Day trips

The 6 Best Day Trips from Cotonou

Drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan for every place worth the trip.

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There are 6 good day trips from Cotonou, Benin, led by Lagos, Lomé, Abeokuta. The closest is Porto-Novo, about 40 min by car, and 1 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.

Day trips from Cotonou at a glance

Destination	Distance	Drive time	Best as
Lagos	108 km E	1 hr 40 min	Full-day trip
Lomé	135 km W	2 hr 5 min	Full-day trip
Abeokuta	135 km NE	2 hr 5 min	Full-day trip
Ebute Ikorodu	121 km E	1 hr 55 min	Full-day trip
Porto-Novo	25 km NE	40 min	Half-day trip
Shagamu	146 km E	2 hr 15 min	Long day or overnight

Drive times are estimates from the distance. Check live traffic before you leave.

The best day trips from Cotonou

1
Lagos, Nigeria
Full-day trip
About 1 hr 40 min by car108 km east of Cotonou3 hr 20 min round trip
Known for Apapa Amusement Park.
Also nearby: Agege, Ajegunle, Lekki, Obalende, Ikeja, Akowonjo, Alimosho, Ota, Aliayabiagba.
2
Lomé, Togo
Full-day trip
About 2 hr 5 min by car135 km west of Cotonou4 hr 10 min round trip
Known for Marché des Féticheurs.
3
Abeokuta, Nigeria
Full-day trip
About 2 hr 5 min by car135 km north-east of Cotonou4 hr 10 min round trip
Known for Olumo Rock Tourist Complex.
4
Ebute Ikorodu, Nigeria
Full-day trip
About 1 hr 55 min by car121 km east of Cotonou3 hr 50 min round trip
5
Porto-Novo, Benin
Half-day trip
About 40 min by car25 km north-east of Cotonou1 hr 20 min round trip
6
Shagamu, Nigeria
Long day or overnight
About 2 hr 15 min by car146 km east of Cotonou4 hr 30 min round trip

A sample day trip: Cotonou to Lagos

A realistic pace for Lagos, 108 km from Cotonou. Packy AI builds this for any place on the list, with a route, opening hours and timings you can edit.

07:30Leave Cotonou
09:10Arrive in Lagos (1 hr 40 min drive)
09:25Apapa Amusement Park
11:25Lunch
12:40Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Lagos
15:10Head back to Cotonou
16:50Home in Cotonou

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What are the best day trips from Cotonou?: The best day trips from Cotonou are Lagos, Lomé, Abeokuta, Ebute Ikorodu, Porto-Novo. The closest is Porto-Novo, about 40 min away by car.
What is the closest day trip from Cotonou?: Porto-Novo is the closest, 25 km north-east of Cotonou, roughly 40 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
Where can I go within an hour of Cotonou?: One place is within about an hour's drive of Cotonou: Porto-Novo (40 min).
What is the biggest city near Cotonou for a day out?: Lagos is the largest city in day-trip range, 108 km east of Cotonou and about 1 hr 40 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
How far is too far for a day trip from Cotonou?: Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Shagamu at 146 km, around 2 hr 15 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.

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