Month guide · Palermo · Italy
Palermo in May
What May is really like in Palermo: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Lasterketak, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Palermo. Expect average highs of 24°C (75°F), lows of 15°C (59°F), about 3 rainy days and roughly 14.2 hours of daylight. Warm and sunny, with the sea at Mondello warming up enough for hardy swimmers.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 24°C (75°F) / 15°C (59°F)
- Rainy days
- About 3
- Daylight
- About 14.2 hours
- Sea temperature
- 19°C (66°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in May
May is the 6th-warmest month in Palermo: days average 24°C (75°F) against a yearly average high of 23°C (73°F), and nights fall to about 15°C (59°F). Rain falls on roughly 3 of its 31 days. Compared with April (20°C (68°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 28°C (82°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:56
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 20:10
- Daylight
- About 14.2 hours
- Sea
- 19°C (66°F)
Spring (March–May). Mild to warm days, Easter processions and wildflowers; the sea stays cool until late May.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 4 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in July). Book accommodation early: May is one of the pricier months.
Events in May
May has no major recurring festival in Palermo, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in May
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Religious site · Monreale
Monreale Cathedral and Cloister
Allow half a day including the bus ride from Piazza Indipendenza, and buy the tickets for the cloister and the roof as well as the nave.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Architecture
- Views
Beach · Mondello
Mondello beach
Palermo's city beach is a long crescent of pale sand and shallow, turquoise water between the headlands of Monte Pellegrino and Monte Gallo.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Free
- Iconic
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Nature · Monte Pellegrino
Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia
Take a bus or taxi up and walk down the old pilgrim path for changing views over the city.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Nature
- Free
- Active
- History
Garden · Kalsa
Orto Botanico
Founded in the late 18th century and still run by the university, Palermo's botanical garden has a neoclassical entrance building, tropical and subtropical plants from around the world and a giant Moreton Bay fig whose aerial roots spread like a small forest.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
What to pack
For highs near 24°C, lows near 15°C and 3 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Palermo?
One of the best months to visit Palermo. The other best months are April, June and September–October. Compare every month.
Palermo in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Palermo?
It is one of the best months to visit Palermo. Warm and sunny, with the sea at Mondello warming up enough for hardy swimmers.
+How warm is Palermo in May?
Average highs are around 24°C (75°F) and lows around 15°C (59°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Palermo in May?
Expect rain on about 3 days of the month, so it is usually dry.