Plateau Department · Benin
Kétou travel guide
Kétou is a city in Plateau Department, Benin, home to about 157,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- COO114 km · Cotonou Cadjehoun International Airport
- Currency
- XOFWest African CFA franc
- Time zone
- Africa/Porto-Novo
- Language
- French
Things to do
What to see and do in Kétou
See
Although the tourist sector in Ketou is very under-developed, there are various interesting sites in town. Kétou is a very old and important kingdom in Yoruba tradition and therefore has a strong cultural heritage.
Do
Kétou doesn't offer much in terms of entertainment. Like in most rural communities, the biggest attraction in Kétou is its people. The town is not used to seeing foreign travellers so you can expect a cheerful, albeit guarded, welcome. It is important to be open and friendly if you wish to engage with the people you meet. As with everywhere else in Benin, it is strongly advised that you not hand out gifts or money to people you have just met, as this only serves to cause hassle for future visitors.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Kétou
Kétou has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 36 °C; September is the wettest, with about 188 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Kétou: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Cotonou Cadjehoun International Airport (COO), about 114 km from the city centre in a straight line; Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS, 117 km) is also within reach.
Getting in
Kétou is 2½ hours and 140 km from Cotonou. There are regular taxis leaving from the Dantokpa taxi station in Cotonou. The overall quality of the vehicles is very poor, so do not expect to travel comfortably. If leaving from Porto-Novo, go to the Ouando taxi station where taxis leave more frequently than from Cotonou. Prices are 2500 CFA from Cotonou and 2000 CFA from Porto-Novo (2010). These prices will change directly with the price of gasoline.
Getting around
Kétou is not a very big town. You can easily get around by foot although there are moto-taxis everywhere. Drivers wear uniforms as in other parts of Benin, and you will easily find them at designated taxi stands. It should never cost more than 150 CFA for a single ride through town.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
COO · Cotonou Cadjehoun International Airport
LOS · Murtala Muhammed International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Kétou
Eat
No visit to Ketou would be complete without a taste of the local food speciality - Lafou. This cassava and corn flour paste is the staple meal in Kétou and most local families eat it every day. You will find it at any stall or restaurant that sells food.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Kétou: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Kétou?
Kétou has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 36 °C; September is the wettest, with about 188 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Kétou?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Cotonou Cadjehoun International Airport (COO), about 114 km from the city centre in a straight line; Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS, 117 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Kétou?
West African CFA franc (XOF).
Nearby
Destinations near Kétou
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.