Month guide · Cannes · France
Cannes in May
What May is really like in Cannes: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: И. Максим Массалитин, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
May is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 21°C (70°F), lows of 13°C (55°F), about 5 rainy days and roughly 14.7 hours of daylight. Warm and sunny, but the film festival in the second half of the month sends hotel prices to their peak and closes parts of the Croisette.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 21°C (70°F) / 13°C (55°F)
- Rainy days
- About 5
- Daylight
- About 14.7 hours
- Sea temperature
- 17°C (63°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Cannes: days average 21°C (70°F) against a yearly average high of 20°C (68°F), and nights fall to about 13°C (55°F). Rain falls on roughly 5 of its 31 days. Compared with April (17°C (63°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 25°C (77°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 06:07
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 20:49
- Daylight
- About 14.7 hours
- Sea
- 17°C (63°F)
Spring (March–May). Mild and sunny, ideal for walking Le Suquet and the islands; the sea stays cool until late May, and the film festival and trade fairs push up prices.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 5 for crowds (the peak is May at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in May). Book accommodation early: May is one of the pricier months.
Events in May
- Cannes Film Festival (usually mid to late May)
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.
Experience · Lérins Islands
Underwater eco-museum
Bring your own snorkel and water shoes; the shore is rocky and there is nowhere to hire equipment on the island.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Active
- Art
- Outdoors
- Kids
Beach · La Bocca
Plage du Midi
This long public sandy beach starts just west of Le Suquet and runs towards La Bocca along Boulevard Jean Hibert.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
Landmark · La Croisette
Palais des Festivals et des Congrès
Ask at the tourist office inside about guided tours of the Palais, which take you behind the scenes of the Lumière auditorium on certain dates.
- Time needed
- 30–60 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Photo spot
Market · Le Suquet
Marché Forville
Cannes's covered market at the foot of Le Suquet sells Provençal produce, cheese, olives, flowers and fish landed by local boats.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- Shopping
What to pack
For highs near 21°C, lows near 13°C and 5 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Cannes?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, June and September are better overall. Compare every month.
Cannes in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Cannes?
It is a shoulder-season month. Warm and sunny, but the film festival in the second half of the month sends hotel prices to their peak and closes parts of the Croisette.
+How warm is Cannes in May?
Average highs are around 21°C (70°F) and lows around 13°C (55°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Cannes in May?
Expect rain on about 5 days of the month.