Abomey

Discover•Geography & Regions•Abomey

Abomey

The former capital of the Danxomé kingdom, Benin's historic and craft heartland, home to the UNESCO-listed royal palaces.

Abomey (and Bohicon) — the city of kings


Role	Former capital of the Kingdom of Danxomé, the country's historic and craft heartland
Department	Zou
Population	Roughly 90,000 (Abomey itself), with neighboring Bohicon, a busy commercial crossroads town, serving as the logistical gateway

Getting there

About 140 km from Cotonou (2–2.5 hours by road), via Bohicon.

Don't miss

The Royal Palaces of Abomey (UNESCO)
Houndjro Market for appliqué tapestries
The Abomey Historical Museum, and the new Museum of the Amazons' and Kings' Epic under construction on the same grounds

The red-ochre facade of one of the Royal Palaces of Abomey, with a corrugated metal hip roof and a central doorway — One of the UNESCO-listed Royal Palaces of Abomey — the seat of the Danxomé kingdom for nearly 300 years.

Aerial view of Abomey's Houndjro Market, its long covered halls under construction in the heart of the city — Houndjro Market, seen from above — Abomey's main market, a must for appliqué tapestries. Photo: Présidence du Bénin.

Aerial architectural rendering of the new museum complex in Abomey, red-brick pavilions around a central garden courtyard — A rendering of Abomey's new museum campus, under construction next to the historic Royal Palaces.

Good to know

Bohicon, just a few kilometers away, is a lively commercial crossroads and a convenient waypoint for reaching central and northern Benin.

For local businesses

A strong candidate for direct partnerships with artisans (tapestries, bronze) who could sell online, in addition to standard lodging listings.

Attractions in Abomey

5 sites listed in this city

Place Goho & Statue of King Béhanzin

Attractions & Activities

The Agongointo-Zoungoudo Underground Village

Historic & memorial site

Houndjro Market

Craft workshop & experience

The Historical Museum of Abomey

Museum & art gallery

The Royal Palaces of Abomey

Historic & memorial site · UNESCO

See all attractions in Abomey →

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