It's the nicest month of spring, with plenty of days off at the beginning of the year to make you think about going on a little trip. No need to pack huge suitcases full of warm clothes and shoes, no need to worry about the weather.
One of the best destinations for a short family break is the German capital. Berlin is one of the best cities in Europe to visit with children. Everything has been thought of for young parents and the mischief of children is not taken into account. Spending the May holidays in Berlin is a great idea.
Holidays in Berlin in May: pros and cons
Reviews of May holidays in Berlin vary depending on which time of the month travellers visit the city. But one thing they all agree on is that it's a month of fun and celebration. Berlin in May hosts many cultural events that attract crowds of tourists.
Source: https://kidpassage.com/en/publications/berlin-in-september
But the festivals and celebrations are so well spread out in time and place that they don't make life too difficult for the city's inhabitants.
This is also a good time for tourists to visit Berlin:
- The weather in May is warm and spring-like.
- Throughout the month, there is a succession of fun festivals, making museum visits more varied.
- The festivals are scattered around the city, so it's easier to avoid the crowds.
- Cafes open their terraces to visitors, so you can eat al fresco.
- It's a great time to visit museums and open-air attractions.
To make the most of your holiday, keep the following in mind:
- May is one of the three wettest months of the year, so take a small umbrella and check the weather forecast often.
- Buy a WelcomeCard to save money on sightseeing and public transport.
- Don't stay out until the early hours of the morning during festivals, as there may be a lot of drunken people.
The weather in Berlin in May
The weather in May and June is fairly warm, but the last month of spring can be capricious, bringing thunderstorms and downpours. This is when you can experience May thunderstorms and the smell of ozone.
The weather in early May and during the May holidays allows you to forget about warm jackets and shoes and put on comfortable trainers and windbreakers. Temperatures in Berlin in mid-May reach +18-20°C. Thanks to plenty of sunshine, the air warms up to almost summer-like temperatures. The sun is still gentle and not as scorching as in the summer. The wind is warm and light.
It's a great time to walk around the city.
The weather in Berlin at the end of May can bring a few rainy days. But even after heavy rain, the pavements dry quickly when the sun comes out. A good drainage system throughout the city also helps.
Air and water temperature
Berlin has a fairly pleasant climate for its inhabitants. The city is not subject to strong winds. Wind speeds are about the same all year round at around 4 metres per second. Although May is the third wettest month in Berlin, it doesn't rain very often. Compared to other European cities, a moderate amount of rainfall is typical for the three days of the month.
Temperatures in Berlin in May are ideal for a number of outdoor festivals. Nobody is afraid of getting chilly or cold, and the gentle spring sun is still at its peak.
May is therefore the best time to travel, especially with children.
Air temperature in Berlin in May
The average temperature in Berlin in May is around +18-19°C and the average night temperature is around +10°C. The historical average temperature rises by only 4°C during the month: while the daily average for May 1st is +16°C, the average for May 31st is +20°C.
This means that big temperature swings aren't common in Berlin in May, and you can plan your travel clothing accordingly. The most common temperatures in recent years have been around +19°C in the first half of the month and +23°C in the second half.
Amount of precipitation
Rainfall in May is about 30% more frequent than in April and about 20-25% less frequent than in June. July, June and May are, in descending order, the wettest months of the year. While the summer months are punctuated by almost daily sunshine, the month of May is characterised by 3 days of heavy rainfall, rather than a short-term whim of the weather.
The average rainfall for the month is 42.8mm. The thundery sky, the lightning flashing outside the window and the smell of ozone in the air add to the charm of these days.
Sunny, cloudy and overcast days
Three rainy days in May make up for about twelve days of sunny weather. Unless the sky is cloudy for a few days, temperatures can reach summer levels.
On average, May has 40% sunny days, 33% cloudy and 27% overcast. There are plenty of good weather days to enjoy Berlin's many festivals and to spend as much time as possible outdoors, enjoying the newfound warmth and sunshine of spring.
Tour holidays
Full of interesting museums and sights, Berlin has something to surprise and delight travellers. The war left a trail of destruction in its wake, but the meticulous Germans have done their best to restore what they can.
The landmark of Berlin is the Brandenburg Gate. It's a good place to start a sightseeing tour of the city. At the beginning of May, they look magnificent in the sunlight, as if inviting tourists to admire their majestic beauty. Then there are the remains of the Berlin Wall — 155km long and 4.1m high! Nowadays there are only a few graffiti-covered remnants.
The Museum Island in the city centre deserves special attention. Here you can escape the weather in mid-May and have a great time. You'll find five museums, each with fascinating artefacts from around the world.
The most popular exhibit is the Pergamon Altar in the Pergamon Museum. In fact, the museum itself was built to house the altar; Berlin couldn't find a suitable building for the massive structure. Hence the museum's name.
The Pergamon Altar is of such impressive proportions that visitors to the museum rest peacefully on its steps. The museum also has the Ishtar Gate and Processional Way from ancient Babylon, the Aleppo Room from Syria, a frieze from the Mshatu Palace in Jordan and the Miletus Market Gate from Rome.
Fans of ancient Egypt will be fascinated by the most valuable exhibit, the bust of Nefertiti, which the Egyptian authorities are still trying to recover. The near-espionage story of how the bust of the beautiful queen was brought to Berlin has captivated historians and caused international scandal.
Art lovers should visit the Berlin Art Gallery to see paintings by Rubens, Titian, Caravaggio and the largest collection of Rembrandt paintings in the world. In late May, take a walk through one of the palace parks in Charlottenburg, Ephraim, Köpenick and Potsdam.
There is also plenty to do for the little ones in Berlin. Here are some of the best.
- Berlin's zoo is the world's number one zoo in terms of animal species. It is advisable to take a whole day to visit it.
- At the Museum of Natural History, children are fascinated by the skeletons of extinct lizards. The dinosaur exhibit and the stuffed mammoth are the most popular exhibits at the museum.
- The Labyrinth Museum invites children from 3 years of age to learn about science in a playful way.
- The Technology Museum is particularly appealing to boys, where they can experiment with all the machines available, take them apart and try to reassemble them.
Holidays, events and festivals
Berlin's festivals in May are like a sip of freshly squeezed juice. They're as juicy and vibrant as exotic fruits. On the first of the month, Berlin and the whole of Germany celebrate May Day. There are markets all over the city offering fun and food.
It also coincides with Workers' Solidarity Day, and it is not uncommon to see rallies and speeches by trade unionists or politicians in the streets.
Tourists should stay away from such events because they sometimes end in clashes.
In the second week of May, Berlin hosts the Jazz and Improvisation Music Festival, where you can discover new musical trends and hear young performers. The city then plays host to one of the biggest events of the year, the Berlin Carnival of Cultures. Stages are set up in the streets and stars of all kinds perform. It's a celebration of self-expression — and everyone is welcome to join in.
The festival lasts four days and ends with a colourful parade of national minorities. Young travellers will particularly enjoy this parade. The month culminates in the Berlin Festival of Contemporary Music and Urban Culture. This huge event attracts many participants, young musicians and people who just want to have fun, dance and eat.
Shopping
Berlin has many shopping malls to suit all tastes and budgets. German shops are renowned for the quality of their textiles. For bargains, it's worth visiting after Christmas or at the end of July, when discounts of up to 80% are available.
Look out for children's clothes and shoes — natural materials, soft leather and flexible soles are much more expensive here. And this is where the low price of children's clothing is successfully combined with high quality.
Cost of vacation
Prices in Berlin in May are by no means low, as many events attract a lot of tourists. Demand creates supply and prices rise slightly.
Airfares
Airfares will drop by the end of the month. In the meantime, they are literally 5% cheaper than in April, which was the most expensive flight of the year.
Hotels
Hotel prices rise significantly in May (about 50% more than in April). This is mainly due to the May holidays and the many festivals. In June, however, hotel prices fall again.
Food
The nice thing about festival days is that you can get a decent meal on the street, whereas a normal restaurant would cost at least 25 to 40 euros for lunch and around 80-100 euros for dinner for two.
Tips for parents
The cold weather is long behind us and the last month of spring is full of exciting events and surprises. May is a great month to take children of all ages on a trip — there is no better weather than in Berlin.
While parents tend to spend their summer holidays at the seaside, May is the perfect time for sightseeing, especially as Berlin has a lot to offer for all ages.
Come to Berlin in May and see for yourself. And if you haven't decided where to stay yet, check out our collection of family hotels and apartments to suit every traveller's needs.
