Sicily · Month comparison
November vs May
May ranks #1 overall vs November at #7. The undisputed best month — 23C, near-dry, schools in session, every site at its photogenic peak.
November
#7 of 12 months
Strong option
New olive oil pours and Palermo Christmas build-up — coastal beaches over, baroque towns at locals prices.
- ↑New-pressing olive oil at every market — taste fresh-pressed extra virgin in Trapani, Castelvetrano
- ↑Palermo and Catania at their most authentic — markets full of seasonal citrus, mushrooms, chestnuts
May
#1 of 12 months
Best match
The undisputed best month — 23C, near-dry, schools in session, every site at its photogenic peak.
- ↑23C with low humidity and 9 hours sun — perfect conditions for Etna trekking and temple visits
- ↑Infiorata di Noto on the third weekend — flower-petal carpets laid through the baroque town
| Factor | November | May |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 5 | 10 |
| Value score | 10 | 7 |
| Crowd score | 10 | 6 |
| Events score | 5 | 8 |
| Atmosphere | 7 | 10 |
| Avg high temp | 20°C | 23°C |
| Monthly rain | 80mm | 25mm |
| Daily sunshine | 5hrs | 9hrs |
November trade-offs
- ↓Wettest stretch of the year on average — multi-day storm systems
- ↓Coastal resorts effectively shuttered until April
May trade-offs
- ↓Sea at 19C — first viable swimming days only at the end of the month
- ↓Some south coast scirocco wind episodes can push temperatures briefly to 35C
Scores compare months within Sicily. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →