This sprawling administrative and commercial center isn't the official capital, but serves as the de facto one. It's a fairly ugly city—the architecture might be described as Late Stalinist Gothic. Any time spent in the city can be partially repaid by a visit to the Dantokpa Market, a bustling daily market stocked with everything from the mundane (yams and flip-flops) to the bizarre (dried lizards and other fetishes). There's also the Center de Promotion de l'Artisanat (Artisanal Center) located off Boulevard Saint Michel. Shop there for wood and metal sculptures, masks, drums, wooden and painted tapestries, and other unique crafts from throughout Benin.
Most travelers begin their trip in Cotonou; it's a good base for day trips to Ouidah, Ganvie and Porto-Novo. Take extreme care around the city beaches, as muggings occur frequently (it's especially dangerous at night). And don't linger near the Presidential Palace or think of taking any photos there. 20 mi/30 km southwest of Porto-Novo.
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