16 Best Places to Travel in May

Temperatures: Low 54° F • High 73° F

Highlights: Warm weather, culture, cuisine, beaches, museums, ancient ruins

Other recommended travel times: February • March • June • September • October • December

Italy is pure inspiration, and May creates a majestic ambiance for nature lovers and beach-goers within renowned cities across the peninsula.

Cultural riches stem from stunning architecture to treasured artworks, remote antique villages to preserved local recipes.

Italy not only celebrates the weather in May with a typical zest, but also enjoys the simple pleasures of daily life with inimitable style.

Learn more: Italy Tours & Vacations • Italy Travel Guide

Temperatures: Low 63° F • High 73° F

Highlights: Warm weather, culture, beaches, museums, cuisine, ancient ruins

Other recommended travel times: June • July • September • October

Ancient and chic, coastal and dramatic, Greece in May embodies the best of the Mediterranean. Warm weather, light crowds, and little chance of rain across the country give you the opportunity to embrace the wonderland of fascinating ruins and contemporary culture.

Delicious cuisine stems from traditional local flavors and life is filtered through the lens of unfettered passion for every detail. Greece is a treasure of untamed nature, stunning beaches, ancient spirit, and contemporary life.

Learn more: Greece Tours & Vacations • Greece Travel Guide

Temperatures: Low 55° F • High 75° F

Highlights: Warm weather, culture, beaches, museums, cuisine

Other recommended travel times: January • March • June • September • October

Spain boasts Mediterranean perfection in May. Culture abounds in the eclectic array of museums that demonstrate rich history and artistic grandeur, while the cities celebrate local flavors with delicious recipes connected to spring.

Moorish palaces and elegant cathedrals exude prestige, while vineyards and fields promote the lushness of the season. Spain is vibrant yet relaxing, as it finds the perfect blend between historic grandeur and modern daily life.

Learn more: Spain Tours & Vacations • Spain Travel Guide

Temperatures: Low 55° F • High 72° F

Highlights: Warm weather, culture, beaches, museums, cuisine

Other recommended travel times: January • June • July • September

Portugal is passionate and sophisticated, with May a quintessential time of year to visit as the weather warms at the coast, the northern wilderness offers cool nights, and the inland hills blossom beneath the golden Iberian sun.

The country awakens from winter to lush vineyards and blooming gardens. Portugal is inextricably connected to discovery and offers dramatic mountains, fairytale castles, chic cities, medieval villages, and picturesque beaches to explore.

Learn more: Portugal Tours & Vacations • Portugal Travel Guide

Temperatures: Low 54° F • High 70° F

Highlights: Culture, beaches, museums, cuisine, hiking

Other recommended travel times: February • October

Croatia is no longer a hidden gem, having become a crowning jewel on the Adriatic Sea. In May, the sapphire waters shimmer and ancient city walls offer a dramatic look into the past, set against lush and blossoming mountains.

Islands offer preserved traditions and stunning beaches, while cities reflect on their respective histories as they support contemporary life in celebrated cafes, restaurants, museums, and art galleries. Croatia highlights past empires and modern charm with mesmerizing beauty.

Learn more: Croatia Tours & Vacations • Croatia Travel Guide

Temperatures: Low 52° F • High 70° F

Highlights: Warm weather, culture, beaches, museums, cuisine

Other recommended travel times: June • July • September • December

Grace, charm, and sophistication describe the spirit of France. The essence of the country emerges in May, with the mild and comfortable spring weather spreading from the lavender fields in Provence to the rugged Normandy coast.

Paris offers essential cultural connections to masterpieces of art and equally celebrated cafe culture, but outside of the capital, romantic villages, gorgeous cathedrals, storybook castles, and gourmet flavors are essential for indulging in France’s indelible ambiance.

Learn more: France Tours & Vacations • France Travel Guide

Temperatures: Low 54° F • High 70° F

Highlights: Culture, cuisine, villages, hiking, scenery, museums

Other recommended travel times: July • August • September • December

Austria is urban elegance and outdoor sophistication.

The warmer weather in May brings an official end to winter, but does not yet see summer, giving you the chance to indulge in famous Habsburg opulence before the high-season crowds and while the mountains and riverbanks shimmer with emerald greenery.

Immense palaces, dramatic alpine peaks, dynamic trails, and inspiring museums all reflect Austria’s indelible charm and beauty in May.

Learn more: Austria Tours & Vacations • Austria Travel Guide

Temperatures: Low 45° F • High 62° F

Highlights: Culture, beaches, museums, cuisine, scenery

Other recommended travel times: September

Slovenia is an overlooked paradise. May brings perfection to the nearly landlocked landscape, where turquoise rivers wind beneath snowcapped peaks and the quiet architecture meets a narrow Venetian coastline.

Preserved culture meets sophisticated culinary heritage matched only by breathtaking natural beauty. Looming castles, a melting pot of cultural recipes, and endless outdoor adventures offer a marvelous slice of Slovenian life, with a touch of unforgettable grandeur.

Learn more: Slovenia Tours & Vacations

Temperatures: Low 52° F • High 59° F

Highlights: Culture, scenery, ancient ruins, museums

Other recommended travel times: March • May

Ireland in May is breathtaking and inviting. The dramatic landscape takes center stage as it erupts with color and supports a variety of wildlife, from the coastal cliffs to the countryside.

Whether in a bustling city singing to its own traditional rhythm or at a remarkable castle rich with flowers, Ireland embodies charm and majesty. Every step feels like a deeper venture into local history, coupled with adventurous possibilities.

Learn more: Ireland Tours & Vacations • Ireland Travel Guide

Temperatures: Low 45° F • High 60° F

Highlights: Culture, scenery, ancient ruins, museums

Other recommended travel times: April • June • September

The United Kingdom flourishes in May, when the flowers bloom and the grass shines emerald, while estates and cottages across the country encompass the perfect English countryside gardens.

From Wales to Scotland, England to Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom offers endless chances for preserved history and living traditions. With megaliths and Roman ruins, opulent palaces and rugged castles, the United Kingdom in May immerses you in the unforgettable.

Learn more: United Kingdom Tours & Vacations

Temperatures: Low 50° F • High 79° F

Highlights: Warm weather, water sports, wildlife, culture, beaches, scenery

Other recommended travel times: January • February • March • April • June •

August • September

May in South Africa is superb. The natural beauty across the country is timeless as the Southern Hemisphere’s fall sets in with warm days and cool nights. South Africa is a gift of golden savannas and serene deserts, inspiring wildlife and distinctive cultures.

The weather remains dry across each region of the country, making it perfect for shark diving and surfing or game drives and wine tasting, with each adventure offering a unique perspective of South Africa’s dynamic diversity.

Learn more: South Africa Tours & Vacations • South Africa Travel Guide

Temperatures: Low 40° F • High 59° F

Highlights: Culture, villages, museums, hiking, midnight sun

Other recommended travel times: February • June • July

May in Finland bursts with color and excitement as the entire country comes to life. Nature sprouts into being across the country, and locals spring into the warmth of the longer days as birds sing, flowers bloom, and the combination of countryside and urban culture make an irresistible majesty.

Whether encountering the untamed forests or embracing the Midnight Sun, exploring the electrifying design or exploring the sparsely populated archipelago, Finland in May delivers on its promises of unspoiled wonder.

Learn more: Finland Tours & Vacations • Finland: Where to Go, What to Do, the Weather & More

Temperatures: Low 49° F • High 68° F

Highlights: Warm weather, culture, cuisine, hiking, scenery, wildlife

Other recommended travel times: January • March • September • October • November

Ecuador is a kaleidoscope of wonders. In May, the days are warm, the nights are cool, and touches of rain bring greenery to the Andes in a country straddling the equator.

The Galapagos are inspiring in May and offer unparalleled chances to view pristine life found nowhere else in the world.

With colonial architecture, white-sand beaches, the immaculate Amazon rainforest, and the untouched natural splendor of the Galapagos, Ecuador is timeless and sublime.

Learn more: Galapagos Tours & Vacations • Galapagos Travel Guide

Temperatures: Low 69° F • High 82° F

Highlights: Warm weather, culture, beaches, water sports, cuisine

Other recommended travel times: July • October

Tahiti and French Polynesia are gems of the South Pacific that shine brightest in May as the dry season begins. The ideal weather spreads across the archipelago, revealing the enchanting natural beauty of black-sand volcanic coastlines and pearly white-sand beaches.

Luxurious bungalows rise above the quiet lagoons and lush jungles edge the celebrated shores. Villages, private islands, and pristine nature accentuate millennia of culture for an immersive combination of relaxation and exploration.

Learn more: Tahiti Tours & Vacations

Temperatures: Low 59° F • High 73° F

Highlights: Cherry blossoms, culture, temples, villages, cuisine

Other recommended travel times: March • April • October • November

Japan in May is pure delight, with the warm weather at the edge of spring seeing the entire country indulge in its natural wonder. With forests and plains, coastlines and cherry blossoms, Japan embodies a timeless quality infused with a modern edge.

Customary cuisine looms beneath high rises, hiking trails connect to ancient temples, and modern luxuries meet traditional accommodations. May is a spectacle when nature’s unforgettable charm accentuates daily life.

Learn more: Japan Tours & Vacations • Japan Travel Guide

Temperatures: Low 79° F • High 82° F

Highlights: Culture, temples, cuisine, villages, hiking, wildlife

Other recommended travel times: February • August • December

Sri Lanka is endlessly inspiring, with May transforming the country into a tropical paradise. Wilderness thrives in the protected national parks and the bustling cityscapes reflect daily modern life on the South Asian island.

The ambiance produces infinite excitement spanning millennia of culture, rolling surf, captivating wildlife, lush tea fields, and irresistible cuisine.

Learn more: Sri Lanka Tours & Vacations

May is the opening of summer or the beginning of winter around the world, promising a delightful experience no matter where you travel. The opportunities are endless, with exciting activities and enchanting scenery for your perfect trip. From cultural experiences to trekking jungle terrain, a remarkable beach getaway to enticing culinary tours, May is a great time to enjoy a personalized vacation.

Zicasso’s guide to the best places to visit by month has more information on ways to find your best destination, based on the time of year.