Overview
Benin is a slender strip of West Africa with an outsized story to tell. It is the birthplace of Vodun, home to the stilt village of Ganvie, the royal history of Abomey and the elephants of the Pendjari. For UK travellers it is a genuinely off-the-beaten-track choice with a warm welcome and few crowds. There are no direct flights to Benin from the UK, so every journey involves one connection. Use the price charts on this page to see how fares are moving before you book.
Best time to fly to Benin
Benin has a tropical climate and is hot all year. The main dry season runs from late November to February and is the most comfortable time to travel, with lower humidity and better road conditions, though the Harmattan wind can bring a dusty haze. A shorter drier spell falls in late July and August. The long rains (April to July) and shorter rains (September to October) bring heavy downpours. January is popular thanks to the Vodun festival in Ouidah on the 10th. Check the When to book chart above to compare fares across the year.
Main gateway cities & airports
Almost all visitors arrive at Cotonou Cardinal Bernardin Gantin International Airport (COO), also known as Cadjehoun, on the coast beside Benin's economic capital. It is a compact airport roughly 5km from central Cotonou, with easy onward road connections to Ouidah, Ganvie and Porto-Novo, the official capital.
Airlines and routes
No airline flies non-stop between the UK and Cotonou, so you will change planes once. Air France connects via Paris, Brussels Airlines via Brussels, Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa and Royal Air Maroc via Casablanca. From London, allow around 10 to 13 hours in total including the connection; from Manchester, add a short feeder flight to your chosen hub. Brussels Airlines and Air France usually offer the quickest single-stop routings for cheap flights to Benin.
Popular places to visit in Benin
- Ganvie: Africa's largest lake village, with homes and markets on stilts above Lake Nokoue, reached by pirogue.
- Ouidah: Moving slave-route heritage, the Door of No Return, the Python Temple and the heart of Vodun culture.
- Abomey: The UNESCO-listed Royal Palaces of the Kingdom of Dahomey, with bas-reliefs recording the dynasty's history.
- Pendjari National Park: One of West Africa's finest reserves for elephants, lions, hippos and antelope.
- Grand-Popo: A laid-back Atlantic beach town of palm-fringed sand, lagoon trips and fresh seafood.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Benin
- Compare connecting hubs: Paris, Brussels, Istanbul, Casablanca and Addis Ababa can vary widely in price for the same dates.
- Travel in the shoulder weeks either side of the dry season for lower fares and fewer visitors.
- Book two to four months ahead, as Cotonou has limited seat capacity and the cheapest fares sell out early.
- Fly midweek and keep your dates flexible, then use the price charts on this page to spot the cheapest departures.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders need a visa for Benin. This is straightforward through the official Benin e-Visa website, applied for online before you travel; carry a printed copy. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for entry. The currency is the West African CFA franc (XOF), which is fixed to the euro; take some cash as card acceptance is limited outside major hotels. For the best value, book a couple of months ahead and check the When to book chart above.
