Things to Do in St. John's in May
May weather, activities, events & insider tips
May Weather in St. John's
Is May Right for You?
Advantages
- Shoulder season pricing means accommodation costs drop 20-30% compared to summer peak, with last-minute deals available 7-10 days out instead of the usual 3-week advance booking window
- The 16-18 hours of daylight in May give you genuinely long days to explore - sunrise around 5:30am, sunset past 9pm - meaning you can fit Signal Hill at dawn and Cape Spear at sunset in the same day without rushing
- Iceberg season peaks in late May along the coast, with Twillingate and Fogo Island reporting 15-25 sightings per week typically - you're catching the tail end but still have solid odds, and the crowds thin out considerably after Victoria Day weekend
- The city shakes off winter hibernation and locals are actually out - George Street patios open, farmers markets start up, and there's a palpable energy that the dark months are finally over, making it easier to experience the genuine St. John's rather than the tourist-facing version
Considerations
- Weather is genuinely unpredictable - that 26°C (79°F) high and 10°C (50°F) low aren't different days, they're the range you might experience, and you can get all four seasons in a single afternoon, which makes planning outdoor activities frustrating
- Those 10 rainy days in the data are misleading - fog is the real issue in May, rolling in without warning and cutting visibility to 50 m (164 ft) or less, which cancels boat tours and makes coastal drives like the Irish Loop genuinely dangerous
- Spring runoff and lingering ice mean many hiking trails in the interior are still muddy or partially closed - East Coast Trail sections are usually fine, but anything inland like Gros Morne backcountry routes might not be fully accessible until early June
Best Activities in May
East Coast Trail Coastal Hiking
May is actually ideal for the East Coast Trail sections near St. John's - the 26°C (79°F) highs make strenuous coastal climbs comfortable rather than sweaty, and the trails are dry enough to avoid the June mud but not yet packed with July tour groups. The Spout Path and Cape Spear sections offer iceberg viewing from clifftops without needing a boat tour. That 70% humidity sounds high but the ocean breeze keeps it manageable, and the variable conditions mean you get dramatic coastal weather without the bitter wind chill of April.
Twillingate and Fogo Island Iceberg Tours
Late May is your last realistic window for iceberg viewing before they melt or drift north. Twillingate typically sees 15-25 bergs per week in May, and the boat tour operators know exactly where to find them. The variable weather actually works in your favor - overcast days make the ice blue pop dramatically in photos, and that warm-humid feeling at 26°C (79°F) means you're comfortable on deck with just a windbreaker. Fogo Island adds the architectural draw of the famous inn and artist studios, making it worthwhile even if bergs are scarce.
George Street Pub Crawl Experience
May is when George Street actually comes alive after winter - patios open for the season, locals celebrate the longer days, and you avoid the dense July crowds of cruise ship passengers. The 9pm sunset means you can do dinner at 7pm and still have evening light before the pub scene kicks off around 10pm. That 70% humidity makes the packed indoor venues sweaty by midnight, but stepping between pubs in 15°C (59°F) evening temps is perfectly comfortable. Traditional music sessions happen most nights, and May audiences are more local than tourist, giving you the authentic kitchen party vibe.
Cape Spear and Southern Shore Scenic Driving
The 16-18 hours of daylight in May make the Southern Shore drive genuinely doable as a day trip - you can leave St. John's at 8am, hit Cape Spear for sunrise lighthouse views, continue down to Ferryland for lunch, explore Bay Bulls for puffin colony overlooks, and still be back by 6pm with evening light to spare. That variable weather creates dramatic coastal scenery with fog banks rolling across headlands, though you need to accept that visibility might drop to nothing for 30-minute stretches. The 26°C (79°F) highs mean car AC is enough without being oppressive.
Quidi Vidi Village and Local Brewery Circuit
May is prime time for Quidi Vidi - the fishing village is just 10 minutes from downtown but feels worlds away, and the brewery patio opens for the season with those long evening hours making 6pm visits feel leisurely rather than rushed. The village sits in a protected inlet so even on foggy days you often get clearer conditions here than at Cape Spear. Local art studios and craft shops open for summer season in early May, and you catch them before the tour bus rush starts in June. That 70% humidity actually helps - the ocean breeze through the gut keeps things fresh.
Signal Hill and Battery Historic Walks
The UV index of 8 and those 26°C (79°F) highs make Signal Hill surprisingly pleasant in May - you're getting full sun exposure on the exposed hilltop but without the baking heat of July. The 10°C (50°F) morning lows mean starting at 7am for sunrise is brisk but manageable with a fleece layer, and you beat the fog that often rolls in by 10am. Cabot Tower offers 360-degree views on clear days, and the North Head Trail down to the Battery neighborhood takes 45 minutes down, 75 minutes back up with that 160 m (525 ft) elevation gain. May weekdays see maybe 20-30 other visitors versus 200+ on summer weekends.
May Events & Festivals
Victoria Day Weekend
The May long weekend marking the unofficial start of summer in Canada - typically the third Monday in May, so May 18 in 2026. This is when locals flood Signal Hill for the ceremonial cannon firing, George Street sees its first genuinely packed weekend, and accommodations book solid. It's a statutory holiday so expect some businesses closed Monday but festivals and outdoor events ramping up. Weather is still a gamble but the energy shift is noticeable.
St. John's Farmers Market Opening
The outdoor season at the Farmers Market on freshwater Road typically kicks off first or second Saturday of May, running 9am-2pm. This is where you find local producers selling everything from partridgeberry jam to smoked capelin to handknit wool sweaters. It's genuinely local rather than tourist-focused, and May is when spring vegetables and greenhouse greens start appearing after the long winter. The indoor market runs year-round but the outdoor expansion signals summer's arrival.