Things to Do in Vatican City in May
May weather, activities, events & insider tips
May Weather in Vatican City
Is May Right for You?
Advantages
- Shoulder season crowds mean shorter lines at the Vatican Museums - you're looking at 20-30 minute waits versus the 90-minute summer queues, and the Sistine Chapel actually feels contemplative rather than like a subway car at rush hour
- Spring weather makes the Vatican Gardens genuinely pleasant - morning temperatures around 16°C (61°F) are perfect for the 2-hour walking tour through 23 hectares (57 acres) of landscaped grounds without the summer heat exhaustion
- May catches the tail end of Rome's cultural season before the summer tourist programming kicks in - you'll find authentic concerts at smaller churches around the Vatican rather than tourist-targeted performances
- Photography conditions are exceptional with longer daylight hours until about 8:30pm and that soft spring light that makes St. Peter's Basilica dome look incredible from Castel Sant'Angelo viewpoint 1.2 km (0.7 miles) away
Considerations
- Rain happens on roughly one-third of May days and Vatican City has almost zero covered outdoor spaces - when showers hit during your timed museum entry, you're either getting wet in St. Peter's Square or cramming into already-crowded indoor galleries with everyone else seeking shelter
- The 70% humidity makes the Vatican Museums feel stuffy and warm, especially in the Gallery of Maps where air circulation is poor and you're shoulder-to-shoulder with other visitors - by 2pm the rooms feel noticeably uncomfortable
- May is unpredictable temperature-wise with that 21°F (12°C) swing between highs and lows - mornings require layers that become dead weight by noon, and there's nowhere to store extra clothing in Vatican City itself
Best Activities in May
Early Morning Vatican Museums Access
May weather makes the 8am opening time actually tolerable rather than the painful early start it becomes in summer heat. The first two hours before 10am offer the best combination of manageable crowds and comfortable temperatures around 15-18°C (59-64°F). The natural light through the museum skylights is exceptional in May's longer days, particularly in the Raphael Rooms. Book the earliest possible timed entry - the difference between 8am and 11am crowds is genuinely dramatic, with gallery density increasing by roughly 300% as morning progresses.
Vatican Gardens Walking Tours
The gardens are genuinely at their peak in May with spring blooms still present and temperatures perfect for the 2-hour outdoor walking experience. You'll cover about 3 km (1.9 miles) through Renaissance landscaping, fountains, and viewpoints that most visitors never see. May's variable weather actually works in your favor here - the occasional cloud cover prevents the harsh shadows that ruin photos in summer, and morning humidity around 75% keeps the vegetation lush. Tours run Tuesday through Saturday and are limited to small groups, making this the most peaceful Vatican experience available.
St. Peter's Basilica Dome Climb
May temperatures make the 551-step climb to the dome summit actually manageable - summer heat turns those narrow staircases into sweatboxes. The 136-meter (446-foot) ascent takes 20-30 minutes depending on fitness level and crowd flow. From the top, May's clearer spring air provides visibility across Rome that summer haze obscures. The variable weather creates dramatic sky backdrops for photos. Worth noting the stairs are genuinely claustrophobic in sections - not recommended if you're uncomfortable in tight spaces. The dome opens at 8am, and arriving right at opening beats the midday crowds that create bottlenecks in the narrowest sections.
Castel Sant'Angelo Evening Visits
This fortress 650 meters (0.4 miles) from St. Peter's Square offers the best external views of the Vatican, and May's extended daylight means you can visit around 6-7pm for golden hour photography without the midday tourist crush. The castle itself provides 2,000 years of Roman history from Hadrian's mausoleum to papal apartments. May evenings are comfortable for exploring the ramparts - around 18-20°C (64-68°F) - and the Tiber riverbank walk connecting it to Vatican City is genuinely pleasant rather than the sweaty trudge it becomes in summer. The passetto corridor connecting the castle to Vatican City sometimes opens for special tours in May.
Borgo Pio Neighborhood Exploration
The medieval streets between Castel Sant'Angelo and St. Peter's Square see far fewer tourists than they deserve, and May weather makes wandering these narrow lanes comfortable. This is where Vatican employees actually eat lunch - family-run trattorias serving Romans rather than tour groups. The neighborhood spans about 400 meters (0.25 miles) and takes 45-60 minutes to explore properly. May's variable weather means indoor-outdoor seating works well - duck into shops and cafes when brief showers hit. Morning around 10-11am offers the best light in these narrow streets, and you'll see the neighborhood functioning as an actual residential area rather than a tourist zone.
Papal Audience Experiences
If your May dates include a Wednesday, the weekly Papal Audience in St. Peter's Square offers a unique experience that's actually more comfortable in spring than summer. The audience runs 9:30-11:30am with Pope Francis addressing crowds in multiple languages. May temperatures make the 2-hour outdoor event tolerable - summer audiences see heat exhaustion cases regularly. You'll need tickets reserved in advance through official channels, and arriving by 8am secures better sight lines in the unreserved sections. The square holds 80,000 people but May audiences typically draw 15,000-25,000, meaning you're not packed in like summer crowds. Bring sun protection - that UV index of 8 is significant even in spring.
May Events & Festivals
Feast of Saints Nereus and Achilleus
May 12th marks this traditional Roman Catholic feast day with special Mass at the Basilica of Santi Nereo ed Achilleo, about 2.5 km (1.6 miles) from Vatican City. While not a Vatican event itself, it draws pilgrims who combine it with Vatican visits, creating slightly higher crowds around mid-month. The feast includes processions and traditional blessings that offer insight into Roman Catholic traditions beyond the tourist experience.