Rome in May is practically perfect for visiting. The warm, dry weather lends itself to sightseeing and extended outdoor excursions. The days are clear and sunny, but still not as hot and sweltering as the summer months.
It’s a great time for photo shoots and walks in Rome’s many parks – the rains are unlikely to interfere with your plans. And some will even want to bask in the sun near the sea, which is only a 40-minute drive from Rome.
May opens the high season, which means that tickets and hotel prices will be higher than in previous months. Those wishing to visit museums and sights will increase significantly, so tickets, especially to the Borghese Gallery, the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum should be taken care of in advance. It is also better to book excursions in advance to be able to choose a convenient date and time.
Table of Contents:
1. Weather in Rome in May
2. How to Dress in Rome in May
3. Holidays in Rome in May
4. What to Do in Rome in May
1. Weather in Rome in May
May in Rome offers comfortable temperatures and little rainfall. Unlike neighboring April, May in Rome has little rainfall and is usually short-lived. At this time of year, the daylight hours continue to increase to 12 hours.
The eternal city will be drenched in flowers and blossoming trees, which will dispose to long walks and photographic experiments. The sea (and the nearest beaches from Rome are in Ostia) is also starting to warm up gradually, although the water is still quite cool for swimming.
- Average daily temperature in Rome in May: +21°C/70°F
- Maximum daytime temperature in Rome in May: +25°C/77°F
- Minimum daytime temperature in Rome in May: +13°C/55°F
2. How to Dress in Rome in May
Weather in May in The weather in Rome in May will offer plenty of clear, sunny and warm days.
The temperature ranges between 16-17 and 21-22 degrees Celsius, so a light leather or denim jacket will be the best option as outerwear.
May can be hot in the summer, so a water bottle, sunglasses and a hat with a brim will do you good. But don’t rush to pack exceptionally light summer dresses and shorts. While May is warm during the day, the mornings and evenings are still quite chilly.
Grab a sweater and jeans, as well as comfortable closed shoes for walking on the paving stones, and a scarf made of loose fabric. Coats and insulated jackets will definitely no longer be appropriate in May.
In hot weather, remember that exposed shoulders and knees are inappropriate for visiting Vatican museums and churches.
3. Holidays in Rome in May
May 1st – Labor or Workers’ Day / La Festa del Lavoro (or La Festa dei Lavoratori)
Like in many other countries around the world, Italy celebrates Labor Day on May 1. It is an official public holiday and a day off, which this year falls on a Monday. Schools, government offices, post offices, and banks are closed. It is also a non-working day at the Vatican Museums, but attractions such as the Colosseum, Castel Sant’Angelo and the Borghese Gallery are open.
On May 1 Italians prefer to go outdoors and out of town with family or friends, attend concerts and events, have picnics in parks, ride bicycles and scooters. On this day, rallies may be held to defend workers’ rights and improve working conditions. On Piazza San Giovanni near the Lateran Basilica there will be a large-scale free concert with leading Italian pop stars, more details can be found here https://www.primomaggio.net/.
On May 1, expect large crowds at popular attractions and museums open to the public. Many Italians do a “ponte” – “bridge over” – which means they take an extra day or weekend off to have a little vacation. In addition, May 1 is a day off in many other countries, so early May is a popular time for tourists to visit Rome.
May 4-7th – The Race for the Cure
“Race for Cure” is an international event held to draw attention to the fight against breast cancer and promote a healthy lifestyle. The Race for the Cure features a 5km competitive run and a 2km march through the streets of the city center. For more information, visit https://www.raceforthecure.eu/en/.
May 6 – Swearing in of New Recruits to the Vatican’s Swiss Guards
On May 6, recruits to the Swiss Guard will take the oath of allegiance to the Pope and the Holy See. Only young men aged 19 to 30 of Swiss descent and of Catholic faith of at least 1.74 meters in height are accepted into the ranks of the Vatican army.
The ceremony of swearing in the recruits takes place on May 6, because it was on this day in 1527, when Rome was captured and sacked by the imperial army, 147 guardsmen, at the cost of their lives, gave the pontiff and cardinals the opportunity to hide in the Castle of the Holy Angel.
May 13 – Night of Museums in Rome / La Notte dei Musei
On Saturday, May 18, 2024, the “Night of Museums” action will take place in many countries, including Italy. State, municipal and some private museums in Rome are participating in the action. The museums in Rome will be open an additional 3 hours, besides the main opening time: from 8 PM to 2 AM. For example, in Rome, Capitoline Museums, Museo di Roma in Trastevere, Museo Centrale Montemartini, the Ara Pacis Museum, Trajan’s Markets Museum, and the Villa Torlonia Museums, among others.
The entrance fee is a symbolic €1 or free of charge.
May 20-28 (in 2023) – Open House in Rome / Open House Roma
The annual Open House event in Rome allows you to visit places (palaces, studios and even private apartments) and events that are usually closed to the public for free. For a full list of venues and to register, please visit https://www.openhouseroma.org/programma.
As of writing this the information for the 2024 event is not yet available.
May 19th (in 2024) – Pentecost / Pentecoste
Pentecost, the fiftieth day after the feast of Easter, is celebrated on May 19th in the 2024 Catholic calendar. On this day, an extraordinary rain of rose petals (“La pioggia di petali di rose”) can be seen in the Pantheon in Rome. Firefighters climb the dome of the Pantheon and drop thousands of rose petals from the oculus.
On Pentecost, the colors of the priests’ vestments are red, like the color of the petals, recalling the “tongues of fire” of the Holy Spirit that descended on the apostles.
This is an ancient tradition dating back to the early Christians, when the red rose was one of the symbols of the Holy Spirit and the blood shed by the Savior to atone for the sins of mankind.
4. What to Do in Rome in May
Free Museum Admission Days
As part of the “Domenica al Museo” program, many museums, monuments, galleries, archaeological sites, parks, and gardens in Rome offer free entry on the first Sunday of every month.
The Vatican Museums, which are usually closed on Sundays, are open and free to the public on the last Sunday of every month, with opening hours from 9 am to 2 pm, and the last entry at 12:30 pm.
Read our detailed instructions on how to buy Vatican Museums tickets online
Taste Seasonal Roman Products and Dishes
May is the season of legumes. Try the spring version of pasta with peas, mussels and pecorino cheese.
May is the start of the fruit and berry season. For delicious and sweet strawberries and strawberry Prosecco, it is worth traveling to the town of Nemi in the Castelli Romani Regional Park near Rome.
Have a Picnic in One of Rome’s Parks
Rome in May offers plenty of days with clear, sunny weather. Try spending one of them in the same place where the Romans themselves relax – in the lap of nature, in one of Rome’s many parks.
There are many ideas: you can rent bicycles or a whole bicycle car for a family, take a boat ride on a picturesque lake, have a picnic, or delight your children with a visit to the amusement rides (there are some in the Villa Borghese Park).
A list of Rome’s most popular parks:
- Villa Borghese Park
- Villa Doria Pamphili Park
- Villa Torlonia Park
- Villa Celimontana Park
- Park on the Appian Way
- The orange orchard on the Aventine
Go to the Seaside
Few people consider Rome as a city for a beach vacation. However, just 40 minutes away from the Eternal City is the coastline of the Tyrrhenian Sea. You won’t be able to swim yet in May, but spending a nice relaxing day in Ostia, walking along the promenade and enjoying a delicious seafood meal, is quite possible.
Visit Rome’s Public Rose Garden (Roseto Comunale)
The Rose Garden is a green oasis near the historic center of Rome, where 1,100 varieties of roses are planted! But for obvious reasons it is only open 2 months of the year (daily from 08.30 to 19.30, admission is free), so hurry up to see the beauty! In addition, from the Rose Garden you can enjoy a magnificent view of Circo Massimo and the Palatine Hill.
What Else to Do in Rome in May
- Learn the secrets of making delicious Roman pizza at a master class led by a pizzaiolo
- Attend an authentic gladiator school
- Visit the picturesque national park near Rome, Castelli Romani, to enjoy strawberry Prosecco and scenic views of ancient volcanic lakes.
- Walk through the filming locations of movies shot in Rome, visit secret corners and picturesque streets on our unusual tour “The Eternal City and the Magic of Cinema”.
- Visit the Borghese Gallery with a guide and enjoy the works of art without rush and fuss
