Grand-Bassam
Historic town · UNESCO World Heritage
A town full of history, between ocean and lagoon
Côte d'Ivoire's first capital, Grand-Bassam has kept its galleried houses, old trading posts and the gentle pace of its Quartier France, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012. Just 40 minutes from Abidjan, it's the perfect place to breathe.
The beach
A vast golden beach on the Gulf of Guinea. Come for the sunsets, grilled fish and long walks along the water. Note: the ocean can be strong — swim near supervised areas.
The Quartier France
Wander among colonial buildings, galleries and artists' workshops. The National Costume Museum, set in the former governor's palace, tells the story of Côte d'Ivoire's many cultures.
The lagoon
Cross the Victory Bridge to reach the lagoon: mangroves, fishing villages, canoe trips and waterside restaurants.
Distances from the residence
- Grand-Bassam beach< 300 m · 4 min walk
- Quartier France (UNESCO)On site
- Abidjan airport (FHB)≈ 40 min by car
- Abidjan – Plateau≈ 50 min by car
- Directions
Photo credits
Grand-Bassam photos from Wikimedia Commons:
- Grand Bassam beach — Erik Cleves Kristensen, CC BY 2.0
- Musée du Costume de Grand-Bassam — Cyriac Gbogou, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Grand-Bassam – Environnement et biodiversité 06 — Durand ndri, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Historic town of Grand-Bassam 116 — Yamen, CC BY-SA 4.0