China (Hong Kong SAR), Asia

Hong Kong in May

The rains arrive and the Labour Day holiday brings mainland visitors in early May. Festivals like Cheung Chau's buns help.

TradeoffsHot and humid, highs near 83F (28C), rainy season starting

Victoria Harbour Hong Kong, China (Hong Kong SAR) — Hong KongPhoto: Wilfredor, CC0

The straight answer

May is a month of real tradeoffs in Hong Kong. The rains arrive and the Labour Day holiday brings mainland visitors in early May. Festivals like Cheung Chau's buns help.

Weather: Hot and humid, highs near 83F (28C), rainy season starting
Crowds: 3 of 5
Prices: 3 of 5

What May is like in Hong Kong

May is when Hong Kong turns hot, humid and rainy. Highs are near 83F (28C), and the rainy season starts, with heavy downpours between steamy sunny spells. The Labour Day holiday in early May brings mainland visitors, so Disneyland, Ocean Park and the Peak get busy that week. Crowds and prices are otherwise moderate. The festival calendar helps make up for the weather.

It suits festival lovers and travelers happy to mix indoor and outdoor plans. Families should avoid the Labour Day week at the theme parks. If you want comfortable hiking and clear views, this is a weak month, and October to December are far better.

Make the most of May

What is especially good about Hong Kong this month.

Cheung Chau Bun Festival

Around Buddha's Birthday, the island holds floating parades and the midnight bun-scrambling race. Ferries are packed, so go early.

Dragon boat season begins

In some years, the Dragon Boat Festival races at Stanley and Aberdeen land in late May.

Rainy-day museums

M+, the Science Museum and the Hong Kong Museum of History are great escapes from downpours.

What to pack for May

A sturdy compact umbrella
Quick-dry clothes and sandals
A light layer for cold air-conditioning
Sunscreen for sunny spells

Our timing tip

Avoid the theme parks and the Peak during the early May Labour Day holiday week, when mainland crowds make lines balloon.

Book Hong Kong for May.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Hong Kong
Opens a hotel search for Hong Kong in May, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for May
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Vacation rentals in Hong Kong
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
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Tours and tickets in Hong Kong
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Hong Kong for May. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in May

Cheung Chau Bun Festival

Late April or May, around Buddha's Birthday

Floating parades and the midnight bun-scrambling race on Cheung Chau island. Ferries are packed; go early.

Dragon Boat Festival (Tuen Ng)

Late May to June, set by the lunar calendar

Races at Stanley, Aberdeen, and the harbor. Loud, joyful, and wet.

Things to do in Hong Kong

Full guide

Victoria Peak

Go up on a clear, dry day (so October to December) and time it for late afternoon so you see the city in daylight and then lit up. The tram line gets long by late morning.

Tickets and tours →

Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour

The Tsim Sha Tsui to Central crossing takes under ten minutes and is the cheapest great view in Asia. Ride it at dusk.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Tian Tan Buddha via Ngong Ping 360

The cable car over Lantau is spectacular in clear weather and pointless in fog. Weekday mornings avoid the queues.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

M+ museum

Asia's big museum of visual culture on the West Kowloon waterfront. A perfect rainy-day or typhoon-season fallback.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Dragon's Back and the country parks

The classic ridge hike ends at Big Wave Bay beach. Best from October to March; in summer start at dawn and carry more water than you think.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Happy Valley races

Wednesday night racing under the lights with the skyscrapers towering over the track. The season runs roughly September to mid July.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Avoid the mainland Golden Week holidays (roughly May 1 to 5 and October 1 to 7): Tsim Sha Tsui, the Peak, and Disneyland are at their most crowded.
Take the Peak up on a weekday right after opening, or walk up the Old Peak Road, and skip the tram queue entirely.
Do the big hikes on weekdays. Weekend trailheads on the Dragon's Back and Lion Rock have lines for the bus and the photo spots.
Dim sum halls are calmest right when they open (often 7am to 9am) and slammed at weekend lunch. Go early and eat like a local.

Know before you go

Chinese New Year: the first two to three days close many independent restaurants, market stalls, and small shops. Malls, hotels, and major attractions mostly stay open.
Typhoon Signal 8 or higher and Black Rainstorm warnings close offices and many attractions, suspend ferries and most buses, and cancel the Ngong Ping cable car. The underground MTR usually keeps running.
Ngong Ping 360 runs periodic maintenance closures and suspends in high wind; check before you trek out to Lantau.
Happy Valley and Sha Tin racing pause in the summer off-season, roughly mid July to early September.

Hong Kong in May, quick answers

Is May a good time to visit Hong Kong?

May is a month of real tradeoffs in Hong Kong. The rains arrive and the Labour Day holiday brings mainland visitors in early May. Festivals like Cheung Chau's buns help.

What is the weather like in Hong Kong in May?

Hot and humid, highs near 83F (28C), rainy season starting.

Is Hong Kong crowded in May?

Crowds in Hong Kong are moderate in May; timed bookings still help at the biggest sights.

What is happening in Hong Kong in May?

Cheung Chau Bun Festival (late april or may, around buddha's birthday); Dragon Boat Festival (Tuen Ng) (late may to june, set by the lunar calendar).