What's the Weather like in Moscow in May?
Temperature
May is officially the spring season in Moscow. With all the sludge cleared, the month sees the arrival of new leaves and grass, and flowers blooming in full swing.
The average temperature in Moscow stands at 13 degree Celsius with a low of 8 degrees Celsius and a high of about 18 degrees Celsius.
This temperature helps sets the spring season in full bloom in Russia.
Humidity & Rain
With precipitation rapidly increasing over the course of the month, the chances of having a wet day are higher starting at 23 per cent in the beginning of the month and ending at 30 per cent towards the end.
Rainfall during the month is measures to be about 50 mm with a 12 day duration estimation.
Snow
Moscow sees minimal snow in May, with most of the snow already melted, revealing fresh, beautiful flowers and mounds of greenery.
Sunshine Hours
Moscow sees the year's first new leaves on trees, fresh grass, flowers and gets a fresh new dose of sunshine during spring.
The actual sunshine hours over May are estimated to be around 8 hours.
Wind
During the month of May, Moscow sees an average hourly wind speed gradually decreasing from 9.6 miles per hour to 9.0 miles per hour over the month's course.
Also during May, the average wind direction is predominantly from the west.
Dress Code
Though temperatures significantly reach warm numbers, we still recommend that you carry a coat during the evenings.
Click here for Moscow's weather forecast for the next 14 days. Also, to get an idea of annual weather averages for Moscow, follow this link.
Moscow Hotels in May
Peter I
A mid-range hotel with some awesome features is the Peter I hotel. Located at a 6-minute walk from the Bolshoi Theatre's iconic ballet, this hotel is also 1.5 km from the Red Square and the Saint Basil's Cathedral. The rooms include flat-screen TVs, minibars and free Wi-Fi, while upgraded rooms add tea and coffee making equipment, and access to a lounge with drinks and snacks. It is known that kids under six years of age can stay without a cost, and the restaurant offers free, complimentary breakfast services.
Russo-Balt Hotel
The famous Russo-Balt Hotel is set in an elegant art nouveau building with an ornate façade. This hotel is located about 1.9 km from the Bolshoi Theatre and 2.1 km from iconic St. Basil's Cathedral at Red Square. With plush rooms to provide maximum comfort, the standard rooms provide designer toiletries, and 24-hour room service is available. This is an imperial style building, has a convenient location and offers a pleasant stay.
Crowne Plaza
Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Centre is a reasonable place overlooking the Moskva River. This place is also just 4 km from the Pushkin Museum and 6 km from the Moscow Kremlin. The hotel offers standard rooms as well as luxury suites at various prices. While the rooms offer free Wi-Fi, flat-screens, and tea and coffeemakers, the suites feature wet bars and separate sitting areas. Other amenities included are a trendy bar/lounge, a lobby bar and a fitness area, as well as a business centre and meeting space.
Bars and Restaurants
Mari Vanna
Mari Vanna is a homey dining place serving traditional Russian delicacies. The entire place is decorated with standard lamps and book cases and a visit would be a great treat to a book lover. The restaurant is also decorated with artefacts like ancient mailboxes, bicycles etc. and reminds you of an old Soviet style apartment. This tiny, unusual place is located on the back streets of Moscow, and has friendly, welcoming waitresses.
Things to do in Moscow in May
Tverskaya Ulitsa
Moscow sees a lot of grandeur and festivities all over the city during early May. If you wish to take in the real spirit of this festive week, head over to Moscow's main street, Tverskaya Ulitsa for the Moscow Street festival. This week of gaiety and splendour is celebrated between two public holidays namely May 1st / Labour Day and Victory day on May 9th with a grand military Victory day parade at the Red Square, accompanied with a special speech from the Russian president. All through this week, there are parades, Russian street parties, and fireworks, and is a time for nationwide revelry.
Muzeon Art Park
Directly across the street from Gorky Park's main entrance, the Muzeon Art Park houses several sculptures from the Soviet era and distinguished pieces of art. While spring is a great time to visit this place due to an overall pleasant climate, this place is a must visit for history lovers. This place is located at a five minute walk from the Oktyabrskaya metro station and is the largest open-air sculpture museum in Russia. The place offers some great photo opportunities and houses some very powerful, moving tributes to sufferings in the past.
Patriarch's Pond
If you just need a place for rest and relaxation coupled with a little fun, head over to the lovely Patriarch's Pond. Great for people watching and contemplating nature, this green area is situated in the historical centre of Moscow, with a number of restaurants, cafes, bars and trendy shops. Since locals frequent this place on weekends, it gets a tad overcrowded them. We recommend you to best visit this place during the weekdays for more calm and for a peaceful experience.
