Parakou
The main city of northern Benin, the terminus of the railway from Cotonou.
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Parakou is the largest city in northern Benin and the point where the railway from Cotonou stops, which made it the transfer point for goods moving on to Niger by road and gave the city its trade. It is a Bariba and Dendi town with a large market, a mosque and a mix of peoples drawn by the transport business. The country around is savanna and cotton, and the north begins here in earnest.
What you actually see
- The railway terminus - the end of the line from Cotonou.
- The market - the trading centre for the whole northern region.
- The transfer trade - the goods moving on by road towards Niger.
- The northern setting - savanna and cotton country around the city.
When to go
November to February is the cool dry season, though the harmattan brings haze from December. The rains fall from May to September. March and April are extremely hot.
Honest expectations
The city is a working commercial centre with little for visitors. Rail services have been unreliable for years. Facilities are basic outside a few hotels.
Nearby
Nikki is northeast, and Natitingou is northwest.
What to pack for Parakou
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.