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Venice in May 2027: Weather, Biennale and Gondola Rides
Updated October 27, 2026
Quick answer
Venice in May is warm and bright: the average high is 20.9°C, the low 13.5°C, and the sun sets around 20:33 by mid-month. The whole €90 day fare (09:00 to 19:00) is in daylight, and a sunset ride falls in the €110 evening fare. May is also the month of Venice's water festivals: the Festa della Sensa at Ascension and the Vogalonga rowing event on Pentecost Sunday. The 2027 Architecture Biennale opens on 8 May. Rain comes on about 11 days (92 mm).
May at a glance
Crowds: high- High
- 20.9°C
- Low
- 13.5°C
- Rain
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
Sunrise 05:40, sunset 20:33 on 15 May (14.9 hours of daylight). Sunset falls about 90 minutes into the €110 evening fare.
Climate data: Open-Meteo climate normals 1991-2020 (MRI_AGCM3_2_S) for the Grand Canal, via src/data/entity-context.json; daylight computed for 15 May
What is the weather like in Venice in May?
May is warm without being hot. The climate normals give an average high of 20.9°C and an average low of 13.5°C. It is also one of the wetter months by count: about 92 mm over roughly 11 wet days. A ride in a light jacket is comfortable at any hour, which is rare in Venice: by July the afternoons are close to 28°C.
Vogalonga and Festa della Sensa: Venice's rowing festivals in May
Two water festivals fall around May. The Festa della Sensa is held on the feast of the Ascension: the mayor, in the role the Doge once played, throws a ring into the lagoon to mark Venice's marriage to the sea, after a parade of boats. The Vogalonga is a non-competitive rowing event on Pentecost Sunday, which falls in May or June: rowers start at 09:00 from the San Marco basin and cover about 30 km of the lagoon and canals. The organisers publish each year's date on the official Vogalonga site.
Biennale Architettura 2027 opens in May
La Biennale di Venezia lists the 2027 International Architecture Exhibition from 8 May to 21 November 2027, at the Giardini and the Arsenale, open 10:00 to 18:00 and closed on Mondays. Both venues are in Castello, the eastern district. A gondola ride and a Biennale day fit together well: the exhibition closes at 18:00, an hour before the day fare ends.
Sunset gondola rides in May: which fare applies?
On 15 May the sun rises at 05:40 and sets at 20:33, giving about 14.9 hours of daylight. The €90 day fare covers 09:00 to 19:00, all in full light. Sunset comes about 90 minutes into the €110 evening fare (35 minutes), so a golden-hour ride costs the evening price. An evening gondola ride booked ahead fixes the time; the gondola ride price page compares the two fares with a shared seat.
Is a gondola ride worth it in Venice in May?
Yes. Warm days, the longest evenings before summer heat and the full day fare in daylight make May an easy month. In 2026 the city also charged day-trippers its access fee on every May weekend; overnight guests are exempt, and the 2027 calendar was not published on 27 October 2026 (see the Venice access fee). A shared gondola ride is the cheapest seat for one or two people.
What to bring in May
- ✓ A light jacket for the evening and a T-shirt for the afternoon
- ✓ A compact umbrella for about 11 wet days
- ✓ Sunscreen and sunglasses for an open boat in full sun
- ✓ Comfortable shoes for the Biennale's large Giardini and Arsenale sites
Daylight and public holidays, month by month
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | Public holidays 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:46 | 16:52 | 9.1 h | New Year's Day (1), Epiphany (6) |
| February | 07:13 | 17:36 | 10.4 h | — |
| March | 06:24 | 18:15 | 11.9 h | — |
| April | 06:25 | 19:55 | 13.5 h | Easter Sunday (5), Easter Monday (6), Liberation Day (25) |
| May | 05:40 | 20:33 | 14.9 h | International Workers Day (1) |
| June | 05:21 | 21:00 | 15.7 h | Republic Day (2) |
| July | 05:36 | 20:56 | 15.3 h | — |
| August | 06:11 | 20:19 | 14.1 h | Assumption Day (15) |
| September | 06:48 | 19:23 | 12.6 h | — |
| October | 07:26 | 18:26 | 11 h | St. Francis of Assisi's Day (4) |
| November | 07:09 | 16:41 | 9.5 h | All Saints Day (1) |
| December | 07:43 | 16:27 | 8.7 h | Immaculate Conception (8), Christmas Day (25), St. Stephen's Day (26) |
Sunrise and sunset on the 15th of each month at 45.442, 12.326 (Europe/Rome), sea-level horizon. Computed, not observed; within a few minutes. Holidays: national public holidays (IT) from Nager.Date; banks and some attractions may close or run holiday hours.
Venice Gondola in May
Crowds: high- High
- 20.9°C
- Low
- 13.5°C
- Rain
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
Busy: book ahead and go early.
Climate: Open-Meteo climate normals 1991–2020 (MRI_AGCM3_2_S)
Frequently asked questions
Is May a good time to visit Venice?
Yes for a gondola ride: highs average 20.9°C, the day fare runs entirely in daylight, and sunset is around 20:33. Expect rain on about 11 days.
When is the Vogalonga?
On Pentecost Sunday, which falls in May or June. Rowers start at 09:00 from the San Marco basin for a course of about 30 km. The official site publishes each year's date.
When does the 2027 Venice Biennale open?
The 2027 International Architecture Exhibition runs from 8 May to 21 November 2027 at the Giardini and the Arsenale, according to La Biennale di Venezia.
What time is sunset in Venice in May?
Around 20:33 in mid-May, with sunrise at about 05:40.
What is the Festa della Sensa?
Venice's festival of the Ascension. The mayor throws a ring into the lagoon to symbolise the city's marriage to the sea, after a parade of boats, and a boat race closes the festival.
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