Côte d'Ivoire
Abidjan in May
🌧️ Rainy seasonHot, humid and very wet.
🎒 Pack: light, breathable clothes & sunscreen · compact umbrella or rain jacket · quick-dry fabrics
Why May scores 7.3What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort5.6
- ✓Hot (32°C highs / 25°C lows)
- !Very humid/sticky (dew point 24.5°C)
- !Wet: ~268 mm rain, ~8 heavy-rain days
- Air quality9.7
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~7 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards9.5
- !Flood: ~8 heavy-rain days in an average May
- Safety baseline6.5
- ·Increased caution
| May | Aug | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 7.3 Good | 8.7 Excellent |
| Season | 🌧️ Rainy season | ☀️ Dry season |
| High / low | 32° / 25° | 28° / 22° |
| Rain | 268 mm | 26 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 25° | dew pt 22° |
| PM2.5 | 7 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 & crowdsMay 2027
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Eid al-Adha 15–17 May · 3 days off in a row
Other public holidays: Labor Day (1 May) · Ascension Day (6 May)
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.
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
Coming up later
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
Abissa FestivalDate variesUsually late October or November (dates vary)
A traditional N'zima festival with drumming, dancing and processions.
Why go: A strong reason to visit Grand-Bassam; it gets crowded.
Where: Grand-Bassam
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.