Italy
Florence in May
🌷 SpringPleasant and some showers.
🎒 Pack: sunglasses & hat
Why May scores 9.4What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort9.5
- ✓Comfortable temperatures (24°C highs / 12°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point 10.7°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~63 mm rain)
- Air quality9.4
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~9 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline7.5
- ·Increased caution
| May | Sep | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.4 Excellent | 9.6 Excellent |
| Season | 🌷 Spring | 🍂 Autumn |
| High / low | 24° / 12° | 27° / 15° |
| Rain | 63 mm | 67 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 11° | dew pt 13° |
| PM2.5 | 9 µg/m³ | 6 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Florence weather-station normals. Rainfall: Florence weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsMay 2027
No long holidaysNo long public-holiday weekends this month. School holidays aren't counted, so check those if you want to avoid family crowds.
Other public holidays: Labor Day (1 May)
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore FlorenceEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyThe capital of Tuscany and birthplace of the Renaissance, with world-class art museums, the Duomo and a compact historic centre.
Maggio Musicale FiorentinoDate variesUsually spring into early summer
One of Italy's oldest music festivals, with opera, concerts and ballet.
Why go: Good for visitors interested in classical music and opera.
Where: Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
Coming up later
Feast of San Giovanni and Calcio Storico finalEvery year24 June every year
The feast of Florence's patron saint, marked by the final of the historic, very rough Renaissance-costume football tournament and fireworks.
Why go: Calcio Storico tickets are limited, and the earlier matches are held on other days in June.
Where: Piazza Santa Croce and the city centre
Scoppio del Carro (Explosion of the Cart)Date variesEaster Sunday - date moves each year
A decorated cart packed with fireworks is set off in front of the cathedral, a tradition said to bring a good harvest.
Why go: Arrive early to get a view; the square fills up quickly.
Where: Piazza del Duomo
Uffizi Gallery
One of the great art museums, with works by Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael.
💡 Book a timed ticket in advance to avoid long queues.
Florence Cathedral (Duomo)
The cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, crowned by Brunelleschi's dome, with Giotto's bell tower and the Baptistery beside it.
💡 Climbing the dome requires a pre-booked time slot.
Galleria dell'Accademia
Home of Michelangelo's David and his unfinished Prisoners sculptures.
💡 Booking ahead is strongly recommended.
Ponte Vecchio
A medieval bridge over the Arno lined with jewellers' shops.
Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens
A former Medici palace with several museums and large formal Renaissance gardens behind it.
Piazzale Michelangelo
A hillside square with a panoramic view of the city, popular at sunset.
Bistecca alla fiorentina
A thick T-bone steak, grilled and served rare, usually priced by weight and shared.
Lampredotto
Slow-cooked tripe served in a bread roll with green sauce, Florence's classic street food.
💡 Tripe kiosks around the centre and Mercato Centrale
Ribollita
A thick Tuscan bread and vegetable soup with cavolo nero.
Pappa al pomodoro
A tomato and bread soup with garlic, basil and olive oil.
Schiacciata
Flat Tuscan bread with olive oil and salt, often filled as a sandwich.
💡 Sandwich shops (alimentari) in the centre
Leather goods
Bags, belts, wallets and gloves from Florence's long leather-working tradition.
💡 Santa Croce area and San Lorenzo market
Marbled paper
Hand-marbled paper, notebooks and stationery, a traditional Florentine craft.
💡 Stationery and bookbinding shops
Chianti wine
Red wine from the hills between Florence and Siena.
💡 Wine shops (enoteche)
Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
Perfumes, soaps and herbal products from a centuries-old pharmacy founded by Dominican friars.
💡 Via della Scala