Porto-Novo
Porto-Novo is the capital and second-largest city of Benin.
The commune covers an area of 52 square kilometres (20 sq mi) and as of 2013 had a population of 264,320 people.
Getting to Porto-Novo
Although its capital of Benin, you must fly in to Cotonou and take a taxi to Porto Novo. Minibuses and taxis go to Cotonou regularly and are cheap for the 45-minute trip). You will most likely end up at the big market Dantopka in Cotonou unless you choose to descend somewhere before that. It can be quite intimidating getting out there especially in peak times.
Worth seeing
The unique and perhaps most colorful building in West Africa is the 19th century Brazilian style church now converted into a mosque. A must-see.
- 01Ethnographical Museum of Porto Novo
This is an interesting museum that takes an intensive look into the past of Porto Novo’s kings.
- 02Honmé Museum
- 03Museé da Silva
Celebrating Afro-Brazilian influence on the city, this fairly new museum offers a lot of variety.
- 04Great Mosque of Porto-Novo
The mosque was established in 1925 with chapel architectural style.
Things to do
Centre Songhai. Project Songhai has an interesting story and is a good example of a self-sustaining learning community. They attract students from all over West Africa for agriculture studies and they are pioneers in waste management and resourcefulness.
Where to eat
Loving Hut, vegetarian or probably even vegan. +229 61 39 29 91 AfricanFoodseum, 3ème Arrondissement. Kind of a novelty showcasing local fare. +229 62 74 76
Getting around Porto-Novo the local way
- Get inMinibuses and taxis go to Cotonou regularly and are cheap for the 45-minute trip).
- Get inThere are pirogues leaving from Porto arriving less-visited lake villages nearby.
From Wikivoyage: Porto-Novo, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2025-10.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikimedia Commons.