Benin Travel Guide: Best Time to Visit, Weather & Safety

Population

11.49M

Area

112.6K km²

Capital

Porto-Novo

Currency

XOF

Power plugs

C · E

220 V

Calling code

+229

Benin, officially the Republic of Benin, formerly known as Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the northwest, and Niger to the northeast. The majority of its population lives on the southern coastline of the Bight of Benin, part of the Gulf of Guinea in the northernmost tropical portion of the Atlantic Ocean. The capital is Porto-Novo, and the seat of government is in Cotonou, the most populous city and economic capital. Benin covers an area of 112,622 km2 (43,484 sq mi), and its population in 2026 was estimated to be approximately 15 million. It is a tropical country with an economy heavily dependent on agriculture and the exports of palm oil and cotton. Read more — Wikipedia

When to go

Best places in Benin in October

81

Go score

When to go in Benin: month-by-month

Go score by month for the main destinations; green means great weather.

places	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Cotonou	90	86	79	76	73	64	73	78	76	80	90	91
Abomey-Calavi	88	85	79	74	73	64	73	78	76	80	89	90
Porto-Novo	86	82	76	73	71	64	73	77	76	80	88	87
Parakou	54	45	40	43	48	53	55	56	51	59	57	56
Godomè	88	85	78	73	71	64	73	78	76	80	88	90
Abomey	54	47	44	44	49	52	58	60	55	56	62	59
Djougou	56	48	41	42	48	54	54	56	52	57	58	57
Bohicon	55	49	44	44	48	51	58	60	55	55	61	59
Ekpé	89	85	78	75	73	64	73	77	76	80	89	89
Nikki	54	45	43	43	49	57	59	59	54	61	56	57
Malanville	56	41	38	37	31	39	48	48	50	49	41	53
Kandi	59	46	38	37	37	49	55	53	54	59	52	60
Kérou	57	45	38	34	42	51	54	53	52	58	53	58
Natitingou	58	48	41	42	48	54	54	55	51	59	60	58

Water temperature

Sea temperature along the coast of Benin

places	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Cotonou	28°	28°	29°	29°	29°	28°	26°	25°	26°	27°	29°	28°
Abomey-Calavi	28°	28°	29°	29°	29°	28°	26°	25°	26°	27°	29°	28°
Porto-Novo	28°	28°	29°	29°	29°	28°	26°	25°	26°	27°	29°	28°
Godomè	28°	28°	29°	29°	29°	28°	26°	25°	26°	27°	29°	28°
Ekpé	28°	28°	29°	29°	29°	28°	26°	25°	26°	27°	29°	28°
Semi	28°	28°	29°	29°	29°	28°	26°	25°	26°	27°	29°	28°
Ganvié	28°	28°	29°	29°	29°	28°	26°	25°	26°	27°	29°	28°
Hévié	28°	28°	29°	29°	29°	28°	26°	25°	26°	27°	29°	28°
Agoué	28°	28°	28°	29°	29°	28°	25°	24°	26°	27°	28°	28°

All holiday types

More ways to travel in Benin

All holiday types

Museums6 World Heritage3 Summer holidaysWinter sun

Tourist density

Tourism in Benin

How many visitors come, how concentrated tourism is, and when the country is busiest.

International visitors a year

337K

2019

World rank by arrivals

#160

Visitors per resident

0.03

Visitors per km²

3

Most popular destinations in Benin

Practical

Benin: practical information

Plugs, money, emergency numbers, safety and typical prices: what to know before you go.

Power plugs

CE

Voltage: 220 V · 50 Hz
Driving: Drive on the right

Currency

West African CFA Franc

XOF · Fr

Languages: French
Calling code: +229

Safety & travel advice

2

Exercise increased cautionUS travel advisory

Advises against all travel to parts of the country · Advises against all but essential travel to parts of the countryUK travel advice · Dec 15, 2025

Read the full advice

Typical prices