Places / Africa / Ivory Coast
Bouaké
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At a glance
- Country
- Ivory Coast
- Region
- Gbêkê
- Population
- 740,000
- Best time to go
- November to March
- Main airport
- Abidjan Félix Houphouët-Boigny (ABJ)
- Coordinates
- 7.69°N, 5.04°W
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Overview
Bouaké is Côte d'Ivoire's second city, a busy trading centre in the heart of Baoulé country, roughly halfway between the coast and the northern savannah. It sits on the main road and railway north to Burkina Faso.
It is not a tourist town, and that is part of its appeal. Come for the market, the food and the carnival, and use it as a stepping stone between Abidjan and the north.
Things to see
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Grand Marché
The city's huge central market draws traders from across the region, selling everything from cloth to spices.
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Photo: Kamara kolo rachelle, CC BY-SA 4.0 Baoulé crafts
Look out for the carved wooden masks and woven cloth of the Baoulé people in markets and workshops.
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Photo: Hanay, CC BY-SA 4.0 Lake Kossou
The vast reservoir behind the Kossou Dam lies to the west, a calm stretch of water among the savannah.
Things to do
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Photo: Yeninadidiata, CC BY-SA 4.0 Carnaval de Bouaké
The city's annual carnival brings parades, music and masked dancers to the streets, usually in spring.
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Photo: goodiesfirst, CC BY 2.0 Eat at a maquis
Try kedjenou, a slow-cooked chicken stew, with attiéké or foutou at an open-air local restaurant.
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Photo: Felix Krohn, CC BY-SA 2.0 Day trip to Yamoussoukro
The capital's enormous basilica is about an hour and a half south by road.
Where to stay
City centre
Simple hotels within reach of the market and transport, the most practical base.
Hotels in City centreResidential outskirts
A few quieter hotels with gardens and parking suit travellers with their own car.
Hotels in Residential outskirts
Getting around
Shared taxis and motorbike taxis are the main way to get around; agree fares before you set off.
Buses run from Abidjan in around five to six hours, and the Abidjan–Ouagadougou railway passes through the city.
When to go
The dry months from November to March are best for travel, though the harmattan wind can bring dust and haze. Heavy rain falls from around May to October.
Plan your trip to Bouaké
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.