When to go · Cotonou
Cotonou in May
Avoid month. Heavy rain and flooded streets.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Avoid
- Temperature
- 31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C) / 25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 13
- Crowds
- Low
- Benin overall
- Prices
- Low
- Benin overall
Verdict
Heavy rain and flooded streets.
All twelve months in one grid — weather, crowds and prices, with gaps left as unknown.
Is another month better than May?
May is rated avoid. These months rate higher:
Weather in May
- CotonouHighs around 31 °C (88 °F), lows around 25 °C (77 °F), rain on about 13 daysHighs around 88 °F (31 °C), lows around 77 °F (25 °C), rain on about 13 days
- Coast and lagoons, Benin · Cotonou, Ouidah, Porto-Novo, Grand-Popo, Ganviérainy
Two rainy seasons; July–August is often a drier, cooler break. Humid all year.
Main rains season
Green and cooler evenings.
Watch: Heavy downpours, flooded streets and scarce taxis, peaking in June.
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
Christian and labour holidays
Easter Monday, Ascension, Whit Monday, 1 May
Banks and offices closed; markets open but thinner.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Benin overall
- Low
- Prices · Benin overall
- Low
Benin overall: Rainy; lagoon villages and Ganvié still work between showers.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Cotonou, side by side.
Verdict
May: Avoid
Jan: Great (better)
Daytime high
May: 31 °C (88 °F)88 °F (31 °C)
Jan: 31 °C (88 °F)88 °F (31 °C)
Night low
May: 25 °C (77 °F)77 °F (25 °C)
Jan: 24 °C (75 °F)75 °F (24 °C)
Rain days
May: 13
Jan: 2 (better)
Crowds
May: Low
Jan: High
Prices
May: Low
Jan: High
Festivals listed
May: 1
Jan: 3
May: Heavy rain and flooded streets.
January: Dry season; dusty haze; Vodun Day on 10 Jan.
Cotonou: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast