Palembang is tropical, low, and humid all year. The dry season runs roughly from May to October and is the most comfortable time to visit; the November–April rainy season brings heavy afternoon downpours and very high humidity, but rarely interrupts sightseeing for long.
The single thing worth timing a trip around is the Cap Go Meh festival, fifteen days after Chinese New Year, when Kemaro Island fills with riverboats and pilgrims and the bridge is lit for several nights of celebrations. Indonesian Independence Day in mid-August also brings traditional river boat races on the Musi.