Massawa is famously one of the hottest cities on earth. Between May and September temperatures regularly exceed 40°C and humidity is extreme; the city is close to uninhabitable for unacclimatised visitors during these months. Even the Eritreans who live here retreat to Asmara in the worst of the heat.
The best time to visit is between October and April, when temperatures are more bearable — typically 25–35°C with lower humidity. November to February is the most comfortable. Christmas and Eritrean Orthodox Christmas (7 January) see large numbers of Eritreans visiting; Easter weekend is the major domestic holiday.
The sea is warm year-round. Visibility for diving and snorkelling is generally best from October through May.