Month guide · Manila · Philippines
Manila in May
What May is really like in Manila: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
May is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 34°C (93°F), lows of 27°C (81°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 12.8 hours of daylight. Very hot and humid, with the first thunderstorms late in the month.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 34°C (93°F) / 27°C (81°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 12.8 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the 2nd-warmest month in Manila: days average 34°C (93°F) against a yearly average high of 32°C (90°F), and nights fall to about 27°C (81°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with April (34°C (93°F)), May is about as warm; by June highs stay near 33°C (91°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:28
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 18:16
- Daylight
- About 12.8 hours
Cool dry season (December–February). Sunny, comparatively mild and breezy, with Christmas celebrations and the Black Nazarene procession; the most comfortable time.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 3 for crowds (the peak is January at 4) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in January). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in May
- Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan — flower festivals and parades in parishes (throughout May)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in May
With intense heat, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
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Museum · Ermita and Malate
National Museum of Anthropology
Start on the upper floors with the archaeology galleries, then work down.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Ermita and Malate
National Museum of Natural History
Housed in a restored 1940 government building, the museum is built around a central atrium with a towering 'Tree of Life' structure.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
- Architecture
Museum · Bonifacio Global City (BGC)
The Mind Museum
Book a time slot online for weekends and school holidays.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
Aquarium · Ermita and Malate
Manila Ocean Park
An oceanarium on the bayfront behind the Quirino Grandstand, with a walk-through tunnel tank, jellyfish displays and animal shows, close to Rizal Park and the National Museum.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 34°C, lows near 27°C and 10 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Manila?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, December–March are better overall. Compare every month.
Manila in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Manila?
It is a shoulder-season month. Very hot and humid, with the first thunderstorms late in the month.
+How warm is Manila in May?
Average highs are around 34°C (93°F) and lows around 27°C (81°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Manila in May?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.