Tallinn weather in May
May in Tallinn: cool, a little rain — an excellent time to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#4 of 12 months in Tallinn · #714 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 81/100 (tier A)
- Days
- 16°C
- Nights
- 6°C
- Wet days
- 6
- Sun
- 13.1 h
- Humidity
- 66%
- Daylight
- 17 h

Traveller notes on Tallinn in May
Regulars describe May here as genuinely unpredictable within a single day, one visitor recalling rain, strong wind, hail, sunshine and a swing from 15C to 25C all inside a few hours. Our monthly row averages that volatility down to 16.4C reading as 14C over 5.6C nights feeling 2C, with 32.7mm of rain across 5.9 days and a trace of snow, 0.3cm, still possible early in the month. Their consistent call is that mid to late May is the nicest stretch of the year here, cool being just as likely as warm rather than a given either way. Pack rainproofs and a t-shirt both, and a jacket for evenings regardless of how the day went. The sea stays cold at 7.9C. The record: humidity 66 percent, 13.1 hours of sun, an 18.8 kph wind and AQI 61.
Other months in Tallinn
Regulars are consistent this month is genuinely hard to predict even by Baltic standards, capable of pleasant, mild stretches especially early on or a run of chill wind and heavy rain with little warning either way. Our row backs that cool, genuinely wet read, 17.1C over 9.5C nights feeling 7C, with 69.6mm of rain across 9.9 days and humidity at 81 percent. Regulars are specific that snow is not a realistic concern this early, the real planning issue is rain and wind rather than cold, and that packing both rain gear and some lighter layers covers most of what the month can bring. Regulars are consistent the Old Town stays genuinely worth walking regardless, umbrella in hand. The sea sits at a cool 17.7C. The record: 8.3 hours of sun, a 21.6 kph wind and AQI 41.
Regulars point at late August rather than August: the European school terms restart, people go back to work, and the city thins while the weather still holds - once September starts they call it less predictable. The other half of the advice is hourly, not weekly. The ship tours work the old town through the day and are gone by late afternoon, so an early morning or an evening there is a different place from a midday one. Our row gives 21.8C days over 13.1C nights with 99.5mm across 11.4 days, 11 hours of sun inside 15.5 of daylight, and a 19.9C sea. The record: humidity 78 percent, a 20 kph wind and AQI 44.
July is Tallinn's warmest month and the one regulars name, with summer averages around 20C rising to 30 in a hot spell and visitors reporting 23 to 27 - our row gives 22.7C days over 13.7C nights - though they add that cool weather with rain is not unknown. June and July are the sunniest months, and our row's 13.2 hours of sun under nearly 18 hours of daylight is why their best advice is about timing rather than packing: the long evenings are the nicest part of the day for seeing the Old Town, which is otherwise fairly crowded through July and August. The record: 10.4 precipitation days carrying 69.2mm, humidity 75 percent and an 18.2C sea.
Tallinn forum threads describe January as cold and genuinely snowy, with typical temperatures cited between 0 and -15C, though posters noted a preceding cold snap once reached -27C the week before a January visit, illustrating how much the range can shift. Recent winters were described as the snowiest in a while, with posters specifically recommending late January for the best chance of fresh snow cover on the ground. Daylight was flagged as genuinely short and dark through December and January, though posters noted the light noticeably lengthens as the month goes on. Despite the cold and dark, posters were consistently positive about a January visit - many called it their favorite season here, with the snow-covered Old Town looking genuinely beautiful and none of the cruise-ship crowds that clog the streets in summer.
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Tallinn climate normals — May
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Tallinn in May
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Shoulder seasonschool holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Tallinn's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherTallinn's weather peaks June–August, best around July.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Tallinn in May
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Festival
Jazzkaar
20 Apr – 5 May · usuallyMusic festivalEstonia's main jazz festival, running since 1990, takes over Telliskivi and concert halls for about a week from late April into the first days of May. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Tallinn — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Tallinn?
Tallinn in May — FAQ
- Is May a good time to visit Tallinn?
- May in Tallinn: cool, a little rain — an excellent time to visit. It ranks #4 of 12 months for Tallinn on SeasonMap's comfort score (81/100).
- What is the weather like in Tallinn in May?
- In May, Tallinn averages a daily high of 16.4°C and a low of 5.6°C, with about 32.7 mm of rain over roughly 5.9 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Tallinn in May?
- Tallinn has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 61 in May.
Within 300 km: Helsinki's Vappu on 30 Apr – 1 May, and Riga's Riga Marathon on 16–17 May.