A complete guide to Prague weather in May 2026 + What to wear
May is a great time to come and visit Prague since the weather is getting warmer with each week and there is plenty of day light to get all your sight seeing done.
I love spending time in Prague in May, because everything is in full bloom, the parks are filled with spring bulb flowers and the wonderfully scented lilac trees.
Whilst Prague is getting busy, it’s still not as busy as in summer, so it’s a perfect time to visit if you want to avoid the crowds.
Most of the time, May in Prague has mild to warm temperatures. Average high temperatures range from 17°C (63°F) to 20°C (68°F), and average low temperatures range from 8°C (46°F) to 11°C (52°F). Rainfall averages between 68mm (2.7 inches) to 88mm (3.5 inches) for the month, spread over roughly 15 days.
The weather in May can slightly overlap with April weather, so make sure you check my practical weather guide for that month too.
READ MORE
Is May a good month to visit Prague, weather wise?
Yes, most definitely! The weather is much warmer and the days are longer than in previous months.
I like that there is daylight until nearly 8-9 pm, which means I can pack even more things to see into my day.
I think, that even if you have only one day in Prague, it’s enough time to see the main attractions, walk around the centre and have a fabulous day out.
May is just outside the main tourist season, which means there are fewer people around (and it’s easier to avoid the crowds in the centre) and it should be easier to book your accommodation.
Early May is also a great time to visit as some tourist attractions and places that are not usually open to the public are open for free for the Czech national holidays.
What is the weather like in May?
Prague is located in the west part of the Czech Republic, which is surrounded by higher hills and mountains. Because of that, the weather can be quite stable and there is not as much wind as for example in London.
If I wanted to be flippant, I would say, that it’s the first month of spring where you can be sure that there won’t be any snowfall. At least not in Prague! But, seriously… Most days in May are very warm (up to 14 C in the shade, but much warmer in the sun), but you’ll still need a second layer in the morning.
It also doesn’t rain as much as in March and April (there is about 8 days of rain on average), so all around its great weather for visiting.
If you don’t like hot weather, May is the last month before autumn I would suggest for your Prague visit.
After that, especially in July and August, Prague turns into a hot furnace! The summer weather in Prague can be very hot with quite a few heat waves – especially in the last 2-3 years, we have had really hot summers.
How the weather changes in May
In May, the weather continues to warm up. At the beginning of May, temperatures are generally mild, with daytime highs averaging around 17°C (63°F) and night time lows around 8°C (46°F). As the month progresses, the weather becomes even warmer, with daytime temperatures often reaching 20°C (68°F) or higher by the end of May.
What it means is that you might start the month needing a light jacket in the morning and evening, but by the end of May, you could be comfortable in short sleeves during the day and needing just a light jumper or another light layer in the morning and evening.
Rainfall is still a possibility in May, but it tends to be less frequent and intense compared to earlier in the spring. You might experience a few rainy days, but it doesn’t usually rain all the time, you also get plenty of sunny and partly cloudy days.
Average Temperatures in May
In May, we usually have mild to warm temperatures as spring transitions into early summer. This means that the day temperatures could be as low as 10 Celsius on some days and as high as 20 C during the later part of the May.
The night temperatures (and early mornings) can be anything from 5-7 C to 10 Celsius, so it can still feel quite cold. The ground is still cold from the winter and the sun doesn’t have enough time to warm the soil during the day.
- Average High Temperature: The average high temperature ranges from about 17°C (63°F) at the beginning of May to around 20°C (68°F) by the end of the month.
- Average Low Temperature: The average low temperature typically ranges from about 8°C (46°F) early in the month to around 11°C (52°F) towards the end of May.
- Overall Average Temperature: The overall average temperature for May is approximately 14°C (57°F).
Day light during May
At the beginning of May, the day light starts from about 5.40 am and the sun set is around 20.20 pm.
By the middle of May, this changes to day light appearing shortly after 5.15 am and the sunset is around 20.40 pm.
By the end of the of May, the sun rises at 5 am and the sunset is at 9 pm.
This means that by the end of May you have just over 16 hrs of a day light to explore Prague!
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 1 | 05:38 | 20:22 | 14h 44m |
| May 2 | 05:36 | 20:24 | 14h 48m |
| May 3 | 05:34 | 20:25 | 14h 51m |
| May 4 | 05:32 | 20:27 | 14h 55m |
| May 5 | 05:30 | 20:28 | 14h 58m |
| May 6 | 05:29 | 20:30 | 15h 01m |
| May 7 | 05:27 | 20:31 | 15h 04m |
| May 8 | 05:25 | 20:33 | 15h 08m |
| May 9 | 05:23 | 20:34 | 15h 11m |
| May 10 | 05:21 | 20:36 | 15h 15m |
| May 11 | 05:20 | 20:37 | 15h 17m |
| May 12 | 05:18 | 20:38 | 15h 20m |
| May 13 | 05:16 | 20:40 | 15h 24m |
| May 14 | 05:15 | 20:41 | 15h 26m |
| May 15 | 05:13 | 20:43 | 15h 30m |
| May 16 | 05:11 | 20:44 | 15h 33m |
| May 17 | 05:10 | 20:45 | 15h 35m |
| May 18 | 05:08 | 20:47 | 15h 39m |
| May 19 | 05:07 | 20:48 | 15h 41m |
| May 20 | 05:05 | 20:49 | 15h 44m |
| May 21 | 05:04 | 20:51 | 15h 47m |
| May 22 | 05:02 | 20:52 | 15h 50m |
| May 23 | 05:01 | 20:53 | 15h 52m |
| May 24 | 05:00 | 20:54 | 15h 54m |
| May 25 | 04:58 | 20:56 | 15h 58m |
| May 26 | 04:57 | 20:57 | 16h 00m |
| May 27 | 04:56 | 20:58 | 16h 02m |
| May 28 | 04:54 | 20:59 | 16h 05m |
| May 29 | 04:53 | 21:00 | 16h 07m |
| May 30 | 04:52 | 21:02 | 16h 10m |
| May 31 | 04:51 | 21:03 | 16h 12m |
Average sunny days in Prague
The good news is that May can also be quite sunny and certainly it is the best month from the spring weather months.
Average Number of Sunny Days: Prague on average has about 7 to 8 sunny days in May. These are days with mostly clear skies and plenty of sunshine.
Partly Sunny Days: In addition to the fully sunny days, there are usually around 10 to 12 partly sunny days. These days have a mix of sun and clouds, but you won’t usually need your umbrella.
Average Sunshine Hours: On average, Prague receives about 7 to 8 hours of sunshine per day in May, contributing to a total of approximately 220 to 240 sunshine hours for the month.
How much does it rain in Prague in May?
The end of the spring can be still quite rainy and when it rains the temperature also drops slightly.
If you notice that sky is clouding over and starts getting windy you can usually expect the rain will be more persistent and perhaps slightly lighter. It will, however last much longer, so it’s wise to revise your plans for indoor activities or at least wear good sturdy shoes and pack a rain jacket or an umbrella.
We also get spring showers with a quick downpour of rain, after which the sun will come out again, so you really need to be prepared for everything! These are usually over a lot quicker and then you can carry on with your sightseeing.
The only problem with these is that unless you run somewhere indoors, umbrellas are not particularly useful. When you get a downpour, the streets might get flooded quickly and then it’ feels like it’s raining from underneath!
The average rain fall in Prague during May
The average rainfall in Prague during spring is moderate, but May is the month with the highest rainfall on average although in the last few years, the actual figures were much lower, than years before.
Average Monthly Rainfall: The average rainfall in May is around 68mm (2.7 inches) to 88mm (3.5 inches).
Average Number of Rainy Days: May typically has about 15 days with some form of precipitation, meaning roughly half the month can have rainy weather.
Rainfall Intensity: Rainfall in May can vary from light showers to occasional heavy downpours, although prolonged periods of rain are less common.
How to read the local weather forecast
The local weather forecast uses Celsius (not Fahrenheit) and the temperature given is measured (or predicted) in the shade. This means that if the weather forecast mentions 15 C, it can be easily 20 C in the sun.
This is quite a big difference, so if you see anything over 15 C in a weather forecast, you know that the weather will be pleasantly warm and you might not even need a second layer if it’s sunny day.
Parks, greenery and nature: What to expect in May
In May, everything is finally in a full bloom, which makes it one of the most beautiful times to visit the city.
The parks and gardens are full of colourful flowers and finally all the trees and shrubs have lovely new green leaves. The Petřín Hill is covered with blooming fruit trees, The Royal Garden at Prague Castle has great displays of tulips, daffodils, and other spring flowers in full bloom and Vojanovy Sady have pink flowering apple and pear trees.
Letná Park and Stromovka Park are full of mature trees and their shade is perfect for relaxing walk or a picnic. You can also see lilac shrubs flowering on the streets and parks, filling the air with their sweet fragrance.
The Vltava River Islands are also great places for sitting in the shade of the tall trees and watching the ducks and swans swimming along the riverbanks.
Spring hay fever allergies
If you suffer from hay fever allergies, then spring in Prague can be challenging as most fruit and other trees flower during this season.
Prague parks and gardens are always well maintained, which means that the grass is regularly cut and the weeds taken out. Most parks and gardens, therefore should be fine for you to visit if you suffer from mild hay fever caused by grass, but do be prepared to have an alternative plan in case there are flowering plants or trees that are too strong for you.
If you forget your hay fever medication, or need some, any pharmacy will be able to help you. Not all pharmacists speak English, but if you visit a large pharmacy like the one in the Main Train Station, they might have staff on duty who speak English. Most hay fever medication is also international, so you might recognise the type of medication you normally take.
In Czech language hay fever is ‘senna ryma’, in case you need to make yourself understood in Czech.
The main trees and plants that are flowering in May, that can cause ellergic reactions, include birch, oak,ash, grass and dandelions.
What to pack for your visit to Prague in May
Although the weather is getting warmer, I always find that I need at least two layers. On occasion, you might be fine with a t-shirt, but a jumper, light jacket or a fleece as a second layer is necessary in the morning or evening.
It’s often warm enough to wear dresses, although you might like to pack a pair of tights too (to keep warm). I tend to wear shorter dresses with leggings which most of the time is just the perfect combination of being warm and not having a long dress to walk around in.
I always wear comfortable walking shoes (mainly trainers or leather boots, as these are a bit more waterproof) as it’s still a little cold from the ground up (and you have cobbled stones everywhere…). If I do wear flat shoes (fashion, I know…) I add a walking shoe insole, so I still get plenty of support when I walk.
A light rain jacket (or an umbrella) is also useful to have as the weather can change quickly during the day and I can never be without a scarf!
When I’m heading for a day trip from Prague I usually catch a very early train, so I always pack extra layers with me, including warm leggings and fleece hat.
READ MORE
Historic weather data for Prague in May
I always find it fascinating to find out more about the historic weather data and May is no different.
Hottest Day: One of the hottest recorded days in May in Prague was on May 30, 2005, when temperatures reached around 31°C (88°F) – that’s measured in the shade. Such unusually warm days are rare but can occur towards the end of the month.
Coldest Day: One of the coldest recorded days in May was on May 4, 1991, when temperatures dropped to around -1°C (30°F) during the night. Early May can occasionally still experience late frost, although it is uncommon.
Snow: Snowfall in May is extremely rare in Prague. However, there have been exceptional cases of late snow flurries, such as in early May 1953, when a brief cold snap brought unexpected snow.
Rain: May often sees significant rainfall. For example, on May 16, 2010, Prague experienced a heavy rainstorm that brought about 40mm (1.6 inches) of rain in a single day. May is generally one of the wetter months, with frequent showers and occasional thunderstorms.
This blog post was originally written on 29 April 2025 and last updated on 24 January 2026
