Benin City has two seasons: a rainy season from April to October and a dry season from November to March. Temperatures stay warm year-round, averaging 25–29 °C, so the main consideration is rainfall.
The dry season is the better time to visit. December and January are the driest months with barely 5 cm of rain each. This also coincides with the Igue Festival, an annual week-long celebration marking the Benin new year with traditional dances, music, parades, and spiritual rituals. It is the most vibrant time to experience Edo culture.
The rainy season brings 150–200 cm of rainfall, with July being the wettest month. Flash flooding is common and roads become congested. Travel is still possible, but expect delays and muddy conditions.
Other festivals worth timing a visit around include the Eghute Festival, when families honor departed ancestors, and the Ugivie Festival, centered on the ritual washing of coral beads — the most treasured possessions of the Edo people. The Ikhure Festival on the first day of the new year is a children's celebration of thanksgiving.