Month guide · Lyon · France
Lyon in May
What May is really like in Lyon: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Benoît Prieur, CC0
.JPG){kind=link}
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Lyon. Expect average highs of 21°C (70°F), lows of 11°C (52°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 14.9 hours of daylight. Warm and green, with long evenings on the riverbanks; thunderstorms are possible.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 21°C (70°F) / 11°C (52°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 14.9 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Lyon: days average 21°C (70°F) against a yearly average high of 17°C (63°F), and nights fall to about 11°C (52°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 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 06:09
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 21:05
- Daylight
- About 14.9 hours
Spring (March–May). Mild days, blossom in the parks and café terraces reopening, with occasional showers and storms.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 3 for crowds (the peak is December at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in December). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in May
- Nuits Sonores — electronic music festival (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.
Museum · Confluence
Musée des Confluences
Go up to the roof terrace for a view of the river confluence.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- Nature
Museum · Monplaisir
Institut Lumière
The Lumière family's Art Nouveau villa houses a museum of the Cinématographe and early cinema, next to the factory where Louis and Auguste Lumière filmed workers leaving in 1895, one of the first films ever shown.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
Museum · Vieux Lyon
Musée Miniature et Cinéma
A good choice for a rainy afternoon in Vieux Lyon with children.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Art
Museum · Vieux Lyon
Gadagne museums
The largest Renaissance building in Vieux Lyon houses two museums: one on the history of Lyon and one on puppetry, including Guignol, the puppet character created in Lyon in the early 19th century.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 21°C, lows near 11°C and 11 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 Lyon?
One of the best months to visit Lyon, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are April, June and September–October. Compare every month.
Lyon in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Lyon?
It is one of the best months to visit Lyon. Warm and green, with long evenings on the riverbanks; thunderstorms are possible.
+How warm is Lyon in May?
Average highs are around 21°C (70°F) and lows around 11°C (52°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Lyon in May?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.