Gothenburg in May: a seasonal travel plan
Gothenburg, Sweden. In may, the average daytime high is 14.2 °C and the night-time low is 8.7 °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: Gothenburg
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- 14.2 °C
- Nighttime low
- 8.7 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 63.5 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 11.7
- Daylight
- 16.6 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 | 12.1 | 6.4 | 3.3 |
| Days 11–20 | 14.3 | 8.7 | 3.4 |
| From day 21 | 16.1 | 10.7 | 5.0 |
What this month is like
Gothenburg, Sweden. In may, the average daytime high is 14.2 °C and the night-time low is 8.7 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
There are 11.7 wet days on average, with about 63.5 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 16.6 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 — 9.0 °C, May — 14.2 °C, next month — 18.2 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 9.1, 11.7 and 11.9.
Things to do
Gothenburg stands at the mouth of the Göta älv, its centre ringed by a canal, bastions and tree-lined avenues. The port character sits beside the Haga quarter, the wooded park of Slottsskogen and an archipelago served by ferries from Södra Hamngatan.
Haga
Haga's cobbled streets are lined with nineteenth-century wooden houses, and its bakeries sell cinnamon buns. Follow Haga Nygata up to Skansen Kronan, where the hill looks over the roofs and the canal.
Feskekôrka fish market
Feskekôrka was built to look like a Gothic church and sells fish and shellfish under high vaults. Counters hold shrimp, mussels and smoked salmon, and a café sits above the hall. Buy a shrimp sandwich, then continue along the canal quay.
Liseberg amusement park
Liseberg has been running since 1923, with wooden roller coasters, rides and gardens on a hillside. Lights come on in the evening, which makes it an easy family day out.
Where to stay
Inom Vallgraven
The area inside the canal works for a first visit, with shopping streets, canals and Feskekôrka close together. It is easy on foot, and trams leave Gustaf Adolfs torg in every direction.
Linnéstaden
Linnéstaden suits anyone who wants cafés, bars and restaurants along Linnégatan and Långgatorna. The district stays lively late, and the centre is ten minutes on foot. Järntorget square holds a fruit and flower market in the mornings.
Majorna
Majorna is a former working district of wooden houses, now home to artists and families. It is quieter than the centre and close to Slottsskogen, though shops are fewer and the waterfront is twenty minutes away.
Getting there and around
From Landvetter Airport the Flygbussarna coach reaches the Nils Ericson terminal in about half an hour. Within the city trams do the work, linking the centre with Majorna and Linnéstaden, while ferries from Södra Hamngatan serve the archipelago islands. Everything inside the canal is walkable, so trams matter mainly for the outer districts.
Three days in Gothenburg
Centre and canal
Walk from Gustaf Adolfs torg along the canal to Feskekôrka and the market. Turn into Haga after lunch for coffee and a bun, then return to the waterfront in the evening.
Liseberg and Universeum
Spend the day on the rides at Liseberg. Universeum next door holds an aquarium and a rainforest, a good stop if it rains. In the evening the park paths are lit and the city lights show from the hill.
The archipelago
Take the tram to Saltholmen and the ferry to Styrsö, where paths follow the rocks and a café stands by the jetty. Swimming spots lie between the rocks; return for the evening and have dinner in Majorna.
Weather throughout the year
| Month | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Precipitation, mm | Days with at least 1 mm | Daylight, h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2.7 | -0.0 | 95.2 | 16.0 | 7.3 |
| February | 2.8 | -0.0 | 84.4 | 13.0 | 9.4 |
| March | 4.9 | 1.0 | 73.4 | 13.2 | 11.8 |
| April | 9.0 | 3.7 | 55.0 | 9.1 | 14.3 |
| May | 14.2 | 8.7 | 63.5 | 11.7 | 16.6 |
| June | 18.2 | 13.1 | 71.1 | 11.9 | 18.0 |
| July | 19.4 | 14.7 | 90.4 | 14.6 | 17.4 |
| August | 19.5 | 14.9 | 87.5 | 14.4 | 15.3 |
| September | 16.8 | 12.6 | 86.9 | 13.8 | 12.9 |
| October | 11.6 | 8.3 | 99.8 | 16.9 | 10.4 |
| November | 7.0 | 4.5 | 90.2 | 15.7 | 8.0 |
| December | 4.2 | 1.7 | 98.4 | 18.5 | 6.7 |
Frequently asked questions
Gothenburg: what is the temperature in May?
The average daytime high is 14.2 °C and the night-time low is 8.7 °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 11.7 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation; the monthly total is 63.5 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 — 12.1 °C; 11–20 — 14.3 °C; 21 to month-end — 16.1 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in May?
The average is 16.6 hours. Long daylight hours make it easy to split a walk between morning and evening, with a longer break in between.
Is Gothenburg worth visiting in May?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around 14.2 °C and nights around 8.7 °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 Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg in May?
Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. Average daylight is 16.6 hours.