Weather in Malta in May settles an old argument among regular visitors: is it too early for the beach? Not quite, and not quite too late for anything else. Highs average about 24 C at the Luqa weather station (1991-2020), lows about 15 C, and the monthly rainfall is only 9 mm, on one or two days. After the damp months, May feels like a long exhale.
The dry month with the cool water
Of all the figures, the one that matters most for planning is the sea. At about 19 C (satellite record east of Malta, 1991-2020) it is a long way above the 15 C of March, but still well short of the 25 C of July. The effect is that the beach is a daytime place and not yet a swimming day. People do go in. They usually do so in short bursts, and they come out quickly.
Rainfall is the counterpart. With so little falling, May is the first month where a walking route or a boat trip can be planned without a backup, and where a missed weather window is unusual.
A day in May
Mornings sit near 15 C, so light layers are welcome until about nine. By midday it is warm and the sun is strong. Evenings are mild enough for a table outside, though a thin jumper by the harbour is still sensible after dark.
Sun first, then the sea
A common mistake in May is to underestimate the sun. Sunburn is easier to get on a 24 C day with a breeze than on a 32 C day when everyone has already covered up. Use sunscreen on your first outings, and carry water for any walk with no café at the end.
Where May works especially well
The islands are green and the flowers are on their last bloom. Walking along the coast between Gnejna Bay and Golden Bay gives a mix of wild cliffs and sandy coves. The beaches are not crowded and the climbing is not too hot.
Boat trips begin to make sense. Gozo and Comino have their best light at this time of year, and the Blue Lagoon is clearer and calmer before the peak-season crowds arrive. A trip to Ramla Bay on Gozo, with its red-orange sand, is ideal for a day of sun and a quick swim.
Divers have good conditions: visibility tends to be fine and the water is warming. The Um El Faroud Wreck and the Blue Hole are two of the best-known sites.
Calendar
Worker’s Day falls on 1 May, a public holiday. Mid-May events usually include the Malta World Music Festival at Fort St Elmo in Valletta, and the tourism authority hosts international gatherings in the spring. Local village festas begin to appear on weekends as the season warms, with brass bands, fireworks and processions; ask at your accommodation which village is celebrating.
Pack list
Shorts and T-shirts for the day, a light jacket or cardigan for the evening, a sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, comfortable shoes, swimwear and a towel. Add reef shoes if you plan to swim from rock platforms, which are common around Malta’s coast.
From April to the edge of summer
The rainfall is the biggest change: from about 22 mm in April to about 9 mm in May, and from four days to one or two. The average high climbs from 20 C to 24 C and the average low from 12 C to 15 C. The sea gains about two and a half degrees, to around 19 C. So May has the feel of the first real summer weekend, repeated for a month. After this, June makes a further leap of about four degrees in the air and three in the sea.
The deciding factors
Travellers who can pick either often split on the sea. If a long swim matters, June at about 22 C is a more comfortable bet. If you want walking, sightseeing and diving with some beach time, May is quieter and cooler. Neither month is wrong. The deciding factor is often crowd levels, which rise from June onwards, and the cost of flights and rooms, which you should check for your own dates.
Planning note
May is popular with walkers, divers and sightseers who want warm weather without the summer crowds, so book accommodation and car hire early if your trip falls on a long weekend. See the Malta weather overview for the full year, and Malta weather in June for the next step towards summer.
