Month guide · Florence · Italy
Florence in May
What May is really like in Florence: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Armin Kleiner, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Florence. Expect average highs of 24°C (75°F), lows of 12°C (54°F), about 7 rainy days and roughly 14.7 hours of daylight. Warm, long days and gardens in full flower; one of the most pleasant months for walking and for day trips to Chianti.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 24°C (75°F) / 12°C (54°F)
- Rainy days
- About 7
- Daylight
- About 14.7 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Florence: days average 24°C (75°F) against a yearly average high of 21°C (70°F), and nights fall to about 12°C (54°F). Rain falls on roughly 7 of its 31 days. Compared with April (20°C (68°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 29°C (84°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:49
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 20:33
- Daylight
- About 14.7 hours
Spring (March–May). Blossom, wisteria and irises in the gardens, comfortable walking temperatures and the Easter Scoppio del Carro; busy from Easter onwards.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 4 for crowds (the peak is June at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in June). Book accommodation early: May is one of the pricier months.
Events in May
- Giardino dell'Iris opens below Piazzale Michelangelo (usually May)
- Maggio Musicale Fiorentino continues
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 del Duomo
Florence Cathedral (Duomo)
If the dome slots are gone, climb Giotto's bell tower instead: it has 414 steps, landings to rest on and a view that includes the dome itself.
- Time needed
- Half a day with the climbs
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Views
- History
- Kids
Viewpoint · San Niccolò
Piazzale Michelangelo
This terrace above the south bank looks across the whole city, from the dome and the Palazzo Vecchio tower to the hills of Fiesole, with a bronze copy of David in the middle.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Iconic
- Kids
Palace · Piazza della Signoria
Palazzo Vecchio
Climb the tower first, because it closes in rain and high wind; the museum runs family tours that include secret passages.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Art
- Views
- Architecture
- Kids
Garden · Oltrarno
Boboli Gardens
The terraced Medici gardens behind the Pitti climb past Buontalenti's grotto, a stone amphitheatre and the Neptune fountain to the Kaffeehaus and the Porcelain Museum, with views over Oltrarno rooftops and olive-covered hills.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Views
- Couples
What to pack
For highs near 24°C, lows near 12°C and 7 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 Florence?
One of the best months to visit Florence, with 2 notable events on the calendar. The other best months are April and September–October. Compare every month.
Florence in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Florence?
It is one of the best months to visit Florence. Warm, long days and gardens in full flower; one of the most pleasant months for walking and for day trips to Chianti.
+How warm is Florence in May?
Average highs are around 24°C (75°F) and lows around 12°C (54°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Florence in May?
Expect rain on about 7 days of the month.