Porto-Novo: how to get there and around
Airports, stations, ports, where the hotels are and what the numbers say, from public data rather than a brochure.
Porto-Novo is the capital of Benin (Ouémé), 20 m (66 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Cotonou Cadjehoun International Airport (COO), 29 km (18 mi) from the centre.
Key facts
Open Porto-Novo in Google Maps
Daylight in Porto-Novo runs from about 11 h 47 min a day in late December to 12 h 32 min in late June (computed for 6.5° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.
Getting there
Porto-Novo is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Cotonou Cadjehoun International Airport (COO), 29 km (18 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 7,906 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS, 80 km).
Flights to Porto-Novo: every airport, routes and times
Buses to Porto-Novo · Driving and car hire
What people come for
UNESCO World Heritage in the city: Royal Palace Museum.
Tours, tickets and day trips from Porto-Novo
Nearby cities, and how to get between them
- Lagos, 88 km (Nigeria)
- Ibadan, 174 km (Nigeria) — flights
- Lomé, 158 km (Togo) — flights
- Accra, 327 km (Ghana) — flights
- Benin City, 334 km (Nigeria) — flights
- Ilorin, 308 km (Nigeria) — flights
- Warri, 365 km (Nigeria)
- Oyo, 210 km (Nigeria)
- Abeokuta, 110 km (Nigeria)
- Akure, 298 km (Nigeria)
Twin towns and sister cities: Cergy-Pontoise, Metropolis of Lyon.
Common questions
Which airport serves Porto-Novo?
Cotonou Cadjehoun International Airport (COO), 29 km (18 mi) from the centre, plus 1 other airport with scheduled flights within 100 km.
How big is Porto-Novo?
About 264,320 people live in Porto-Novo, across 52 km² (GeoNames and Wikidata).
What time zone is Porto-Novo in?
Africa/Porto-Novo, currently UTC+1.
What currency is used in Porto-Novo?
The Franc (XOF). Traffic drives on the right.
Which cities are near Porto-Novo?
Lagos (88 km), Ibadan (174 km), Lomé (158 km), Accra (327 km), Benin City (334 km).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.