Things to Do in Catania in May
May weather, activities, events & insider tips
May Weather in Catania
Is May Right for You?
Advantages
- Perfect beach weather without the crushing summer heat - water temperature sits around 20°C (68°F), warm enough for swimming but the air stays comfortable at 26°C (78°F) highs. You'll actually want to walk around the city without melting.
- Shoulder season pricing means you're looking at 30-40% lower accommodation costs compared to July-August peak madness. Three-star hotels that run €150-200 in summer drop to €90-120 in May, and you can actually book decent places a week or two out instead of three months ahead.
- Mount Etna is incredibly active and accessible in May - the cable car typically opens for the season in late April, snow has mostly cleared from lower trails around 1,900m (6,230ft), but you still get those dramatic snow-capped summit views. The volcanic activity tends to be more visible in cooler months when steam plumes stand out against clear skies.
- Local produce hits peak season - blood oranges from the winter are wrapping up but you get the first cherries from the Etna foothills, fresh fava beans, artichokes, and strawberries flooding the markets. The fish markets have swordfish and tuna starting their migration season, which means better prices and fresher catches than winter months.
Considerations
- Weather genuinely is unpredictable in May - you might get five consecutive sunny days or three days of on-and-off drizzle. Those 10 rainy days are spread randomly throughout the month, not clustered, so you can't really plan around them. Locals just shrug and carry on, but if you're here for 3-4 days total, one rainy day is a bigger percentage of your trip.
- Some beach clubs and coastal restaurants haven't fully opened for season yet, particularly along the Riviera dei Ciclopi north of the city. They'll be open weekends but might have limited hours Monday-Thursday. The big lidos typically open by mid-May, but call ahead if you're planning a specific beach day before May 15th.
- The Scirocco wind from North Africa can blow through 2-3 days per month in May, bringing humidity spikes to 80-85% and hazy skies that obscure Etna views. When it hits, the city feels sticky and locals get irritable. It usually passes within 36-48 hours but it's genuinely uncomfortable while it lasts.
Best Activities in May
Mount Etna Summit Hikes and Crater Tours
May is actually one of the best months for Etna because the cable car and upper trails open for the season but summer crowds haven't arrived yet. Snow clears from the lower craters around 2,900m (9,500ft) by mid-May, though summit approaches above 3,200m (10,500ft) still require crampons some years. The volcano tends to be more active with visible lava flows in spring months, and morning temperatures at 1,900m (6,230ft) sit around 8-12°C (46-54°F) - cool enough for comfortable hiking without the summer heat exhaustion risk. Book tours that depart early morning around 8-9am to avoid afternoon clouds that roll in and obscure views by 2-3pm roughly 40% of May days.
Catania Fish Market and Street Food Walking Routes
The Pescheria fish market peaks in May when tuna and swordfish migration starts and morning temperatures around 16-18°C (61-64°F) make the 8am market walk comfortable instead of sweaty. May brings spring vegetables to the surrounding vendors - you'll see mountains of Etna strawberries, fava beans, and the last of the blood oranges. The market runs Monday-Saturday until around 1pm but the real action happens 8-10am. Street food vendors around Piazza del Duomo hit their stride in May weather - eating arancini and cipollina at 11am in 22°C (72°F) weather is far more pleasant than July's 35°C (95°F) heat.
Baroque Town Day Trips to Noto and Ragusa
The UNESCO baroque towns southeast of Catania are perfect in May before summer heat makes the stone streets unbearable. Noto is 90km (56 miles) south, about 90 minutes by car or bus, and the honey-colored limestone buildings look incredible in May's softer light compared to harsh summer glare. Temperatures there run 2-3°C (4-5°F) warmer than Catania, so you're looking at 24-28°C (75-82°F) afternoons - warm but walkable. The Infiorata flower festival sometimes happens in mid-May in Noto when they carpet Via Nicolaci in flower petal art, though dates vary by year. Ragusa Ibla is 105km (65 miles), about 2 hours away, less touristy and worth the extra distance if you have time.
Aci Trezza and Cyclops Coast Swimming
The Riviera dei Ciclopi just 10km (6 miles) north of Catania is where locals actually swim, and May is when the water becomes genuinely pleasant at 19-20°C (66-68°F) without the July-August beach crowds. The volcanic rock formations and Faraglioni sea stacks make for dramatic swimming spots, and several lidos open by mid-May with lounger rentals around €8-12 for the day. Water visibility peaks in May before summer algae blooms - you'll get 15-20m (50-65ft) visibility for snorkeling around the rocks. The medieval Norman castle in Aci Castello sits on a volcanic cliff right over the water and costs €6 entry with incredible coastal views.
Syracuse and Ortigia Island Exploration
Syracuse is 65km (40 miles) south, about an hour by train or car, and May weather makes it ideal for walking the Ortigia island old town and exploring the massive Greek archaeological park. The Teatro Greco amphitheater and Ear of Dionysius cave stay comfortable in May's 24-26°C (75-79°F) afternoons, while summer heat makes the exposed ruins genuinely exhausting by midday. The archaeological park covers about 2.5km (1.6 miles) of walking on uneven ancient stones - far more pleasant in May than July. Ortigia's narrow streets and waterfront promenade get that perfect golden hour light around 7-8pm in May when temperatures drop to 18-20°C (64-68°F).
Alcantara Gorges River Hiking and Body Rafting
The Alcantara Gorges about 50km (31 miles) north toward Taormina are at perfect water levels in May - high enough from spring snowmelt for dramatic flows but not the dangerous torrents of March-April. The volcanic basalt canyon reaches 20m (65ft) deep in sections, and May water temperatures around 12-14°C (54-57°F) are cold but manageable for the adventurous with wetsuits. Body rafting tours that navigate the canyon rapids work best in May before summer lowers water levels. If you're not into cold water, the upper gorge has walkways and viewing platforms that are spectacular in May weather without summer's tour bus crowds.
May Events & Festivals
Festa di Sant'Agata Relics Return
While the massive February festival is the famous one, locals celebrate the return of Sant'Agata's relics to the cathedral with smaller processions and church services around May 17th. It's not tourist-focused but if you're interested in seeing authentic local religious traditions without the overwhelming February crowds of 500,000+ people, this gives you a genuine glimpse. The cathedral stays open with special hours and some neighborhood processions happen in the evening around Via Etnea.
Infiorata Flower Festival in Noto
The baroque town of Noto, 90km (56 miles) south of Catania, sometimes hosts its Infiorata in mid-May where artists create massive flower petal carpets along Via Nicolaci. The date shifts year to year based on religious calendar, sometimes falling in late May, sometimes mid-May. When it happens, it's genuinely spectacular - intricate designs made from thousands of flower petals that take days to create. Worth planning a day trip around if the dates align with your visit, though confirm specific 2026 dates closer to your trip.