Shetland Islands in May
Great time to visit
May hits the sweet spot with decent weather, incredible wildlife, and the islands coming fully alive. This is when Shetland shows you why people fall in love with it.
Weather
May delivers the goods with long daylight hours and surprisingly mild temperatures. Rain still happens but tends to come in proper showers rather than endless drizzle. The wind calms to refreshing rather than punishing most days.
12°C high7°C low12 rain days
Crowds & Cost
moderate crowds
~$120/day average
Events & Festivals
- •Shetland Folk Festival
- •Peak puffin viewing
- •Simmer Dim begins (long daylight)
May Tips
- •Book accommodation 2-3 months ahead for Folk Festival weekend
- •Bring binoculars for puffin watching at Sumburgh Head
- •Days stretch to 18+ hours of daylight by month's end
All Months
May through August offers the warmest weather and longest days. In June, the sun sets after 11 PM and rises before 4 AM - locals call this endless twilight the 'simmer dim.' Temperatures reach a heady 15°C on good days.
But here's the thing about Shetland weather: it changes hourly. Pack for four seasons regardless of when you visit. The islands sit in the path of Atlantic storms, and wind speeds regularly hit 40 mph.
Winter brings the Northern Lights and Up Helly Aa, Europe's largest fire festival. January temperatures hover around 3°C, but the Gulf Stream keeps it milder than you'd expect this far north. Just expect only 6 hours of daylight.
Bird watchers should time visits around migration seasons - May for arrivals, August for departures. Puffins nest from May to July on cliffs around Sumburgh Head and Fair Isle.
Shetland Islands Scores
Solo
7/10
Couples
6/10
Families
5/10
Adventure
7/10
Budget
5/10
Luxury
4/10
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