This crumbling coastal town, on the west coast of Benin, has one of the best beaches in the country (though it's by no means spectacular). Grand Popo was once a major port during the slave trade.
Unfortunately, most of the historic buildings have been washed away. What remains is a calm, quiet fishing village, which may be all you desire in a beach if you've been in Benin for any length of time. Even if you don't go into the water, you can watch the fishermen brave the surf as they head out in handmade canoes. Frequented by Europeans based in Cotonou, it has a few choices for lodging, including a fairly comfortable seaside inn with nice rooms and excellent seafood.
40 mi/60 km west of Cotonou.