#1Warm
Qawra
- Day
- 20.8°C
- Sea
- 18.5°C
- Sun
- 10.0h
- Rain days
- 2
Your May weather guide
Weather in Malta in May
Yes - May is a good month for Malta if you prefer mild warmth to strong heat. Average daytime temperatures of 20°C and 10 hours of sunshine make it a good fit for spending time outdoors without planning everything around the hottest part of the day. The catch is the sea: at 19°C, it is still cool rather than comfortably warm. Choose May for relaxed outdoor days, with swimming an option rather than the main reason to travel.
Long-term climate averages, not a forecast · 1991-2020
- Average daytime high
- 20.5°Cacross 4 destinations
- Average night-time low
- 17.0°Cafter dark
- Sea temperature
- 18.6°Cbracing
- Rainy days
- 1days1 mm or more
Malta, month by month
Turn up the warmth
Warmest places in Malta in May
Ranked by average daytime high. The full comparison is in the table below.
Malta destinations ranked for May
All 4 places we track in Malta, ordered by daytime high.
Scroll sideways for more weather, down for more places. Click a heading to sort.
| # | Destination | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Qawra | 20.8°C | 17.1°C | 18.5°C | 10.0 h | 2 | 3 h 18 min |
| 2 | Sliema | 20.6°C | 17.2°C | 18.6°C | 10.0 h | 1 | 3 h 18 min |
| 3 | Valletta | 20.5°C | 17.1°C | 18.6°C | 10.0 h | 1 | 3 h 18 min |
| 4 | Mellieha | 20.1°C | 16.5°C | 18.5°C | 9.9 h | 2 | 3 h 18 min |
4 destinations shownClimate averages, not a forecast.
May climate overview
Daytime highs across Malta in May run from 20.1°C (Mellieha) to 20.8°C (Qawra). Even in Qawra only 2% of days reach 25°C. Nights average 17.0°C; the coldest 10% of nights in Mellieha fall to 14°C or below.
Rainfall in May
Expect around 1 rainy days (1 mm or more) in May, with Sliema the driest (1 days) and Qawra the wettest (2 days). The wettest May at Qawra between 1991 and 2020 was 1992 with 34 mm; the driest was 1994 with 0 mm.
Sea temperature
The sea averages 18.6°C around Malta in May - warmest at Sliema (18.6°C). That is bracing: fine for a dip, cool for long swims.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 10.0 hours of sunshine a day on average, out of 13.9 hours of daylight (sunshine estimated from cloud cover).
May against the rest of the year in Malta
May is the 6th warmest month of the twelve in Malta. It is 3.2°C warmer than April and 3.9°C warmer in June. The hottest month here is August (28°C) and the coolest February (14°C).
Which part of Malta in May?
- Most sunshine: Qawra, 10.0 h a day.
- Driest: Sliema, about 1 rainy days.
- Warmest sea: Sliema, 19°C.
- Hottest: Qawra, 21°C by day.
- Coolest (better for walking and cities): Mellieha, 20°C.
What to pack for Malta in May
Based on the averages: light layers - warm in the sun, cooler in the shade; a light jumper for evenings (17°C at night); swimwear if you do not mind a bracing 19°C sea.
Similar weather elsewhere in May
Within 1.5°C of Malta's May daytime average: Budva (22°C, sea 19°C), Florence (22°C), Rhodes (22°C, sea 20°C), Tenerife (22°C, sea 20°C), Tokyo (22°C, sea 18°C). See the full ranking for May.
What to expect during the day
Pack light clothes for daytime, but leave room for a layer when the sun goes down. Strong heat is not the usual pattern: even in Qawra, the hottest destination listed, just 2% of days exceed 25°C. That makes May a sensible choice if high temperatures tend to limit how much time you spend outside. Sunshine still calls for sun cream, a hat and shade when you need it, even when the air feels mild. Malta averages 1 rainy day in May, so rain is unlikely to be the main constraint on your plans. Keep some flexibility rather than treating the low rain figure as a promise of dry weather.
Which part of Malta should you choose?
Sliema has a slight edge if you want warmer air without choosing the coolest sea: its daytime average is 21°C, with water at 19°C and 1 rainy day. Qawra matches that daytime warmth, but its sea averages 18°C and it has 2 rainy days. Valletta is a little cooler by day at 20°C, while matching Sliema for sea temperature and rainy days. Mellieha averages 20°C by day and 16°C at night, with an 18°C sea and 2 rainy days. These are modest differences, not reasons to overhaul your plans. For swimming, Sliema and Valletta have the warmer figures, though neither offers genuinely warm water.
A little more detail
Malta in May FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Where is the hottest place in Malta in May?
Qawra is the warmest of the 4 places we track in Malta in May with an average high of 20.8°C; Mellieha is the coolest at 20.1°C.
Is the sea warm in Malta in May?
Not really: the warmest sea we track in Malta in May is 18.6°C at Sliema, below the 22°C most people find comfortable.
Is Malta warmer than London in May?
Yes. Malta averages 20°C by day in May, compared with 17°C in London. Expect a milder daytime feel rather than intense heat; Qawra and Sliema are slightly warmer still, each averaging 21°C.
Will I need a jacket in the evening?
A light jacket or jumper is sensible for evenings outdoors. Night-time averages are 17°C in Qawra, Sliema and Valletta, and 16°C in Mellieha. Pack a layer even if you expect to wear light clothes during the day.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming?
That depends on your tolerance for cool water. Sea temperatures average 19°C in Sliema and Valletta, and 18°C in Qawra and Mellieha. Swimming may suit you if you do not mind a cool dip, but do not expect warm water.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at 4 destination points.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