Nice in May: weather, sea and travel tips
Is May a good time to visit?
May in Nice suits seaside and city walks in mild weather. Days average +20 °C and seasonal sea temperatures are +21 °C. If swimming is the main aim, that water temperature needs to suit you.
Weather in May
For warmer daytime weather, consider late May: its average is higher than in the other parts of the month. If you prefer cooler walks, compare the other dates.
- Water
- +21 °C
- Daytime air
- +20 °C
- Night-time air
- +15 °C
Early, mid or late May?
| Travel dates | Day | Night | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–10 May | +19 °C | +14 °C | +20 °C |
| 11–20 May | +19 °C | +14 °C | +21 °C |
| 21–31 May | +21 °C | +16 °C | +23 °C |
Water in May
Seasonal data gives an average water temperature of +21 °C for the month. It averages +20 °C in the first ten days and +23 °C towards the end. These are seasonal averages, so the water on your travel dates can be warmer or cooler. Before your trip, check the water temperature and weather in the forecast for Nice.
Rainfall in May
In May, the average is 9 days with precipitation. In 2020–2025, the number ranged from 4 to 13 per month. Light precipitation is included in the count. This does not mean that it rains all day.
April, May or June: which should you choose?
| Month | Day | Night | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | +16 °C | +11 °C | +18 °C |
| May | +20 °C | +15 °C | +21 °C |
| June | +24 °C | +19 °C | +25 °C |
May has warmer days than April. April offers cooler conditions for walks. June has warmer days than May. The difference matters if you prefer warmth to cooler walking weather.
The annual charts for Nice compare air and sea temperatures with the rest of the year. For a closer look at May, see the May charts and archive by year.
Things to do in May
- In dry weather, the Promenade des Anglais offers a walk beside the pebble beaches. Views of the Baie des Anges, palms and historic hotels form a distinctive city seafront.
- Castle Hill Park is an option for a dry day. Its viewpoints overlook the old town, harbour and Baie des Anges, offering a way to see Nice from above.
- For rainy weather, the Matisse Museum in Cimiez offers indoor galleries with paintings, sculpture and paper cut-outs. They introduce several sides of the artist’s work.
About the data
Air temperatures use the WorldWeatherAI archive for 2020–2025. Precipitation uses data for 2020–2025. Sea temperatures use WorldWeatherAI seasonal data.