Month guide · Paris · France
Paris in May
What May is really like in Paris: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Peter Poradisch, CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Paris. Expect average highs of 20°C (68°F), lows of 11°C (52°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 15.2 hours of daylight. Long, mild days and gardens at their best; several public holidays create busy long weekends.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 20°C (68°F) / 11°C (52°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 15.2 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Paris: days average 20°C (68°F) against a yearly average high of 16°C (61°F), and nights fall to about 11°C (52°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with April (16°C (61°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 23°C (73°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 06:08
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 21:25
- Daylight
- About 15.2 hours
Spring (March–May). Blossom in the gardens, café terraces reopening and comfortable walking weather, with showers and busy Easter and May bank holidays.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 4 for crowds (the peak is June at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in June). Book accommodation early: May is one of the pricier months.
Events in May
- Nuit Européenne des Musées — free late museum openings (usually mid-May)
- Roland-Garros tennis (starts late 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.
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Landmark · 7th arrondissement
Eiffel Tower
For the classic photo without the crowds, walk across the river to the Trocadéro terraces early in the morning.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours with the summit
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
- After dark
Religious site · Montmartre
Sacré-Cœur and Montmartre
The white basilica crowns the highest hill in the city, and the steps below it are one of the best free viewpoints in Paris.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Iconic
Landmark · Champs-Élysées
Arc de Triomphe
Use the underground passage from the Champs-Élysées; never try to cross the roundabout on foot.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- History
- Iconic
- After dark
Experience · Seine
Seine river cruise
An hour on the river passes Notre-Dame, the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay and the Eiffel Tower, with most of the bridges in between.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Kids
- Views
- After dark
- Iconic
What to pack
For highs near 20°C, lows near 11°C and 9 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 Paris?
One of the best months to visit Paris, with 2 notable events on the calendar. The other best months are April, June and September–October. Compare every month.
Paris in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Paris?
It is one of the best months to visit Paris. Long, mild days and gardens at their best; several public holidays create busy long weekends.
+How warm is Paris in May?
Average highs are around 20°C (68°F) and lows around 11°C (52°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Paris in May?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.