Month guide · Helsinki · Finland
Helsinki in May
What May is really like in Helsinki: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Marit Henriksson, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Helsinki. Expect average highs of 15°C (59°F), lows of 6°C (43°F), about 6 rainy days and roughly 17.1 hours of daylight. One of the driest, brightest months, with leaves arriving mid-month and outdoor cafés filling up.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 15°C (59°F) / 6°C (43°F)
- Rainy days
- About 6
- Daylight
- About 17.1 hours
- Sea temperature
- 7°C (45°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Helsinki: days average 15°C (59°F) against a yearly average high of 10°C (50°F), and nights fall to about 6°C (43°F). Rain falls on roughly 6 of its 31 days. Compared with April (8°C (46°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 19°C (66°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 04:41
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 21:52
- Daylight
- About 17.1 hours
- Sea
- 7°C (45°F)
Spring (March–May). Lingering snow in March, then a fast thaw and the explosive May Day celebrations; May is often bright and dry.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 3 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in June). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in May
- May Day — city-wide picnics, largest in Kaivopuisto (1 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.
Religious site · Katajanokka
Uspenski Cathedral
Visit outside service times and walk on into Katajanokka's Art Nouveau streets afterwards.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Views
- History
Park · Kaartinkaupunki
Esplanadi park
The tree-lined Esplanadi runs from Market Square, where the Havis Amanda fountain stands, to the Swedish Theatre, flanked by Pohjoisesplanadi's design flagships and the Stockmann department store at the far end.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Shopping
- Couples
Landmark · Töölö
Sibelius Monument
Walk the shoreline from the monument to the café and on towards Seurasaari for a 1-hour loop.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Iconic
- Outdoors
Museum · Seurasaari
Seurasaari Open-Air Museum
A footbridge leads to Seurasaari island, where farmsteads, manor houses and a 17th-century wooden church have been moved from around Finland.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Nature
What to pack
For highs near 15°C, lows near 6°C and 6 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Helsinki?
One of the best months to visit Helsinki, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are June–September. Compare every month.
Helsinki in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Helsinki?
It is one of the best months to visit Helsinki. One of the driest, brightest months, with leaves arriving mid-month and outdoor cafés filling up.
+How warm is Helsinki in May?
Average highs are around 15°C (59°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Helsinki in May?
Expect rain on about 6 days of the month.