Australia
Canberra in May
🍂 AutumnCool and mostly dry.
🎒 Pack: warm jacket for evenings
Why May scores 9.3What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort8.9
- !Cool (17°C highs / 3°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point 4°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~32 mm rain)
- Air quality9.9
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~6 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline8.5
- ·Normal precautions
| May | Feb | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.3 Excellent | 9.7 Excellent |
| Season | 🍂 Autumn | ☀️ Summer |
| High / low | 17° / 3° | 28° / 14° |
| Rain | 32 mm | 55 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 4° | dew pt 12° |
| PM2.5 | 6 µg/m³ | 6 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Canberra Airport weather-station normals. Rainfall: Canberra Airport weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsMay 2027
No long holidaysNo long public-holiday weekends this month. School holidays aren't counted, so check those if you want to avoid family crowds.
No national public holidays in Australia this month.
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore CanberraEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyCanberra is Australia's purpose-built capital, laid out around Lake Burley Griffin. Travellers come for national museums and galleries, Parliament House and easy access to nature.
No major events on our calendar for May.
Coming up later
FloriadeDate variesDates vary; usually mid-September to mid-October
A large spring flower festival with tulip displays, music and food.
Why go: Spring is a popular time to visit, so book accommodation ahead.
Where: Commonwealth Park
Enlighten FestivalDate variesDates vary; usually late February to March
Major buildings are lit with projections, alongside food stalls and night events; the Canberra Balloon Spectacular often runs around the same time.
Why go: A good time to see the city's institutions at night.
Where: Parliamentary Triangle and around the city
Anzac DayEvery year25 April every year
A national day of remembrance with a dawn service and march.
Why go: The dawn service is very well attended; arrive early and dress warmly.
Where: Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial
A major museum and memorial covering Australia's military history.
💡 Stay for the Last Post Ceremony held near closing time each day.
Parliament House
Australia's federal parliament building, open to visitors with public galleries and a rooftop lawn.
💡 Check the sitting calendar if you want to watch Question Time.
National Gallery of Australia
The national art collection, with a strong focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.
Lake Burley Griffin
The central lake, ringed by walking and cycling paths that link many of the main sights.
💡 Hiring a bike is an easy way to get between the lakeside museums.
Mount Ainslie Lookout
A hilltop lookout with the classic view down Anzac Parade to Parliament House.
Canberra District wine
Cool-climate wines, especially shiraz and riesling, from the region around the city.
💡 Cellar doors around Murrumbateman and restaurants in town
Truffles
Black truffles grown in the region and featured on menus in winter.
💡 Restaurants and truffle farms during winter, roughly June to August
Meat pie
A classic Australian handheld pie filled with minced meat and gravy.
💡 Bakeries across the city
Local wine
Bottles from Canberra District wineries.
💡 Cellar doors and bottle shops
Aboriginal art and design
Prints, books and design items featuring Aboriginal artists.
💡 Museum and gallery shops, especially the National Gallery
Local crafts and produce
Handmade goods and regional food products.
💡 Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston on Sundays