Month guide · Vienna · Austria
Vienna in May
What May is really like in Vienna: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Vienna. Expect average highs of 21°C (70°F), lows of 10°C (50°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 15.2 hours of daylight. Warm and green, with terraces and heurigen gardens open and a busy cultural calendar.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 21°C (70°F) / 10°C (50°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 15.2 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in May
May is the 4th-warmest month in Vienna: days average 21°C (70°F) against a yearly average high of 15°C (59°F), and nights fall to about 10°C (50°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 31 days. Compared with April (16°C (61°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 24°C (75°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:15
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 20:26
- Daylight
- About 15.2 hours
Spring (March–May). Cool March turning warm in May, with blossom in the palace gardens, Easter markets and the Wiener Festwochen arts festival.
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 December). Book accommodation early: May is one of the pricier months.
Events in May
- Wiener Festwochen arts festival (usually mid-May to June)
- Summer Night Concert by the Vienna Philharmonic at Schönbrunn — free, open-air (usually late May or June)
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.
Palace · Hietzing
Schönbrunn Palace
Book the first time slot, then walk up to the Gloriette and visit the maze and zoo in the afternoon.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Views
- Kids
Zoo · Hietzing
Tiergarten Schönbrunn
Founded in 1752 in the grounds of Schönbrunn, this is the oldest zoo still in operation in the world.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
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Religious site · Innere Stadt
St Stephen's Cathedral
Entry to the back of the nave is free; pay for the towers, catacomb tour or full nave only if you have time.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Views
Theme park · Leopoldstadt
Prater and the Giant Ferris Wheel
The Wurstelprater amusement park has free entry and rides paid individually, from vintage carousels to modern roller coasters.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Iconic
- Couples
- Views
- After dark
What to pack
For highs near 21°C, lows near 10°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 Vienna?
One of the best months to visit Vienna, with 2 notable events on the calendar. The other best months are April, June and September–October. Compare every month.
Vienna in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Vienna?
It is one of the best months to visit Vienna. Warm and green, with terraces and heurigen gardens open and a busy cultural calendar.
+How warm is Vienna in May?
Average highs are around 21°C (70°F) and lows around 10°C (50°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Vienna in May?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.