Weather in St. Petersburg Russia in May

By the time May rolls around, the long Baltic winter has departed St. Petersburg. Spring is well established, and the famous White Nights begin in late May and early June. If you think of visiting St. Petersburg Russia in May, you might find this article helpful when planning your trip.
Weather in St. Petersburg Russia in May

May Weather can be unpredictable. The temperatures can vary from a distinctly cool 3C to a comfortable 15C. It might be dry – but then, showers are not uncommon either. It’s not dissimilar to May weather in the north of England or Scotland, so visitors from these areas will have a very good idea of what to expect. 

For everyone else, the unpredictability can make it difficult to know what to wear. If you are on a Baltic cruise to St Petersburg, you might be having a hard time figuring out what to pack into a relatively small cabin. And the only answer is to take a little bit of everything.  A cleverly planned capsule wardrobe should allow you to dress in layers, and mean that you won’t have to carry any bulky items of clothing.

Pack a pair of shorts and a t-shirt in case you get lucky. On the other hand, the sun might not smile on your visit. For this eventuality, you will need jeans or trousers and a fleece – or, for ladies who are going somewhere formal, thick tights and a long-sleeved cardigan for wearing with a smart dress. But don’t go mad – it’s extremely unlikely to snow, or for the temperature to go below freezing, in St Petersburg Russia in May.

The key thing is to be prepared – just like a boy scout. When you set off in the morning, pack a lightweight fleece, a light raincoat or a folding umbrella, and a pair of light sandals. These items can easily be stowed in your day pack, meaning you’ll be able to cope if the weather changes.

More generally, Russians in St Petersburg wear the same clothes as you’d find in any large, cosmopolitan city. What’s in fashion in London or New York is also going to be en vogue here. Female visitors shouldn’t worry about wearing miniskirts or low cut tops as these are fine – but do take a shawl or something to cover up with if you’re planning on visiting a church.

If you are on a cruise in the Baltic Sea, remember that there is relatively little variation between the destinations that you are likely to visit. You won’t need to pack a different set of clothes for St Petersburg that you would for Tallinn, Helsinki or Stockholm.

The key thing to remember is that May is a fabulous time to visit St. Petersburg. There are some amazing festivals, yet the tourist season isn’t yet in full swing, so museums and cathedrals are quieter than they would be in July and August.

And if you run out of suitable clothes – well, you’ll just have to go shopping. Given the range of shops in St Petersburg, from fashionable boutiques to markets where you can score a bargain, this isn’t such a bad prospect!

Did you know you can enter Russia visa-free if you are travelling by cruise ship or ferry?

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