When to go · Cotonou
Cotonou in January
Great month. Dry season; dusty haze; Vodun Day on 10 Jan.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Great
- Temperature
- 31°C88°F / 24°C75°F
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 2
- Crowds
- High
- Benin overall
- Prices
- High
- Benin overall
Verdict
Dry season; dusty haze; Vodun Day on 10 Jan.
Weather in January
- CotonouHighs around 31 °C, lows around 24 °C, rain on about 2 daysHighs around 88 °F, lows around 75 °F, rain on about 2 days
- Coast and lagoons, Benin · Cotonou, Ouidah, Porto-Novo, Grand-Popo, Ganviébest weather
Two rainy seasons; July–August is often a drier, cooler break. Humid all year.
Long dry season season
The most comfortable months for walking, markets and the beach road.
Watch: Harmattan dust haze from December to February; dry, hot afternoons.
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.
Vodun Day
10 January · Ouidah and around Cotonou
Public holiday; ceremonies and heavy traffic on the Ouidah road.
Christmas and New Year
25 December and 1 January
Family gatherings; restaurants raise prices and taxis are scarce late at night.
Vodun Days and Fête du Vodoun big impact
8–10 Jan (2026 dates; 10 Jan fixed holiday) · Benin
Ceremonies, masks and concerts in Ouidah; national holiday; full hotels.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Benin overall
- High
- Prices · Benin overall
- High
Benin overall: Dry; Vodun Days in Ouidah around 8–10 January. Book early.
High-price month: see what to book ahead.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen