Month guide · Salzburg · Austria
Salzburg in May
What May is really like in Salzburg: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Gakuro assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Salzburg. Expect average highs of 20°C (68°F), lows of 9°C (48°F), about 14 rainy days and roughly 15.1 hours of daylight. Green and mild, with beer gardens open and good conditions for the Untersberg and lake trips.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 20°C (68°F) / 9°C (48°F)
- Rainy days
- About 14
- Daylight
- About 15.1 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the 4th-warmest month in Salzburg: days average 20°C (68°F) against a yearly average high of 14°C (57°F), and nights fall to about 9°C (48°F). Rain falls on roughly 14 of its 31 days. Compared with April (15°C (59°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 23°C (73°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:29
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 20:38
- Daylight
- About 15.1 hours
Spring (March–May). Easter markets and festival, flowering gardens and the reopening of Hellbrunn; showers are frequent.
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 July). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in May
- Whitsun Festival — baroque and opera programme (usually May or June, around Pentecost)
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.
Religious site · Altstadt
Salzburg Cathedral
Listen for the noon organ recitals or Sunday mass music, a free way to hear the cathedral's organs.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Palace · Altstadt
DomQuartier and the Residenz
A single ticket leads through the prince-archbishops' Residenz state rooms, where the young Mozart performed, the Residenzgalerie of European paintings, the gallery above the cathedral nave and the museums of the cathedral and St.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Experience · Andräviertel
Salzburg Marionette Theatre
Check the programme before you travel; performances are not daily.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- After dark
- Art
Museum · Altstadt
Haus der Natur
A large natural history and science museum on the edge of the old town, with an aquarium, a reptile zoo, dinosaur and space halls and a hands-on science centre.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
What to pack
For highs near 20°C, lows near 9°C and 14 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Salzburg?
One of the best months to visit Salzburg, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are June and September. Compare every month.
Salzburg in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Salzburg?
It is one of the best months to visit Salzburg. Green and mild, with beer gardens open and good conditions for the Untersberg and lake trips.
+How warm is Salzburg in May?
Average highs are around 20°C (68°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Salzburg in May?
Expect rain on about 14 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.