When to go · Latvia
Latvia in May
Great month. Green and bright; 4 May holiday; good month for Riga and Gauja.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Great
- Crowds
- Medium
- Latvia
- Prices
- Medium
- Latvia
Verdict
Green and bright; 4 May holiday; good month for Riga and Gauja.
Is another month better than May?
No other month rates higher than May for Latvia in this guide.
Weather in May
- Riga and the Gulf coast · Riga, Jūrmala, Saulkrastibest weather
Winter around −3 °C (27 °F), damp and grey; summer 20–24 °C (68–75 °F) and bright until 23:00 in June.Winter around −3 °C (27 °F), damp and grey; summer 20–24 °C (68–75 °F) and bright until 11:00 PM in June.Winter around 27 °F (−3 °C), damp and grey; summer 68–75 °F (20–24 °C) and bright until 23:00 in June.Winter around 27 °F (−3 °C), damp and grey; summer 68–75 °F (20–24 °C) and bright until 11:00 PM in June.
- Kurzeme and the open Baltic · Liepāja, Ventspils, Kuldīga, Cape Kolkafine
Windy, milder winters, cooler late springs; beaches warm up only from late June.
- Inland east (Vidzeme, Latgale) · Sigulda, Cēsis, Daugavpils, Rēzeknebest weather
Colder, snowier winters and warmer summers; Gauja valley autumn colours peak late Sept – early Oct.
- Kurzeme: Kurzeme coast · Liepāja to Cape Kolkabest weather
Sea wind keeps the coast cooler than inland in summer; July–August is the only reliably warm window. Winter is dark and wet, with short daylight.
- Latgale: Latgale · Eastern Latvia, lake districtbest weather
Short warm season June–August; lakes warm enough to swim mid-summer. Winters are colder and snowier than the coast.
- Vidzeme: Gauja valley (Cēsis, Sigulda, Valmiera) · central Vidzemebest weather
May–September is the walking season; July and August are warmest, around 22 °C (72 °F) by day. Winter brings snow and cross-country skiing.May–September is the walking season; July and August are warmest, around 72 °F (22 °C) by day. Winter brings snow and cross-country skiing.
- Vidzeme: Eastern hills (Madona, Alūksne, Gulbene) · east Vidzemefine
Colder and snowier than the coast; Gaiziņkalns and the Madona ski slopes depend on a real winter.
- Zemgale: Zemgale plain · Jelgava, Bauska, Rundālebest weather
Continental and flat: cold, snowy winters; warm, sometimes wet summers. May–September is the window for the palace gardens and park trails.
- Riga17 °C (63 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 11 rain days
- Alūksne16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 9 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 9 rain days
- Bauska16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 5 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 5 rain days
- Cēsis17 °C (63 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 10 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 10 rain days
- Daugavpils18 °C (64 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 10 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 10 rain days
- Gulbene15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 11 rain days
- Jēkabpils18 °C (64 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 9 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 9 rain days
- Jelgava18 °C (64 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 9 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 9 rain days
- Jūrmala16 °C (61 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 10 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 10 rain days
- Kuldīga16 °C (61 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 9 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 9 rain days
- Liepāja15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 8 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 8 rain days
- Ligatne16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 9 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 9 rain days
- Limbaži17 °C (63 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 8 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 8 rain days
- Madona17 °C (63 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 10 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 10 rain days
- Rēzekne16 °C (61 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 9 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 9 rain days
- Salaspils16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 9 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 9 rain days
- Seda0 °C (32 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 0 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 0 rain days
- Sigulda17 °C (63 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 9 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 9 rain days
- Smiltene16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 10 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 10 rain days
- Straupe16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 6 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 6 rain days
- Strenči16 °C (61 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 6 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 6 rain days
- Tukums17 °C (63 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 9 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 9 rain days
- Valka17 °C (63 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 9 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 9 rain days
- Valmiera16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 8 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 8 rain days
- Ventspils15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 8 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 8 rain days
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
Labour Day and Constituent Assembly Day
1 May
Public holiday.
Restoration of Independence Day
4 May
Public holiday; events in Riga; moved to Monday when it falls at the weekend.
Labour Day
1 May · Riga
A public holiday; shops and sights closed.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Latvia
- Medium
- Prices · Latvia
- Medium
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Latvia, side by side.
Verdict
May: Great
Jun: Great
Crowds
May: Medium
Jun: High
Prices
May: Medium
Jun: High
Festivals listed
May: 3
Jun: 2
May: Green and bright; 4 May holiday; good month for Riga and Gauja.
June: Longest days; Līgo 23–24 June closes much of the country — spend it in the countryside or plan around it.
Latvia: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
Nothing unusual for the weather this month.
Where to go in May
Rated best or good this month
Riga and the Gulf coast
Best weather of the year (Riga, Jūrmala, Saulkrasti)
Inland east (Vidzeme, Latgale)
Best weather of the year (Sigulda, Cēsis, Daugavpils, Rēzekne)
Mild; terraces open.
Best months: May–Sep (Basilica feast days in Aug draw crowds)
Best months: May–Sep
Best months: May–September
Best months: May–Sep for trails and castle hours; Jul–Aug for festivals
Best months: May–Sep
Best months: May–Sep
Best months: May–Sep; Feb for the ice sculpture festival
Best months: Jun–Aug for the beach; May and Sep for quiet walks and lower prices
Best months: May–Sep