Month guide · Hamburg · Germany
Hamburg in May
What May is really like in Hamburg: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: AlterVista, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Hamburg. Expect average highs of 18°C (64°F), lows of 8°C (46°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 15.9 hours of daylight. Long, mild days and one of the city's biggest weekends at the port anniversary celebrations.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 18°C (64°F) / 8°C (46°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 15.9 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Hamburg: days average 18°C (64°F) against a yearly average high of 14°C (57°F), and nights fall to about 8°C (46°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with April (14°C (57°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 21°C (70°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:19
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 21:13
- Daylight
- About 15.9 hours
Spring (March–May). Cool, changeable weather that warms through May, with the spring DOM funfair, blossom along the Alster and the port anniversary.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 4 for crowds (the peak is May at 4) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in May). Book accommodation early: May is one of the pricier months.
Events in May
- Hafengeburtstag — port anniversary with ship parades (usually early to mid-May)
- Cherry blossom fireworks on the Außenalster (usually May)
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 · Altstadt
Hamburg City Hall
Join a guided tour of the interior; tours in English run on most days when parliament is not sitting.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Gallery · St. Georg
Hamburger Kunsthalle
One of Germany's largest art museums spans old masters, 19th-century German Romantics, including Caspar David Friedrich's Wanderer above the Sea of Fog, and modern and contemporary art in the Galerie der Gegenwart.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
Museum · HafenCity and Speicherstadt
International Maritime Museum
Start at the top floor and work down; the ship-model floors are the highlight.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Historic site · Altstadt
St. Nikolai Memorial
The ruined neo-Gothic church, bombed in 1943, has been kept as a memorial to the victims of war.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 18°C, lows near 8°C and 10 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Hamburg?
One of the best months to visit Hamburg, with 2 notable events on the calendar. The other best months are June–September. Compare every month.
Hamburg in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Hamburg?
It is one of the best months to visit Hamburg. Long, mild days and one of the city's biggest weekends at the port anniversary celebrations.
+How warm is Hamburg in May?
Average highs are around 18°C (64°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Hamburg in May?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.