Month guide · Berlin · Germany
Berlin in May
What May is really like in Berlin: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Coooohen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Berlin. Expect average highs of 20°C (68°F), lows of 9°C (48°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 15.7 hours of daylight. Warm and green, with beer gardens open and long evenings by the canals.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 20°C (68°F) / 9°C (48°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 15.7 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in May
May is the 4th-warmest month in Berlin: days average 20°C (68°F) against a yearly average high of 14°C (57°F), and nights fall to about 9°C (48°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 31 days. Compared with April (15°C (59°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 23°C (73°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:10
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 20:55
- Daylight
- About 15.7 hours
Spring (March–May). Chilly March warming into green, blossom-filled May, with café terraces and beer gardens reopening.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 4 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in May). Book accommodation early: May is one of the pricier months.
Events in May
- Labour Day street festivities in Kreuzberg (1 May)
- Karneval der Kulturen — multicultural street parade (usually Pentecost weekend, May or June)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in May
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Architecture · Mitte
Reichstag and its glass dome
Book an evening slot for sunset over the Tiergarten, and bring photo ID for the security check.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Views
- Architecture
- History
Religious site · Museum Island
Berlin Cathedral
The neo-Baroque Berliner Dom, completed in 1905, has a richly decorated interior, a huge Sauer organ and a crypt with nearly a hundred Hohenzollern coffins.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Views
- History
- Rainy day
Historic site · Mitte
Berlin Wall Memorial
Start at the Visitor Centre near Nordbahnhof and walk east along the outdoor exhibition; it is free and open-air.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Outdoors
- Iconic
Viewpoint · Alexanderplatz
TV Tower (Fernsehturm)
Built by East Germany in 1969, the 368-metre Fernsehturm is the tallest structure in Germany.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Iconic
- Kids
- Couples
What to pack
For highs near 20°C, lows near 9°C and 8 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Berlin?
One of the best months to visit Berlin, with 2 notable events on the calendar. The other best months are June–September. Compare every month.
Berlin in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Berlin?
It is one of the best months to visit Berlin. Warm and green, with beer gardens open and long evenings by the canals.
+How warm is Berlin in May?
Average highs are around 20°C (68°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Berlin in May?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.