Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) is a West African nation on the Gulf of Guinea, known for the skyscraper skyline of Abidjan, the vast man-made basilica of Yamoussoukro, the colonial-era beach town of Grand-Bassam, and a coastline of lagoons and palm-lined beaches stretching from Ghana to Liberia. It is the world's largest cocoa producer and West Africa's economic engine, blending a modern commercial capital with rainforest national parks, Sahelian towns in the north, and dozens of distinct ethnic cultures.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Korhogo Cloth (Fila)
Hand-painted cotton cloth from Senoufo villages near Korhogo, decorated with stylised animal and symbolic figures using natural fermented mud dye
Price: 2,000-25,000 XOF per piece (approx $3.50-$43.71)
Where: Fakaha village near Korhogo, Korhogo town market, Cocody artisan stalls in Abidjan
Woven Cotton Cloth from Waraniene
Traditional handloom-woven cotton strip cloth produced by weaving cooperatives in the village of Waraniene near Korhogo, using techniques passed down through generations
Price: 5,000-40,000 XOF (approx $8.74-$69.93)
Where: Waraniene weaving village, Korhogo craft markets
Dan and Senoufo Masks (Replica/Decorative)
Carved wooden masks in Dan, Guere, and Senoufo styles, sold as decorative pieces rather than ritual objects; quality and authenticity vary widely between workshops
Price: 5,000-100,000 XOF (approx $8.74-$174.83)
Where: Man carving workshops, Cocody artisanal market in Abidjan, Grand-Bassam craft stalls
Ivorian Cocoa and Chocolate
Raw cocoa beans, cocoa butter, and artisanal chocolate bars from Cote d'Ivoire, the world's largest cocoa producer
Price: 1,500-10,000 XOF (approx $2.62-$17.48)
Where: Cocody Marche des Femmes, Cap Sud shopping mall, specialty food shops in Plateau
Akan Brass Gold-Weights
Small brass figurative sculptures historically used to measure gold dust in Akan trade, now collected as miniature folk-art pieces
Price: 3,000-30,000 XOF (approx $5.24-$52.45)
Where: Treichville market, Cocody artisan stalls, Grand-Bassam craft market
Wax-Print Fabric (Pagne)
Vibrant patterned cotton fabric used for everyday and ceremonial dress across West Africa, sold by the length for tailoring
Price: 4,000-20,000 XOF per length (approx $6.99-$34.97)
Where: Grand Marche d'Adjame, Marche de Treichville, fabric stalls in Plateau
Attieke and Local Spice Blends
Packaged fermented cassava couscous (attieke) and Ivorian spice mixes used for kedjenou and sauce graine, popular for travellers wanting to cook local dishes at home
Price: 1,000-5,000 XOF (approx $1.75-$8.74)
Where: Cocody Marche des Femmes, Adjame market food stalls
Baule Wooden Statues
Carved figurative statues in the Baule style, traditionally linked to spirit-spouse (blolo bian/blolo bla) beliefs, sold as decorative art
Price: 10,000-80,000 XOF (approx $17.48-$139.86)
Where: Cocody artisanal market, Treichville craft dealers
Beaded Jewellery
Handmade necklaces, bracelets, and earrings using glass beads, brass, and cowrie shells in Akan and Senoufo styles
Price: 1,500-15,000 XOF (approx $2.62-$26.22)
Where: Cocody Marche des Femmes, Grand-Bassam artisan market, Korhogo craft stalls
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Cocody Marche des Femmes
A women-run market in the upscale Cocody district selling fresh produce, cocoa products, fabrics, and a dedicated artisan crafts section popular with visitors and expatriates
Where: Cocody, Abidjan
Hours: Daily 7AM-7PM
Marche de Treichville
One of Abidjan's largest and oldest markets, a dense maze of stalls south of the Plateau across the Ebrie Lagoon, selling everything from fresh fish and produce to fabric, gold jewellery, and household goods
Where: Treichville, Abidjan
Hours: Daily 6AM-8PM
Grand Marche d'Adjame
One of West Africa's largest markets, a sprawling multi-storey commercial hub in the Adjame district trading wax-print fabric, wholesale goods, produce, and crafts to buyers from across the region
Where: Adjame, Abidjan
Hours: Daily 6AM-8PM, busiest mornings
Plateau Rue du Commerce Shopping District
Abidjan's central business district shopping street, lined with boutiques, banks, pharmacies, and department-style stores serving the high-rise financial heart of the city
Where: Le Plateau, Abidjan
Hours: Mon-Sat 8:30AM-7PM, reduced Sunday
Grand-Bassam Artisan Market
A cluster of artisan stalls in the UNESCO World Heritage colonial quarter of Grand-Bassam, selling wood carvings, masks, batik textiles, and beaded jewellery near the historic beach and colonial-era buildings
Where: Quartier France, Grand-Bassam
Hours: Daily 8AM-6:30PM
Waraniene Weaving Village
A Senoufo weaving village a short drive from Korhogo where cooperatives of handloom weavers produce traditional strip-woven cotton cloth using techniques passed down through generations
Where: Waraniene, near Korhogo
Hours: Daily, daylight hours; cooperatives generally welcome visitors 9AM-5PM
Fakaha Korhogo Cloth Village
A Senoufo village near Korhogo renowned as the source of authentic hand-painted Korhogo cloth, where artists still use natural fermented mud dye on hand-woven cotton to depict traditional symbolic figures
Where: Fakaha, near Korhogo
Hours: Daily, daylight hours
Man Mask Carving Workshops
A cluster of wood-carving workshops in the western hill town of Man, producing Dan and Guere-style masks and figures; a good place to see carvers at work and buy directly from artisans
Where: Man town centre
Hours: Mon-Sat 8AM-6PM
Cap Sud Shopping Mall
A modern air-conditioned shopping mall in Marcory with a supermarket, international and local fashion outlets, electronics stores, and a food court, popular for a comfortable break from open-air markets
Where: Marcory, Abidjan
Hours: Daily 9AM-9PM