Month guide · Colombo · Sri Lanka
Colombo in May
What May is really like in Colombo: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: AKS.9955, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
May is a month many travellers avoid. Expect average highs of 31°C (88°F), lows of 26°C (79°F), about 18 rainy days and roughly 12.4 hours of daylight. The south-west monsoon arrives, bringing the heaviest rain of the year and rough seas on west-coast beaches.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 31°C (88°F) / 26°C (79°F)
- Rainy days
- About 18
- Daylight
- About 12.4 hours
- Sea temperature
- 29°C (84°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Colombo: days average 31°C (88°F) against a yearly average high of 31°C (88°F), and nights fall to about 26°C (79°F). Rain falls on roughly 18 of its 31 days. Compared with April (32°C (90°F)), May is about as warm; by June highs stay near 30°C (86°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:54
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 18:20
- Daylight
- About 12.4 hours
- Sea
- 29°C (84°F)
Dry season (December–March). Sunny days, calm seas and peak season on the west and south coasts; book hotels ahead for Christmas and January.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 2 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in January). That makes May one of the better-value months to book.
Events in May
- Vesak — lanterns, illuminated pandals and free food stalls (May full moon)
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.
Architecture · Kollupitiya
Number 11 (Geoffrey Bawa's house)
Combine it with lunch at the Gallery Café on Alfred House Road, Bawa's former office.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- Art
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Waterfront · Galle Face and Kollupitiya
Galle Face Green
This 500-metre seafront lawn and promenade, laid out by the British in 1859, is where Colombo comes to relax.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Food
- After dark
- Iconic
- Outdoors
Religious site · Slave Island
Seema Malaka
Visit at sunset, then walk along the Beira Lake promenade.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Couples
- Photo spot
- After dark
Park · Cinnamon Gardens
Viharamahadevi Park
Colombo's largest central park, formerly Victoria Park, faces the white-domed Town Hall and has a large seated Buddha, fountains, shady trees and a children's playground.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
The sea averages 29°C (84°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Colombo.
What to pack
For highs near 31°C, lows near 26°C and 18 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Colombo?
A month many travellers avoid, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, December–March are better overall. Compare every month.
Colombo in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Colombo?
It is a month many travellers avoid. The south-west monsoon arrives, bringing the heaviest rain of the year and rough seas on west-coast beaches.
+How warm is Colombo in May?
Average highs are around 31°C (88°F) and lows around 26°C (79°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Colombo in May?
Expect rain on about 18 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.