Month guide · Bologna · Italy
Bologna in May
What May is really like in Bologna: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Bologna. Expect average highs of 23°C (73°F), lows of 12°C (54°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 14.8 hours of daylight. Warm days and long evenings for aperitivo; one of the best months for the San Luca walk and day trips.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 23°C (73°F) / 12°C (54°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 14.8 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Bologna: days average 23°C (73°F) against a yearly average high of 19°C (66°F), and nights fall to about 12°C (54°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 31 days. Compared with April (18°C (64°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 28°C (82°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:47
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 20:35
- Daylight
- About 14.8 hours
Spring (March–May). Mild days, blossom in the hills and the San Luca icon procession in May; trade fairs and Easter can make hotels expensive.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 4 for crowds (the peak is April at 4) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in March). Book accommodation early: May is one of the pricier months.
Events in May
- Madonna di San Luca procession — the icon is carried down to the cathedral (usually the week before Ascension)
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.
Religious site · Piazza Maggiore and the Quadrilatero
Basilica of San Petronio
Look for the small hole high in the vault that projects a disc of sunlight onto Cassini's meridian around midday, and cover shoulders and knees.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Free
- Rainy day
Landmark · Piazza di Porta Ravegnana
Two Towers (Asinelli and Garisenda)
The Asinelli tower, about 97 metres tall, and the shorter, sharply leaning Garisenda are the best-known survivors of the dozens of tower-houses that medieval families built in Bologna.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Free
- Photo spot
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Religious site · Santo Stefano and Strada Maggiore
Santo Stefano (Seven Churches)
Visit early in the morning when it is at its quietest, then have coffee under the porticoes of the piazza.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Free
- Couples
- Rainy day
Market · Piazza Maggiore and the Quadrilatero
Quadrilatero market streets
The grid of medieval lanes east of Piazza Maggiore has been Bologna's market district since the Middle Ages.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
What to pack
For highs near 23°C, lows near 12°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 Bologna?
One of the best months to visit Bologna, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are April, June and September–October. Compare every month.
Bologna in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Bologna?
It is one of the best months to visit Bologna. Warm days and long evenings for aperitivo; one of the best months for the San Luca walk and day trips.
+How warm is Bologna in May?
Average highs are around 23°C (73°F) and lows around 12°C (54°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Bologna in May?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.