Key facts
Benin is a country located in Western Africa. There are 4 countries (Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Togo) that Benin shares its borders with. The official language of Benin is French.
The national currency in Benin is West African CFA franc (XOF). The franc is subdivided into 100 centime.
Beninese
Banknotes
50010002000500010000
Beninese
Coins
1251025100500
Check with your bank before your trip to find out if there are any fees for using your card abroad. Some banks do not charge fees when you use a foreign ATM or pay in foreign currency, but others may charge a fixed cost for each transaction or allow a limited number of free withdrawals. The travel card provided by Wise.com, Revolut or Monose might be an excellent option to cut down on transaction fees.
Ookla® Speedtest No data available.
ATM Density It may be difficult to locate an ATM in Benin.4.26 ATMs per 100,000 people.The global average is 39.49.
SIM Registration In order to purchase a SIM card in Benin, a passport or ID is required as identification.
Socket types
There are 2 socket types used in Benin. Type C is a popular socket type throughout Europe (except the United Kingdom), Russia, and certain Asian countries.
The sockets’ shapes and voltage differ from country to country and a travel plug adapter may be required. Portable devices, such as phones, notebooks or tablets, usually handle the entire range of voltages used across the world (110-240V).
Public holidays
In the year 2024, Benin will celebrate 14 national public holidays. The next one Independence Day will take place on August 1.
| Date | Holiday name | |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2024Moving holiday | New Year’s DayNew Year’s Day | |
| January 10, 2024Moving holiday | Traditional DayTraditional Day | |
| March 31, 2024Moving holiday | Easter SundayEaster Sunday | |
| April 1, 2024Moving holiday | Easter MondayEaster Monday | |
| May 1, 2024Moving holiday | Labour DayLabour Day | |
| May 9, 2024Moving holiday | Ascension DayAscension Day | |
| May 20, 2024Moving holiday | Whit MondayWhit Monday | |
| August 1, 2024Moving holiday | Independence DayIndependence Day | |
| August 15, 2024Moving holiday | Assumption DayAssumption Day | |
| October 26, 2024Moving holiday | Armed Forces DayArmed Forces Day | |
| November 1, 2024Moving holiday | All Saints’ DayAll Saints’ Day | |
| November 30, 2024Moving holiday | National DayNational Day | |
| December 25, 2024Moving holiday | Christmas DayChristmas Day | |
| December 26, 2024Moving holiday | St. Stephen’s DayBoxing Day |
Sources
- EF English Proficiency Index (EF Education First)
- Speedtest Global Index® (Ookla®)
- Automated teller machines (ATMs) (per 100,000 adults) (The World Bank Group)
- Registration Policies Per Country (Prepaid Data SIM Card Wiki)
Tourism
What hotel chains are present in Benin?
There are no Mariott hotels in Benin.
There are no Hilton hotels in Benin.
There are no IHG hotels in Benin.
There are no Best Western hotels in Benin.
There are no Radisson hotels in Benin.
The Accor hotel chain operates in Benin.
What fast food chains are present in Benin?
The McDonald’s chain does not operate in Benin.
The KFC chain does not operate in Benin.
The Burger King chain does not operate in Benin.
The Subway chain does not operate in Benin.
The Domino’s Pizza chain does not operate in Benin.
The Starbucks chain does not operate in Benin.
Sources
- Country by National Dish (Samson Daniel)
Weather
What is the weather like in Porto-Novo?
Weather data for Porto-Novo (capital city) by Open-Meteo.com
Transport
Railways There are passenger trains operating between some cities.
Subway Systems There is no subway system in any city.
Taxi Apps Unfortunately neither Uber nor Bolt are available in Benin.
Sources
- List of high-speed railway lines (Wikipedia)
- List of metro systems (Wikipedia)
- Left- and right-hand traffic (Wikipedia)
- The Global Enabling Trade Report 2016: Road connectivity (World Economic Forum)
Safety
Emergency phones in Benin
Sources
- Benin Travel Advisory (United States: Department of State)
- Travel Advice for Benin (United Kingdom: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)
- Mortality caused by road traffic injury (The World Bank Group)
- Corruption & Economic Crime (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
Smoking & Alcohol
Smoking ban Smoking is prohibited in all public areas excluding entertainment and restaurants.
Cananbis legality Both recreational and medicinal use of cannabis is prohibited.
Sources
- List of smoking bans (Wikipedia)
- Legality of cannabis (Wikipedia)