Sweden Weather in May 2025: Travel Tips for First-Timers

Sweden is mild or cool and rainfall is low throughout most of Sweden at the low elevations. May's highlights include bright sunlight, eerie twilight colors, and ultra-long days for hiking and touring cities. Tourism is moderate in May.

Read on for our weather information and travel advice including average temperatures and rain/snowfall, places to go, and travel tips…

Content Preview

• 1. Weather Overview
• 2. Best Places to Visit
• 3. Crowds and Costs
• 4. What to Wear

Sweden Weather in May: Overview

Averages:

• Temperature range: 5–15°C (41–58°F)
• Total rain/snow: 4 cm (2 inches)
• Days with rain/snow: 7
• Humidity: 63%
• Sunshine hours/day: 9 hours

May Climate Comparison (Averages) for Sweden's Top Tourism Areas

In May, southern Sweden enjoys mild temperatures at the low elevations along with extra long doses of bright sunshine and daylight that will lift your emotions and warm you. In the north and in mountains, it is cool and might freeze at night. You can enjoy the outdoors and tour cities.

Southern Sweden: Stockholm, Gothenburg, and the southern coast are at 59° degrees latitude and southward. There is an average of about 9 hours of sunshine, 17 hours of daylight, and a pleasant average high of about 17°C (63°F). The weather is suitable for touring the cities and hiking in nature.

Northern Sweden: Kiruna and other arctic tourist towns are north of latitude 66°. Kiruna and Riksgränsen are at latitude 68° and get about 20½ hours of daylight on average daily. Though sunshine hours are about the same as in the south, the cold temperatures preserve some snow for snow sports.

The Best Places to Visit in Sweden in May

Sweden's May highlights feature 17 or more hours of daylight on average for activities such as touring cities or hiking. In the arctic, there begins to be continual daylight for ski resorts and winter sports. Rainfall is low almost everywhere, so weather isn't much of a problem.

Consider Global Highlights for touring Sweden, other European countries, and the whole world. Customers rate our custom-designed tours highly on Trustpilot. Let us know your tour goals and interests, and we will design a tour to suit them and the local resources and weather. Contact us to inquire about a tour.

1. Stockholm — Experience the Urban Highlights, Hike, and Take Sightseeing Cruises

Stockholm is Sweden's capital and biggest city. In May, you can visit with moderate prices. However, flight prices are relatively high. On average, Stockholm has a daily high of 17°C (63°F), a low of 7°C (45°F), and 17 hours of daylight. It is semi-arid.

Stockholm's restaurants and bars start setting out tables on patios and rooftop areas so that you can drink in some of the 9 hours of average daily sunshine and warm up. You can walk among the flowers at Bergius Botanic Garden.

In May, when the vegetation is green and crowding low, it is a good time for a cruise to sightsee the skyline and islands near Stockholm. Universities and schools don't go on summer vacation until June, and the tourist influx into Scandinavia doesn't happen until the summer solstice.

2. Gothenburg — Enjoy the Urban Highlights and the Scenic Coast

Gothenburg is the second biggest city in Sweden, and its highlights are best enjoyed when it sunny and everything is green. In May, you can enjoy the flowers at Gothenburg Botanic Gardens or stroll at the nearby Slottsskogen Park that is the largest in the city.

The weather is pleasant in May. There are 8 hours of daily sunshine and 16½ hours of daylight on average and low rainfall that only falls about 8 days in May. It will often feel warm in the sun. The average high is 17°C (63°F). The low is -8°C (46°F).

Stockholm has little islands, and Gothenburg has a fjord. Askims Fjord is south of Gothenburg and is an entryway to the city with small islands and scenic routes for boats to follow among them. Along the shore is Sandsjöbacka Nature Preserve. It is one of only several fjords in Sweden.

3. Åre and Duved — Enjoy Skiing, Light, and Hiking

The Åre and Duved ski resort areas in the central part of Sweden close in April, but there is often snowfall in May that allows for cross-country mountain skiing. It is never really dark in May if the skies are clear because of the indigo/violet twilight and long days.

The region is one of Sweden's best for cross-country skiing. Duved is a few minutes away from Åre by train or road with lower prices than Åre. In May, in Duved, the average high is 10°C (50°F). The low is 1°C (34°F). The total rainfall/snowfall is low.

There is an average of about 17 hours of daylight that makes skiing and being outdoors more enjoyable. It might be busy and expensive at times especially during holidays. It is also one of Sweden's best hiking areas. You could hike a famed hiking trail called the St. Olavsleden Trail.

4. Kiruna — Enjoy Skiing and Lapland Highlights

Kiruna is the best town for downhill and cross-country skiing in Scandinavia in May, because Riksgränsen Ski Resort remains open and there are tall mountains for cross-country skiing. Kiruna is the town in Sweden to experience the longest days, about 20½ hours daily on average.

It is the Swedish town that is furthest north. It never really gets dark because of colorful indigo/violet/pink twilight skies. It is either daylight or twilight constantly, and after May 26, there is 24-hour daylight. You could go north to Tromsø or Alta in Norway for more continual daylight days.

The twilight sky colors are awesome. You can go on Lapland excursions for sightseeing and downhill skiing in Riksgränsen. There are 8 hours of sunshine on average. The average high is 9°C (48°F). The nightly lows are 1°C (34°F). For more about Tromsø or Alta, see Norway Weather in July.

Moderate Tourism Season: Touring Advice for May

Sweden's cities and towns in southern Sweden generally have moderate tourism in May. Schools and universities don't begin their summer vacations until June. Most international tourists arrive in Scandinavia near the summer solstice and in the warm summer.

National holidays including May Day, Ascension Day, or Pentecost cause high tourism during those days in May. Flight ticket prices to Stockholm are relatively high in May and peak in June.

Arriving in May affords you rich blooming greenery, rivers and waterfalls roaring with snowmelt, mild weather, much daylight, and twilight colors at moderate prices.

Public Holidays in May:

May Day is May 1 annually. It is an official national holiday, and schools and most businesses close. Labor Day commemorates organized labor.

Ascension Day is May 29 in 2025. The date varies, but it always 39 days after Easter on a Thursday and almost always in May. Schools and businesses close. Many people have a day off the following Friday. It commemorates the day the Lord Jesus ascended into heaven.

Whit Saturday and Whit Sunday (Pentecost) are May 23, 2026 and May 24, 2026, respectively. The dates vary. These holidays are usually in May. Whit Saturday is a traditional de facto holiday, and Whit Sunday is a legal national holiday. Pentecost commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit to Jesus' followers in Jerusalem.

What to Wear in May

In May, it seldom rains in the southern region of Sweden, but it might still snow at times. Gothenburg is one of the rainiest cities, and there is low rainfall/snowfall.

The highlights in the north and the mountains have unpredictable weather and snow. You could be the most comfortable by dressing in layers. Take a waterproof coat or raingear when you travel in Sweden.

Here is a packing list for a few essentials in Sweden:

• Warm waterproof boots with good traction for the outdoors. You might wear them in-flight to travel lightly.
• Comfortable shoes with good traction
• Rain gear
• Warm hat
• Some light clothing
• Swimwear for spas and hot springs
• Cardigans or thermals
• Polarized glasses