Month guide · Antwerp · Belgium
Antwerp in May
What May is really like in Antwerp: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Berthgmn, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Antwerp. Expect average highs of 19°C (66°F), lows of 9°C (48°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 15.5 hours of daylight. Pleasant weather for walking and terraces, with long evenings.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 19°C (66°F) / 9°C (48°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 15.5 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Antwerp: days average 19°C (66°F) against a yearly average high of 15°C (59°F), and nights fall to about 9°C (48°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with April (15°C (59°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 22°C (72°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:51
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 21:26
- Daylight
- About 15.5 hours
Spring (March–May). Mild days, terraces reopening and the marathon, with frequent showers.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 3 for crowds (the peak is June at 4) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in June). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in May
- Sinksenfoor — Pentecost funfair (usually May–June)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in May
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · Eilandje
MAS (Museum aan de Stroom)
Even if you skip the galleries, ride the free escalators to the rooftop at sunset.
- Time needed
- 1–2.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Free
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Architecture
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Museum · Het Zuid
KMSKA (Royal Museum of Fine Arts)
Reopened in 2022 after an 11-year renovation, the KMSKA displays Flemish masters including Jan van Eyck, Rubens and Jordaens in its 19th-century galleries, and the world's largest James Ensor collection, along with Magritte and other modern artists in new white galleries inside the old building.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Iconic
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · Eilandje
Red Star Line Museum
Climb the museum's tower for a view over the Eilandje and the river.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Views
Museum · Sint-Andries
MoMu Fashion Museum
Antwerp's fashion museum on Nationalestraat shares a building with the Royal Academy of Fine Arts' fashion department, which produced the 'Antwerp Six' designers in the 1980s.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Shopping
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 19°C, lows near 9°C and 10 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Antwerp?
One of the best months to visit Antwerp, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are June–September. Compare every month.
Antwerp in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Antwerp?
It is one of the best months to visit Antwerp. Pleasant weather for walking and terraces, with long evenings.
+How warm is Antwerp in May?
Average highs are around 19°C (66°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Antwerp in May?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.