Yamoussoukro
Ivory Coast · Africa
About Yamoussoukro
Yamoussoukro is the capital city of Ivory Coast and an autonomous district. As of the 2014 census, Yamoussoukro is the third most populous city in the Ivory Coast, with a population of 361,893. Located 240 kilometers (150 mi) north-west of Abidjan, the district of Yamoussoukro covers 2,075 square kilometers (801 sq mi) among rolling hills and plains.
Yamoussoukro became the legal capital of Ivory Coast in 1983, although the former capital Abidjan retains several political functions. Prior to 2011, what is now the district of Yamoussoukro was part of Lacs Region. The district was created in 2011 and is split into the departments of Attiégouakro and Yamoussoukro. In total, the district contains 169 settlements. Yamoussoukro is a sub-prefecture in Yamoussoukro Department and is also a commune: since 2012, the city of Yamoussoukro has been the sole commune in the autonomous district of Yamoussoukro.
Stone tools found in the country from hundreds of thousands of years ago show that the area around Yamoussoukro has been occupied since ancient times. Due to the desertification of the Sahara, many moved...
Yamoussoukro travel guide
Getting there
By bus 1 UTB Bus Stop. There are plenty of daily bus services from Abidjan, and most other larger cities have at least one daily departure. UTB is one of the major companies serving Yamoussoukro Travel from Abidjan is around 4 hours and costs 4,500 CAF.
By car A very good motorway (toll road/Péage) links Yamoussoukro with Abidjan. It takes 2.5 hours by car. It takes 1.5 hours from Bouaké on a potholed road.
By plane 2 Yamoussoukro Airport (ASK IATA Aéroport international de Yamoussoukro). The airport does not seem to see any scheduled service
By rail Yamoussoukro is not served by rail. The nearest station is in the town of Dimbokro, about 70 km east of the city. There is about one weekly departure in each direction between Abidjan and Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso. There's no reason to use the train when travelling from Abidjan but it might be an option if travelling from Burkina Faso.
See
The public gardens, the Fondation Felix Houphouet-Boigny and the old Presidential Palace are all impressive results of public expenditures during Houphouet-Boigny's rule.
1 Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, Rue de St.France. The largest Christian church in the world is the most remarkable legacy of Houphouet-Boigny. Although it doesn't seat nearly as many worshippers, it is structurally larger than St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City (after which it was modeled), with a greater surface area and higher dome. As a condition of his attendance at the basilica's consecration, Pope John Paul II insisted that a hospital be built nearby, and he laid the cornerstone for it during his visit; the stone still stands alone. (updated Jan 2021) 2 Saint Augustin Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Augustin de Yamoussoukro). Much smaller cathedral in the city centre. (updated Jan 2021)
Do
1 Stadium (Stade de Yamassoukro). Home to the national football team. (updated Jan 2021)
Eat
There are restaurants, shops, and street vendors selling local dishes in Yamoussoukro. There are many beach bars and restaurants at the 1 River Bank (opposite of Cyclone Bar).
Sleep
1 Motel Iris. Simple but spacious and very clean double rooms with shower and toilet. 15,000 CAF for a double (2023). 2 Hôtel Président, ☏ +225 30 646464, [email protected]. Purpose-built modernist luxury hotel, on-site restaurants, nightclub and a large swimming pool.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.