Independence Weekend in Grand Popo

For the weekend of Nigeria's 57th birthday, Sandra and I decided to explore the beach town of Grand Popo, Benin Republic.

The destination choice was for only one reason, I wanted to rest.

This is our third visit to the Benin Republic, we visited for the first time in 2014 when we visited Cotonou and Porto Novo and 2015 when we visited Ouidah but this is our first time visiting Grand Popo.

We breezed through the Seme border in less than 30 minutes. I learned one big lesson to always check my passport to be sure it got stamped. The officer who was busy trying to make a side deal forgot to stamp my passport out of all the passports in his hand. He did enter me into the system but did not stamp me out.

I thought the beach in Ouidah was beautiful but the beach in Grand Popo takes it all. Maybe because the town is less populated. The beach is blue, the picture above is straight from the camera, no edit. The town is sleepy or maybe it is the side of town we were located.

The accommodation was a residence I found on Jumia Travel, but it is also listed on Airbnb. I booked a studio apartment which had it's own kitchen and door leading to the swimming pool and straight to the beach.

The goal of the trip was rest, so we spent the days on the beach, in the pool and watched the season premiere of Grey's Anatomy and How to get away with Murder. The only time we stepped out of the apartment was to get dinner on both nights and when we checked out to return to Lagos.

Food we ate

Language barrier was an issue here, we found it difficult communicating what we wanted. We ordered blindly and thank God we did not end with food we could not eat. I survived 2 nights with no pepper.  

I intend to embrace more of this type of trips. It is not every time somebody will be roaming about in the name of travel. Sometimes just relax and sip juice.


So my breakdown of travel to the Benin Republic is this, for business and City life, Cotonou is the best destination. For tourist things, Ouidah and Porto Novo it is and for the beach life, Grand Popo is the destination.

Where did you spend your independence holiday?

Have you been to Benin Republic? If yes, which town? Please share your experience

♥Lara