Benin
Republic of Benin · Western Africa
Benin is a country in West Africa. You'll find culture through a large collection of palatial ruins and temples of the once powerful Kingdom of Dahomey (1800s–1894). Moreover, Benin is the birthplace of Vodun (Voodoo) and all that goes with it. Vodun is the official religion of the country, and an important part of the life of ordinary Beninese. Many important tourist sites are linked to Vodun or the slave trade. The national parks of Benin are well worth a visit for their wildlife. It is also one of the most stable and safest countries in the region. With its rich history, vibrant culture, protected wildlife, Grand Popo ocean beach, and artisan market in Se, Benin is one of the best kept tourist secrets in West Africa.
Guide content adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Benin". Source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Weather
Live24°C
Dense drizzle · feels like 29°C
- 90%
- 5 km/h
- AQI 29
- SunThunderstorm22° / 28°
- MonLight drizzle22° / 30°
- TueThunderstorm22° / 30°
- WedThunderstorm22° / 30°
Measured at the country centroid, not a specific city.
Money
LiveWest African CFA franc (XOF)
- $1 USD
- Fr567.9
- €1 EUR
- Fr656.2
Reference rates for 2026-08-08. Indicative — not the rate a bureau will give you.
What a trip to Benin costs
Visas, flights, beds, food and everything in between, priced for your party and your dates. Every line shows its own arithmetic, so you can disagree with the parts you know better than we do.
Your trip
8 days on the ground
Estimated cost
$2,465
$1,233 per person · $154 per person per day
- $100
Visa & entry
$50 × 2 — typical tourist visa or eVisa fee
- $1,266
Flights
$633 return × 2 · 4,963 km
- $430
Accommodation
$61/night × 7 nights × 1 room · Standard
- $208
Food & drink
$13/person/day × 8 days × 2
- $80
Local transport
$5/person/day × 8 days × 2
- $16
SIM & internet
$8 per person, once × 2
- $144
Attractions
$9/person/day × 8 days × 2
- $38
Travel insurance
$2/person/day × 8 days × 2
- Subtotal
- $2,283
- Miscellaneous (8%)
- $183
- Total
- $2,465
Budget at a glance
Per day
$308
Per person
$1,233
Family of 4
$4,931
7 days
$2,465
14 days
$3,374
30 days
$5,452
The 7, 14 and 30-day figures re-price the whole trip at that length — flights and visas do not repeat, so a month is far from four times a week.
A planning estimate, not a quote — ground costs are modelled from a cost tier for Benin, not scraped from live inventory. Your settings are saved to this device.
Entry requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Benin’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Benin set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Beninese Embassy in France (in French).
Passport validity requirements
Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay.
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
Dual nationals
When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual Citizenship.
Visa requirements
You must have a visa to enter or travel through Benin.
For further information on entry requirements, contact the Beninese Embassy in France (in French).
Applying for a visa
Apply for a Benin visa online at least 7 days before your arrival date. You will get your visa when you arrive at Cotonou airport.
Visas for Nigeria, Ghana and Togo
You cannot get entry visas for Nigeria, Ghana or Togo in Benin. For onward travel you must apply for visas before travelling to Benin.
Vaccine requirements
To enter Benin, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination.
For more details about health entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Benin guide.
Customs rules
There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Benin (in French). You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
Source: UK FCDO, published 2025-12-15 under the Open Government Licence.
Getting help
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.
Emergency services in Benin
Fire and ambulance: 118
Police: 117
Emergency response is very limited and you may need to ask for local advice to get emergency help.
Contact your travel provider and insurer
Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.
Refunds and changes to travel
For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.
Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:
- where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider
- how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim
Support from FCDO
FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:
- finding English-speaking lawyers in Benin
- dealing with a death in Benin
- being arrested or imprisoned in Benin
- getting help if you’re a victim of crime
- what to do if you’re in hospital
- if you’re affected by a crisis, such as a terrorist attack
Contacting FCDO
Help abroad
See how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency.
Help in the UK
You can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.
Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)
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