Month guide · Barbados
Barbados in May
What May is really like in Barbados: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
May is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 31°C (88°F), lows of 24°C (75°F), about 7 rainy days and roughly 12.7 hours of daylight. Hot and still mostly dry; a good-value month before the rainy season.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 31°C (88°F) / 24°C (75°F)
- Rainy days
- About 7
- Daylight
- About 12.7 hours
- Sea temperature
- 27°C (81°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the warmest month in Barbados: days average 31°C (88°F) against a yearly average high of 30°C (86°F), and nights fall to about 24°C (75°F). Rain falls on roughly 7 of its 31 days. Compared with April (30°C (86°F)), May is about as warm; by June highs stay near 31°C (88°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:32
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 18:16
- Daylight
- About 12.7 hours
- Sea
- 27°C (81°F)
Dry season (December–April). Sunny and breezy, with calm west-coast seas and the highest prices; the Holetown Festival in February.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 3 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in January). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in May
May has no major recurring festival in Barbados, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in May
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Zoo · St Peter
Barbados Wildlife Reserve
Arrive around the afternoon feeding time, when the green monkeys are most active.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Garden · Bathsheba and the east coast
Andromeda Botanic Gardens
These hillside gardens above Bathsheba, created by horticulturalist Iris Bannochie from the 1950s, hold orchids, palms, heliconias and a huge bearded fig tree, with views towards the Atlantic coast.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Couples
Viewpoint · St George
Gun Hill Signal Station
Clear mornings give the best views across to the south coast.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- History
Beach · St Philip
Crane Beach
On the southeast coast, this cove of pinkish sand below cliffs is reached by steps or through the Crane resort.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
The sea averages 27°C (81°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Barbados.
What to pack
For highs near 31°C, lows near 24°C and 7 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Barbados?
A shoulder-season month. If your dates are flexible, December–April are better overall. Compare every month.
Barbados in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Barbados?
It is a shoulder-season month. Hot and still mostly dry; a good-value month before the rainy season.
+How warm is Barbados in May?
Average highs are around 31°C (88°F) and lows around 24°C (75°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Barbados in May?
Expect rain on about 7 days of the month.