Your May weather guide
WarmWeather in Costa del Sol in May
May is a good time for the Costa del Sol if you want warm days rather than strong heat, but it is less suited to a swimming-led holiday. Daytime highs average about 22°C, nights fall to around 15°C, and the sea is still cold at 17.2°C. For a UK traveller, that makes it a useful choice for spending time outdoors without relying on hot weather. Pack for cooler evenings and leave room for the occasional wet day.
Long-term climate averages for Malaga, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Costa del Sol, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Malaga.
- Average daytime high
- 21.8°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 25°C
- Average night-time low
- 14.7°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 12°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +5.2°C
- London averages 16.6°C in May
- Sea temperature
- 17.2°C
- year to year: 16°C to 18°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 8.8h
- 63% of 14.0 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 5
- 26 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 68%
- Days over 25°C
- 14%
- 0% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 33.4°C
- 2015-05-14
- Record low 1991-2020
- 4.6°C
- 2018-05-02
- Flight from London
- ≈ 2 h 48 min
- 1639 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 6th warmest month of the year in Costa del Sol. Within Spain it is 48th of 87 (Spain in May). Against London's average high of 16.6°C in May, Costa del Sol is 5.2°C warmer by day and 6.4°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in May
The typical May day in Costa del Sol peaks at 21.8°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 25.4°C or more. Roughly 1 in 7 days top 25°C and 1 in 250 pass 30°C. Nights average 14.7°C; one night in ten drops to 12.0°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 33.4°C (2015-05-14) and the coldest night 4.6°C (2018-05-02).
Rain in May
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 5 days with 1 mm or more, 26 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest May was 1996 with 138 mm, the driest 2019 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 68%.
Sea temperature in May
The sea averages 17.2°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 16.4°C to 18.1°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (23.0°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 8.8 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 14.0 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:10 and sets about 21:18 local time in mid-May. Average cloud cover is 37%.
Is May a good time to visit Costa del Sol?
It is a reasonable choice: warm days. The best months for Costa del Sol on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Warm enough for light clothes, but keep a layer
May's warmth suits travellers who prefer being outdoors without planning everything around intense heat. Light clothes are a sensible daytime starting point, with a jumper or jacket for sitting out after dark. Days reaching 25°C account for 14% of the month, so hotter afternoons are possible but should not be the basis of your plans. At the cooler end, nights can drop to 12°C or below, making an extra layer useful if you feel the cold. Keep sun protection handy even when the air feels mild, and use shade at midday if the afternoon turns warmer than expected.
Plenty of sunshine, with some flexibility needed
With about 8.8 hours of sunshine within 14 hours of daylight, May gives you a generous window for outdoor plans. You can take a relaxed approach to the day rather than trying to fit everything into a short sunny spell. Rain is still part of the picture: about 4 days have measurable rainfall, so a light waterproof is sensible luggage rather than unnecessary caution. Keep your plans flexible enough to swap an outdoor afternoon for time under cover if needed. The overall balance favours a holiday spent outside, but not one that depends on uninterrupted sunshine from arrival to departure.
A little perspective
Costa del Sol 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 | 14.7°C | 8.7°C | 15.1°C | 5.2 | 61 | 8 | 0% |
| February | 15.3°C | 9.0°C | 14.8°C | 6.0 | 52 | 7 | 0% |
| March | 17.0°C | 10.4°C | 15.1°C | 6.4 | 58 | 7 | 1% |
| April | 18.7°C | 12.0°C | 15.8°C | 7.4 | 44 | 7 | 1% |
| MaySelected | 21.8°C | 14.7°C | 17.2°C | 8.8 | 26 | 5 | 14% |
| Junebest | 25.7°C | 18.2°C | 19.3°C | 11.5 | 8 | 1 | 60% |
| Julybest | 28.7°C | 20.9°C | 21.6°C | 12.8 | 1 | 0 | 93% |
| Augustbest | 28.9°C | 21.5°C | 23.0°C | 11.1 | 4 | 1 | 95% |
| September | 25.6°C | 18.9°C | 21.4°C | 8.3 | 27 | 4 | 60% |
| October | 21.9°C | 15.7°C | 19.3°C | 6.1 | 62 | 7 | 12% |
| November | 17.8°C | 12.1°C | 17.2°C | 5.4 | 75 | 7 | 1% |
| December | 15.5°C | 10.0°C | 15.9°C | 4.7 | 77 | 8 | 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
Costa del Sol in May FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Costa del Sol hot in May?
Costa del Sol is warm in May: the average daytime high is 21.8°C and nights average 14.7°C. Roughly 1 in 7 May days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Costa del Sol in May?
The sea around Costa del Sol averages 17.2°C in May, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 16°C to 18°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Costa del Sol in May?
Costa del Sol sees about 5 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 26 mm of rain in a typical May. The wettest May between 1991 and 2020 was 1996 (138 mm) and the driest was 2019 (0 mm).
How sunny is Costa del Sol in May?
Costa del Sol gets around 8.8 hours of sunshine a day in May out of 14.0 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Costa del Sol compare with the UK in May?
Costa del Sol is on average 5.2°C warmer than London by day in May (21.8°C against 16.6°C).
What is the hottest May on record in Costa del Sol?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day in Costa del Sol reached 33.4°C on 2015-05-14, and the coldest night dropped to 4.6°C on 2018-05-02.
Is the sea warm enough to swim in May?
The sea averages 17.2°C, with a year-to-year range of 16°C to 18°C. That is cold rather than comfortable swimming water. A brief dip may suit you if you tolerate cold water, but May is not a strong choice for long, relaxed sea swims.
How much warmer is it than London?
The average daytime high is 21.8°C, compared with 16.6°C in London in May, a difference of 5.2°C. That is a noticeable step up in daytime warmth, though it does not mean every day will feel hot or that evenings need no extra layer.
Should I choose May or wait for summer?
Choose May if comfortable daytime warmth matters more than summer heat and you can accept cold sea water. June, July and August rate more highly overall for weather here. May's appeal is the milder balance, rather than being the strongest month for a heat-focused holiday.
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 Málaga (Malaga). Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 3 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