Month guide · Budapest · Hungary
Budapest in May
What May is really like in Budapest: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Thaler Tamas, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Budapest. Expect average highs of 22°C (72°F), lows of 11°C (52°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 15.1 hours of daylight. Warm and green, ideal for walking the riverbanks, though May has some of the most frequent showers of the year.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 22°C (72°F) / 11°C (52°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 15.1 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Budapest: days average 22°C (72°F) against a yearly average high of 16°C (61°F), and nights fall to about 11°C (52°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with April (17°C (63°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 26°C (79°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:06
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 20:13
- Daylight
- About 15.1 hours
Spring (March–May). Blossom on Margaret Island, café terraces reopening and the Spring Festival; May is warm but showery.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 4 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in August). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in May
May has no major recurring festival in Budapest, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in May
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Palace · Castle District
Buda Castle
Walk up through the Castle Garden Bazaar (Várkert Bazár) from the river, or take bus 16 from Deák Ferenc tér over the Chain Bridge.
- Time needed
- Half a day with a museum
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- History
- Free
- Architecture
Viewpoint · Castle District
Fisherman's Bastion
This neo-Romanesque terrace of seven white turrets, built between 1895 and 1902 to represent the seven Magyar tribes, wraps around Matthias Church and frames the best-known view of the Parliament and the Danube.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- Couples
- After dark
Experience · City Park
Széchenyi Thermal Bath
Go on a weekday morning, bring flip-flops and a towel, and pack a swimming cap if you want to use the lap pool.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Rainy day
- Couples
- Outdoors
Experience · Gellért Hill riverside
Rudas Baths
Built by the Ottomans in the 16th century, Rudas keeps its octagonal pool beneath a domed stone roof pierced with small star-shaped skylights.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Couples
- Views
- After dark
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 22°C, lows near 11°C and 9 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 Budapest?
One of the best months to visit Budapest. The other best months are April and September–October. Compare every month.
Budapest in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Budapest?
It is one of the best months to visit Budapest. Warm and green, ideal for walking the riverbanks, though May has some of the most frequent showers of the year.
+How warm is Budapest in May?
Average highs are around 22°C (72°F) and lows around 11°C (52°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Budapest in May?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.