May in Rome averages highs of 23 °C (74 °F) and lows of 13 °C (55 °F), with about 10 rainy days and 14 h 32 min of daylight.
May weather in Rome at a glance
average high to low each dot ≈ 3 rainy days
Is May a good time to visit Rome?
Good time to go: comfortably warm and some rain. May is usually high season in Rome: 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 Rome in May
May's weather suits a mix of outdoor sights and museums, so the open-air ones come first.
- Colosseum and Roman Forum — book the combined ticket outdoors
- Pantheon and Piazza Navona — walkable in one morning outdoors
- Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps — best before 8am outdoors
- Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel — go early or late indoors
- St Peter's Basilica — climb the dome indoors
- Borghese Gallery and gardens — timed tickets, worth it indoors
Where to stay: Centro Storico near Piazza Navona; Trastevere for evenings; Monti for value close to the Colosseum.
What to pack for Rome in May
- Light layers for the day and a jumper for evenings, which cool to 13 °C (55 °F).
- An umbrella or a light waterproof: about 10 days this month see real rain.
- Comfortable walking shoes.
What a day in Rome costs
| Budget traveller | Mid-range | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical total per person, per day | €60–150 | €180–380 |
Excluding flights. May is usually high season in Rome: book rooms early, as prices are typically at their highest.
May in nearby cities
| City | High / low | Rainy days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naples | 22° / 13° | 9 | Good time to go |
| Florence | 22° / 12° | 11 | Mixed weather |
| Venice | 21° / 14° | 11 | Mixed weather |
Plan your Rome trip
- Romantic Weekend in Rome: 2-Day Plan for Couples (2026)
- Is Rome Expensive? Real Costs and a 2026 Budget Guide
- 3 Days in Rome — A First-Timer's Itinerary (Hour by Hour, With Costs)
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 Rome?
By the numbers, May is a good time to go: comfortably warm and some rain, with average highs of 23 °C (74 °F) and about 10 rainy days. May is usually high season in Rome: book rooms early, as prices are typically at their highest. The best months for weather are April, May, June, September, October.
How warm is Rome in May?
Average highs are 23 °C (74 °F) and lows 13 °C (55 °F) (2015–2024 averages).
Does it rain a lot in Rome in May?
Expect about 10 days with 2 mm of rain or more, about 77 mm in total. It is the 2nd wettest month of the year in Rome.
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.