Travel Essentials

Ivory Coast: What To Know Before You Go

Q: What is the emergency number in Ivory Coast?

Police: 170, Ambulance: 185, Fire: 180

Plugs: Types C and E, 220 V. Emergency: Police 170, Ambulance 185, Fire 180. Tipping: Not obligatory; round up or leave about 10% in restaurants and tip drivers and guides a little. Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water.

Open The Ivory Coast Trip Kit

Plugs And Power

Types C and E, 220 V

Emergency Numbers

Police	170
Ambulance	185
Fire	180

Tipping

Not obligatory; round up or leave about 10% in restaurants and tip drivers and guides a little.

Water And Health

Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water
Vaccines: Routine vaccines, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, rabies, meningitis
Malaria: Risk throughout the country year-round; antimalarial tablets recommended

Apps To Download Before You Go

Orange Money: Mobile money is the standard way to pay and send cash; Orange Money leads the market.
Wave: Low-fee mobile money app that has become very popular for transfers.
MTN MoMo: MTN's mobile money wallet, widely accepted.
Yango: The most used ride-hailing app in Abidjan, with cheap fixed fares.
Heetch: French ride-hailing app with a strong presence in Abidjan.
Uber: Also operates in Abidjan.
WhatsApp: Used for business and personal messaging everywhere.
Glovo: Food and grocery delivery in Abidjan.

Customs And Etiquette

Greetings. Greetings are important and unhurried. Shake hands with everyone you meet, hold on while you ask about family and health, and show extra respect to elders when you greet them first.

Dress. Casual dress is fine in Abidjan; dress modestly and more conservatively in smaller towns and religious sites.

Respect for elders. Elders are treated with particular deference; use the right hand for giving/receiving items.

Safety And Scams

Abidjan is comparatively safe for the region, though petty theft occurs in busy markets, transit hubs, and at night in some neighborhoods; keep an eye on political developments, as periodic unrest has occurred around elections.

Overcharging tourists. Agree fares with shared taxis (woro-woro) and prices at markets before committing.

Fake guides/fixers. Use officially registered guides at heritage sites like Grand-Bassam.

Women travelers. Reasonable caution is warranted, particularly around nightlife areas and after dark.

LGBTQ+ Travelers

Legal · Use Caution

Same-sex relations are not criminalized under Ivorian law and there is no specific sodomy statute, but there are no anti-discrimination protections, political rhetoric against LGBTQ+ people has increased (including a 2024 presidential pledge to 'counter' homosexuality), and violent incidents including a 2025 killing of a trans woman have been reported; real social and safety risk exists despite the technically permissive law.

What Things Cost

Coffee (café)	1,200 CFA	$2
Local bus or metro ride	1,000 CFA (shared taxi/woro-woro)	$1.70
Mid-range restaurant meal	7,000 CFA	$12
Hostel bed / budget room (night)	25,000 CFA	$42
Mid-range hotel (night)	50,000 CFA	$85
Daily budget, mid-range traveler	55,000 CFA	$92

2026-09

Best Time To Visit

November to March (dry season, harmattan) is the most comfortable time to visit, with lower humidity than the rainy months.

Phrases

Basic French phrases · Basic Dyula phrases