Things to Do in Prague in May
May weather, activities, events & insider tips
May Weather in Prague
Is May Right for You?
Advantages
- Spring bloom peaks throughout Prague - the city's gardens, parks, and castle grounds are genuinely spectacular with flowering chestnuts, magnolias, and lilacs. Petrin Hill and Wallenstein Garden hit their visual peak, and you'll actually want to spend hours outdoors.
- Daylight stretches until 8:30pm by late May, giving you roughly 15 hours of usable sightseeing time. You can fit morning castle visits, afternoon neighborhood walks, and still catch golden hour over Charles Bridge without rushing through dinner.
- Shoulder season pricing holds through mid-May before summer rates kick in. Hotels typically run 20-30% cheaper than June-August, and you can still book decent apartments in Vinohrady or Karlin for 1,800-2,500 CZK per night instead of the 3,000+ summer prices.
- Outdoor beer gardens and riverside terraces open for the season - Riegrovy Sady, Letna Beer Garden, and Naplavka embankment come alive with locals after work. The weather is warm enough to sit outside comfortably but not the sweaty crush of July-August crowds.
Considerations
- Weather genuinely swings day-to-day in May. You might get 24°C (75°F) and sunny on Tuesday, then 13°C (55°F) with drizzle on Wednesday. Pack for both scenarios because forecasts beyond 3 days out are basically guesswork.
- Rain comes as quick afternoon showers rather than all-day drizzle, but those 10 rainy days can disrupt outdoor plans. Charles Bridge and Prague Castle courtyards lose their charm when you're huddling under an umbrella with 200 other tourists.
- Late May bleeds into peak season - after May 20th, prices jump and crowds thicken as European school holidays begin. If you're visiting late May, you'll deal with summer-level tourists but potentially cooler, wetter weather than actual summer delivers.
Best Activities in May
Prague Castle Complex Walking Tours
May weather makes the sprawling castle grounds actually pleasant to explore - you'll spend 3-4 hours walking courtyards, gardens, and St. Vitus Cathedral without the brutal sun or winter cold. The South Gardens open for the season in early May with terraced views over Mala Strana. Morning visits between 9-11am beat both the heat and tour bus arrivals. The castle's position on the hill means temperatures run 2-3°C cooler than Old Town, which matters on warmer May afternoons.
Vltava River Cruises and Paddle Boarding
The Vltava warms enough by May for water activities without the summer tourist crush. Stand-up paddleboard rentals launch from Naplavka and Smichov embankments - the river stays calm through the city center, and you'll paddle past the same views tourists pay for on dinner cruises. Afternoon temperatures in the high teens Celsius make this comfortable with a light windbreaker. Evening cruises catch sunset around 8pm by late May, and you'll actually enjoy the open-air decks instead of freezing like in April.
Bohemian Countryside Day Trips
May brings the Czech countryside to life - rolling hills turn bright green, wildflowers bloom, and hiking trails dry out from spring mud. Cesky Krumlov sits 2.5 hours south and handles May crowds better than summer madness. Kutna Hora's bone church and medieval center make a solid day trip 1.5 hours east. The Bohemian Paradise region northeast offers sandstone rock formations and castle ruins with virtually no international tourists. Weather stays cooler in higher elevations, so bring layers for 15-18°C (59-64°F) temperatures even when Prague hits 22°C (72°F).
Beer Garden and Brewery Experiences
May marks the unofficial start of beer garden season - locals emerge after winter, and the outdoor drinking culture shifts into gear. Riegrovy Sady and Letna Beer Garden offer hilltop views over the city with half-liters running 50-70 CZK, dramatically cheaper than touristy Old Town pubs. Brewery tours at Staropramen and smaller craft operations explain Czech beer culture beyond the Pilsner Urquell marketing. Evening temperatures stay comfortable enough to sit outside until 10pm without freezing, which you cannot do reliably until May.
Petrin Hill and Vysehrad Fortress Walks
These elevated parks deliver the best spring scenery in Prague - Petrin's orchards bloom in early May, and the hillside trails stay shaded and cool even on warmer afternoons. The observation tower offers 360-degree views on clear days, which May delivers more reliably than summer haze. Vysehrad Fortress sits south of the center with medieval walls, a cemetery where Czech composers are buried, and far fewer tourists than Prague Castle. Both locations involve 20-30 minutes of uphill walking on cobblestones and stairs, easier in May's moderate temperatures than summer heat.
Food Market and Neighborhood Tours
May brings Czech spring produce to markets - white asparagus, early strawberries, and fresh herbs show up at Naplavka Farmers Market on Saturdays and Jirak Market in Vinohrady. Food tours through Karlin, Zizkov, and Vinohrady neighborhoods showcase modern Czech cuisine beyond tourist-trap pork and dumplings. The weather makes 3-4 hours of walking between tastings comfortable, and outdoor market stalls operate fully by May after limited winter hours. You'll eat seasonally-appropriate dishes instead of the generic year-round menu items.
May Events & Festivals
Prague Museum Night
One Saturday in mid-May, roughly 50 museums, galleries, and historic buildings open free from 7pm to 1am. You'll navigate crowds, but the atmosphere turns festive with special exhibitions, live performances, and spaces normally closed to visitors. Charles University buildings, private palaces, and niche collections participate. Expect lines at popular venues, but smaller museums stay accessible.
Prague Spring International Music Festival
This classical music festival runs from May 12 through early June, filling concert halls across the city with orchestras, chamber groups, and soloists. Opening night traditionally happens May 12 at Smetana Hall with performances of Ma Vlast. Tickets range from 500 CZK for smaller venues to 2,000+ CZK for premium seats at headline concerts. The festival attracts serious classical music audiences, so this matters if you're into that scene and means nothing if you're not.