highly recommend as she is very knowledgeable. She is also responsible for the day trip thay covers Abidjan and Grand Bassam
Review provided by Viator
Michael_f
Dec 14, 2024
Josiane, the perfect guide! - Josiane was a perfect guide. She is pleasant and most accommodating. Would definitely recommend her to anyone visiting. If i return, I will likely book a longer tour with her, if one is available.
Review provided by Viator
Michael_r
Jul 9, 2024
Walking Plateau - Great walking tour of downtown Plateau 🤗 Josiene was very knowledgeable and spoke very good English .
Review provided by Viator
William_p
Apr 13, 2024
Abidjan walking tour by guide & driver - We were met at the cruise ship dock by Josiane with a van and driver, it is easiest if you leave the dock via a driver. She is knowledgeable and friendly and willing to take you anywhere, we found the Cathedral with its beautiful stain glass particularly of interest.
Review provided by Viator
Jim_r
Mar 21, 2024
Enjoyable walking tour - I really enjoyed the walking tour. My guide was knowledgeable and brought pictures to help explain what I was seeing.
Review provided by Viator
Christopher_k
Jan 5, 2024
Merci, compelling Abidjan and Josiane for your wonderful tour-- from a U.S. street photographer - Landing in Abidjan, I had no idea what to expect...I was returning to the U.S. from a few months in South Africa on Ethiopian Airlines and, on a whim, booked one night in Cote d'Ivoire and one in Addis, Ethiopia as it was permitted in my itinerary. I'm so, so glad that I did! Between the vibrant energy of Abidjan, the kindness of strangers, and the colorful (literally and figuratively) markets, clothing, streets, I really hope to be back in Cote d'Ivoire someday. Josiane's tour, hospitality, and recommendations was a big part of that! Even though it would have been understandable to wait until hearing from me, Josiane was waiting at my hotel upon my arrival ready to begin the city walking tour! I immediately felt so welcomed to Abidjan :) Josiane had a traditional gift prepared for me and even catered the tour in a personalized way to my interests as a street photographer. Though locals had disparaged the Plateau as the commercial district that would be emptied out on a Friday late afternoon and evening, I found the sights and scenes that Josiane showed me to be so compelling. Between the Presidential Palace, the new stadium built for AfCon (delayed until earliest 2024), hidden-away markets, gorgoeus waterfront moments, and so much fascinating architecture in the burgeoning metropolis, I learned and saw a lot-- exactly what one would want in a tour. Josiane's local knowledge on the various buildings, histories, and contradictions of modern Abidjan really helped me to get aquainted quickly with the "Paris of West Africa" as Abidjan is known in the region. Because my tour started in the late afternoon, I also felt lucky to bear witness to one of the most grandiose natural spectacles I've ever seen (yes, including southern African safaris): the evening swarms of Abidjan's emblematic fruit bats, blotting out the sky...every day at 6 pm over Le Plateau, they gather in preposterous numbers, that I can't possibly do justice to in this review, to feed on insects all night at a nearby forest. Thereafter, it was also neat to see the Christmas displays in Abidjan after dark...and the Plateau at night reminded me of my favorite moments in commercial districts of other great cities back home...NYC, Chicago, etc. Moreover, Josiane also offered recommendations on other aspects of my trip that greatly enhanced my 24 hours in Abidjan: where to get an extra shirt given that my bags were stuck in transit, a market in the trendy Cocody to visit for souvenirs and authentic craftsmanship, where to eat, etc. etc. Finally, Josiane really made me feel so much safer than I would have otherwise, given that I speak approximately zero French! I'm definitely keen to get back to Abidjan someday...the energy is contagious. Merci beaucoup, Josiane! I won't soon forget your kindness and going above and beyond as my guide in Abidjan!
Review provided by Viator
Davesq2561rg
Jan 2, 2024
Abidjan walking tour - Josiane was a very good tour guide. We were a bit skeptical based on the meeting place. But once Josiane showed up all was good. She was on time and gave us a good introduction on the tour. We saw some very interesting sites and learned a lot about the Abidjan and Cote d' Ivoire. At the end of the tour at the marketplace she was a good source of bargaining and stayed with us until our Yango came - Double thumbs up
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mark_l
Nov 15, 2023
Great Knowldge - Great experience to learn about the city. Jasemine is trying hard with her English. She was friendly and knowledgeable.
Review provided by Viator
Claudia_c
Apr 6, 2025
Don't recommend! - Very unhappy!!! Tour started over 2 1/2 hours late. Because of this we could not go into the Mosque or the Cathedral (which had beautiful stained glass only visible from inside) as both were now conducting prayer services. La Pyramid is an abandoned, dilapidated building with no significance given. We went to 3 markets and only the final stop (the Cava) was worthy of crafts, souvenirs, etc. It's not a walking tour- Abidjan points of interest are too far apart and not enough information was given at each stop. When any information was given it was done outside the air conditioned van in the beating sun and could have been done while driving or stopped before getting out. Guide could have messaged everyone the day before to confirm start time of 9 am to avoid the confusion of start time of 12am (people thought that meant noon) that delayed the tour. Very disappointing experience and way overpriced.
Review provided by Viator
From $69
up to 10 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).