Weather in Paris in May
May in Paris is mild enough that walking is the default. This is a city-break month more than a sea-holiday month.
In France, this is how Paris actually wears May, not how a country centroid would. Compared with July and January, May sits in the middle of Paris's year.
- Average temp
- 16°C
11–20°C
- Rainfall
- 75 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- —
What to expect
Daytime
Mild afternoons in Paris are the prize in May. You can eat outside on the good days. You still want something for the breeze.
This is walking weather. Shade is useful, not essential the way it is in the hot months. A long outdoor day is a reasonable plan.
Rain
May is the wet side of the year in Paris. Days can be heavy. Plans that cannot survive rain are the wrong plans.
This is not a reason to skip Paris if you like the place. It is a reason to pack for weather and to stop treating every grey hour as a failed holiday.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What to pack
Rain jacket
A layer for cooler evenings
Where to stay in Paris
Dates are a starting point for May.
Travel guides for Paris
What to read before you book.
Average weather in Paris
TemperatureRainfall
Similar weather in May
Other destinations whose May averages sit close to this one.
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FAQs about Paris
Climate averages for Paris, 1991–2020.
The best time to visit Paris is between May and October, the most comfortable stretch of the year on these averages.
August is the hottest month, with an average around 21°C.
May is the wettest month, with about 75 mm of rain.
No. These are 1991–2020 climate normals from Meteostat, not a live forecast. Actual weather in any given week can differ.
