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Benin

Reality Brief: Cotonou

What to know about Cotonou, gathered from AfriPilot's sourced information: alerts, rules, addresses and useful places. Nothing is added without a source.

Region: LittoralGathered from 11 sources checked on October 2, 2026.

Current alerts

No official alerts recorded for this region.

Alerts checked on October 2, 2026 against the sources cited.

Essentials before you arrive

Living in Cotonou

Field experience

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    Pharmacies, clinics and hospitals

    Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): pharmacies (104), clinics (69), hospitals (24). Locate those near your home in the first days and check opening hours and on-call services locally.

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    Where to shop for food

    Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): markets (18), supermarkets (45). Compare a few basic prices between market and supermarket before settling into habits.

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    Banks, cash machines and exchange

    Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): banks (112), cash machines (3), currency exchange (18), money transfer (11). Withdraw and change money at these official places, preferably during the day, never in the street.

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    A shop for your SIM card

    Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): phone and internet (42). Go with your passport: SIM registration is often mandatory.

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    A furnished flat for the first weeks

    Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): furnished apartments (13). A furnished flat gives you time to visit several neighbourhoods before signing a lease.

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    A coworking space as a fallback

    Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): coworking (4). Useful for remote work when the connection or power fails at home.

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    Consulates in the city

    Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): consulates (11). Note the address of your country's consulate or the nearest embassy.

Useful contacts

Contact details taken from the official sources cited. Check them before going.