01Weather
Sydney weather in May
Afternoons in May average 21.1 °C (70 °F) and nights cool to 12.2 °C (54 °F). The month brings about 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain spread over roughly 6 days. Compared with April it is 3.1 °C cooler; June is 2.8 °C cooler again.
What the averages hide
| In a typical May | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Warm afternoons (90th percentile) | 25 °C / 78 °F | one day in ten is at least this warm |
| Cool afternoons (10th percentile) | 18 °C / 64 °F | one day in ten stays below this |
| Cold nights (10th percentile) | 9 °C / 48 °F | one night in ten is colder than this |
| Days above 30 °C (86 °F) | 0.0 | per month, average 2016–2025 |
| Nights at or below 0 °C (32 °F) | 0.0 | frost mornings per month |
| Chance of rain on any given day | 20 % | at least 1 mm |
| Hottest / coldest May day 2016–2025 | 28.9 °C / 5.6 °C | extremes in the ten-year record |
02Daylight
Sunrise, sunset and the length of the day
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May | 06:29 | 17:14 | 10.7 h |
| 15 May | 06:40 | 17:02 | 10.4 h |
| 31 May | 06:51 | 16:54 | 10.1 h |
Daylight shrinks by about 36 minutes over the month. Times are local (Australia/Sydney).
03Crowds
How busy Sydney is in May
moderate The main sights are moderate in May. What drives it:
- Vivid Sydney starts late May
- mild autumn days
- fewer international visitors
04Public holidays
Public holidays in May 2027
No public holidays in Australia fall in May, so shops and museums keep normal hours all month.
05Events
What's on in Sydney in May
Every year in May
| Event | When | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Vivid Sydney | late May to mid-June, light, music and ideas | festival |
07Packing
What to pack for Sydney in May
- layers: t-shirt plus a light jacket for evenings
- comfortable walking shoes
- a compact umbrella for occasional showers
08Editor's notes
What the numbers don't tell you
May is autumn at its best, with sunny days around 20 °C, cooler nights and Vivid starting in the final week to light up the Opera House and Circular Quay for three weeks. International crowds thin, and hotel prices drop. The humpback migration begins off the Heads, with whale-watching boats running from Circular Quay and Manly. Rain falls on about nine days.
The Sydney Writers' Festival in mid-May fills Carriageworks and the Harbour venues. Sea temperatures drop to around 20 °C. The Opera House's Vivid projections start at six each evening. Daylight drops to under eleven hours by month-end. For Vivid's main weeks, the King's Birthday long weekend and the start of winter, see June.
09Compare
Sydney month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Sun h | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28 °C | 20 °C | 8 | – | very busy | Good |
| February | 28 °C | 20 °C | 10 | – | busy | Good |
| March | 26 °C | 19 °C | 11 | – | busy | Good |
| April | 24 °C | 16 °C | 9 | – | busy | Good |
| May | 21 °C | 12 °C | 6 | – | moderate | Excellent |
| June | 18 °C | 10 °C | 10 | – | moderate | Excellent |
| July | 19 °C | 9 °C | 8 | – | moderate | Excellent |
| August | 20 °C | 10 °C | 6 | – | quiet | Excellent |
| September | 22 °C | 12 °C | 7 | – | moderate | Excellent |
| October | 24 °C | 15 °C | 8 | – | busy | Excellent |
| November | 26 °C | 17 °C | 8 | – | busy | Excellent |
| December | 28 °C | 19 °C | 8 | – | very busy | Good |
Not sure about May? See the best time to visit Sydney.
10Elsewhere
May in nearby cities
| City | High | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| Melbourne in May | 17 °C | 9 |
| Singapore in May | 32 °C | 12 |
| Bangkok in May | 36 °C | 22 |
| Tokyo in May | 24 °C | 9 |
| Kyoto in May | 25 °C | 8 |
| Shanghai in May | 26 °C | 10 |
11FAQ
Sydney in May: your questions
Is May a good time to visit Sydney?
May is one of the best months to visit Sydney. Daytime highs average 21 °C (70 °F), rain falls on about 6 days, and hotel arrivals run above the yearly average, so the main sights are moderate.
What is the weather like in Sydney in May?
Expect mild days around 21 °C (70 °F) and nights near 12 °C (54 °F). One May in ten brings afternoons above 25 °C, and one in ten stays below 18 °C.
Does it rain a lot in Sydney in May?
May brings about 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain over roughly 6 days, which is fairly dry by Sydney standards. On any given day the chance of at least 1 mm of rain is 20 percent.
What should I wear in Sydney in May?
Pack layers: t-shirt plus a light jacket for evenings, comfortable walking shoes, a compact umbrella for occasional showers.
Is Sydney crowded in May?
The main sights are moderate in May. Main drivers: Vivid Sydney starts late May; mild autumn days; fewer international visitors.
What time does it get dark in Sydney in May?
Around the middle of May the sun sets at about 17:02 and rises at 06:40, giving 10.4 hours of daylight.