Month guide · Belfast · United Kingdom
Belfast in May
What May is really like in Belfast: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Belfast. Expect average highs of 16°C (61°F), lows of 6°C (43°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 16 hours of daylight. Often one of the drier, sunnier months and a good time for the Causeway Coast and the Mournes.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 16°C (61°F) / 6°C (43°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 16 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Belfast: days average 16°C (61°F) against a yearly average high of 13°C (55°F), and nights fall to about 6°C (43°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 31 days. Compared with April (13°C (55°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 18°C (64°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:18
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 21:22
- Daylight
- About 16 hours
Spring (March–May). Lengthening days, St Patrick's Day celebrations and often dry spells in May, with moderate prices.
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
- Belfast City Marathon (usually early May)
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.
Historic site · North Belfast
Crumlin Road Gaol
Tours are guided and can sell out on weekends; buy tickets online before you go.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
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Market · City Centre
St George's Market
Belfast's last surviving Victorian covered market, built in the 1890s, comes alive from Friday to Sunday with stalls selling local produce, fish, crafts and street food, often with live music.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Rainy day
Historic site · City Centre
Linen Hall Library
Stop at the upstairs café for a quiet cup of tea in the book-lined rooms.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Experience · Falls and Shankill
Murals and peace walls of west Belfast
The Falls Road and Shankill Road, divided by peace walls built during the Troubles, are covered in political and memorial murals that show the history and identities of each community.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Iconic
- Art
- Photo spot
What to pack
For highs near 16°C, lows near 6°C and 11 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 Belfast?
One of the best months to visit Belfast, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are June and August–September. Compare every month.
Belfast in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Belfast?
It is one of the best months to visit Belfast. Often one of the drier, sunnier months and a good time for the Causeway Coast and the Mournes.
+How warm is Belfast in May?
Average highs are around 16°C (61°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Belfast in May?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.