May in Catalonia means terrace season begins, together with picnics at the beach and dinners al fresco.
In the mountains, ski season is over, giving way to hiking and camping time! There are plenty of hours of light to explore, and the air is tinged with the scent of summer.
You won’t get bored as there’s a lot taking place in the country this month, from admiring local street art in a rural village to shopping in a Gaudí building!
Are you coming to Catalonia in May? Our guide with local plans to do in the country in May might come in handy!
* Post written for the first time in May 2022 and updated in May 2025.
The weather in Catalonia in May
Catalonia enjoys balmy weather in May. Spring temperatures are pleasant, sunshine is the norm, and the hours of light are plenty for exploring!
🌡 Temperatures
The temperatures vary a lot depending on the area of Catalonia you’re visiting.
Temperatures are warm, and there might be a few days of bikini-worthy beach weather on the coast. There, the average high in May is 23ºC (73ºF), while the low is 16ºC (60ºF). It’s warm for T-shirts at midday, but having a spring jacket at hand in the evenings is good.
In the mountains, temperatures are slightly lower, and it especially gets cold at night when they reach around 8ºC (46ºF).
You can check the weather on your phone’s app (we usually use Google Weather) or AccuWeather.
🌦 Weather
Don’t expect a lot of grey days like in Norway or London. Sunshine is the norm in most parts of Catalonia in May.
☔️ Rain and snow
On average, May has five rainy days in central and western Catalonia and on the coast. In the mountains, the average gets up to 8 days.
We highly recommend you pack a waterproof jacket or a small, easily portable umbrella to keep exploring without getting soaked.
☀️ Hours of light
There are between 14 and 15 hours of light a day in Catalonia in May. That’s plenty of sunshine for exploring around!
Sunrise happens around 6:45 am at the beginning of the month and at 6:18 am at the end. So, for those staying at the coast and wanting to catch a beautiful sunrise over the sea, you’d better set your alarm early!
Sunset, on the other hand, happens after 9 pm.
What to pack for a trip to Catalonia in May
🧣 Clothing
What about the clothes to pack? You’ll need a bit of everything this time of year. Grab some full-length trousers and a spring jacket, but also shorts, T-shirts, and, if you’re feeling optimistic, your swimmers too! If you’re going to the mountains, don’t forget a coat and some warm jumpers.
🥾 Footwear
Regarding shoes, sneakers are a great option. If you go to the mountains, take a pair of hiking boots, because it’s not usual to find snow in May at high altitudes.
What’s on in Catalonia in May
Admire local street art at Gargar Festival (1st-4th May)
Do the words art, music, craft beer, expositions, and food trucks sound appealing to you?
Then head to Penelles on May 1st, to 4th to enjoy the Gargar Festival. During the festival, local artists paint more than 900 m2 of walls in this small village in Western Catalonia. Here is some of last year’s artwork.
Get your cheese fix at Lactium (3rd and 4th May)
Cheese lovers, welcome to the largest cheese market in Catalonia! In May, the cheese festival Lactium takes place in the charming city of Vic. 40 Catalan and artisan cheesemakers from all over the country go there, and you’ll be able to taste and buy more than 200 cheeses!
Would we change all our travel plans to go specifically there? No. But if you happen to be in Barcelona and have a free day, this is a great choice for a day trip. You can reach Vic by train and the market takes place only 10 min walking from the train station.
Also, Vic is a city rich in history and with delicious places to eat. We recommend checking the historic medieval city centre, cathedral (Catedral de Sant Pere de Vic), main square (Plaça Major), and Roman temple.
For eating, Sherpa Vic (Nepalese cuisine), Devici Bar de Vins (wine bar); Peter’s Brasas (Latin food, huge portions!), and El Manubri Gastro-Bar (focaccias and cocktails) are excellent choices.
Taste delicious vermouths at Vermut & Soul (9th-11th May)
Vermut is a weekend ritual for many Catalans. Before lunch, we meet with friends, family, or mates, head to the bar terrace, and enjoy vermouth and some olives, chips, and cockles under the sun.
The Vermut & Soul festival is a great way to introduce yourself to this local tradition. It’s a festival dedicated exclusively to vermut held in Barcelona’s harbour from May 9th to 11th. Think food, drinks, live music, and various activities, such as a catamaran trip with a vermouth tasting and a live concert onboard.
Party under the sun with Brunch in the city
Who said you must spend the whole night out to enjoy great parties? If you like to party in the sunshine, go to bed at 11 pm, and wake up fresh the next day, you’ll love Brunch Electronik!
This festival takes place on several Sundays during May. You’ll only need to book your ticket in advance, and love electronic music! Then, you’re ready to have a great time.
And the location? It’s always in Barcelona, but the exact place changes every time. It can be, for example, in the famous Poble Espanyol, a park in Les Corts, or an old beer factory.
There’s also something really cool about this festival that party mums and dads will love: little party animals are welcome! The festival has an area exclusively designed for kids and parents. There are also activities programmed, so the young enjoy it as much as the old!
Go shopping in a Gaudí building (9th-11th May)
Fancy a day of shopping in the capital? Forget about Zara, H&M, or Stradivarius, and get ready for a unique shopping experience. Think market stalls with local clothing, cosmetic, and jewellery brands located in a Gaudí building. Yup, that’s what the Bcn en las Alturas market is.
The market takes place in one of Gaudí’s lesser-known (but beautiful) masterpieces, the medieval-style Torre Bellesguard, on May 9th, 10th, and 11th.
Besides shopping, there will also be concerts and gastronomy stalls selling delicious street food and drinks. Oh, and we almost forgot to mention the views! Well, you’ll see it for yourself when you go there!
Discover the most colourful side of Girona at Temps de flors (10th to 18th May)
Once a year, during the spring season, the city of Girona transforms into a spectacular floral display. For nine days in May, Girona celebrates its acclaimed Temps de Flors, a festival that dresses the city with beautiful flowers, striking colours, and penetrating aromas.
Girona’s city centre’s monuments, courtyards and urban locations turn into floral creations and ornamental gardens. All flower shows are free of charge, and it’s a unique opportunity to access monuments or buildings usually not opened to the public.
You’ll also love the festive atmosphere of the city. Throughout the week, concerts and events are organised throughout the city. Everything revolves around this festival: shopkeepers decorate shop windows, associations prepare exhibitions, and restaurants offer floral menus.
The floral designs are renewed every edition, so you can visit them every year! Each Temps de Flors festival is unique and unrepeatable.
👌🏼 Our tip
If you decide to visit Temps de Flors without staying overnight, we highly recommend you travel by public transport. It isn’t easy to park in Girona during the Temps de Flors festival, and even less during the weekends. Also, the train station is only 20 min walk from the historic centre, where you’ll find the festival and the best things to do in Girona.
Visit more than 75 museums for free (17th May)
The much-awaited and loved Nit dels Museus (Museum Night) is back in the city on the 18th of May, when 75 buildings in Barcelona and its surroundings are open to the general public free of charge. Some of the buildings on the list are the Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona (MACBA), the Montjuïc Castle, the Natural Science Museum, and the Palau Güell.
Besides enjoying the museums for longer, you’ll also have the opportunity to join several organised activities, such as guided tours, live performances, or activities for the little ones.
👌🏼 Our tip
As this event happens only once a year, expect big queues in some of the most famous buildings (especially the ones in Barcelona’s city centre). Our recommendation? Check out the schedule, choose which museums you’d like to visit and design your route in advance.
Eat snails at the Aplec del Caragol (23rd to 25th May)
This is undoubtedly one of the biggest (and craziest!) gastronomic festivals in Catalonia. The Aplec del Caragol, which would be translated to something like The Snail Meet, is a festival held yearly in Lleida.
For three days in May, thousands of locals from Lleida organise themselves into groups and associations to celebrate a big party whose main star is the snail.
Although it might sound weird to eat snails, it’s pretty popular here in Catalonia. We don’t eat them daily, but we do when we eat at a traditional restaurant.
And what do people do at the Aplec del Caragol? Well, the main activity is definitely eating and drinking! Besides, the festival also has music, fireworks, and street entertainment.
Picture more than 200,000 people together consuming around 12 tonnes of snails! That’s the Aplec del Caragol.
Other cool plans to do in Catalonia in May
Looking for more ideas for your spring trip? Here are some suggestions:
- Hike the Camí de Ronda: The Camí de Ronda is a beautiful hiking trail that follows the coast of Catalonia. Pick a section of the track and enjoy stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea, charming villages, and pine forests.
- Cycle the Olive Oil route in Tarragona: Jump on a bike and immerse yourself in a landscape strongly dominated by the cultivation of olive trees. Along the way, learn about olive oil, its history, and its production.
- Discover Barcelona alternatively: Why not enjoy the spring weather by exploring the city’s best sights by bike, inline skates, or SUP?
- Adventure into the impressive gorge of Mont-Rebei: Spend a weekend hiking and kayaking in Mont-Rebei, a gorge crossed by an emerald-blue river.
And if you’re spending some days in Barcelona, no matter the season, don’t miss out on our list of original things to do at any time of the year.
Have you ever visited Catalonia in May? If so, we would love to hear about your experience!
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