01Weather
Paris weather in May
Afternoons in May average 19.4 °C (67 °F) and nights cool to 9.6 °C (49 °F). The month brings about 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain spread over roughly 13 days, with around 340 hours of sunshine in total. Compared with April it is 3.6 °C warmer; June is 4.3 °C warmer again.
What the averages hide
| In a typical May | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Warm afternoons (90th percentile) | 25 °C / 77 °F | one day in ten is at least this warm |
| Cool afternoons (10th percentile) | 15 °C / 59 °F | one day in ten stays below this |
| Cold nights (10th percentile) | 6 °C / 42 °F | one night in ten is colder than this |
| Days above 30 °C (86 °F) | 0.1 | per month, average 2016–2025 |
| Nights at or below 0 °C (32 °F) | 0.0 | frost mornings per month |
| Days with snow cover | 0.0 | snow depth ≥ 1 cm, per month |
| Chance of rain on any given day | 41 % | at least 1 mm |
| Hottest / coldest May day 2016–2025 | 30.4 °C / 1.8 °C | extremes in the ten-year record |
02Daylight
Sunrise, sunset and the length of the day
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May | 06:29 | 21:05 | 14.6 h |
| 15 May | 06:08 | 21:25 | 15.3 h |
| 31 May | 05:52 | 21:44 | 15.9 h |
Daylight grows by about 78 minutes over the month. Times are local (Europe/Paris).
03Crowds
How busy Paris is in May
busy Paris hotels registered 1,457,203 arrivals in May 2019, an index of 1.03 against the monthly average of 1.0 (1,425,543 in May 2022). What drives it:
- four public holidays plus the 7 May bridge day
- Roland-Garros from 17 May
- long evenings and full terraces
School holidays that fill the city in May
| Market | Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| France (zones A, B, C; Paris is zone C) | Spring, zone B | 17 Apr – 3 May 2027 |
| Germany (16 states, staggered) | Whitsun (some states) | 18–29 May 2027 |
| England (local authorities set dates; Royal Greenwich shown, most councils within a few days) | May half-term | 31 May – 4 Jun 2027 |
| United States (college spring break, no national calendar) | Summer break (most universities) | 15 May – 20 Aug 2027 |
04Public holidays
Public holidays in May 2027
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 1 May 2027 | Labour Day |
| 6 May 2027 | Ascension Day |
| 8 May 2027 | Victory in Europe Day |
| 17 May 2027 | Whit Monday |
On public holidays many shops close and museums run on Sunday hours; check opening times for the day before and after as well.
05Events
What's on in Paris in May
| Event | Dates | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Versailles Musical Fountain shows (Grandes Eaux Musicales) | 1 Apr – 1 Nov 2026 | Gardens of Versailles, weekends and some weekdays · source |
| Giverny, Monet's gardens open season | 1 Apr – 1 Nov 2026 | Fondation Claude Monet, Giverny (75 min from Paris) · source |
| Roland-Garros (French Open) | 17 May – 6 Jun 2027 | Stade Roland-Garros, 16th arr. · source |
Every year in May
| Event | When | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Roland-Garros (French Open) | last week of May to first week of June | sport |
| Nuit des Musées | a Saturday in mid-May, museums open late and free | culture |
06Closures
What is closed, and what to book
- Louvre: Closed Tuesdays and on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December; open on other public holidays unless they fall on a Tuesday. Non-EEA adults pay €32 since 14 January 2026, EEA residents €22.
- Musée d'Orsay: Closed Mondays; late opening Thursdays to 21:45; timed-entry booking required.
- Château de Versailles: Palace closed Mondays; Musical Fountain shows in the gardens run from 1 April to 1 November 2026 on weekends and some weekdays.
- Centre Pompidou: Main building closed for renovation from 2025 until 2030; parts of the collection are shown at the Grand Palais and partner venues.
- Catacombs: Reopened 8 April 2026 after renovation; closed Mondays; online timed booking only, no tickets at the door.
- Giverny, Monet's house and garden: Open 1 April to 1 November 2026 only; closed all winter.
- Shops and markets: Winter sales 6 January to 2 February 2027 (national dates, to be confirmed by decree). Most shops close on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December; many close on Sundays except in tourist zones.
07Packing
What to pack for Paris in May
- layers: t-shirt plus a light jacket for evenings
- comfortable walking shoes
- a compact umbrella or hooded rain jacket, rain falls on roughly one day in three
- sunglasses
08Editor's notes
What the numbers don't tell you
May has four public holidays in France: Labour Day on 1 May, Victory Day on 8 May, Ascension on 6 May 2027 and Whit Monday on 17 May 2027, and schools also close on Friday 7 May 2027 to make a four-day bridge. Each holiday turns the preceding weekend into a long one and sends French families to Paris, which is why hotel arrivals run three percent above the yearly average despite the lack of international peaks. On 1 May the Louvre, Orsay and Versailles are all closed and most shops shut; plan the Marais, which trades on Sundays and holidays, or a park.
The weather is the reward: afternoons average 19 °C, the sun sets after nine by the end of the month and sunshine totals 340 hours, close to summer values. May also has the highest spring rainfall total, with rain on about thirteen days, mostly as short afternoon showers. Roland-Garros begins with qualifying on 17 May 2027 and the main draw on 23 May, filling hotels in the 16th arrondissement and Boulogne through the first week of June. The second half of May, between Whit Monday and the tennis finals, is one of the best windows of the year: long evenings, full terraces and shorter queues than April.
09Compare
Paris month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Sun h | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7 °C | 2 °C | 13 | 106 | quiet 0.85 | Mixed |
| February | 10 °C | 3 °C | 11 | 149 | quiet 0.85 | Mixed |
| March | 12 °C | 4 °C | 13 | 225 | moderate 0.99 | Good |
| April | 16 °C | 6 °C | 10 | 306 | busy 1.04 | Mixed |
| May | 19 °C | 10 °C | 13 | 340 | busy 1.03 | Good |
| June | 24 °C | 14 °C | 12 | 354 | very busy 1.12 | Good |
| July | 25 °C | 15 °C | 10 | 367 | very busy 1.1 | Good |
| August | 25 °C | 15 °C | 10 | 340 | moderate 0.96 | Excellent |
| September | 22 °C | 12 °C | 10 | 270 | busy 1.06 | Good |
| October | 17 °C | 10 °C | 12 | 205 | very busy 1.09 | Good |
| November | 11 °C | 5 °C | 13 | 140 | busy 1.02 | Mixed |
| December | 8 °C | 3 °C | 13 | 106 | moderate 0.91 | Mixed |
Not sure about May? See the best time to visit Paris.
10Elsewhere
May in nearby cities
| City | High | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| London in May | 17 °C | 9 |
| Amsterdam in May | 18 °C | 9 |
| Dublin in May | 17 °C | 13 |
| Barcelona in May | 22 °C | 4 |
| Venice in May | 21 °C | 10 |
| Prague in May | 19 °C | 11 |
11FAQ
Paris in May: your questions
Is May a good time to visit Paris?
May is a good month to visit Paris. Daytime highs average 19 °C (67 °F), rain falls on about 13 days, and hotel arrivals run above the yearly average, so the main sights are busy.
What is the weather like in Paris in May?
Expect mild days around 19 °C (67 °F) and nights near 10 °C (49 °F), with about 340 hours of sunshine over the month. One May in ten brings afternoons above 25 °C, and one in ten stays below 15 °C.
Does it rain a lot in Paris in May?
May brings about 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain over roughly 13 days, which is showery by Paris standards. On any given day the chance of at least 1 mm of rain is 41 percent.
What should I wear in Paris in May?
Pack layers: t-shirt plus a light jacket for evenings, comfortable walking shoes, a compact umbrella or hooded rain jacket, rain falls on roughly one day in three.
Is Paris crowded in May?
Hotels in Paris registered 1,457,203 arrivals in May 2019, 3 percent above the monthly average, so expect busy conditions. Main drivers: four public holidays plus the 7 May bridge day; Roland-Garros from 17 May; long evenings and full terraces.
What time does it get dark in Paris in May?
Around the middle of May the sun sets at about 21:25 and rises at 06:08, giving 15.3 hours of daylight.
What is closed in Paris in May?
Louvre: Closed Tuesdays and on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December; open on other public holidays unless they fall on a Tuesday. Musée d'Orsay: Closed Mondays; late opening Thursdays to 21:45; timed-entry booking required. Château de Versailles: Palace closed Mondays; Musical Fountain shows in the gardens run from 1 April to 1 November 2026 on weekends and some weekdays. Centre Pompidou: Main building closed for renovation from 2025 until 2030; parts of the collection are shown at the Grand Palais and partner venues.
Are there school holidays in May that affect Paris?
Yes: France spring, zone b 17 Apr – 3 May 2027; Germany whitsun (some states) 18–29 May 2027; England may half-term 31 May – 4 Jun 2027; United States summer break (most universities) 15 May – 20 Aug 2027. Family attractions and hotels fill in these weeks.