At the start of May the weather here still feels very spring-like, with the most rain you’re likely to see for months and cooler evenings, but by the end of May it definitely feels like summer. The average temperature for the day starts at 70°F/21°C but builds to 76°F/25°C by the end of the month, with a higher humidity making it feel hotter at points.

The average temperature in the evenings is around 58-60°F/14-16°C which means you’ll probably still want some kind of light jacket or jumper to put on but it’s definitely warm enough to sit outside at night.

The most important thing to remember when planning to visit Naples this time of year is that it may not be quite as warm as you might expect, especially at the start of the month. We do have gorgeous, warm, sunny days in May, but the evenings are on the cooler side and there is the occasional rain shower now and again.

A light rain jacket and/or travel umbrella should be on your packing list just in case of occasional wet days, but you will not need a heavy jacket.

Forget the jeans and keep your clothing on the lighter side, cotton pants or capri pants, perhaps a midi or maxi skirt or spring dress and lighter t-shirts/tops. I always bring a heavier cardigan and scarf to put on when needed as well.

With the warmer weather, a lot of people want to walk around Naples in shorts. While Italians won’t dress this way, you can if you want to. But if you are visiting any church you cannot have bare knees, so come prepared with either a long scarf to wrap round your waist or wear something that reaches past your knees.

May is one of my favorite times of year to be in Naples, with the festivals and holidays there is a lovely atmosphere in the city, plus the weather is perfect for both sightseeing and relaxing so you have the best of both worlds!

Ferries to Ischia and Procida, Capri and down to Sorrento and the Amalfi coast run a full schedule from May making it super easy to visit these places, and with the beautiful flowers everywhere they’re at their most picture-perfect.

Just know that you will find the streets, piazzas, restaurants and sites packed with visitors, both locals and from further afield.

My favorite thing about the food in May is the cherries. Sweet, seasonal, ripe cherries flood the markets here in May but are gone by late June so you have to make the most of them while they’re here!

The asparagus season is also still going in May, and the very first eggplants start to appear, making the Neapolitan parmigiana di melanzane (layered slices of fried eggplant with tomato sauce and mozzarella) a great choice.

While you’ll see citrus fruits available all year, May is the end of the season and the extra-special lemons, oranges, mandarins, clementines and more. Make sure to grab a spremuta (freshly squeezed juice) whenever you can before the best citrus leaves!

May holidays and special dates in Naples

There are a few important dates to know about this month:

May 1 – May Day

May 1 is a national holiday in Italy, known as May Day or International Workers Day. This holiday is celebrated throughout most European countries and is like Labor Day in the US. You may see political rallies and people waving flags and banners in the center of Naples, but these are peaceful events and more about celebrating unions and workers than any kind of protest.

Many businesses and sites close on May 1, but I find that most restaurants stay open as it is a popular day to go out and enjoy time with families and friends.

Festa di San Gennaro

San Gennaro is one of the patron saints of Naples, and a very important figure in Naples history, seen as the protector of the city and in May the first of three special festivals dedicated to San Gennaro takes place, known as the Miracles of the Blood.

Taking place on the Saturday preceding the first Sunday of May, a procession will go from Naples cathedral with a bust of the saint and a special vial that holds some of his blood to the Basilica of Santa Chiara. This procession commemorates the original transfer of San Gennaro’s body from a cemetery to the catacombs of San Gennaro.

After the procession, people gather in the cathedral to see if the blood will liquefy in a special church service. If it does, it is held as a miracle and Naples has been blessed with good fortune for the year ahead.

In 2025 this will take place on Saturday May 3. You can expect large crowds in the historic center and around the cathedral.

Maggio dei Monumenti

Maggio dei Monumenti, ‘May of the Monuments’ is an annual cultural festival that runs throughout the month, with all sorts of limited openings, workshops, performances and exhibitions that is designed to show off Naples and everything it has to offer.

There is usually a theme which ties all the events together, and is aimed at both locals and visitors, which makes this a really fun festival to be involved in.