Marche de Treichville

Marche de Treichville is one of Abidjan's oldest and largest markets, occupying a dense grid of covered and open-air stalls in the Treichville commune south of the Plateau, across the Ebrie Lagoon. Unlike smaller neighbourhood markets, it functions as a wholesale and retail hub combined, drawing traders from across the city and beyond. The market splits into distinct zones: a fish and fresh produce section near the lagoon side, a fabric and wax-print corner favoured by tailors, a gold and costume jewellery row, and a household goods section selling kitchenware, plastics, and hardware. Most goods are aimed at local shoppers rather than tourists, so authentic local product dominates over trinkets, though the jewellery row includes some pieces made for visitors. Cash in XOF is the only accepted payment; there is no card infrastructure among individual stall vendors and no tax-refund mechanism. The market is crowded and loud, especially in the fabric and produce zones during morning hours, and narrow aisles can make navigation slow. Food stalls scattered throughout sell grilled fish, attieke, and fresh coconut, reflecting the market's proximity to the lagoon.