Buenos Aires in May: a seasonal travel plan
Buenos Aires, Argentina. In may, the average daytime high is 17.4 °C and the night-time low is 13.2 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
Choose a month
Selected month: May
Temperatures by month
Air temperature: Buenos Aires
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- 17.4 °C
- Nighttime low
- 13.2 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 69.9 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 6.0
- Daylight
- 10.3 h
2015–2024 averages. Daytime temperature is the average daily maximum; nighttime temperature is the average daily minimum.
Early, middle and late month
| Period | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Days with at least 1 mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1–10 | 18.7 | 14.3 | 2.2 |
| Days 11–20 | 17.5 | 13.1 | 1.7 |
| From day 21 | 16.2 | 12.2 | 2.1 |
What this month is like
Buenos Aires, Argentina. In may, the average daytime high is 17.4 °C and the night-time low is 13.2 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
There are 6.0 wet days on average, with about 69.9 mm of precipitation. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
How to plan the day
Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
Average daylight is 10.3 hours, so put longer routes in the brighter part of the day.
What to pack
Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
Precipitation and an alternative plan
There are several days with precipitation during the month. A light waterproof layer can help you continue your route outdoors.
What to pack
Pack a light jacket, a jumper, long trousers and comfortable closed shoes. A compact rain jacket takes little room in a day bag.
Compared with neighbouring months
Average daytime high: previous month — 21.8 °C, May — 17.4 °C, next month — 14.7 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 7.8, 6.0 and 4.3.
Things to do
Buenos Aires is best read district by district: Microcentro around Plaza de Mayo, San Telmo with its antique shops, Palermo with its parks and Recoleta with its cemetery and museums. The subte links them in straight lines, and taxis cover the longer hops.
Plaza de Mayo and San Telmo
Start at the Casa Rosada and the Cabildo on Plaza de Mayo, then follow Avenida de Mayo towards the Congress building. On Sundays turn into San Telmo for the antiques fair on Plaza Dorrego.
Recoleta
The Recoleta Cemetery, with its marble vaults and Eva Perón's tomb, stands beside the Pilar church. Walk on to the National Museum of Fine Arts and the parks along Avenida del Libertador for the rest of the afternoon.
The parks of Palermo
The Palermo parks with the rose garden and the Japanese Garden stretch along Avenida del Libertador. Browse the shops around Plaza Serrano in Palermo Soho and have dinner on Gurruchaga.
Where to stay
San Telmo
San Telmo suits anyone who wants antique shops, tango bars and old apartment buildings around the corner. The Sunday fair fills the streets, yet the centre is walkable and a taxi to Palermo takes about twenty minutes.
Palermo
Palermo draws people for the parks, the cafés and wide streets that fill with restaurants at night. The district is large: Soho is busy, Hollywood quieter, and the centre is a metro or taxi ride away.
Recoleta
Recoleta works for quiet stays near the cemetery, the museums and the park. It costs more than San Telmo, but the streets are green and calm, and the shops and cafés keep a high standard.
Getting to and around Buenos Aires
Buses and taxis run from Ezeiza international airport to the city, a drive of roughly an hour; domestic flights land at Aeroparque beside Palermo. Within the city the subte and the colectivo buses carry most people, and metro tickets go on a SUBE card. The centre is compact, but the blocks are long, so taxis help in the evening.
Three days in Buenos Aires
Plaza de Mayo and San Telmo
In the morning walk around the Casa Rosada, the Cabildo and the cathedral on Plaza de Mayo, then head down Avenida de Mayo. In the afternoon wander through San Telmo and stop at the San Pedro Telmo market.
Recoleta and Palermo
Begin at the Recoleta Cemetery and the Pilar church, then walk to the National Museum of Fine Arts. Move on to Palermo in the afternoon and stay in the parks until evening.
La Boca and Puerto Madero
See Caminito in La Boca in the morning with its painted houses, then return to Puerto Madero and follow the waterfront. Have dinner by the docks or back in San Telmo.
Weather throughout the year
| Month | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Precipitation, mm | Days with at least 1 mm | Daylight, h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28.1 | 22.2 | 86.4 | 9.1 | 14.2 |
| February | 27.4 | 21.7 | 86.8 | 7.6 | 13.4 |
| March | 25.3 | 19.9 | 97.2 | 7.5 | 12.3 |
| April | 21.8 | 16.9 | 94.6 | 7.8 | 11.2 |
| May | 17.4 | 13.2 | 69.9 | 6.0 | 10.3 |
| June | 14.7 | 10.3 | 41.0 | 4.3 | 9.9 |
| July | 13.7 | 9.1 | 64.6 | 6.6 | 10.1 |
| August | 15.5 | 10.2 | 78.1 | 5.9 | 10.8 |
| September | 17.5 | 12.2 | 64.9 | 5.2 | 11.9 |
| October | 20.2 | 14.6 | 74.1 | 8.5 | 12.9 |
| November | 24.2 | 17.9 | 87.0 | 7.7 | 13.9 |
| December | 26.6 | 20.1 | 86.0 | 8.5 | 14.4 |
Frequently asked questions
Buenos Aires: what is the temperature in May?
The average daytime high is 17.4 °C and the night-time low is 13.2 °C. Fit the main walking route into daylight hours; bring an extra layer for the evening.
How many days with precipitation are there in May?
On average, there are 6.0 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation; the monthly total is 69.9 mm. There are several days with precipitation during the month. A light waterproof layer can help you continue your route outdoors.
What should I pack for walks in May?
Pack a light jacket, a jumper, long trousers and comfortable closed shoes. A compact rain jacket takes little room in a day bag.
How does the weather change from the start to the end of the month?
Average daytime highs by part of the month: 1–10 — 18.7 °C; 11–20 — 17.5 °C; 21 to month-end — 16.2 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in May?
The average is 10.3 hours. Spread walks between the morning and afternoon, then leave the evening for dinner or indoor activities.
Is Buenos Aires worth visiting in May?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around 17.4 °C and nights around 13.2 °C work for you. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
What can I do in Buenos Aires on a wet day in May?
Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag. Keep a museum, market, café or another indoor route near your accommodation.
What should I pack for Buenos Aires in May?
Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. Average daylight is 10.3 hours.