Côte d'Ivoire

Abidjan, often called the 'Manhattan of Africa,' is a high-energy metropolis where navigating the streets is an adventure in itself. To get around efficiently, you will primarily rely on the city’s iconic taxis orange (metered taxis) and woro-woro (communal taxis color-coded by neighborhood). A typical cross-town trip in an orange taxi might cost between 2,000 XOF and 5,000 XOF ($3.30 to $8.25 USD). For a more seamless experience, ride-hailing apps like Yango are widely used, but they require a steady data connection.

To avoid the hassle of hunting for a local SIM card at Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport, you can set up a Hello eSIM before you even depart. Having an active data connection the moment you land allows you to call a ride, navigate via GPS, and translate menus without worrying about exorbitant roaming charges. If you are traveling with friends, use the Hello expense splitting feature to manage the costs of shared taxi rides across the lagoon bridges. Whether you are heading to the chic boutiques of Plateau or the nightlife of Marcory, staying connected ensures you never lose your way in this sprawling, vibrant city.

Dining in Côte d'Ivoire is centered around the maquis—informal, open-air restaurants that serve as the heartbeat of Ivorian social life. You cannot leave without trying attiéké (grated, fermented cassava with a couscous-like texture), usually served with grilled fish or slow-cooked chicken. A generous plate of poisson grillé with a side of alloco (sweet fried plantains) typically costs around 3,500 XOF ($5.80 USD) at a local spot. For something heartier, look for kedjenou, a spicy chicken stew steamed in a sealed clay pot.

Because many maquis are cash-only, it is helpful to use the Hello budget tracking tool to log your spending in XOF, helping you keep a clear eye on your daily allowance. When dining in a group, the Hello app makes it simple to split the bill for a round of local 'Brakina' or 'Gazelle' beers, which usually go for about 1,000 XOF ($1.65 USD) per bottle. Exploring the street food scene in neighborhoods like Cocody or Zone 4 is a highlight of any trip, and tracking those small purchases ensures you have plenty of CFA francs left for a late-night snack of pain brochette.

Beyond the urban hum of Abidjan lie two essential stops: the historic town of Grand-Bassam and the political capital, Yamoussoukro. Grand-Bassam, a UNESCO World Heritage site just 45 minutes from the city, offers a hauntingly beautiful collection of colonial-era buildings and craft markets. Use the Hello trip planning feature to organize a day trip here; you can catch a 'massa' (minibus) from the Gare de Bassam for roughly 1,000 XOF ($1.65 USD).

Further inland, Yamoussoukro is home to the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, the largest church in the world. The scale of the marble and stained glass is breathtaking, with entry fees for international visitors usually around 2,000 XOF ($3.30 USD). Since these locations can be spread out, having a Hello eSIM is invaluable for checking bus schedules or researching the history of the monuments in real-time. Whether you are lounging on the palm-fringed beaches of Assinie or standing in the shadow of the Basilica’s massive dome, organizing your itinerary and staying connected through the Hello app allows you to focus on the rich culture and stunning landscapes of this West African gem.