Your May weather guide
WarmWeather in Rome in May
May is a good choice for Rome if you want warm days for exploring, rather than dependable heat or dry weather. Average daytime highs reach 22.4°C, while nights fall to 12.5°C, so light layers make more sense than summer clothes alone. The catch is rain: about 9 days have measurable rainfall. For a UK traveller, it offers a noticeable lift in warmth, provided you leave room to rearrange outdoor plans.
Long-term climate averages for Rome, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Rome, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Rome.
- Average daytime high
- 22.4°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 27°C
- Average night-time low
- 12.5°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 10°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +5.8°C
- London averages 16.6°C in May
- Sea temperature
- 18.4°C
- year to year: 18°C to 20°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 8.0h
- 56% of 14.4 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 9
- 58 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 73%
- Days over 25°C
- 23%
- 1% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 31.5°C
- 2009-05-25
- Record low 1991-2020
- 5.2°C
- 1991-05-18
- Flight from London
- ≈ 2 h 30 min
- 1411 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How May compares
May is the 5th warmest month of the year in Rome and ranks 76th of 134 destinations we compare for May - see where else is hot in May. Within Italy it is 2nd of 16 (Italy in May). Against London's average high of 16.6°C in May, Rome is 5.8°C warmer by day and 4.2°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in May
The typical May day in Rome peaks at 22.4°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 26.9°C or more. Roughly 1 in 4 days top 25°C and 1 in 111 pass 30°C. Nights average 12.5°C; one night in ten drops to 9.6°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day here reached 31.5°C (2009-05-25) and the coldest night 5.2°C (1991-05-18).
Rain in May
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 9 days with 1 mm or more, 58 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest May was 2019 with 165 mm, the driest 2015 with 15 mm. Humidity averages 73%.
Sea temperature in May
The sea averages 18.4°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 17.6°C to 19.5°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (25.7°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 8.0 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 14.4 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 05:50 and sets about 20:23 local time in mid-May. Average cloud cover is 45%.
Is May a good time to visit Rome?
It is a reasonable choice: warm days but expect showers. The best months for Rome on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Comfortable warmth, with cooler evenings
Rome is noticeably warmer than London in May: the average daytime high is 5.8°C higher than London's 16.6°C. That makes it a reasonable choice for spending much of the day outside without needing very hot weather to enjoy yourself. Pack light daytime clothes, comfortable walking shoes and a jumper or light jacket for evenings. The warmest days can feel quite different from the average, so keep strenuous walking away from midday if the forecast turns hot. Equally, don't assume every evening will be mild: the coldest nights can drop below what you would comfortably sit outside in with bare arms. Layers give you more flexibility than packing solely for summer.
Plenty of sunshine, but plan around rain
May brings about 8 hours of sunshine within 14.4 hours of daylight, giving you a generous window for outdoor plans. That does not make it a reliably dry month. Rain is a real consideration, so carry a compact umbrella or light waterproof and keep some flexibility in your day. The monthly averages cannot tell you when rain will arrive or how long it will last during your stay; check the forecast before committing to a full day outdoors. Sunglasses and sun protection still belong in your bag alongside rain gear. May suits travellers who are happy to adjust their plans, rather than those whose holiday depends on uninterrupted sunshine.
A little perspective
Rome through the year
May is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11.6°C | 3.7°C | 14.7°C | 4.5 | 63 | 9 | 0% |
| February | 12.3°C | 3.7°C | 13.9°C | 5.4 | 72 | 9 | 0% |
| March | 15.2°C | 5.9°C | 13.9°C | 5.8 | 75 | 10 | 0% |
| April | 18.0°C | 8.6°C | 15.2°C | 6.5 | 78 | 11 | 1% |
| MaySelected | 22.4°C | 12.5°C | 18.4°C | 8.0 | 58 | 9 | 23% |
| Junebest | 27.0°C | 16.6°C | 22.1°C | 10.2 | 33 | 5 | 71% |
| Julybest | 30.2°C | 19.4°C | 24.7°C | 12.0 | 22 | 4 | 95% |
| Augustbest | 30.6°C | 20.1°C | 25.7°C | 10.7 | 22 | 4 | 96% |
| September | 25.4°C | 16.5°C | 23.9°C | 7.5 | 81 | 9 | 56% |
| October | 21.0°C | 13.0°C | 21.5°C | 5.5 | 116 | 11 | 7% |
| November | 16.1°C | 9.0°C | 18.9°C | 4.3 | 130 | 12 | 0% |
| December | 12.4°C | 5.1°C | 16.3°C | 4.4 | 92 | 11 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in May
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Rome in May FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Rome hot in May?
Rome is warm in May: the average daytime high is 22.4°C and nights average 12.5°C. Roughly 1 in 4 May days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Rome in May?
The sea around Rome averages 18.4°C in May, which is bracing - fine for a quick dip, cool for long swims. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 18°C to 20°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Rome in May?
Rome sees about 9 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 58 mm of rain in a typical May. The wettest May between 1991 and 2020 was 2019 (165 mm) and the driest was 2015 (15 mm).
How sunny is Rome in May?
Rome gets around 8.0 hours of sunshine a day in May out of 14.4 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Rome compare with the UK in May?
Rome is on average 5.8°C warmer than London by day in May (22.4°C against 16.6°C).
What is the hottest May on record in Rome?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day in Rome reached 31.5°C on 2009-05-25, and the coldest night dropped to 5.2°C on 1991-05-18.
Is May reliably hot in Rome?
No. May is generally warm, but only 23% of days reach 25°C, and just 1% reach 30°C. Choose it for comfortable daytime warmth rather than a dependable hot-weather holiday, and bring a layer for after dark.
Is the sea warm enough for a swim?
The sea averages 18.4°C in May, which is bracing rather than comfortably warm. If you are considering a coastal outing during your Rome trip, treat swimming as optional. It suits travellers comfortable with cool water better than those wanting a leisurely warm swim.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Rome. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 26.6 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C