January holds up well in Cotonou — 2nd best month
Good · 7.3/10January averages 27°C (80°F) and humidity near 79%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
Rain is a non-issue at 14 mm for the month, with about 21 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.7 hours of daylight to work with.
It scores 7.3/10 here, 2nd of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for peak pricing, with this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary.
February in Cotonou: mixed conditions, plan around the weather
Trade-offs · 6.8/10February averages 28°C (82°F) and humidity near 82%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
Expect 27 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 19 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.8 daylight hours.
It scores 6.8/10 here, 3rd of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary.
March in Cotonou — middling scores, decent value
Trade-offs · 5.4/10Days in March average 28°C (82°F) and humidity near 85% — front-load outdoor plans before the heat builds and treat the middle of the day as indoor time.
Budget for roughly 83 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 22 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 12 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 5.4/10 on the same scale — 6th of 12 months, versus 7.6/10 for the best month here.
Budget for mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, December is materially better in Cotonou — 2.2 points higher on the same scale.
April in Cotonou: expect compromises
Hardest · 3.9/10April averages 28°C (82°F) and humidity near 86%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
At 164 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 19 days with 6+ hours of sunshine in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 3.9/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
Flexible dates? December scores 3.7 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
May in Cotonou — off-season conditions
Hardest · 4.2/10Days in May average 28°C (82°F) and humidity near 86% — front-load outdoor plans before the heat builds and treat the middle of the day as indoor time.
145 mm of rain signals a properly wet month, with only about 19 days with 6+ hours of sunshine to count on — build indoor options into the schedule.
That is 4.2/10 on the same scale — 8th of 12 months, versus 7.6/10 for the best month here.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, December is materially better in Cotonou — 3.4 points higher on the same scale.
June in Cotonou — off-season conditions
Hardest · 3.5/10June averages 26°C (80°F) and humidity near 88%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
246 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 13 days with 6+ hours of sunshine across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
It scores 3.5/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
Flexible dates? December scores 4.1 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
July in Cotonou — off-season conditions
Hardest · 4.4/10July averages 26°C (78°F) — pleasant for mornings and evenings on foot in the city, with a midday break when the sun is strongest.
At 152 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 12 days with 6+ hours of sunshine in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 4.4/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
Flexible dates? December scores 3.2 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
August in Cotonou — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5.6/10At 25°C (77°F) this is comfortable city weather in August, with sightseeing easiest before lunch and after the afternoon peak.
Budget for roughly 99 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 13 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 12.2 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 5.6/10 on the same scale — 5th of 12 months, versus 7.6/10 for the best month here.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, December is materially better in Cotonou — 2 points higher on the same scale.
September in Cotonou — off-season conditions
Hardest · 4.1/10At 26°C (78°F) this is comfortable city weather in September, with sightseeing easiest before lunch and after the afternoon peak.
Expect monsoon-level rainfall at 207 mm: only about 15 days with 6+ hours of sunshine across the month, and stretches of heavy rain are normal.
That is 4.1/10 on the same scale — 9th of 12 months, versus 7.6/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, December is materially better in Cotonou — 3.5 points higher on the same scale.
October in Cotonou — off-season conditions
Hardest · 3.9/10October averages 27°C (80°F) and humidity near 88%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
226 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 18 days with 6+ hours of sunshine across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
It scores 3.9/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
Flexible dates? December scores 3.7 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
November in Cotonou: mixed conditions, plan around the weather
Trade-offs · 6/10November averages 27°C (81°F) and humidity near 84%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
Rainfall runs 69 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 21 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.7 hours of daylight.
It scores 6/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a packable rain layer.
Flexible dates? December scores 1.6 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
December: the best month of the year in Cotonou
Best window · 7.6/10Days in December average 26°C (80°F) and humidity near 76% — front-load outdoor plans before the heat builds and treat the middle of the day as indoor time.
At just 14 mm for the month, rain will not shape your plans; you get about 22 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.6 hours of daylight.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Cotonou at 7.6/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Budget for peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary.
