Seasons
São Tomé city lies in the island’s north-eastern rain shadow, so it is noticeably drier than the south. The gravana (June–September) brings the most comfortable sightseeing weather: a little cooler, breezy and often overcast. The gravanito around December to February is hotter and sunnier.
From March to May and again in October–November, expect heavy downpours, usually short. Streets flood briefly and then dry out; carry a rain jacket and carry on.
Events
- Independence Day, 12 July: official ceremonies, parades and music.
- Carnival (February or March): street parades and costumed groups.
- São Tomé Day, 21 December: commemorates the traditional date of the island’s discovery.
- Tchiloli performances: the island’s masked theatre appears at festivals and on some weekends.
Crowds
The city is never crowded with tourists. Hotels are busiest in July–August and around Christmas, when the Santomean diaspora returns from Portugal.
São Tomé City month by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Visit rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30°C | 23°C | ★★☆ Good time |
| February | 30°C | 23°C | ★★☆ Good time |
| March | 31°C | 23°C | ★☆☆ Wettest months |
| April | 30°C | 23°C | ★☆☆ Wettest months |
| May | 29°C | 23°C | ★☆☆ Wettest months |
| June | 28°C | 22°C | ★★★ Best season |
| July | 28°C | 21°C | ★★★ Best season |
| August | 28°C | 21°C | ★★★ Best season |
| September | 29°C | 22°C | ★★★ Best season |
| October | 29°C | 22°C | ★☆☆ Wettest months |
| November | 29°C | 22°C | ★☆☆ Wettest months |
| December | 29°C | 23°C | ★★☆ Good time |
Temperatures are approximate long-term averages and vary with altitude; rain is possible in any month. Check a forecast before you travel.
