Ouidah's main site is its Musée d'Histoire de Ouidah, housed in the beautiful Fortaleza São João Batista, a Portuguese fort built in 1721. It retraces the town's slave-trading history and explores the links between Benin, Brazil and the Caribbean.
Musée d'Histoire de Ouidah
Benin
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
0.39 MILES
This museum of contemporary African art, housed in a stunning 1920s Afro-Brazilian villa, displays paintings and sculptures as well as light, video and…
0.98 MILES
The Route of the Slaves includes the slave auction plaza, the Tree of Forgetfulness (where slaves were branded with their owners' symbols and, to make…
23.69 MILES
The seemingly endless Grand Marché du Dantokpa is Cotonou's throbbing heart, bordered by the lagoon and Blvd St Michel. Everything under the sun can be…
24.04 MILES
With its vibrant red and white stripes, this Catholic cathedral is not just a place of worship but also home to a small bookshop selling titles by…
21.49 MILES
Named after the family that started it, this fantastic exhibition space seeks to promote contemporary African art among Beninese people through…
21.83 MILES
This stilt village, located in the lagoon of Lake Nokoue, was created for the Tofinu people to stay safe from slave hunters. It has become part of their…
0.37 MILES
Those interested in Vodou could visit the python temple, home to some 60 sleepy snakes. The guide explains some of the beliefs and ceremonies associated…
23.59 MILES
This market sells anything associated with Vodou, including varieties of tree barks and dried plants (both used in traditional medicine) and stalwarts…
Nearby Benin attractions
0.37 MILES
Those interested in Vodou could visit the python temple, home to some 60 sleepy snakes. The guide explains some of the beliefs and ceremonies associated…
0.39 MILES
This museum of contemporary African art, housed in a stunning 1920s Afro-Brazilian villa, displays paintings and sculptures as well as light, video and…
0.98 MILES
The Route of the Slaves includes the slave auction plaza, the Tree of Forgetfulness (where slaves were branded with their owners' symbols and, to make…
21.1 MILES
This pretty stretch of sand is a lovely place to embrace local culture and cool off. It's a favorite spot for Beninese to retreat to with families and is…
21.49 MILES
Named after the family that started it, this fantastic exhibition space seeks to promote contemporary African art among Beninese people through…
21.83 MILES
This stilt village, located in the lagoon of Lake Nokoue, was created for the Tofinu people to stay safe from slave hunters. It has become part of their…
22.13 MILES
This busy cultural centre has a gallery, an outdoor theatre, a library and a cinema.
22.51 MILES
On the main road through the village, Villa Karo is a small gallery with great exhibitions focusing on local art.