Month by month
| Month | Afternoon | Sea | Rain | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28.5 °C | 27.5 °C | 6 days | Ideal — one of the best times of year |
| February | 28.6 °C | 26.9 °C | 6 days | Ideal — one of the best times of year |
| March | 31.1 °C | 27.5 °C | 3 days | Ideal — one of the best times of year |
| April | 33.1 °C | 28.9 °C | 2 days | Ideal — one of the best times of year |
| May | 36.2 °C | 30.8 °C | 1 day | Possible, with trade-offs |
| June | 38.8 °C | 31.2 °C | 0 day | Possible, with trade-offs |
| July | 39.8 °C | 32.2 °C | 1 day | Possible, with trade-offs |
| August | 39.1 °C | 32.5 °C | 3 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| September | 37.7 °C | 32.8 °C | 0 day | Possible, with trade-offs |
| October | 34.8 °C | 32.3 °C | 3 days | Ideal — one of the best times of year |
| November | 32.3 °C | 30.4 °C | 5 days | Ideal — one of the best times of year |
| December | 29.7 °C | 28.8 °C | 8 days | Ideal — one of the best times of year |
Nearby in May
Before you go
Three things to check once you have picked your dates.
Entry
Visa required before departure. Passport valid for at least 6 months. Declare all electronic items and foreign cash of 10,000 US dollars or more on arrival; passport needs 2 blank consecutive pages.
For a British passport, per the UK Foreign Office on 27 July 2026. Rules change: check before booking.
Safety
Outside the areas advised against
Parts of the country are advised against (within 25 km of all land borders); Massawa is not one of them.
Official advice updated 27 July 2026
Health
Vaccines · typhoid recommended for most travellers; hepatitis A and hepatitis B if you are not already vaccinated; rabies and meningococcal disease depending on activities and areas visited. Routine vaccines up to date (measles in particular).
Yellow fever · No yellow fever locally, vaccine not recommended. Certificate required only if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk.
Malaria · Present. Areas: All areas <2,200 m (<7,200 ft) elevation No malaria transmission in Asmara (the capital). 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 Massawa in May?
The sea averages 30.8°C in May — yes, pleasant swimming.
How hot is Massawa in May?
Expect 36.2°C in the afternoon and 28.5°C at night, averaged over the last 10 years.
Does it rain a lot in Massawa in May?
Around 1 days with rain (≥ 1 mm) in the month — 3% of days.