France Paris Weather in May — Climate Guide
May in Paris is Excellent
Paris Weather in May — Quick Answer
As of 2026- Avg temp
- 20° / 11°
- Rainfall
- 63mm · 11 days
- Crowds
- Busy
As of 2026, Paris in May averages a high of 20°C and low of 11°C with 63mm of rain over about 11 days. Spring/light summer — short sleeves with light cardigan. Daytime warm (20-23°C), evenings cooler (12-14°C). Sunscreen essential.
May is Excellent for Paris.
May is genuinely one of the best months to visit Paris — temperatures 20-22°C / 68-72°F daytime, longer daylight (sunset 9:30 PM), and the city's outdoor culture at peak. Café terraces, parc walks, river cruises all at their best.
Roland-Garros (French Open tennis Grand Slam) runs late May to early June at Stade Roland-Garros in southwest Paris. Tickets sell out 2-3 months ahead but qualifying-week tickets ($30-80) are accessible the week before main draws.
Travel score
Year's #1 spring + Roland Garros + Labor Day
May Weather at a Glance
May averages 68°F / 20°C highs and 48°F / 9°C lows — year's most comfortable spring. 10 rainy days, 65mm. Humidity 70% + 7 hours of sunshine. Late May Roland Garros (French Open tennis, world Grand Slam top 4) signature — 16e district.
May Travel Advice
Long sleeves + cardigan + walking shoes. May 1 Fête du Travail (Labor Day, public holiday, lily-of-the-valley gift tradition). May 8 Victoire 1945 (public holiday). Roland Garros late May to first week of June (2 weeks). Cannes Film Festival (mid-May, 2 weeks, first held 1947).
Flying In from Overseas
Korean Children's Day + Buddha's Day + spring season #1 — Asia-Paris $980-1,540 round-trip. Late May (post-holiday) is the value window.
May Pricing Trends
Peak season entry — Le Marais 3-star $245-420/night. Roland Garros 1-2 weeks hotels 1.5x.
Paris May Weather Stats
Avg High
20°C
Avg Low
11°C
Rainy Days
11
63mm total
Sunshine
6.5h
Daily avg
Humidity
70%
Comfortable
UV Index
6
High
Wind
12 km/h
Gusts 23
Crowds
Busy
At attractions
May Sunrise & Sunset
Air Quality
PM2.5
20 μg/m³
PM10
30 μg/m³
Status
Moderate
Feels-Like Temperature & Wind
Feels like
Daytime
21°C
Nighttime
11°C
Humidity and wind affect how the actual temperature feels.
Wind
12 km/h
Max gust 23 km/h
Activities Recommended for May
May Travel Pros & Cons
Pros
- Best weather of spring (20-22°C, low humidity)
- Long daylight (sunset 9:30 PM)
- Nuit des Musées free midnight museum visits
Cons
- Three public holidays close museums and shops
- Roland-Garros tennis pushes hotel demand
- Hotel prices match April peak
May Events & Festivals
- Roland-Garros (French Open tennis) late May to early June
- Nuit des Musées (Museum Night, mid-May) — free midnight museum visits
- Public holidays: May 1 (Labor Day), May 8 (V-E Day), Ascension (varies)
Paris in May — Full Picture
May is genuinely one of the best months to visit Paris — temperatures 20-22°C / 68-72°F daytime, longer daylight (sunset 9:30 PM), and the city's outdoor culture at peak. Café terraces, parc walks, river cruises all at their best.
Roland-Garros (French Open tennis Grand Slam) runs late May to early June at Stade Roland-Garros in southwest Paris. Tickets sell out 2-3 months ahead but qualifying-week tickets ($30-80) are accessible the week before main draws.
Nuit des Musées (mid-May Saturday night) opens 1,000+ museums across France free from 7 PM to 1 AM. Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Pompidou all participate. Genuinely magical experience.
Public holidays May 1 (Labor Day), May 8 (V-E Day), and Ascension (varies) close most museums and many shops. Plan around these dates — they're easy to miss when planning from abroad.
What to Wear & What to Pack
Spring/light summer — short sleeves with light cardigan. Daytime warm (20-23°C), evenings cooler (12-14°C). Sunscreen essential.
Packing Checklist
Seasonal Weather Overview
Spring (Mar·Apr·May)
Current16°C
7.3°C
10/mo
Summer (Jun·Jul·Aug)
24.3°C
15.3°C
8.3/mo
Autumn (Sep·Oct·Nov)
16°C
8.7°C
10.3/mo
Winter (Dec·Jan·Feb)
7.7°C
2.3°C
10/mo
Paris Monthly Weather Comparison
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun | Humid | UV | Crowd | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7° | 2° | 10d·51mm | 2h | 84% | 1 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 8° | 2° | 9d·41mm | 3h | 81% | 2 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 12° | 4° | 10d·48mm | 4.5h | 75% | 3 | Moderate | Shoulder | |
| April (Best) | 16° | 7° | 9d·47mm | 5.5h | 70% | 4 | Busy | Peak |
| May (Best) | 20° | 11° | 11d·63mm | 6.5h | 70% | 6 | Busy | Peak |
| June (Best) | 23° | 14° | 9d·50mm | 7.5h | 67% | 7 | Busy | Peak |
| 25° | 16° | 8d·53mm | 8h | 67% | 8 | Very busy | Peak | |
| 25° | 16° | 8d·58mm | 7.5h | 70% | 7 | Very busy | Peak | |
| September (Best) | 21° | 12° | 9d·55mm | 5.5h | 73% | 5 | Busy | Peak |
| 16° | 9° | 11d·62mm | 4h | 80% | 3 | Busy | Shoulder | |
| 11° | 5° | 11d·56mm | 2.5h | 84% | 2 | Moderate | Low season | |
| 8° | 3° | 11d·59mm | 1.5h | 85% | 1 | Busy | Peak |
View Other Months
Paris May Hotel Picks
Frequently Asked Questions
Is May a good time to visit Paris?
Paris in May is Excellent. Tourist crowds are busy and flight/hotel prices are peak.
What's the average temperature in Paris in May?
Paris May averages a high of 20°C and a low of 11°C.
Does it rain much in Paris in May?
Paris May averages 63mm of rainfall over about 11 rainy days.
What should I wear in Paris in May?
Spring/light summer — short sleeves with light cardigan. Daytime warm (20-23°C), evenings cooler (12-14°C). Sunscreen essential.
What time are sunrise and sunset in Paris in May?
Paris May sunrise is 06:14 and sunset is 21:24, with 15h 10m of daylight.
What's the air quality like in Paris in May?
Paris May air quality (AQI) averages 46, rated Good. PM2.5 averages 20μg/m³.
What activities are recommended in Paris in May?
In May, Paris is great for Roland-Garros tennis, Nuit des Musées, Outdoor terrace dining.
Is May peak season in Paris?
Paris May crowds are busy and prices are peak. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.
Best Months to Visit Paris
View Other Months
Planning a May trip to Paris?
You've checked the weather — next come the budget and the route.
Why you can trust weather guide
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.