May is, for many islanders and repeat visitors, the loveliest all-round month of the year. Warm, dry and settled, with the sea warming steadily and the crowds still thin, it hits a rare balance: proper beach weather without the heat or prices of high summer. If you want the Canaries at their most relaxed and best value, with reliable sun on both coasts, May is very hard to beat.
May at a glance
| Typical May | |
|---|---|
| Daytime high (south coasts) | Around 23–25 °C |
| Overnight low | Around 16–17 °C |
| Sea temperature | Around 20 °C (comfortably mild) |
| Rainfall | Very low; the dry season is well established |
| Crowds & prices | Quiet and excellent value |
Photo: Marc Ryckaert (MJJR) · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · scaled
The weather: warm, dry and dependable
By May the dry season is firmly in place. South-coast days are warm and consistently sunny, and — crucially — the north's winter cloud has largely lifted, so even the greener resorts like Puerto de la Cruz enjoy plenty of sun. The heat is comfortable rather than fierce, cooled by the gentle trade winds, which makes May ideal for combining beach time with active days out. Evenings are pleasantly warm too, though a light layer is still nice after dark. The high mountains remain cooler, so pack accordingly for any summit trip.
The sea & swimming
The Atlantic keeps warming through May and reaches a genuinely pleasant temperature — no longer the bracing plunge of late winter. It's a great month for swimming, snorkelling and watersports, with calm, clear water at south-coast beaches like Maspalomas, Playa de las Vistas and Papagayo. It's not yet the bath-warm sea of autumn, but for most swimmers it's just right.
What's on
May is quieter on the big-festival front than the Carnival and Easter months, which is part of its calm appeal — but it carries plenty of local colour. 30 May is the Día de Canarias, the Canary Islands' own regional day, marked with folk music, traditional Canarian sports, dancing and island food across all eight islands — a genuine, home-grown celebration rather than a tourist show. Depending on the year, the flower-carpet spectacle of Corpus Christi can also fall in late May in towns like La Orotava; see our guide to the Corpus Christi flower carpets.
May is one of the best-value beach months of the whole year — warm sea, reliable sun, low prices and space to breathe. If you want summer weather without the summer crowds or costs, this is the month to book.
Crowds & prices
With Easter over and the summer holidays not yet started, May is quiet and keenly priced. Beaches have room, restaurants take you without a wait, and accommodation is among the cheapest of the sunny months. It's a superb choice for couples, older travellers and anyone who dislikes a crush — and a smart pick for a budget-friendly holiday in fine weather.
Best islands & things to do
Because the whole archipelago is sunny and warm now, May is a brilliant month to island-hop or to explore a greener island before summer's heat. The lush trails of La Palma and La Gomera are glorious, and the hiking is comfortable everywhere. Beach and watersport lovers are spoilt on Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, while Gran Canaria and Tenerife offer the full mix of beaches, resorts and mountains. It's also a fine time for diving and whale watching in the calm, warming seas.
Who May suits
May suits just about everyone: beach-goers who want warmth without the crush, walkers who want green trails and easy temperatures, couples and families after value, and older travellers who prefer a gentle pace. Really the only people better served elsewhere are those chasing the very warmest sea (try September) or the biggest fiestas (Carnival). Otherwise it's a standout — compare it in the best time to visit guide, or look ahead to June, when early summer arrives.