Tenerife Weather in May - What's the weather like?

Published on March 24, 2023
TenerifeWeather in Tenerife
Tenerife may holidays canary islands
Tenerife in May - what temperatures can you expect? And it is a good month to visit? 

May is a good month to visit Tenerife if you are looking for a warm and peaceful holiday before the school year ends. The island starts blooming and the weather is perfect for sunbathing without being too overly hot that you have to hide from the scorching sun.

How is the weather in Tenerife in May

Following the tricky month of April, the weather starts to improve in Tenerife in May. There are far fewer chances of precipitation, especially if you are staying in Tenerife South.

The temperatures in the south of the island easily go up to 25°C during the daytime, but it will feel much hotter as it's the case in the general in the Canaries due to their position in latitude.

We feel like May can be considered as a summer month in Tenerife, since it is already warm enough on most nights to leave your jacket at home and go out wearing just a T-shirt. Also, the water temperature in May is around 20°C, which means it's warm enough to swim comfortably.

Tenerife South in May

Tenerife South is still warmer in May compared to the north of the island, although the temperatures start to rise all over the island.

Puerto de la Cruz still has more chances of cloudy weather in May, so if you're looking for a sunny holiday you should still choose Tenerife South as a base.

On most beaches in the south of Tenerife you can swim all year round, so in May you should have no problem in this regard. We love the beaches in Los Cristianos and Playa La Pinta as well, but as long as you choose a sheltered beach with a breakwater you should be able to go in the water just fine.

Temperatures in Tenerife in May

In the south of the island, the weather already starts to feel like proper summer, but the north can be quite warm as well in May. 

The temperatures below are from Tenerife South Airport.

  • Average high temperature: 23.9°C  (75°F)
  • Average low temperature: 17°C  (62.6°F)
  • Daily mean temperature: 20.4°C  (68.7°F)

In the north, you can expect temperatures a bit lower compared to the south, depending on the altitude. In cities like Puerto de la Cruz, La Laguna or Santa Cruz de Tenerife the temperatures during the day will usually be around 1°C lower than in the south.

In Tenerife South, the daily mean temperature is 20.4°C  (68.7°F) in May, which is calculated as a mean between the average high temperature of 23.9°C  (75°F) and the average low of 17°C  (62.6°F). 

Record low & record high temperatures

The highest temperature ever recorded in Tenerife in May (at Tenerife South Airport station) was 36.4°C(97.5°F) and the lowest temperature was 12°C  (53.6°F).

Rainfall

  • Average rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm) in Tenerife South in May: 3
  • Average rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm) in Santa Cruz in May: 0.3

May is a much drier month compared to April in Tenerife, as the chances for precipitation drop by half.

Teide tenerife 600 250

The north of Tenerife gets in average around 3 wet days in the month of May and the closer it gets to June, the chances of rain or drizzle drop significantly.

If you're planning a holiday to Tenerife in the month of May, rain should not put you off. The chances are very slim for this to happen or to affect your holiday too much. At this moment in the year, there are big chances that if you get into a rental car and drive for half an hour you will still encounter a bit of sun somewhere around the island.

Sunshine hours

Tenerife gets an average of 8 hours/day of sunshine in May.

Sea temperature 

Can you swim in Tenerife in May? 

Although the sea temperature above might seem low to some, we can assure you that the water does not have the same temperature everywhere. We've been able to enjoy the ocean and swim in any month we've visited, so May makes no exception. We even went several times to swim at Playa Las Teresitas during the winter months, so in the south of Tenerife, it's definitely possible to enjoy the sea in May.

What's Tenerife like in May

The data below is from the weather station at Tenerife South Airport. They represent the weather averages for the month of May.

MAY Weather Averages  Tenerife South Airport
Average high temperature 23.9°C  (75°F)
Daily mean temperature 20.4°C  (68.7°F)
Average low temperature 17°C  (62.6°F)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 245
Percent possible sunshine -
Mean monthly daylight hours 405
Average Ultraviolet index 10
Average sea temperature 19.6°C / 67.3°F

Tenerife is pleasantly warm in May, with hot days sometimes, perfect for long beach days. May is usually a quiet month in Tenerife, so it's a good time to visit if you're looking for a relaxing and laid-back holiday.

What to do in Tenerife in May

As the largest Canary Island, Tenerife offers an array of activities for any kind of traveler.

There are so many things to do in Tenerife that you simply can't get bored here and we strongly recommend you to go out and explore the natural beauty of the island.

This is why, if we have to pick just one thing that you simply MUST DO in Tenerife in May, this would be:

Go to Las Canadas de Teide in May and see the Tajinaste in bloom!

Tajinaste tenerife
Tajinaste plant in bloom in Tenerife in Las Canadas de Teide

The Tajinaste Rojo is a flowering plant, endemic to the island of Tenerife and it's found mainly in the area of Las Canadas.

The flower starts to bloom around the second week of May and it grows up to 3 meters high.

You will see lots of people stopping on the side of the road inside Teide National Park just to take a beautiful photo of the tajinaste plant. If you're visiting Tenerife in May it would be a shame to miss this special occasion to see the tajinaste in bloom. Once the plant produces its seeds it dies and the beautiful red color goes with it and only the skeleton remains, which can be seen even in winter.

Spend the day at the best water park in Spain

lost city siam park
Siam Park is the best water park in Spain!

Siam Park has been voted as the best water park in the world by Tripadvisor users, so it's fair to say it is the best water park in Spain as well.

Even with no official title, we would still recommend Siam Park in May. During the summer months, the parks get really busy, so May is still a month where you can avoid the big crowds and the weather should be warm enough to enjoy a full day at the park.

Go to Playa de las Teresitas in May

playa de las teresitas
Playa de Las Teresitas, with soft golden sand - near Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Since the weather in May in Tenerife starts to get pretty warm towards the end of the month even in the north of the island, we would recommend you to stay on the lookout for a sunny day and go spend it on the beach of Las Teresitas.

This is one of the most beautiful beaches in Tenerife and the only one with golden sand in the north. Playa Las Teresitas is quite popular with locals during the summer months and in May you have a window of opportunity to enjoy it while it's still relatively quiet. Once the season for the summer holidays starts, this beach will be packed with locals and tourists as well, so you better head there in May to beat the crowds.

Events in May

Celebrate Dia de Canarias (Canary Islands Day) on May 30th in Tenerife

Dia de Canarias has been celebrated in the Canary Islands since 1983 and it is a bank holiday on all the islands.

Tenerife Walking Festival

This event is usually organized in May.

Tenerife is a popular destination for walking and trekking and this is an event aimed at hikers from all over the continent. There are several types of hikes and you do need to book online ahead of time, as the event is quite popular and some of the hikes get booked fast.

FAQ about visiting Tenerife in May

Is Tenerife hot in May?

Hot days can happen in Tenerife in May, although the weather is usually pleasantly warm, just perfect for sunbathing.

Is May a good time to visit Tenerife?

Yes, May is a perfect time to visit, especially if you want to see the beautiful flowers tajinaste rojo in bloom.

How hot is Tenerife in the evenings in May?

Usually in May in the evenings it's warm enough to wear short sleeves, dresses and short trousers, especially if you're staying in the south if Tenerife, Just in case, might be a good idea to bring a cardigan with you, or at least a denim jacket.

Can you swim in Tenerife in May?

Yes, you can definitely swim in the ocean in Tenerife in May. Actually, it is possible to swim all year round in Tenerife, although some people might find the sea too cold during the winter months.

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