Month guide · São Paulo · Brazil
São Paulo in May
What May is really like in São Paulo: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: ProtoplasmaKid, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit São Paulo. Expect average highs of 23°C (73°F), lows of 14°C (57°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 11 hours of daylight. Mild and drier, with cool evenings; the 24-hour Virada Cultural brings free concerts across the city.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 23°C (73°F) / 14°C (57°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 11 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the 10th-warmest month in São Paulo: days average 23°C (73°F) against a yearly average high of 26°C (79°F), and nights fall to about 14°C (57°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 31 days. Compared with April (26°C (79°F)), May is cooler; by June highs stay near 22°C (72°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 06:33
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 17:32
- Daylight
- About 11 hours
Winter (June–August). Dry and mild with cold snaps, clear skies and Festa Junina; bring a jacket, as many buildings lack heating.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 3 for crowds (the peak is February at 4) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in February). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in May
- Virada Cultural — 24 hours of free performances citywide (usually 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.
Viewpoint · Centro
Farol Santander
Go on a clear afternoon and look north-west for the Copan's curving façade and the Edifício Itália.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- History
Museum · Ipiranga
Museu do Ipiranga
The palatial Museu Paulista stands where Brazil's independence was declared in 1822, at the top of formal gardens modelled on Versailles.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Centro
Terraço Itália
Arrive just before sunset for a drink and watch the skyline lights come on.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Views
- Couples
- After dark
Street · Avenida Paulista and Bela Vista
Avenida Paulista
São Paulo's signature avenue mixes bank towers, cultural centres, bookshops and the Parque Trianon, a fragment of Atlantic forest opposite MASP.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Kids
- Shopping
- Architecture
What to pack
For highs near 23°C, lows near 14°C and 8 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 São Paulo?
One of the best months to visit São Paulo, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are April and August–October. Compare every month.
São Paulo in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit São Paulo?
It is one of the best months to visit São Paulo. Mild and drier, with cool evenings; the 24-hour Virada Cultural brings free concerts across the city.
+How warm is São Paulo in May?
Average highs are around 23°C (73°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F).
+Does it rain a lot in São Paulo in May?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.