In Florence the afternoon high reaches 76°F (24°C), warm enough for the Medici gardens and a hill walk.
Nights still cool down to the low 50s°F, and rain has not gone away. The big dates cluster late in the month: the Cantine Aperte weekend and the start of the Lari Cherry Festival.
At a glance
- Afternoon high: 76°F (24°C) in Florence, 73°F (23°C) in Siena
- Night low: 53°F (12°C) in both cities
- Rainy days: 8 in Florence and 8 in Siena
- Daylight: 14 hours 42 minutes in Florence on May 15
- Cantine Aperte: last weekend of May
- Cherry Festival in Lari: late May to early June
What is the weather like in Tuscany in May?
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rain | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | 68°F (20°C) | 47°F (8°C) | 2.6 in (67 mm) | 9 |
| May | 76°F (24°C) | 53°F (12°C) | 2.5 in (63 mm) | 8 |
| June | 84°F (29°C) | 61°F (16°C) | 1.8 in (45 mm) | 5 |
*Long-term monthly averages.*
May is pleasantly warm in the two cities the weather facts cover. Florence reaches 76°F (24°C) in the afternoon and falls to 53°F (12°C) at night. Siena runs a little cooler, at 73°F (23°C) by day and the same 53°F (12°C) overnight.
Both cities see about eight rainy days in the month, which means roughly one day in four. A light rain jacket covers it. Plan the outdoor sights for mornings and keep a museum in reserve for a wet afternoon.
Compared with April, Florence gains about 8 degrees in the afternoon, and April brings one more rainy day. June adds another 9 degrees or so, with Florence down to about five rainy days. May sits in the middle: warm enough for lunch outside, without the heat of June.
Where to go in Tuscany in May
Florence and the Medici villas
Florence has a high of 76°F (24°C) this month. The Boboli Gardens are among the 12 Medici villas on the UNESCO World Heritage list, and Villa La Petraia has flowering terraces. Spend a morning in the gardens and keep the afternoon for Palazzo Pitti, which houses five museums.
Siena
Siena is a little cooler, with a high of 73°F (23°C), so walking between sights is comfortable. The Allegory of Good and Bad Government is in the Palazzo Pubblico, and visitors can also see the Hall of Nine. Both sit under one roof, so they fit into a single visit.
San Gimignano
San Gimignano has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1990. Its Civic Museums are three: Town Hall, Picture Gallery and Great Tower; Church of San Lorenzo in Ponte; and Complesso Museale di Santa Chiara. With three sites to see, it makes a full day.
Val d’Orcia
The tourist area covers five municipalities: Castiglione d’Orcia, Montalcino, Pienza, Radicofani and San Quirico d’Orcia. The Eroica gravel route also passes through, along with the Chianti hills and the Crete Senesi. Choose one or two of the five towns and give each a slow visit.
Maremma Regional Park
The park is on the coast. Mild spring days suit exploring on foot, by bike or on horseback. Coastal parks also offer trekking, canoeing and snorkeling in protected seabeds.
What to do in Tuscany in May
Cantine Aperte on the last weekend of May
On the last weekend of the month, wineries across Tuscany open their cellars to visitors for tastings under the Cantine Aperte (Open Cellars) event.
Pick a single area for the Cantine Aperte weekend and visit a few cellars there. The Chianti Sculpture Park in Castelnuovo Berardenga, in Chianti, makes a good break between tastings.
Flower festivals in Logarghena and Lucignano
The Daffodil Festival is held in early May in Logarghena. In Lucignano, the Maggiolata sees the village’s four districts compete with floats decorated with fresh flowers.
The Cherry Festival in Lari
From late May to early June, Lari holds its annual Cherry Festival. Lari is one of the inland villages awarded the Bandiera Arancione.
The festival runs into June, so the last week of May works well. The Cantine Aperte weekend falls in the same stretch, and one trip can cover both.
Valdambra Festival of the Regions, May 16 and 17
It belongs to the Valdambra events program 2026, a program that runs from April 25 to November 30.
Walking the Maremma Park to San Rabano
The Maremma Park walking route to San Rabano takes 5 hours and covers about 6 miles (9.6 km). Start in the morning to have the whole day, and carry water.
With 14 hours 42 minutes of daylight in mid-May, a full day on the trail still leaves room for a relaxed return.
Is Tuscany busy in May?
Lodging in Tuscany ranges widely. Examples include an agriturismo in Asciano, apartments in Casale Marittimo, a campsite, and a 400 sqm farmhouse split into 4 apartments with up to 15 beds.
Many places charge a stay tax, up to 5 euros per night. Lucca applies it for up to three consecutive nights, Greve in Chianti for up to 7 nights, and Casole d’Elsa for the first 5 days. Montespertoli charges 1.00 to 1.50 euro per person per day for short-term rentals.
What to pack for Tuscany in May
May asks for layers: warm afternoons, cool evenings and a shower now and then.
- A light sweater or jacket for evenings, with lows of 53°F (12°C) in May.
- A compact rain jacket for the eight or so rainy days in the month
- Comfortable walking shoes for the Maremma route and for hill towns
- A small daypack with water for the 5-hour San Rabano walk
- Sun protection for long days outdoors, with 14 hours 42 minutes of daylight
What to know before visiting Tuscany in May
Palazzo Pitti houses five museums, so give it more than a quick visit. Villa medicea della Petraia has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2013. Check opening hours before you go.
In Siena, the Museo Civico offers a free audioguide app in Italian, English, French, German and Italian sign language. Tuscany’s regional list of tourist localities and art cities has 272 municipalities, so the stay tax rules differ from town to town.
Is May a good time to visit Tuscany?
Yes, May is a good time to visit Tuscany, especially for travelers who want gardens, walks, wine and village festivals in mild weather.
Compared with April, May is about 8 degrees warmer and a little drier in Florence. Compared with June, it’s about 9 degrees cooler and has a few more rainy days. Shifting four weeks either way changes the temperature more than the program of events.
For festivals, choose by half of the month.
Sources
- visittuscany.com (https://www.visittuscany.com//en/ideas/top-things-to-do-in-tuscany-in-spring/), checked 2026-10-30
- comune.casale-marittimo.pi.it (https://comune.casale-marittimo.pi.it/it/page/115086), checked 2026-10-30
- ncei.noaa.gov (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/wmo-climate-normals), checked 2026-10-30
- comune.montespertoli.fi.it (https://www.comune.montespertoli.fi.it/Servizi/Imposta-di-Soggiorno), checked 2026-10-30
- toscanapromozione.it (https://www.toscanapromozione.it/litinerario-naturalistico-toscano-una-rete-di-percorsi-slow-per-pianificare-le-tue-vacanze-a-bassissima-impronta-ecologica/), checked 2026-10-30
- visittuscany.com (https://www.visittuscany.com/en/ideas/sea-and-wilderness-nature-parks-along-the-tuscan-coast/), checked 2026-10-30
- montecatini.turismo.toscana.it (http://www.montecatini.turismo.toscana.it/borgo_degli_agrumi_eng.php), checked 2026-10-30
- archivio.comune.montecatini-terme.pt.it (https://archivio.comune.montecatini-terme.pt.it/servizi/Menu/dinamica.aspx?idSezione=616&idArea=16293&idCat=16316&ID=24131&TipoElemento=pagina&voto=2), checked 2026-10-30