Warsaw in May: a seasonal travel plan
Warsaw, Poland. In may, the average daytime high is 19.3 °C and the night-time low is 8.2 °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: Warsaw
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- 19.3 °C
- Nighttime low
- 8.2 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 61.7 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 11.0
- Daylight
- 15.7 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 | 17.7 | 6.2 | 3.1 |
| Days 11–20 | 19.0 | 8.0 | 3.6 |
| From day 21 | 21.0 | 10.3 | 4.3 |
What this month is like
Warsaw, Poland. In may, the average daytime high is 19.3 °C and the night-time low is 8.2 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
There are 11.0 wet days on average, with about 61.7 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 15.7 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
There are several days with precipitation during the month. A light waterproof layer can help you continue your route outdoors.
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. A compact rain jacket takes little room in a day bag.
Compared with neighbouring months
Average daytime high: previous month — 13.8 °C, May — 19.3 °C, next month — 24.5 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 10.2, 11.0 and 11.1.
Things to do
Warsaw gathers around Castle Square: the Old Town rebuilt after the war, the Royal Route running south to Lazienki Park, and Praga on the far bank with a character of its own. Metro and trams cross the river, so choose a district by its evenings.
Old Town
Start on Castle Square by the royal castle and follow the cobbled lanes to the city walls and the Barbican. From there drop down to the Market Square with its rows of townhouses and the small chapel.
Lazienki Park
Lazienki Park, with the palace on the water, an amphitheatre and free-roaming peacocks, fills half a day. Enter from Aleje Ujazdowskie and work deeper into the park, returning along the canal.
Praga
Right-bank Praga keeps its tenement houses and factory buildings, now taken over by galleries and bars. Zabkowska street and the Rózycki market show the old trading quarter, cheaper in the evening than the centre.
Where to stay
Sródmiescie
Sródmiescie suits a first visit: the station, the Palace of Culture and the Royal Route are close. The district comes alive at night, and side streets can be noisy.
Powisle
Powisle by the Vistula is known for riverside boulevards and cafés under the bridges. The centre is walkable, and summer evenings happen down by the water.
Zoliborz
Zoliborz is a green district of interwar houses, gardens and quiet courtyards. It stays calm, with a tram or metro ride to the centre and the Old Town twenty minutes away.
Getting to and around Warsaw
Chopin Airport lies inside the city limits: buses and a suburban train reach the centre in about half an hour. Warsaw runs a metro and a dense tram network, while the Royal Route is better walked. Bridges cross the Vistula, and Praga is an easy tram ride from the old town.
Three days in Warsaw
Old Town and the Royal Route
Castle Square, the Old Town and the Barbican fill the morning. Walk down Krakowskie Przedmiescie to Nowy Swiat, then finish on the Vistula embankments.
Lazienki
A day in Lazienki Park: the palace on the water, the amphitheatre and shaded avenues. Return to Powisle in the afternoon and walk the riverside boulevards.
Praga
Take the tram to Praga for Zabkowska street, the Rózycki market and factory buildings turned into galleries. Cross back into the centre in the evening.
Weather throughout the year
| Month | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Precipitation, mm | Days with at least 1 mm | Daylight, h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0.7 | -4.6 | 47.9 | 12.4 | 8.3 |
| February | 3.5 | -3.1 | 42.9 | 10.5 | 9.9 |
| March | 8.3 | -0.8 | 35.2 | 9.1 | 11.8 |
| April | 13.8 | 3.2 | 45.4 | 10.2 | 13.9 |
| May | 19.3 | 8.2 | 61.7 | 11.0 | 15.7 |
| June | 24.5 | 13.5 | 58.7 | 11.1 | 16.7 |
| July | 25.7 | 14.9 | 78.7 | 13.9 | 16.2 |
| August | 26.7 | 15.2 | 65.6 | 9.6 | 14.7 |
| September | 21.3 | 10.5 | 59.7 | 9.2 | 12.7 |
| October | 14.2 | 5.5 | 59.2 | 10.8 | 10.7 |
| November | 6.6 | 1.1 | 39.9 | 9.0 | 8.8 |
| December | 2.3 | -2.3 | 48.9 | 12.2 | 7.8 |
Frequently asked questions
Warsaw: what is the temperature in May?
The average daytime high is 19.3 °C and the night-time low is 8.2 °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 11.0 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation; the monthly total is 61.7 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?
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. 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 — 17.7 °C; 11–20 — 19.0 °C; 21 to month-end — 21.0 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in May?
The average is 15.7 hours. Long daylight hours make it easy to split a walk between morning and evening, with a longer break in between.
Is Warsaw worth visiting in May?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around 19.3 °C and nights around 8.2 °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 Warsaw 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 Warsaw in May?
Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. Average daylight is 15.7 hours.