Month guide · Venice · Italy
Venice in May
What May is really like in Venice: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Venice. Expect average highs of 22°C (72°F), lows of 13°C (55°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 14.9 hours of daylight. Warm and pleasant, among the best months for walking and the lagoon islands, but busy at weekends.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 22°C (72°F) / 13°C (55°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 14.9 hours
- Sea temperature
- 18°C (64°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Venice: days average 22°C (72°F) against a yearly average high of 18°C (64°F), and nights fall to about 13°C (55°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with April (17°C (63°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 26°C (79°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:40
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 20:34
- Daylight
- About 14.9 hours
- Sea
- 18°C (64°F)
Spring (March–May). Mild days and blossom on the islands; Easter, 25 April and May weekends are crowded, and the Biennale opens.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 5 for crowds (the peak is May at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in May). Book accommodation early: May is one of the pricier months.
Events in May
- Vogalonga — a non-motorised rowing event around the lagoon (usually late May or early June)
- Festa della Sensa — the Marriage of the Sea ceremony (Sunday after Ascension)
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 · San Marco
St Mark's Campanile
Go early or just before sunset; avoid being up there on the hour when the bells ring loudly.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Iconic
- Kids
- Photo spot
Experience · Grand Canal
Grand Canal by vaporetto
The slow Line 1 water bus runs the length of the S-shaped, 3.8-km Grand Canal between Piazzale Roma and San Marco, stopping at most landings and passing some 170 palaces, including the Ca' d'Oro, the Rialto Bridge and Santa Maria della Salute.
- Time needed
- About 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
- Photo spot
Gallery · Dorsoduro
Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Step onto the canal terrace beside Marino Marini's horse-and-rider sculpture for one of the best views of the Grand Canal.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Views
Religious site · San Giorgio
San Giorgio Maggiore
Palladio's white church faces St Mark's from its own island across the basin.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Architecture
- Art
- Couples
What to pack
For highs near 22°C, lows near 13°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 Venice?
One of the best months to visit Venice, with 2 notable events on the calendar. The other best months are April and September–October. Compare every month.
Venice in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Venice?
It is one of the best months to visit Venice. Warm and pleasant, among the best months for walking and the lagoon islands, but busy at weekends.
+How warm is Venice in May?
Average highs are around 22°C (72°F) and lows around 13°C (55°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Venice in May?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.