January in Cotonou — reliably good (2nd best month)
Good · 7.3/10January averages 27°C (80°F) with humidity around 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 sunny days 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.
Expect 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.
February in Cotonou — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6.8/10February averages 28°C (82°F) with humidity around 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 sunny days 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.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary.
March in Cotonou — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5.4/10March averages 28°C (82°F) with humidity around 85%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
Rainfall runs 83 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 22 sunny days and 12 hours of daylight.
It scores 5.4/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect 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 — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 3.9/10April averages 28°C (82°F) with humidity around 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 sunny days 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.
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 — 3.7 points higher on the same scale.
May in Cotonou — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4.2/10May averages 28°C (82°F) with humidity around 86%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
At 145 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 19 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 4.2/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.
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 — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 3.5/10June averages 26°C (80°F) with humidity around 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 sunny days 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.
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 — 4.1 points higher on the same scale.
July in Cotonou — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4.4/10July averages 26°C (78°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.
At 152 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 12 sunny days 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.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, December is materially better in Cotonou — 3.2 points higher on the same scale.
August in Cotonou — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5.6/10August averages 25°C (77°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.
Rainfall runs 99 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 13 sunny days and 12.2 hours of daylight.
It scores 5.6/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack light clothing, swimwear 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 — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4.1/10September averages 26°C (78°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.
207 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 15 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
It scores 4.1/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack light clothing, swimwear 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 — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 3.9/10October averages 27°C (80°F) with humidity around 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 sunny days 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.
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 — 3.7 points higher on the same scale.
November in Cotonou — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6/10November averages 27°C (81°F) with humidity around 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 sunny days 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.
Expect 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 — 1.6 points higher on the same scale.
December in Cotonou — the year's strongest window
Best window · 7.6/10December averages 26°C (80°F) with humidity around 76%, 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 22 sunny days and 11.6 hours of daylight to work with.
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.
Expect 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.
