Trips Experiences Courses Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Mongolia - Bactrian camel
Mongolia • 9 days, 8 nights
NEW - Mongolia's Winter Camel Festival
from
Egypt - Abu Simbel
Egypt • 11 days, 10 nights
Treasures of Egypt: Hidden Tombs, Ancient Pyramids & Old Cairo
from
View all trips
Upcoming Experiences
View All Experiences »
Wild Life: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Living Wonders
Wild Life: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Living Wonders
Members Only
Monster of the Month w/ Colin Dickey: Halloween Monster Mashup
Members Only
Monster of the Month w/ Colin Dickey: The Albatwitch
Members Only
Accidental Discoveries
Upcoming Courses
View All Courses »
Decoding the Afterlife: Ancient Egyptian Tombstones With Dr. Nicky Nielsen
Designing Immersive Gatherings With Zach Morris of Third Rail Projects
Cosmic Life: Astrobiology & the Search for Extraterrestrial Life With Dr. Graham Lau
Nature’s Palette: Foraging Natural Pigments With Hayley Dayis & Alexander Fals
Historical Nonfiction: Research-Based Writing With Hadley Meares
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The slide scarp.
Hope Slide
Black Swan Hotel
The sun
Paseo del Sistema Solar
Chuck and Snoopy
Peanuts Gang Bronzes
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Chef Boyardee Statue
Cevapčići at Sarajevo ‘84
Sarajevo ‘84
In this salad, rice gets topped with pinches of toasted coconut, dried fish, finely-sliced herbs and vegetables, bean sprouts, a tiny knot of noodles, crushed black pepper and dried chili. 
Thai-Islam Phochana
With fat chunks of crab meat swimming in a lush coconut milk curry, it's no wonder this dish is so popular.
Raya
Meet boba tea's ancestral cousin.
Kanomwaan Pakee
Recent Stories
All Stories Puzzles Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
George Washington's bar tab would be worth a staggering $15,600 today.
Drink Like a Founding Father
Were the Salem Witch Trials Ruff on Dogs?
The SS United States moored in Philadelphia in 2008. The grand ocean liner's fate has been the subject of years of debate.
The SS United States Heads Into Unknown Waters
How Two Artists Are Painting Portland’s Future

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Experiences Courses Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
All Benin

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Benin

5 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Benin

Updated March 26, 2024

Email
Attractions
Trips
Map
Leaderboards
Stories

Unusual Attractions in Benin

Cotonou, Benin

Ganvie Lake Village

Africa's Venice on stilts.
Pythons at the temple.

Ouidah, Benin

The Temple of Pythons

Dozens of snakes are housed and worshipped within the walls of this Vodun temple.
Door of No Return.

Ouidah, Benin

La Porte du Non-Retour (The Door of No Return)

A monument to the more than one million enslaved Africans deported from the port of Ouidah.
Descend into Agongointo-Zoungoudo

Bohicon, Benin

Agongointo-Zoungoudo Archaeological Park

This subterranean town of over 50 dwellings lies thirty feet beneath the Earth's surface.

Abomey, Benin

Voodoo Temple of Abomey

A giant chameleon, with a fascinating purpose.
Are we missing something unusual?
Add it!
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Trips

NEW - Rhythms & Rituals: West Africa's Spiritual Traditions

Floating villages, bustling markets, clay castles, and mesmerizing ceremonies in West Africa.

Learn More

Explore Benin

Voodoo 2
Temples 2

Benin Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. F
    Facebook1092450099
    1
  2. Avatar image for Erin Everywhere
    Erin Everywhere
    1
  3. Avatar image for Tony Dunnell
    Tony Dunnell
    1
  4. Avatar image for Fred Cherrygarden
    Fred Cherrygarden
    1
Join the Ranks!
Add an unusual place to Benin.

Places Edited

  1. Avatar image for massimiliano20097
    massimiliano20097
    3
  2. Avatar image for Jlemmons
    Jlemmons
    1
  3. M
    michelleferlito
    1
  4. E
    elOso
    1
  5. M
    Mordy
    1
Join the Ranks!
Improve the Atlas with edits and photos.

Places Visited

  1. C
    carolinelupini
    5
  2. L
    lalicornemae
    4
  3. T
    Titid
    4
  4. B
    bphirschhorn
    4
  5. N
    NotEcoPaw
    3
Join the Ranks!
Visit a place in Benin.

Recent Benin Activity

  • M

    moonlitshadow77

    wants to go to The Temple of Pythons

  • M

    moonlitshadow77

    wants to go to La Porte du Non-Retour (The Door of No Return)

  • M

    moonlitshadow77

    wants to go to Agongointo-Zoungoudo Archaeological Park

  • M

    moonlitshadow77

    wants to go to Voodoo Temple of Abomey

  • Avatar image for julianfkeller99

    julianfkeller99

    wants to go to Ganvie Lake Village

Stories About Benin

Podcast: Ganvie Lake Village

A deep dive into "the Venice of Africa," a waterway-filled village in Benin.
by The Podcast Team
March 26, 2024

Podcast: Temple of Pythons

We visit southern Benin to learn more about one of the world's most misunderstood spiritual systems.
by The Podcast Team
June 6, 2023

Podcast: Koutammakou

Can the stunning earth-tower homes of Togo and Benin be saved?
by The Podcast Team
May 31, 2023

Who Were the Warrior Women of Dahomey?

The only documented all-female army in history inspired the Dora Milaje.
by Line Sidonie Talla Mafotsing
August 3, 2022

Podcast: Benin Bronzes

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
May 3, 2022

See Fewer Ads

Become an Atlas Obscura member and experience far fewer ads and no pop-ups.

Learn More

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube Twitter Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Puzzles
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Art & Culture Trips
  • Food Trips
  • Hidden City Trips
  • History Trips
  • Wildlife & Nature Trips
  • FAQ
  • Experiences
  • Online Courses
  • Online Experience FAQ
  • Online Course FAQ
  • Eclipse Festival 2024
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2024 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.