Tour of Grand Bassam
By The Real Experience AS
Free cancellation available
includes taxes & fees
per adult*
*Get a lower price by selecting multiple adult tickets
Features
- Free cancellation available
- 4h
- Mobile voucher
- Instant confirmation
- Selective hotel pickup
- Multiple languages
Overview
Step beyond the landmarks and discover the history, creativity and everyday life of Grand-Bassam on a private guided tour. Stroll through UNESCO-listed Quartier France, where colonial-era architecture tells the storey of the town’s past. Your guide will bring the streets and landmarks to life as you visit the National Costume Museum in the former Governor’s Palace, the former Courthouse, the former CFAO trading post, Maison du Patrimoine, the N’zima Royal Palace, the Centre de Céramique and a contemporary art gallery.
Then experience local life in the N’zima fishing community. See N’zima women smoking fish and, depending on the day’s activity, fishermen pulling their boats ashore with ropes.
Make the experience your own with one optional activity: glide across the lagoon on a short canoe ride of up to 30 minutes, with views of Grand-Bassam from the water, or join a batik workshop. Batik is a textile art that uses wax and dye to create patterns on fabric.
Activity location
- Musee National des Costumes
- Boulevard Treich-Laplene
- Grand Bassam, Ivory Coast
Meeting/Redemption Point
- Lagune live, plein air ideal en famille
- Unnamed Road
- Grand-Bassam, District du Comoé, Côte d'Ivoire
Check availability
Tour of Grand Bassam in Multilingual
- 4h
- Opening hours: Wed 8:00 am-3:30 pm
- English
Pickup included
Price details
AU$414.14 x 2 AdultsAU$828.28
Total
includes taxes & fees
*Get lower prices by selecting more than 2 adults
What's included, what's not
- Private transport
- Entrance to Museum
- Guide
Know before you book
- Service animals allowed
- Public transport options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Activity itinerary
Musee National des Costumes
- 20m
- Admission ticket included
The National Museum of Costume is an impressive colonial-styled building that houses a wide array of ancient cultural artefacts and collections from all over the country. remarkable for its collection of vintage photos, the most curious of which
must be that of a pith-helmeted French colonial squeezing the breast of a naked N’Zima woman. The scale model villages downstairs examine the habits and customs of Ivory Coast’s indigenous people. The basketry, textiles, masks, ceremonial outfits and indigo goods are also worth a peek.
The range of mannequins illustrates the various religious and ethnic traditions of the country: a loin-clothed Baoulé monarch is draped in gold jewellery, an Abouré féticheuse tasked with educating children about sex clutches a wooden penis and broom to deter malevolent spirits, and a Kru
chieftain poses in a suit of tree bark and leather.
Marcel Treich-Laplene Monument
- 20m
- Admission ticket included
By far the most interesting thing to see in Bassam is the 1.1-
km2 open-air museum of colonial buildings constructed between the 1870s
and the 1930s. Most are dotted around the easily walkable Boulevard
Treich-Laplène
La 1ere boutique CFAO installe a BASSAM
- 10m
- Admission ticket included
An old trading post of the French West Africa Company, built in the early 20th century. This historic building reflects Grand-Bassam’s role as a colonial commercial centre and is an important part of the city’s heritage.
Grand Bassam
- 20m
The Governor’s Palace, opposite the Courthouse on
Boulevard Treich-Laplène is in good shape – its stucco walls were recently re-lacquered and its lengthy veranda was redecorated with sea shells. The dual staircases weave elegantly towards each other along the façade and meet
and curl inwards to form a semi-circle at the main entrance.
Grand Bassam Cultural Heritage House
- 10m
- Admission ticket included
Continuing east along Boulevard Treich-Laplène, on the corner of Rue Sacre-Coeur, is the Post Office and Customs House, built in 1893 out of prefab materials shipped from France. Composed of a central tower and a green-shuttered ground floor, it has been smartly renovated under the terms of
the UNESCO project and is now home to the Maison du Patrimoine Culturel, a cultural centre that arranges history-themed events and has a permanent exhibition of photographs depicting 150 years of important Bassamois
people, places, and events.
Grand-Bassam
- 30m
Recently inaugurated in May 2025, La Maison des Arts is a contemporary art museum housed in a beautifully restored colonial-era building that once served as the Hôtel des Postes et Douanes. The museum features rotating exhibitions of paintings, sculpture, photography, and design by African artists, aiming to become a hub for artistic exchange and inspiration. Please note that the museum is sometimes closed for private events, so visits depend on whether it is open.
Palais Royal Des N'zima De Grand Bassam
- 20m
- Admission ticket included
Palais Royal des N’zima – When open, enjoy a 20-minute visit to the royal palace of the N’zima people, the traditional rulers of Grand-Bassam. The palace showcases unique N’zima architecture, decorated with symbolic motifs, and offers a glimpse into the matrilineal traditions and royal customs of the community. This stop provides a fascinating insight into the history, culture, and leadership of the N’zima people, making it a memorable cultural highlight of your tour.
Grand Bassam
- 20m
Centre de la Céramique de Grand-Bassam
Established in 1982, this centre focuses on ceramic arts, providing workshops and showcasing local pottery techniques. It's a place to learn and appreciate the art of ceramics.
0
- 1h 15m
- Admission ticket included
Choose between a canoe rie or a batik workshop:
- Canoe ride on the lagoon – Glide across the calm waters past mangroves and palm trees. Take a 30-minute journey to a village where the N’zima people smoke fish, then return to the starting point (an especially magical experience at sunset).
- Batik workshop – Learn the traditional art of batik fabric dyeing and create your own colourful cloth (pagne) to take home as a special keepsake.
Location
Activity location
- Musee National des Costumes
- Boulevard Treich-Laplene
- Grand Bassam, Ivory Coast
Meeting/Redemption Point
- Lagune live, plein air ideal en famille
- Unnamed Road
- Grand-Bassam, District du Comoé, Côte d'Ivoire
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Experience the wonders of the world up close with great deals on things to do near and far. We offer one-of-a-kind activities that allow you to explore Grand Bassam your way. Whether you love nature, culture, food or a bit of adventure, we have the perfect activity for you.