May in Florence averages highs of 22 °C (72 °F) and lows of 12 °C (53 °F), with about 11 rainy days and 14 h 42 min of daylight.
May weather in Florence at a glance
average high to low each dot ≈ 3 rainy days
Is May a good time to visit Florence?
Mixed weather: comfortably warm and wet. May is usually high season in Florence: book rooms early, as prices are typically at their highest.
Our rule: a month scores 2 points for comfortable average highs of 18–28 °C (1 point for 14–18 or 28–32 °C) and 2 points for 5 or fewer rainy days (1 point for 6–10). Average highs above 35 °C or below 8 °C make it a tough month whatever the rain. A rainy day here means 2 mm of rain or more. 4 points = great, 3 = good, 2 = mixed, 0–1 = tough.
Holidays and events in May 2026
- Fri 1 May: International Workers Day (Festa del Lavoro) public holiday
Banks and many shops close on public holidays, and museums may change their hours, so check before you go.
Things to do in Florence in May
With frequent rain in May, here are the indoor picks first, then the outdoor ones for drier spells.
- Uffizi Gallery — book a timed slot indoors
- Duomo and Brunelleschi's dome — climb needs a reservation indoors
- Accademia (David) indoors
- Ponte Vecchio and Oltrarno outdoors
- Piazzale Michelangelo — sunset outdoors
- Day trip to Chianti or Siena outdoors
Where to stay: Centro Storico for walking everywhere; Oltrarno or Santo Spirito for artisans and evenings.
What to pack for Florence in May
- Light layers for the day and a jumper for evenings, which cool to 12 °C (53 °F).
- An umbrella or a light waterproof: about 11 days this month see real rain.
- Comfortable walking shoes.
What a day in Florence costs
| Budget traveller | Mid-range | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical total per person, per day | €60–140 | €170–350 |
Excluding flights. May is usually high season in Florence: book rooms early, as prices are typically at their highest.
May in nearby cities
| City | High / low | Rainy days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venice | 21° / 14° | 11 | Mixed weather |
| Rome | 23° / 13° | 10 | Good time to go |
| Nice | 21° / 14° | 7 | Good time to go |
Want the whole trip planned? Join the Journey waitlist: tell it where, when and your budget, and it plans every day hour by hour.
FAQ
Is May a good time to visit Florence?
By the numbers, May is a mixed month: comfortably warm and wet, with average highs of 22 °C (72 °F) and about 11 rainy days. May is usually high season in Florence: book rooms early, as prices are typically at their highest. The best months for weather are April, September, October.
How warm is Florence in May?
Average highs are 22 °C (72 °F) and lows 12 °C (53 °F) (2015–2024 averages).
Does it rain a lot in Florence in May?
Expect about 11 days with 2 mm of rain or more, about 104 mm in total. It is the wettest month of the year in Florence.
Sources: climate averages from Open-Meteo historical weather (ERA5 reanalysis, 2015–2024); sea temperatures from the Open-Meteo marine API (2023–2024); public holidays from Nager.Date. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of the month. Averages are a guide, not a forecast. Costs are typical ranges per person per day, excluding flights.