Two days, two cities, one extraordinary basilica. Yamoussoukro is the planned constitutional capital that president Houphouët-Boigny built on his ancestral village — wide boulevards, presidential lake, and at the centre the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, the largest church on earth (by surface area), modelled on St Peter's in Rome and Vatican-blessed. Then back south past cocoa cooperatives — Côte d'Ivoire produces ~40% of the world's chocolate — to Abidjan, the West African business capital, for a night on the Plateau and dinner at the lagoon. Driver and bilingual guide included.
"The basilica is absurd — taller than St Peter's, in the middle of nowhere, completely empty inside. Then chocolate straight from the pod. Surreal day."
"Our guide Konan switched English / French as we needed it. The maquis dinner sealed it — best fish I've eaten anywhere in West Africa."
Yes — by total enclosed area (30,000 m²) and dome height (158m above ground), confirmed by Guinness. Surface-wise it's bigger than St Peter's in Rome. Vatican-modelled but technically not the Holy See itself, so visitor experience is calm and uncrowded.
No. Your guide is bilingual. Outside the trip, Abidjan has more English than the average French-speaking country, but a few phrases (bonjour, merci, l'addition) are appreciated.
Yes — Grand-Bassam (UNESCO colonial old town, 45 min from Abidjan) is a popular add-on. +1 day, $190/pp, with beach lunch and old French quarter walk.
November to March (dry season) — comfortable temperatures, clear views from the basilica dome. Avoid June–September heavy rains; the A3 stays passable but visibility drops.