Vancouver in May: a seasonal travel plan
Vancouver, Canada. In may, the average daytime high is 16.4 °C and the night-time low is 10.5 °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: Vancouver
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- 16.4 °C
- Nighttime low
- 10.5 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 56.0 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 12.1
- Daylight
- 15.3 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 | 15.5 | 9.2 | 3.9 |
| Days 11–20 | 16.7 | 10.8 | 4.1 |
| From day 21 | 17.0 | 11.3 | 4.1 |
What this month is like
Vancouver, Canada. In may, the average daytime high is 16.4 °C and the night-time low is 10.5 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
There are 12.1 wet days on average, with about 56.0 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 15.3 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
Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What to pack
Pack a light jacket, a jumper, long trousers and comfortable closed shoes. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
Compared with neighbouring months
Average daytime high: previous month — 11.9 °C, May — 16.4 °C, next month — 18.9 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 16.6, 12.1 and 11.0.
Things to do
Vancouver sits between Burrard Inlet and the Strait of Georgia: the waterfront and Stanley Park on one side, the beaches of Kitsilano on the other. Mountains rise close behind the streets, so a seawall walk and a lookout fit into the same day.
Stanley Park and the seawall
The seawall circles Stanley Park for nine kilometres, past totem poles at Brockton Point, cedar forest and views across the inlet. Rent a bike, give the loop half a day and come back through Coal Harbour.
Granville Island
The market under the Granville Bridge brings fish counters, craft studios and a small theatre together. The Aquabus across False Creek is the way in, and the crossing is part of the outing.
Grouse Mountain
The Skyride cable car climbs above North Vancouver, and summer trails lead on to the summit. Take a warm layer: the top is cooler and windy, with the city spread out below.
Where to stay
Downtown
Downtown keeps trips short: the seawall, Stanley Park and Gastown are within walking distance. Glass towers shade the narrow streets, but everything sits close together.
Gastown
Gastown has cobblestones, the steam clock and old brick warehouses. Evenings bring bars and live music, though a few blocks show street trading and disorder.
Kitsilano
Kitsilano suits families and anyone who wants a beach at the door: sand, mountain views and calm streets. Downtown is twenty minutes by bus, and evenings stay quiet.
Getting to and around Vancouver
YVR airport connects to the centre on the Canada Line, which reaches Waterfront in about twenty-five minutes. SkyTrain, buses and the SeaBus to North Vancouver make up the network, and a Compass card pays for all of them. The historic centre and the seawall are best on foot. A day pass covers every mode, including the SeaBus.
Three days in Vancouver
Stanley Park and Coal Harbour
Start on the seawall at Coal Harbour, walk to the totem poles at Brockton Point and round the park beside the water. Return in the afternoon and follow Gastown's streets to the steam clock.
Granville Island and the beaches
Take the Aquabus from Yaletown and arrive at Granville Island as the market opens. Move to Kitsilano in the afternoon for sand and sunset over the strait.
The North Shore mountains
Cross by SeaBus to Lonsdale Quay and ride up Grouse Mountain. Come back in the evening in time for the market at the quay and the ferry into town.
Weather throughout the year
| Month | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Precipitation, mm | Days with at least 1 mm | Daylight, h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6.5 | 3.3 | 200.5 | 20.6 | 8.7 |
| February | 6.5 | 2.9 | 120.5 | 18.7 | 10.1 |
| March | 9.2 | 4.7 | 120.9 | 18.2 | 11.9 |
| April | 11.9 | 6.8 | 90.7 | 16.6 | 13.7 |
| May | 16.4 | 10.5 | 56.0 | 12.1 | 15.3 |
| June | 18.9 | 12.7 | 49.0 | 11.0 | 16.2 |
| July | 22.1 | 15.3 | 24.0 | 4.6 | 15.8 |
| August | 22.2 | 15.7 | 34.5 | 5.9 | 14.4 |
| September | 18.2 | 13.0 | 79.5 | 11.9 | 12.7 |
| October | 13.2 | 9.2 | 152.9 | 17.5 | 10.8 |
| November | 8.8 | 5.5 | 215.9 | 20.8 | 9.2 |
| December | 5.9 | 2.8 | 203.9 | 22.2 | 8.3 |
Frequently asked questions
Vancouver: what is the temperature in May?
The average daytime high is 16.4 °C and the night-time low is 10.5 °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 12.1 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation; the monthly total is 56.0 mm. Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What should I pack for walks in May?
Pack a light jacket, a jumper, long trousers and comfortable closed shoes. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
How does the weather change from the start to the end of the month?
Average daytime highs by part of the month: 1–10 — 15.5 °C; 11–20 — 16.7 °C; 21 to month-end — 17.0 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in May?
The average is 15.3 hours. Long daylight hours make it easy to split a walk between morning and evening, with a longer break in between.
Is Vancouver worth visiting in May?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around 16.4 °C and nights around 10.5 °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 Vancouver 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 Vancouver in May?
Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. Average daylight is 15.3 hours.