This Is Italy
Ah, Italy in May! This is actually our favorite travel month. In May everything is green, blooming and cozy. The weather is (usually) good and it is not too hot. Moreover, there is plenty to see and do in Italy in May. Would you like to come with me?
Perhaps the best month for a holiday in Italy
May is an ideal month to travel to Italy for several reasons:
- It is often already in May great weather to spend a lot outside, but is it during the day usually not too hot to do something (what in July en August often is).
- For people with children, the May holiday often a a good alternative to the expensive summer holidays.
- In May the nature in Italy at its best and the people are cheerful because of the spring.
In this article we would like to give you some tips for your trip to Italy in May.
May is still low season in Italy
May is – along with April – our favorite month for a longer Italy trip. At the end of April, children in the Netherlands have a May holiday. Depending on the days off in this period, children sometimes have up to 2 weeks off school. A great opportunity for a longer trip to Italy!
At the same time, it is a great time to be able to go on holiday in your summer clothes. Nice weather is no guarantee during the May holiday period, but the chance of it is considerable compared to, for example March of April† And once the weather is nice, the temperatures in Italy are often above 20 degrees.
The sun shows itself regularly during this period, but in the evening and at night it is still cold. That is something to keep in mind if you want to go camping. Pack warm sleeping bags and some nice fleece jackets.
Also note that it is still low season in Italy in May, although that has started to change in recent years.
Although many campsites will be open, the swimming pool is not always open. There is also not always entertainment for the children and there is also a good chance that the camping shop is not yet fully operational. This month there is still plenty of work to get the site in order for the high season.
But that's what the prices are for. On average you can go on holiday for a third of the price in the high season if you take advantage of the May holiday. For a family with several children, that all counts.
That is why you will meet many compatriots during the May holidays who, just like you, want to take advantage of the southern sun and the sunny rates. Keep in mind that it can still be quite busy at the real tourist hotspots, even if the tourist season has not fully started yet.
💡Saving tips: looking for a cheap Italy holiday? Then also read this.
The weather in May
May is a spring month in which summer already seeps regularly. It is wonderful to take a road trip through Italy at the end of April and May. The days are longer and nature blossoms in brilliant colours. Everywhere you can see the green hills and the spring flowers and the air is full of delicious scents.
But it is also still spring, with the necessary unpredictability. In that respect it is very similar to the Dutch summer: it can be 15 degrees, but also 30 degrees in the southern regions.
Usually you end up somewhere in between in terms of temperature. With a bit of luck you will enjoy nice sunny weather this month and temperatures well above 20 degrees Celsius.
But in May it can certainly also rain and be cool, especially at night, in the morning and in the evening. Pay particular attention to this when traveling to the Alps or the Dolomites.
Great weather to be active outdoors. We really recommend the month of May if you want to go hiking, cycling or experience another active holiday in Italy.
If it rains for a day or if the weather is cloudy, you can of course also visit a museum or visit a town.
The average temperatures in Italy in May are:
- Northern Italy: 10-21°C
- Central Italy: 13-22°C
- Southern Italy: 16-24°C
The highest average temperatures for the city of Rome come in at about 22 degrees Celsius, but normal is also around 15 degrees. If you really travel to the deep south (such as Calabria or Sicily), you can sometimes encounter really summer temperatures above 25 degrees in May.
What kind of clothes do you pack?
In May the weather in Italy is sometimes really summery. You can be lucky to hit a week with 20+ degrees and sun. But it can certainly rain during this period.
And when it is around 15 degrees, it immediately feels very different. That is why you are never guaranteed sun during the May holidays. The chance of this is greatest the further south you travel.
So what kind of clothes do you put in your travel bag or suitcase? Summer clothes as well as a few warm sweaters and of course sunglasses and rain gear. Yes, a little bit of everything.
Italians tend to dress according to the season rather than the weather. Once it's officially spring, they dress lighter. The spring wardrobe is out again. You may want to keep that in mind if you don't want to look too much like a tourist.
💡Tip: check the weather forecast shortly before you travel to Italy via weather.it. You will then see quickly enough whether you should put more warm or more airy clothing in your suitcase.
Activities in May
In May you notice that the new tourist season is approaching and in some popular places it is also getting crowded. In May, there are again more outdoor activities than in previous months.
Do you like Italian cuisine? In May you can visit several festivals that revolve around the vegetables of the season. Also, the locals really want to go out and celebrate life again.
Below we outline a number of activities that you can encounter in Italy in May.
Labour Day
May 1st it's Labor Day in Italy, Labor Day. It is celebrated with friends and barbecues in parks. But also with concerts on squares and lots of fun. The Italians all have a day off on May 1.
International Museum Day
May is also the annual International Museum Day. A theme is linked to this, in which a large number of museums worldwide participate. Many museums in Italy are also open to the public on this day. Some offer a discount or even allow you to enter for free. IMD takes place on or about May 18.
Last Sunday of the month
The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel in Vatican you can visit for free on the last Sunday of the month. This is not only in the month of May, but all year round. Keep in mind that it will be busier than usual.
Parties and festivals
April May, June and July are really the months of the feast e sagre. The village festivals in honor of the harvest of that moment. Every sausage, mushroom, chestnut, vegetable, fruit and wine has its own feast. It must therefore be very strange if you do not find such a local party during your stay in May.
Tour of Italy
Besides the Tour de France, this is one of the biggest cycling events in the world. A large part of May is traditionally dominated by the Giro d'Italia. If you like cycling – but also like to party – it is nice to visit one of the places where the riders pass by. Due to the corona virus, the Giro will not take place in May, but will take place in the autumn.
Mille Miglia
Are you more into car racing? Then the Mille Miglia with its classic race cars from the 30's to 50's might be something for you. The tour starts every year in May from Brescia and ends there as well. Due to the coronavirus, the Mille Miglia in 2020 will be postponed to October.
Pentecost in Italy
Pentecost is sometimes in June and sometimes in May. It depends when it Easter because Pentecost is always 50 days after. Pentecost is not celebrated exuberantly everywhere, but especially in the center and south of the country there are local and small-scale activities, such as parades and markets.
Travel tips for a visit to Italy in May
Which destination do you choose if you want to travel to Italy in May? You can actually go anywhere in this spring month. However, we have listed a number of specific tips for May for you.
The lakes
It can sometimes be a bit (too) cold in May to camp on one of the Italian lakes, but you can of course also stay in a hotel or holiday home.
Lake Como is breathtakingly beautiful, especially in spring. Don't be put off by the rich and famousEven if you are traveling on a budget you can enjoy the view here. For example with a picnic along the water.
Would you like to seek out a little more sun and higher temperatures? Then drive a little further to the magical Lake Trasimeno in the middle of Italy.
Cinque Terre
The floral splendor is now at its best on the Ligurian coast as well. Take the time for a long walk through the towns of the Cinque Terre. That can still be done now, before it gets really busy and hot.
Tuscany
It's starting to get cliché, but Tuscany is always possible. The advantage of May is that in nature everything is still beautifully green. Those winding roads between the hills with the beautiful art cities of Tuscany… Actually, you can not imagine a better time than May.
However, in May it can be really busy in San Gimignano, Lucca, Pisa, Siena, Florence and all those other world-famous hotspots. If you really want to experience a quiet time in Tuscany, you might want to go in April or leave early.
Round trip through an Italian region
Have you always wanted to make a tour through Tuscany, Apulia, Veneto or another Italian region? Then we can heartily recommend the month of May.
Take your own car or rent one and only an unforgettable trip of 1, 2 or maybe 3 weeks. The best thing is, of course, to cruise those winding roads and through the green hills in a Fiat 500C and soak up the spring, stopping every now and then for a nice view, a nice cup of Italian coffee or a ice-cream.
Visit the islands
Are you in the mood for a summery holiday? Then May is a great time to travel to Sicily, Sardinia or one of the smaller islands. In May it is not yet too hot to view the many sights at your leisure.
On the other hand, you also have the chance of a few nice beach days, so that you already have a taste of summer.
Boat trip along the Amalfi Coast
Is the weather nice in May? Then a boat trip along the beautiful Amalfi Coast definitely recommend. Enjoy a delicious meal on board with a good wine while you look at all the beauty until a painting passes by.
Climb the volcanoes of Italy
Have you always wanted to climb Mount Etna, Stromboli or Vesuvius? Grab your chance in May! The weather is often perfect for it: not too hot, not too cold. Great weather to take a brisk walk and enjoy the view on top. Note that you can still find snow on the peaks of Etna and Vesuvius in May!
Tips for campsites during the May holiday
Do you want to camp during the May holiday? Then find a campsite where the children can have a good time (and then you have one yourself). Be here 13 tips for suitable campsites during the May holiday in Northern Italy.
Note: still low season
We've said it a few times already, but we'll mention it again: in May it is still low season in Italy, unlike in the Netherlands and Belgium. Although the tourist flow in the popular spots has already started well, keep in mind that some attractions may still be closed.
Traveling to Italy in April or May (e.g. during the May holidays) means that no activities are organized at the campsites yet and that the swimming pool may still be closed, even if the weather is so nice.
Tip: Before booking the campsite, check if the pool (or one of the pools) is open, if that's important to you or your kids.
For many people, on the other hand, spring is an ideal time to travel to Italy. The hills are green, the flowers are blooming, the people are happy and the weather isn't too hot yet (the main reason to avoid the high season).
Prepare yourself
Take into account both warm and cool weather. It can be dry, but there is also a considerable chance that you will end up in a heavy shower. Are you going camping? Then make sure you have warm sleeping bags. Especially if you travel to mountainous northern Italy.
If you travel by car, you should make sure that your car has summer tires and that you do not accidentally drive on winter slippers.
In May, the temperatures – especially those on the road – can already rise considerably, making summer tires the only right tires for your car.
It is also wise to subject your car to an inspection before the trip to Italy. Have you topped up all fluids, are the tires in good shape? all the things you need to have with you?
Like us, do you regularly travel to Italy in May? And do you have any good tips for other Italy lovers? Then leave your comment below.
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