Port Bouet, Bouet, Pickaninny Bassam

Port-Bouët, one of Abidjan's ten urban communes, lies south of the Ébrié Lagoon. Originally uninhabited until the 1930s, it's now home to the iconic Port Bouët/Petit Bassam lighthouse and the bustling Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport.

Beyond the airport, Port-Bouët offers a unique blend of urban life and coastal charm. The immense Hôtel Ivoire, boasting a bowling alley, cinema, casino, and the only ice rink in Western Africa, stands as a testament to the area's vibrant atmosphere. For a spiritual experience, visit St. Paul's Cathedral, an elaborate Italian-designed church renowned as one of Africa's most impressive religious structures. Nature lovers can escape to the Banco National Park, a tropical rainforest just north of the city.