Saint Petersburg in May: a seasonal travel plan
Saint Petersburg, Russia. In may, the average daytime high is 14.7 °C and the night-time low is 6.0 °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: Saint Petersburg
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- 14.7 °C
- Nighttime low
- 6.0 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 59.1 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 12.5
- Daylight
- 17.1 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 | 11.4 | 2.7 | 3.6 |
| Days 11–20 | 15.4 | 6.5 | 4.4 |
| From day 21 | 17.0 | 8.6 | 4.5 |
What this month is like
Saint Petersburg, Russia. In may, the average daytime high is 14.7 °C and the night-time low is 6.0 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
There are 12.5 wet days on average, with about 59.1 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 17.1 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 — 7.6 °C, May — 14.7 °C, next month — 19.8 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 13.9, 12.5 and 13.9.
Things to do
Saint Petersburg is built around the Neva: Palace Square and the Hermitage on the left bank, the Peter and Paul Fortress on Hare Island, Vasilyevsky Island with the Kunstkamera opposite. The centre works on foot, and the metro covers the long gaps between the embankments.
The Hermitage and Palace Square
The Winter Palace and the Hermitage fill a long morning if you follow the state rooms towards the Italian paintings. Afterwards walk Palace Square past the Alexander Column and come down to the Neva by the Admiralty.
The Peter and Paul Fortress
Start at the fortress on Hare Island with the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, where the Russian emperors are buried. Then walk the walls to the Neva Gate and return over the Troitsky Bridge towards the Summer Garden.
Vasilyevsky Island and the Kunstkamera
The Kunstkamera, the Zoological Museum and the Rostral Columns stand close together on Vasilyevsky Island. Follow the university embankment, then cross to St Isaac's Cathedral in the evening.
Where to stay
Tsentralny
Tsentralny suits a first visit: the Hermitage, Nevsky Prospekt and Kazan Cathedral are all within walking distance. Courtyards here look harsher than the ceremonial facades, but the metro and cafés are close at hand.
Petrograd Side
The Petrograd Side suits anyone who wants quiet Art Nouveau streets and broad avenues. The Hermitage is fifteen minutes by metro, the Peter and Paul Fortress and the parks are nearby, and tourists are far fewer.
Vasilyevsky Island
Vasilyevsky Island draws people for the Bolshaya Neva, the Kunstkamera and the old apartment buildings. Evenings are calm, though restaurants and theatres usually mean a trip across to the left bank.
Getting to and around Saint Petersburg
Buses and taxis run from Pulkovo airport to the centre, and the drive takes around an hour depending on traffic. Within the city the metro is the main network: the stations along Nevsky Prospekt work as landmarks for the whole centre. The embankments are walkable, and the bridges open on summer nights, so plan the way back in advance.
Three days in Saint Petersburg
Palace Square and the Hermitage
Spend the morning in the Hermitage through the state rooms, then walk Palace Square and the embankment to the Bronze Horseman. Keep the evening for Nevsky Prospekt and Kazan Cathedral.
Hare Island and the Summer Garden
Start at the Peter and Paul Fortress and cross the Troitsky Bridge to the Summer Garden. In the afternoon follow the embankment to the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood and turn in to the Russian Museum.
Vasilyevsky Island and St Isaac's
See the Kunstkamera and the university embankment by the Rostral Columns in the morning. After lunch cross the bridge to St Isaac's Cathedral and climb the colonnade for the view across the city.
Weather throughout the year
| Month | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Precipitation, mm | Days with at least 1 mm | Daylight, h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -6.2 | -11.3 | 52.6 | 13.7 | 6.8 |
| February | -3.9 | -9.3 | 49.1 | 12.9 | 9.1 |
| March | 0.6 | -5.4 | 48.9 | 11.7 | 11.8 |
| April | 7.6 | 0.1 | 67.6 | 13.9 | 14.5 |
| May | 14.7 | 6.0 | 59.1 | 12.5 | 17.1 |
| June | 19.8 | 11.8 | 80.0 | 13.9 | 18.7 |
| July | 21.2 | 14.0 | 110.2 | 19.4 | 18.0 |
| August | 20.7 | 13.2 | 114.7 | 16.2 | 15.6 |
| September | 15.5 | 9.0 | 60.5 | 12.6 | 12.9 |
| October | 7.6 | 3.0 | 74.8 | 14.3 | 10.2 |
| November | 0.6 | -2.7 | 63.5 | 14.7 | 7.6 |
| December | -3.6 | -7.9 | 60.9 | 15.2 | 6.1 |
Frequently asked questions
Saint Petersburg: what is the temperature in May?
The average daytime high is 14.7 °C and the night-time low is 6.0 °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 12.5 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation; the monthly total is 59.1 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 — 11.4 °C; 11–20 — 15.4 °C; 21 to month-end — 17.0 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in May?
The average is 17.1 hours. Long daylight hours make it easy to split a walk between morning and evening, with a longer break in between.
Is Saint Petersburg worth visiting in May?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around 14.7 °C and nights around 6.0 °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 Saint Petersburg 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 Saint Petersburg in May?
Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. Average daylight is 17.1 hours.