Zurich · SpringMonth summary
Zurich weather in May
✅ Good
🌡️ Temperature min / max
8°C – 18°C
🌧 Rainy days
56% of days
☀️ Sunshine
11.8h per day on average
🌊 🌊 Season
Spring
⭐ ⭐ Weather score
7.0/10
📅 📅 Best month
August (7.9/10)
Quick decision
Should you visit Zurich in May?
✅ Good
✅ Yes if: you're willing to accept showers in exchange for lower prices and fewer tourists.
❌ No if: you're planning 100% outdoor activities — rain is frequent.
Our take: Zurich in May: 18°C and 11.8h of sunshine. Decent, but not the peak.
By trip type
Zurich 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
🎯 Cultural sites less crowded than peak season — more enjoyable visits Spring marks the start of the good season in Zurich. Temperatures rise (18°C) and tourists have not yet arrived en masse. With 56% of rainy days, always have indoor alternatives planned. Not the best window, but acceptable if dates are constrained. August (7.9/10) is significantly better if possible.
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All months for Zurich
Annual table
Month-by-month comparison
| Month | Min °C | Max °C | Rain % | Precip mm | Sun h/d | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌨️ January | -2°C | 4°C | 45% | 3.3 | 5.3h | 2.4/10 |
| 🌦️ February | -1°C | 7°C | 41% | 2.5 | 7.3h | 4.0/10 |
| 🌦️ March | 1°C | 10°C | 41% | 2.3 | 9.4h | 4.7/10 |
| 🌦️ April | 4°C | 15°C | 41% | 3.0 | 11.6h | 7.0/10 |
| 🌦️ May | 8°C | 18°C | 56% | 4.4 | 11.8h | 7.0/10 |
| 🌦️ June | 14°C | 24°C | 50% | 4.2 | 13.2h | 7.7/10 |
| 🌤️ July | 15°C | 25°C | 50% | 4.4 | 13.3h | 7.7/10 |
| 🌤️ August | 15°C | 25°C | 40% | 4.0 | 12.4h | 7.9/10 |
| 🌤️ September | 12°C | 20°C | 41% | 3.3 | 10.5h | 7.2/10 |
| ⛅ October | 8°C | 15°C | 37% | 3.0 | 8.2h | 6.0/10 |
| 🌦️ November | 2°C | 8°C | 43% | 3.3 | 5.9h | 4.0/10 |
| 🌦️ December | -1°C | 5°C | 46% | 3.2 | 4.6h | 2.1/10 |
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, Zurich averages 18°C, 56% rainy days and 11.8h of sunshine per day. Overall weather score: 7.0/10.
See methodology →
Comparison
May vs August (best month)
The best month is August (score 7.9/10). Difference:
- 🌡️ Max temperature : +7°C
- 🌧 Rainy days : -16%
- ☀️ Sunshine : +0.6h/day
FAQ
FAQ — Zurich in May
Is May a good time to visit Zurich?
May is an acceptable time for Zurich (score 7.0/10). Conditions are decent but not optimal — consider August (7.9/10) if possible.
Does it rain a lot in Zurich in May?
Yes, 56% of days see rain in May. Plan some indoor activities as backup.
Accommodation
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