Lyon · SpringMonth summary
Lyon weather in May
✅ Good
🌡️ Temperature min / max
11°C – 20°C
🌧 Rainy days
40% of days
☀️ Sunshine
12.2h per day on average
🌊 🌊 Season
Spring
⭐ ⭐ Weather score
7.4/10
📅 📅 Best month
July (9.0/10)
Quick decision
Should you visit Lyon in May?
✅ Good
✅ Yes if: you want to explore the city on foot without suffering from heat.
❌ No if: you're looking for a beach destination — water and air are still cool.
Our take: Lyon in May: 20°C and 12.2h of sunshine. Decent, but not the peak.
By trip type
Lyon in May by trip type
- 🏙️ 🏙️ City break / culture : ✅ Good
- 🚶 🚶 Outdoor activities : ⚠️ Possible
- 🏖️ Beach / swimming : — No sea access
- 💰 💰 Budget : 🌿 Shoulder
Local context
What to expect in May
🎯 Open terraces and outdoor markets — best season for al fresco dining Spring marks the start of the good season in Lyon. Temperatures rise (20°C) and tourists have not yet arrived en masse. Expect rain on 40% of days — a light raincoat in the bag is recommended. Not the best window, but acceptable if dates are constrained. July (9.0/10) is significantly better if possible.
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All months for Lyon
Annual table
Month-by-month comparison
| Month | Min °C | Max °C | Rain % | Precip mm | Sun h/d | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌦️ January | 1°C | 7°C | 40% | 2.0 | 5.1h | 3.7/10 |
| 🌫️ February | 2°C | 11°C | 30% | 1.6 | 7.7h | 5.1/10 |
| ⛅ March | 4°C | 13°C | 38% | 2.3 | 9.7h | 5.7/10 |
| ⛅ April | 7°C | 17°C | 31% | 2.2 | 11.3h | 7.1/10 |
| 🌤️ May | 11°C | 20°C | 40% | 3.1 | 12.2h | 7.4/10 |
| 🌤️ June | 16°C | 26°C | 36% | 2.9 | 13.4h | 8.3/10 |
| 🌤️ July | 17°C | 28°C | 27% | 2.1 | 13.7h | 9.0/10 |
| ☀️ August | 17°C | 29°C | 21% | 1.8 | 12.6h | 8.7/10 |
| 🌤️ September | 13°C | 23°C | 24% | 2.3 | 10.9h | 8.0/10 |
| 🌤️ October | 10°C | 18°C | 31% | 3.2 | 8.4h | 7.1/10 |
| 🌦️ November | 5°C | 11°C | 41% | 2.9 | 6.3h | 4.2/10 |
| 🌦️ December | 2°C | 8°C | 38% | 2.6 | 5.0h | 4.0/10 |
Ideal
Fair
Challenging climate
◀ Current month · Source Open-Meteo · 10 years
📊 Data source
Data based on 10 years of ERA5 records via Open-Meteo, with ECMWF seasonal adjustment. In May, Lyon averages 20°C, 40% rainy days and 12.2h of sunshine per day. Overall weather score: 7.4/10.
See methodology →
Comparison
May vs July (best month)
The best month is July (score 9.0/10). Difference:
- 🌡️ Max temperature : +8°C
- 🌧 Rainy days : -13%
- ☀️ Sunshine : +1.5h/day
FAQ
FAQ — Lyon in May
Is May a good time to visit Lyon?
May is an acceptable time for Lyon (score 7.4/10). Conditions are decent but not optimal — consider July (9.0/10) if possible.
What to do in Lyon in May?
With 20°C max and 12.2h of sunshine, focus on cultural sites, museums and local gastronomy.
Accommodation
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Activities & tours
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