Editor’s update: This article was originally published in September 2019 and updated in June 2022.
Picking your next destination isn’t easy, but there’s a better way than spinning a big globe, closing your eyes and slamming your finger down (it’ll probably end up in middle of the Atlantic, and wifi there is patchy to say the least). Introducing our ultimate month-by-month destination guide: your no-fuss list of places to go, things to see, and good weather to chase around the world.
Today we’re looking at where to travel in May, a balmy, sunshine-in-a-bowl sort of month, particularly for the northern hemisphere. Europe wakes up from its winter slumber, tables and vino glasses start appearing on cobbled sidewalks, beaches in the Caribbean and the Med begin to buzz, and the world puts its metaphorical feet up with a good John Grisham novel. Here’s where you should be looking for that perfect May getaway.
Top 10 destinations to travel in May
1. Nepal
If you’ve been wanting to knock Base camp off your bucket list, May is a damn good time to do it. The June rains haven’t hit the Himalayas yet, and the skies are usually duck-egg blue, no mist in sight (when you trek a thousand feet for good views, it’s nice to be able to see them when you get there.) The trails from Namche to Base camp will be pretty busy during this month, so give the Annapurna Circuit some serious consideration (Chitwan NP is also a good bet if you’re worried about potential Yetis.) May is also Buddha’s birthday month, and you’ll be hard pressed to avoid the madal-beating, street-dancing celebrations that break out all over Nepal. Our tip? If you’re after the biggest party, head to Bhaktapur or Patan.
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READ MORE: WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE TREKKING EVEREST BASE CAMP
2. Greece
It’s the classic shoulder season gamble: temperamental weather, but the promise of much smaller crowds. Greece in May is no different. If you’re after long days at the beach and a sun powerful enough to give your handbag a tan, visit in June or August when the weather is perfect. But if you’re after Crete, Santorini, Athens and the Parthenon sans tourist hordes, May is ideal. The weather should hover around 21°C (69°F) – perfect for strolling the old streets of Delos or haggling in a Mykonos marketplace. There’s also the Corfu Beach Festival, May Day, and the annual Rhodian Flower Festival, a colour explosion that takes over the island for a few weeks at the end of the month.
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READ MORE: 9 GREEK BEACHES THAT SHOULD BE ON YOUR BUCKET LIST
3. Italy
Like its Grecian cousin, Italy swells with tourists in high summer (June-August). But May is where you’ll find the canny travellers. Crowds are down (no five hour queues for St Peter’s Basilica), flowers colonise every available windowsill and the temperature is perfect for sightseeing, with the thermostat set at a balmy 25°C (77°F). There might be a few showers around at the beginning of the month, but travel after May 15th and you’re pretty much guaranteed warm days and cool nights.
Head into Tuscany for tranquil cellar door pitstops, visit Florence for the annual Festa del Grillo in Cascine Park (vendors basically unleash a horde of crickets on the city) or snack on in-season fava beans, tomatoes and strawberries at a Monti street café in Rome.
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READ MORE: 6 ITALIAN CITIES TO VISIT BEFORE EVERYONE ELSE DOES
4. USA
Okay, America is a big place. Let’s narrow it down. There’s the Kentucky Derby if you happen to be passing through the Appalachians (and want to brave the trackside crowds). May is also a great time to visit the Grand Canyon: the winter snows have usually cleared, the weather’s warming up, and the summer hordes haven’t yet clogged all the viewing platforms. The North Rim, closed for most of the winter, reopens on May 15th for the new season – always an exciting time. Weather-wise though it’s hard to beat the north-east: Cape Cod, Pittsburgh and New England in general are all coming into bloom.
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5. Morocco
Like any country that can lay claim to bits of the Sahara, Morocco is a place where summer can actually be too hot. The camel’s wont struggle, but you might. May is considered one of the best times to visit, with an average temperature of around 21°C (69°F). It’s the month when spring meltwater runs off the High Atlas, the rivers come alive, and flowers and festivals take over the country.
Our pick? The Festival of the Roses at Kelaa-des-Mgouna, a desert town that’s home to the country’s famous rose water industry. Over 700 tonnes of petals will be harvested from the valleys during this time, and locals celebrate with traditional dancing, singing and (our favourite) eating. If rose water’s your thing, there’s no better place to be.
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READ MORE: 10 EXPERIENCES EVERY TRAVELER SHOULD HAVE IN MOROCCO
Feeling inspired?
6. Bahamas
Throw a dart at a map of the Caribbean and, wherever it lands, you’re going to hit paradise. But our pick for May is definitely sailing the Bahamas. Local prices start to drop, humidity is low (goodbye flies and mosquitos), the water is bath-like and there’s almost 0 chance of hurricanes. The weather? It’s cooling off after the summer months, but it’s still a beach-perfect 29°C (85°F). Spring Break students have usually packed up and gone back to class by late April, so the islands will be breathing a well-earned sigh of relief: the beaches are less crowded, flights are easier to book, and European travellers emerge at dawn to shotgun the poolside lounge chairs. Good thing you chose to sail your own yacht, right?
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7. Australia
Like the US, you can’t just tell someone to ‘visit Australia’ in May; there’s just too much regional variation. While Victoria might be shivering through the start of its drizzly football season, the Top End and Far North Queensland are just coming into their own (goodbye monsoonal rains, hello clear, crisp sunny days). For us though, May is the time to hit up the wild West Coast, specifically Ningaloo Reef and Exmouth. The reason? Whale sharks. This is the start of the dry season, when dozens of whale sharks appear off the coast of Exmouth, cruising the warm waters above the reef. The town puts on an annual Whale Shark Festival, but the real highlight is donning your snorkel, diving off the boat, and swimming alongside the biggest fish in the world.
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8. Czech Republic
It’s hard to find a month of the year when Prague doesn’t look a million bucks. Snow, rain, sunshine…it’s the city equivalent of a tall bloke: it doesn’t matter what he wears, you know it’s going to look good. May is our pick of the bunch though, if only for the colour and the concerts. Hanging baskets dangle from every street corner and windowsill, the magnolia trees are out in blossom and the epic Prague Spring Music Festival is in full swing. Three weeks of symphony, opera and chamber music (try to book an event in the spectacular Smetana Hall). And for those who like to chase their culture with a good brew, there’s also the Czech Beer Festival: 17-days and over 70 local breweries, not to mention a stomach-expanding feast of local Czech food, courtesy of the country’s hottest chefs. Trust us, you’ll never want to leave.
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9. Spain
Ask a local what May means in Barcelona and they’ll tell you: sangria. Specifically sangria al fresco, with a setting Catalan sun, good company and a few choice plates of jamon iberico or patatas bravas. May is the month when Spain comes back to life. The summer cruise ship crowds are still a few weeks away and, if the weather’s on your side, swimming should be idyllic. We recommend a little out-of-the-way spot like Castelldefels (great tapas, fewer crowds). The weather usually hovers around the mid 20s (°C) or high 70s (°F). We recommend finding a good rooftop bar, probably in the Gothic Quarter, ordering a ruby pitcher of sangria and letting the evening unfold. If you’ve got your dancing shoes on, make sure to check out the Ciutat Flamenco Festival too, held in the Mercat de les Flors.
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READ MORE: OUR GUIDE TO THE ULTIMATE 7 DAYS IN SPAIN
10. Peru
Machu Picchu anyone? May is one of the best months to hike Peru’s iconic Inca Trail through the Andes. The rainy season’s over, but there’s still a carpet of green on the valleys, and the big crowds don’t arrive until June. Like always with the Inca Trail, you’ll need to organise your permits months in advance (your tour operator should be able to help with this). Temperatures in the mountains can drop to around 10°C (50°F) after sunset, so pack a few layers to keep you warm at night. For something really special, check out the Qoyllur Rit’I, a massive indigenous pilgrimage to the peak of Mt Ausangate, near Cusco. Thousands of locals attempt the climb, some carrying blocks of ice down on their backs; holy water for the crops.
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READ MORE: WHY TO VISIT NORTHERN PERU, HOME TO THE ‘NEW MACHU PICCHU’
Not looking to travel in May? No worries, here’s the rest of the year
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
or check out our full list of monthly destination guides.
