Welcome to Bénin
Ouidah

Ouidah

Benin's spiritual and memorial capital, at the heart of the Slave Route and of Vodun.

The spiritual and memorial capital

RoleHistoric and spiritual town, at the heart of the Slave Route and of Vodun
DepartmentAtlantique
PopulationRoughly 100,000–120,000

Getting there

42 km from Cotonou, about 45 minutes by road.

Don't miss

  • The Slave Route and the Door of No Return
  • The Python Temple
  • The Portuguese Fort (history museum)
  • The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

Good to know

Ouidah alone hosts three major events on our calendar: Vodun Days and Quintessence (early January), plus National Vodun Day itself on the second Friday of January.

For local businesses

A strong concentration of guides specialized in memorial tourism and small, human-scale lodging, given the sensitivity of the subject matter here — a priority destination for certified-guide listings.

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