When to go · Eritrea
Eritrea, month by month
Good months for Eritrea: Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec.
Month by month
- JanuaryGoodDry and sunny in Asmara, warm and pleasant in Massawa. Genna and Timkat bring church festivals.Central highlands: best weather · Red Sea coast: fine · Eastern escarpment: rainyCrowds: Low · 3 festivals or holidays
- FebruaryGoodStill ideal for both highlands and coast; Fenkil anniversary in Massawa (10 Feb).Central highlands: best weather · Red Sea coast: fine · Eastern escarpment: rainyCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
- MarchGoodWarm, mostly dry; the coast starts heating up.Central highlands: best weather · Red Sea coast: fine · Eastern escarpment: fineCrowds: Low · 2 festivals or holidays
- AprilMixedShort rains possible in the highlands; Massawa getting hot.Central highlands: fine · Red Sea coast: hot · Eastern escarpment: fineCrowds: Low · 2 festivals or holidays
- MayMixedIndependence Day (24 May) fills Asmara; the coast is very hot.Central highlands: fine · Red Sea coast: hot · Eastern escarpment: fineCrowds: Medium · 3 festivals or holidays
- JuneMixedMartyrs' Day (20 Jun); coast too hot for most visitors.Central highlands: fine · Red Sea coast: hot · Eastern escarpment: fineCrowds: Low · 2 festivals or holidays
- JulyMixedHighland rains in the afternoons; Massawa above 40 °C.Central highlands: rainy · Red Sea coast: hot · Eastern escarpment: fineCrowds: Low
- AugustMixedRain in Asmara, green hills; avoid the coast.Central highlands: rainy · Red Sea coast: hot · Eastern escarpment: fineCrowds: Low
- SeptemberMixedRains ease; Meskel on 27 Sep; the coast still hot.Central highlands: fine · Red Sea coast: hot · Eastern escarpment: fineCrowds: Low · 3 festivals or holidays
- OctoberGoodClear skies in the highlands; the coast begins to cool late in the month.Central highlands: best weather · Red Sea coast: hot · Eastern escarpment: fineCrowds: Low
- NovemberGoodGood everywhere; the best time to add the Dahlak islands.Central highlands: best weather · Red Sea coast: fine · Eastern escarpment: fineCrowds: Low
- DecemberGoodDry and pleasant; Christmas and diaspora visits fill a few flights.Central highlands: best weather · Red Sea coast: fine · Eastern escarpment: rainyCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
Weather by region
How each climate zone rates each month.
| Region | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central highlandsAsmara, Keren, Mendefera, Dekemhare | Best | Best | Best | OK | OK | OK | Wet | Wet | OK | Best | Best | Best |
| Red Sea coastMassawa, Dahlak islands, Assab | OK | OK | OK | Hot | Hot | Hot | Hot | Hot | Hot | Hot | OK | OK |
| Eastern escarpmentFilfil, Nefasit, Ghinda | Wet | Wet | OK | OK | OK | OK | OK | OK | OK | OK | OK | Wet |
| Western lowlandsBarentu, Agordat, Tesseney | OK | Hot | Hot | Hot | Hot | Hot | Wet | Wet | Hot | Hot | OK | OK |