Best Time to Visit Togo

Lomé: best from December to January

Lomé sits right on the Gulf of Guinea, so it's warm all year. The best time to go is December and January. Days are dry and the sea breeze makes the beach bars at Lomé's waterfront pleasant in the afternoon. In the dry months you can walk between the Grand Marché, the Fetish Market (Akodessewa, where voodoo charms are sold) and the cathedral without being rained off.

February is the hottest month, at 31°C. It's still dry, but afternoons feel sticky and heavy. Plan your walking in the morning and keep the beach for later.

The rains: April to July

June is the wettest month, with 186 mm. Rain usually arrives in heavy bursts rather than all-day drizzle, but roads can flood and the zemidjans (motorbike taxis) get harder to find. If you want to visit Lomé in the rainy season, expect slower trips and some muddy side streets in neighbourhoods like Bè.

There's a shorter, lighter wet spell in the autumn, so don't assume the dry season runs unbroken from July to December. Our data is for Lomé only. The north and the hills around Kpalimé have their own pattern. Kpalimé is greener and cooler, so check the forecast before planning a hike there.

Holidays, events and crowds

Togo's high season matches the dry months, from December to February. Christmas and New Year bring many Togolese families and visitors from the diaspora (people with Togolese roots living abroad), so flights and hotels fill up. Independence Day on 27 April is a national holiday, and you'll see parades and closed offices.

Voodoo is an official religion in Togo. The Gbagba and Epe-Ekpe festivals, in the south, are worth a look if your dates line up. Dates change each year, so ask a local guide.

If you hate crowds and don't mind showers, the rainy months are quieter and easier on your wallet. For beach days, markets and easy travel, aim for the dry months and expect a little more company.