Florence in May: a seasonal travel plan
Florence, Italy. In may, the average daytime high is 19.8 °C and the night-time low is 9.6 °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: Florence
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- 19.8 °C
- Nighttime low
- 9.6 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 69.5 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 12.1
- Daylight
- 14.7 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 | 18.3 | 8.3 | 4.0 |
| Days 11–20 | 19.2 | 9.4 | 4.8 |
| From day 21 | 21.8 | 10.8 | 3.3 |
What this month is like
Florence, Italy. In may, the average daytime high is 19.8 °C and the night-time low is 9.6 °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 69.5 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 14.7 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
Bring light daytime clothes, comfortable shoes and an extra layer for cooler hours. The day-to-night temperature difference is noticeable, so dressing in layers is practical. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
Compared with neighbouring months
Average daytime high: previous month — 15.6 °C, May — 19.8 °C, next month — 26.3 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 9.0, 12.1 and 8.7.
Things to do
Florence fits into a few blocks around Santa Maria del Fiore, and nearly all its treasures stand inside that ring. The Arno divides the city in two, and beyond the Ponte Vecchio lies Oltrarno with its workshops and the Boboli Gardens.
The cathedral and Brunelleschi's dome
In the Duomo complex see the marble facade, the baptistery with Ghiberti's doors and Giotto's bell tower. The climb up the dome follows a narrow passage between the two shells and ends above the tiled roofs.
Uffizi Gallery
The Uffizi holds Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Leonardo's Annunciation, and the long corridors face the Arno through windows. Book a morning slot and start on the upper floor while the rooms are quiet.
Oltrarno and Piazzale Michelangelo
Cross the Arno on the Ponte Vecchio, where jewellers' shops hang above the water, and climb to Piazzale Michelangelo. The whole centre spreads below with the dome, best in the hour before sunset.
Where to stay
Duomo
The Duomo quarter works for a first visit, with the cathedral, baptistery and San Lorenzo market a couple of minutes apart. It is busy all day, so choose a side street away from the square for sleep.
Santo Spirito
Santo Spirito in Oltrarno suits anyone who wants workshops, wine bars and family trattorias close by. The Uffizi is a twenty-minute walk over the bridge, and evenings here are calmer than in the centre.
Santa Croce
Santa Croce clusters around a basilica holding the tombs of Michelangelo and Machiavelli, with leather workshops nearby. The district is quieter than the Duomo, and the Arno embankment and Piazza Signoria are walkable.
Getting there and around
From Florence airport the T2 tram reaches Santa Maria Novella station in about twenty minutes, and trains from Pisa arrive at the same station. There is no metro: the centre is compact and every major sight is walkable, though summer days are better started early. Buses serve Fiesole and the outskirts, and a car is best left outside the centre.
Three days in Florence
Duomo and San Lorenzo
Start at the baptistery, where Ghiberti's doors hang and the dome mosaic shows inside, then climb the dome and see the bell tower. After lunch visit the San Lorenzo market and finish at Santa Croce.
Uffizi and Oltrarno
Spend the morning in the Uffizi, then cross the Arno on the Ponte Vecchio to Santo Spirito, where trattorias serve ribollita and workshops open by the river. Climb to Piazzale Michelangelo for the evening.
Accademia and Boboli
See Michelangelo's David at the Accademia, then visit San Marco, where Fra Angelico painted a fresco in each cell of the cloister. Spend the afternoon in the Boboli Gardens.
Weather throughout the year
| Month | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Precipitation, mm | Days with at least 1 mm | Daylight, h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6.8 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 9.6 | 9.3 |
| February | 8.9 | 1.2 | 68.2 | 9.8 | 10.5 |
| March | 11.6 | 2.3 | 54.1 | 9.0 | 11.9 |
| April | 15.6 | 4.9 | 49.0 | 9.0 | 13.4 |
| May | 19.8 | 9.6 | 69.5 | 12.1 | 14.7 |
| June | 26.3 | 14.2 | 43.5 | 8.7 | 15.4 |
| July | 31.0 | 17.4 | 21.8 | 5.4 | 15.1 |
| August | 30.2 | 17.3 | 40.2 | 7.4 | 14.0 |
| September | 24.2 | 13.0 | 59.1 | 9.8 | 12.6 |
| October | 18.9 | 9.3 | 80.3 | 11.0 | 11.0 |
| November | 12.2 | 4.8 | 89.4 | 12.6 | 9.7 |
| December | 8.4 | 1.8 | 65.0 | 10.7 | 9.0 |
Frequently asked questions
Florence: what is the temperature in May?
The average daytime high is 19.8 °C and the night-time low is 9.6 °C. Daytime is suitable for a longer walk around the city. Leave time for breaks and lunch along the way.
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 69.5 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?
Bring light daytime clothes, comfortable shoes and an extra layer for cooler hours. The day-to-night temperature difference is noticeable, so dressing in layers is practical. 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 — 18.3 °C; 11–20 — 19.2 °C; 21 to month-end — 21.8 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in May?
The average is 14.7 hours. Long daylight hours make it easy to split a walk between morning and evening, with a longer break in between.
Is Florence worth visiting in May?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around 19.8 °C and nights around 9.6 °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 Florence 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 Florence in May?
Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. Average daylight is 14.7 hours.