Month by month
| Month | Afternoon | Sea | Rain | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30.4 °C | 28.4 °C | 5 days | Ideal — one of the best times of year |
| February | 30.6 °C | 28.7 °C | 8 days | Ideal — one of the best times of year |
| March | 30.3 °C | 29.2 °C | 15 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| April | 30.4 °C | 29.5 °C | 15 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| May | 29.6 °C | 29.5 °C | 21 days | Unfavourable season |
| June | 27.9 °C | 28.1 °C | 25 days | Unfavourable season |
| July | 26.8 °C | 26.3 °C | 18 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| August | 26.6 °C | 25.5 °C | 15 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| September | 27.2 °C | 26.6 °C | 22 days | Unfavourable season |
| October | 28.3 °C | 28 °C | 24 days | Unfavourable season |
| November | 29.5 °C | 29.1 °C | 19 days | Unfavourable season |
| December | 30.3 °C | 28.6 °C | 7 days | Ideal — one of the best times of year |
Nearby in December
Before you go
Three things to check once you have picked your dates.
Entry
E-visa to apply for online before departure. Passport valid until your return date. Apply online at least 7 days before arrival; the visa is issued at Cotonou airport; yellow fever certificate required.
For a British passport, per the UK Foreign Office on 15 December 2025. Rules change: check before booking.
Safety
Outside the areas advised against
Parts of the country are advised against (the north: W and Pendjari national parks, Alibori and Atacora departments, within 5 km of the Burkina Faso border, the east along the Nigerian border); Cotonou is not one of them.
Official advice updated 15 December 2025
Health
CDC level 2 notice: Polio (global)
Vaccines · typhoid recommended for most travellers; hepatitis A and hepatitis B if you are not already vaccinated; rabies, polio and meningococcal disease depending on activities and areas visited. Routine vaccines up to date (measles in particular).
Yellow fever · Vaccine recommended for the whole country. Vaccination certificate required on entry for all travellers.
Malaria · Present. Areas: All. Preventive medication recommended: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine — prescribed before departure.
Mosquitoes · dengue reported: protect yourself from bites.
Per the CDC (page reviewed 25 August 2026); see a travel clinic a few weeks before departure.
Beau Fixe is not a safety or health authority. These notes summarise dated public texts and link to their source: France Diplomatie (Licence Ouverte 2.0), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (gov.uk, Open Government Licence v3.0), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Source: CDC). Only the competent authorities are authoritative.
FAQ
Can you swim in Cotonou in December?
The sea averages 28.6°C in December — yes, pleasant swimming.
How hot is Cotonou in December?
Expect 30.3°C in the afternoon and 25.4°C at night, averaged over the last 10 years.
Does it rain a lot in Cotonou in December?
Around 7 days with rain (≥ 1 mm) in the month — 24% of days.