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

May is cool or mild in southern Norway's low elevations where the big cities are. Daylight lasts 17 hours on average! Nights are cold generally. In the north, it freezes every day generally, but nights are only about 2 hours of twilight! You can tour with moderate prices.

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

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• 1.Weather Overview
• 2.Best Places to Visit
• 3.Touring Advice
• 4.What to Wear

Norway Weather in May: Overview

Averages:

• Temperature range: 6–14°C (42–56°F)
• Total rain/snow: 7 cm (3 inches)
• Days with rain/snow: 11
• Humidity: 74%
• Sunshine hours/day: 7 hours

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

In May, the far south of Norway where Oslo, Bergen, and other big cities are usually has cool or mild days and cold nights. This region has an average of 17 hours of daylight and a whopping 7 hours of sunshine. The abundant light lifts people's moods and is something to experience.

Southern region: Oslo, Stavanger and other big cities are near the southern coast at about 60° degrees latitude. The highs are an average of 15°C (59°F). The average nightly low is 7°C (45°F). The rainfall is low to moderate. There is much daylight for seeing the sights.

Northern region: Arctic tourism towns such as Tromsø are within the Arctic Circle and north of latitude 69°. The average daily highs are about 8°C (46°F) or below depending on the latitude. The lows are around 2°C (36°F). There is an average of 22 hours of daylight and low snowfall/rainfall.

The Best Places to Visit in Norway in May

Touring in May features long cool days lasting 17 to 22 hours on average, depending on latitude, during which you can do a variety of activities. In the south, you can tour the cities, hike, and see epic scenery. The northern arctic towns have more exotic scenery and activities.

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1. Oslo — Experience Natural Settings and Visit the Highlights

In the Norwegian Capital, the average daily high is a mild 17°C (63°F), and the moderate humidity of about 62% makes it feel even more pleasant. At night, it's cold with an average low of 7°C (45°F). There are 17 hours of daylight and 8 hours of sunshine on average.

The abundant light makes sightseeing, touring and shopping easier and more pleasant. A gentle, picturesque walking path that we recommend goes 3 kilometers (2 miles) around a lake by forested hillsides near the Sognsvann metro station. May is also excellent for visiting the fjords where waterfalls, full of snowmelt, roar.

The rainfall is low, so dry weather usually helps to make walking and hiking pleasurable. You might enjoy walking through the Old Town area to see historical construction or strolling along a historic pedestrian street such as Karl Johans. Prices and crowds are moderate, and they increase around the several public holidays. See below.

2. Ålesund — See the Town and the Beautiful Fjords

Ålesund is a port town on the western coast of Norway at the entrance to Geirangerfjord. You could use the town as your base for exploring this more central part of the coast at latitude 62°. Because it is more northerly, it is a little cooler than Bergen and Stavanger.

The average highs are a cool 10°C (50°F). The nightly lows average 6°C (43°F). There is an extra hour of daylight than in the south, making about 18 hours of daylight on average. There are about 6 hours of sunshine on average for added warmth. The rainfall is moderate.

The adjacent hill called Aksla is a place for a good hike and for picturesque views of  Ålesund and the sea. You could take a cruise from Ålesund to a famous fjord called Geirangerfjord that has waterfalls. The fjord is an extension of the fjord for which the town is a gateway.

3. Bergen — Hike Famed Paths and See the Fjords and Waterfalls

Bergen is another port city with epic natural places to hike to see fjords and waterfalls. It is Norway's second largest Norwegian city. The weather is sunny and warm for hiking and sightseeing. There are 8 hours of sunshine, and the average daily high is 15°C (59°F).

The average low is 7°C (45°F). There is low rainfall, and May is usually the month with least rain, so it is a good time to go out and see the waterfalls with torrents of water and colorful wildflowers on the mountains and fjords.

You could walk in the city center to watch the holiday celebrations and parades on Constitution Day and see the German historical places and traditional Swedish buildings. You can take public transport up nearby hills to see the scenery, and with 17 hours of daylight, there is plenty of time for sightseeing.

4. Bodø — Enjoy Arctic Scenery and Culture

Bodø is a town of about 50,000 just inside the Arctic Circle at latitude 67° that gets an average of 20 hours of daylight per day in May! It is known as the place to go for summer adventures, and by the end of May, it doesn't really get dark.

All the light lets you see the scenery of white mountains and sea for longer each day, and you'll have more daylight to watch the holiday celebrations and events of May. Bodø is known in Europe for arts and entertainment. It was awarded with the title of European Capital of Culture in 2024. It is also known for Sami culture.

The temperatures are similar to those of Ålesund, and daily averages range from 10°C (50°F) to 4°C (40°F). The rainfall is moderate, and there are 7 hours of sunlight on average. Bodø is known for its many good, natural hiking paths along sharp peaks and coastline.

Moderate Tourism Season: Touring Advice for May

There are moderate crowds and moderate prices in May, except when big events and national holidays occur, such as Labor Day or Constitution Day (May 17). During holidays, expect the Norwegians to be out travelling and enjoying the outdoors too.

In May, people in Norway can enjoy mild sunny weather with moderate prices before tourism peaks around the summer solstice in June. May is one of the best months for hiking, as blossoming flowers and rushing waterfalls beckon people to go out and enjoy the warmth and light.

There are several public holidays in May, when there is an increase in prices for accommodations and flight tickets. You might want to book ahead if you are planning to go around the public holidays.

Public holidays in May:

• Labor Day, celebrated on May 1 annually, is a public holiday affording a day off, and schools and businesses close. 
• Ascension Day is May 29, 2025. It is a public holiday, and schools and businesses close. The holiday is always 39 days after Easter, on a Thursday. Many people have a day off on the following Friday. It commemorates the day the Lord Jesus ascended into heaven.
• Constitution Day is May 17, 2025. It is a public holiday, and banks, schools, and businesses close. It commemorates when the Norwegians became independent of Denmark in 1814. It is Norway's biggest celebration. There are parades in every town involving children, organizations, and perhaps the military, concerts, special music, decorations, and holiday food in the cities and towns.
• Pentecost Sunday and Whit Monday (or Pinse as it's called in Norwegian) are June 8 and June 9, 2025, respectively. Pentecost is 10 days after Ascension Day and commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit to Jesus' followers in Jerusalem.

What to Wear in May

May has unpredictable and sometimes stormy weather although the total rainfall is generally low. To dress comfortably, dress in layers with a jacket. If you are going to the mountains or colder climates in the north, wear a thick coat or polar-level outdoor clothing. 

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

• Comfortable shoes with good traction
• Warm waterproof boots with good traction for the outdoors. You might wear them in-flight to travel lightly.
• Heavy winter coat and warm hat
• Rain gear
• Swimwear if you want to visit hot springs and spas
• Cardigans or thermals
• Gloves
• Polarized glasses

Monthly Weather and Travel Information for Norway

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