Fidjrosse is Cotonou's main beach, a long stretch of Atlantic coastline about 5 km west of the city centre. It is not a pristine tropical beach — the Atlantic here has a powerful undertow and the surf is rough, making swimming genuinely dangerous at certain times of year. But it is lively and local: on weekends, families set up under beach umbrellas, fishermen drag in heavy wooden pirogues through the surf, and vendors work the sand selling grilled corn, cold beer, and iced coconut.
The beaches of Benin are not developed for tourism in the way they are in Ghana or Senegal, which is part of their appeal. Fidjrosse has a handful of beach bars and restaurants at the western end where you can eat well and watch the sunset over the Atlantic. The beach is easily reached by zem from the city centre. Avoid it in the late evening as it is poorly lit.