Month guide · Warsaw · Poland
Warsaw in May
What May is really like in Warsaw: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Adrian Grycuk, CC BY-SA 3.0 pl
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Warsaw. Expect average highs of 20°C (68°F), lows of 8°C (46°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 15.7 hours of daylight. Warm, green and lively; café gardens open and the Sunday Chopin recitals in Łazienki begin.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 20°C (68°F) / 8°C (46°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 15.7 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the 4th-warmest month in Warsaw: days average 20°C (68°F) against a yearly average high of 13°C (55°F), and nights fall to about 8°C (46°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with April (14°C (57°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 23°C (73°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 04:41
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 20:23
- Daylight
- About 15.7 hours
Spring (March–May). Chilly March gives way to blossom and café gardens by May, when the Chopin recitals begin.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 3 for crowds (the peak is June at 4) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in September). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in May
- Night of Museums — free late openings (usually mid-May)
- Chopin recitals at the Chopin Monument in Łazienki (Sundays from mid-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.
Park · Śródmieście
Łazienki Park
Bring a picnic on a summer Sunday and sit on the grass by the Chopin Monument for the free open-air recital.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Couples
Palace · Wilanów
Wilanów Palace
King Jan III Sobieski, victor at the Siege of Vienna in 1683, built this baroque palace as a summer residence.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Outdoors
- Couples
Viewpoint · Śródmieście
Palace of Culture and Science
Go up at dusk to see the city lights come on; there is a saying that it is the best view in Warsaw because you can't see the Palace.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Architecture
- After dark
Waterfront · Powiśle
Vistula boulevards
The riverside promenade below the Old Town and Powiśle has seasonal bars, deck chairs, playgrounds and cycle paths, while the wilder east bank has sandy beaches.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- After dark
- Couples
- Kids
What to pack
For highs near 20°C, lows near 8°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 Warsaw?
One of the best months to visit Warsaw, with 2 notable events on the calendar. The other best months are June and September. Compare every month.
Warsaw in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Warsaw?
It is one of the best months to visit Warsaw. Warm, green and lively; café gardens open and the Sunday Chopin recitals in Łazienki begin.
+How warm is Warsaw in May?
Average highs are around 20°C (68°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Warsaw in May?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.