Month guide · Montreal · Canada
Montreal in May
What May is really like in Montreal: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
May is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 19°C (66°F), lows of 8°C (46°F), about 12 rainy days and roughly 14.9 hours of daylight. Trees leaf out, terraces open and the cycling season begins in earnest.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 19°C (66°F) / 8°C (46°F)
- Rainy days
- About 12
- Daylight
- About 14.9 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Montreal: days average 19°C (66°F) against a yearly average high of 12°C (54°F), and nights fall to about 8°C (46°F). Rain falls on roughly 12 of its 31 days. Compared with April (11°C (52°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 24°C (75°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:23
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 20:17
- Daylight
- About 14.9 hours
Spring (March–May). A slow thaw: March and April are slushy and grey, with sugar shack season as the highlight, and May brings green trees and the first terraces.
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
- Canadian Grand Prix — Formula 1 on Île Notre-Dame (usually late May or June)
- Festival TransAmériques — contemporary theatre and dance (usually late May to June)
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 · Downtown
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Spend most of your time in the Quebec and Canadian art pavilion, and check the temporary exhibitions, which are often the highlight.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- Iconic
Museum · Old Montreal
Pointe-à-Callière
Built over the spot where Montreal was founded in 1642, this archaeology and history museum takes visitors underground through excavated foundations, the city's first Catholic cemetery and a restored 19th-century stone sewer collector.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Off the beaten path
Zoo · Olympic Park
Montreal Biodôme
Start in the tropical forest to warm up in winter; it is a reliable rainy-day choice with children.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Experience · Downtown
Underground City (RÉSO)
The RÉSO is a network of about 32 km of tunnels and passages linking metro stations, shopping centres, offices, hotels and universities beneath downtown.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Rainy day
- Shopping
- Food
What to pack
For highs near 19°C, lows near 8°C and 12 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Montreal?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, June–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Montreal in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Montreal?
It is a shoulder-season month. Trees leaf out, terraces open and the cycling season begins in earnest.
+How warm is Montreal in May?
Average highs are around 19°C (66°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Montreal in May?
Expect rain on about 12 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.