Côte d'Ivoire
Abidjan in December
☀️ Dry seasonWarm, humid and some showers.
🎒 Pack: light, breathable clothes & sunscreen · quick-dry fabrics · sunglasses & hat
Why December scores 8.4What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort7.7
- ✓Warm (31°C highs / 24°C lows)
- !Very humid/sticky (dew point 22.8°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~75 mm rain)
- Air quality9.5
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~8 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline6.5
- ·Increased caution
| Dec | Aug | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.4 Very good | 8.7 Excellent |
| Season | ☀️ Dry season | ☀️ Dry season |
| High / low | 31° / 24° | 28° / 22° |
| Rain | 75 mm | 26 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 23° | dew pt 22° |
| PM2.5 | 8 µg/m³ | 12 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Abidjan weather-station normals. Rainfall: Abidjan weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Christmas Day 25–27 Dec · 3 days off in a row
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore AbidjanEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyAbidjan is Côte d'Ivoire's largest city and economic capital, built around lagoons with a modern skyline in the Plateau business district. Travellers come for its food and music scene, its markets and nearby beaches and historic Grand-Bassam.
No major events on our calendar for December.
Coming up later
FEMUA (Festival des Musiques Urbaines d'Anoumabo)Date variesUsually April or May (dates vary)
A popular urban music festival founded by the band Magic System.
Why go: Big concerts draw crowds; book accommodation early.
Where: Abidjan
Tabaski (Eid al-Adha)Date variesAround late May in 2026 and mid-May in 2027; the date moves each year
A major Muslim festival marked with prayers and family feasts.
Why go: A public holiday; transport is busy as people travel home.
Where: Nationwide
Independence DayEvery year7 August every year
A national holiday marking independence from France in 1960.
Why go: Expect celebrations and closures of offices.
Where: Nationwide
Grand-Bassam
The former colonial capital east of the city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with faded colonial buildings and beaches.
💡 Ocean currents are strong here; swim only where locals say it is safe.
Banco National Park
A tropical rainforest reserve within the city limits, with walking trails and huge trees.
💡 Go in the morning and wear closed shoes.
St Paul's Cathedral
A striking modern cathedral in the Plateau with a tall angled tower and views over the lagoon.
Musée des Civilisations de Côte d'Ivoire
The national museum, displaying masks, sculpture and objects from the country's many ethnic groups.
Treichville Market
A large covered market selling fabrics, food and everyday goods.
💡 Keep valuables secure and agree prices before buying.
Attiéké with poisson braisé
Fermented grated cassava, similar to couscous, served with grilled fish, onions and chilli.
💡 Maquis (open-air restaurants) across the city.
Alloco
Fried ripe plantain, often served with chilli sauce and grilled fish or eggs.
💡 Street stalls and maquis, especially in the evening.
Garba
A cheap, filling dish of attiéké with fried tuna, onion and chilli.
💡 Street-side garba stalls.
Kedjenou
Chicken slow-cooked with vegetables in a sealed pot.
💡 Ivorian restaurants and maquis.
Korhogo cloth
Hand-painted cotton cloth from northern Côte d'Ivoire with figures and animals.
💡 Craft markets and art shops.
Baoulé carvings and masks
Carved wooden masks and figures from the Baoulé tradition.
💡 Craft markets in the city.
Ivorian chocolate
Chocolate made locally from the country's world-leading cocoa crop.
💡 Supermarkets and specialty shops.