Spring is on the way out, but summer hasn’t yet found its feet, making May a great month to travel. Flight and hotel prices haven’t yet reached their peak, meaning you can travel for less – or longer.
Temperatures are rising across the Northern Hemisphere, opening up new and interesting places to visit, especially in Europe. Whether you’re traveling in the US or further afield, the best places to travel in May balance both seasons impeccably.
Best places to travel in May in Asia.
Magical spring landscapes and intoxicating festivals turn Asia into a panoply of color, music, and natural wonder in May. If you’re happy to fly long haul, unique experiences await.
1. Punākha Valley, Bhutan.
- Why visit in May? See the spring flowers bloom against a Himalayan backdrop.
The country that inspired me to become a travel writer, Bhutan is the last of the great Himalayan kingdoms. It’s also one of the best places to travel in May, if only to see the valleys come to life with spring flowers.
The warmest and most picturesque is Punākha Valley, famed for the tiers of rice paddies blanketing its floor and slopes. Framing it all in the distance are the jaw-dropping peaks of the Himalaya Mountains. Trek through it and you can explore the mighty Pho and Mo Chhu Rivers and at their confluence, the imposing Punākha Dzong.
The journey from the capital Thimphu (where you’ll fly into) is long but extraordinary. A local bus follows a winding route up over the Dochula Pass where you can stop to photograph many of the world’s tallest mountains. Be warned, though, the bus is affectionately known as the “vomit comet” for its tendency to turn passengers’ stomachs. If you get travel sick, bring medication!
2. Tokyo, Japan.
- Learn more: Tokyo travel guide
- Why visit in May? Join the party at the Sanja Matsuri festival.
On the third weekend in May, Tokyo goes wild with one of its biggest Shinto festivals, Sanja Matsuri. Huge parades, live music, and masses of people dressed in traditional costumes fill the streets.
Held in the Asakusa district (pronounced ah-sah-k-sah), it celebrates the three founders of the seventh century Buddhist Sensō-ji Temple. Elaborate portable shrines are paraded along Asakasura’s streets – particularly Nakamise Street close to the temple. These are believed to bring luck to the businesses and residents in the area.
Food stalls cook up local delicacies, festival games are great entertainment, and the whole thing is soundtracked by Japanese drums and flutes.
Best places to visit in Europe in May.
Europe’s great cities are at their very best in late spring. Days lengthen and evenings turn warm. Al fresco dining returns and streets erupt in life. Here are my picks for the best places to visit in Europe in May.
3. Barcelona, Spain.
- Learn more: Barcelona travel guide
- Why visit in May? Stroll warm spring streets on the trail of Gaudí.
Spain is one of the most popular places in May for a European vacation. My choice is also my favorite city in the world. Barcelona comes alive in the late spring. With temperatures warm but not yet too hot, it’s the ideal time to wander the city, laze on its beaches, and dine outdoors.
The Sagrada Familia and the Park Güell both fall into that often overused ‘must visit’ attraction category, but each will take your breath away. The views over Barcelona from the latter only add to its magic. Spend your afternoons in the city exploring the grand avenues of Eixample and the tiny backstreets of the Gothic Quarter. Take sundowners and tapas on one of the city’s nine beaches at a Chiringuito beach bar.
And don’t miss an evening in Can Paixano, an old Barceloneta-style tavern as renowned for its delicious cava and tapas as for its flamboyant and rambunctious clientele.
4. Cannes, France.
- Learn more: Cannes travel guide
- Why visit in May? Mingle with the stars at the Cannes Film Festival.
May in Cannes means only one thing: the Cannes Film Festival. One of the world’s most prestigious and glamorous celebrations of all things movies and a magnet for the rich and famous.
If you fancy rubbing shoulders with Hollywood legends, head to the Palais des Festivals where the big screenings take place. Access to the famed red-carpeted steps outside the Lumière Theatre is free. Get there early and be prepared to hustle if you want a decent spot.
It’s not unheard of for very (very) well-dressed members of the public to be invited into screenings to fill empty seats. Don your finest threads and good luck!
5. London, UK.
- Learn more: London travel guide
- Why visit in May? Multiple events take place across the spring bank holidays.
May is Bank Holiday month in England. That means extra days off, people out celebrating the spring weather, and lots of events. World-renowned but perhaps not on every visitor’s radar is the Chelsea Flower Show.
Running from the 19th to the 23rd May 2026, it is a spectacle of all things horticulture. This year it’s all about innovation, natural landscapes and the future with the idea of ‘your space, your story’ a common thread. Buy your tickets online in advance as they can sell out.
6. The Azores, Portugal.
- Why visit in May? Surf deserted beaches and the chance to hike precipitous volcanoes.
Although part of Portugal, the Azores are an otherworldly archipelago of nine islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. A thousand miles off the Portuguese coast, they look like the setting for a dinosaur movie. Visiting is like stepping off the face of the world into another time.
A verdant wonderland of volcanic craters offering extraordinary hikes and deserted beaches with world-class surf, they’re known as the Hawaii of Europe. Direct flights to the island of São Miguel and Terceira from the US East Coast take just five hours. Or you can combine it with a trip to mainland Portugal, where flights go regularly from Lisbon.
On São Miguel, be sure to take a dip in the thermal pools at Furnas Valley. Rich in minerals from a dormant volcano, they’re thought to have healing powers for a range of maladies.
Best places to visit in May in the US
From where to go for Memorial Day weekend to Mother’s Day, May in the US is a month filled with celebrations of hope and love.
7. Cape Cod, Massachusetts, US.
- Why visit in May? Revel in the wilds of nature before the crowds arrive.
The peninsula of Cape Cod and the cluster of islands off its shores are among the best places to visit in May in the US. It’s the go-to destination for the East Coast jet set come summer. But in May, you can wander its pristine beaches and dine in its fine restaurants before the crowds arrive.
Explore the picturesque lighthouses, cranberry bogs, and endless sands of Outer Beach in the wild Cape Cod National Seashore. If the weather’s warm enough, you could even brave a swim. Hunger awoken, head to Skipper Chowder House for fabulous fried clams, chowder, and beach views.
8. Greenville, South Carolina, US.
- Learn more: Greenville travel guide
- Why visit in May? Celebrate Mother’s Day and Memorial Day.
Rich in creativity and Americana culture, visiting Greenville is like being embraced by the best of the US. May sees its calendar of outdoor events awaken from hibernation – warm, welcoming celebrations for all the family.
Most of the action centers around quaint, tree-lined Main Street. A mile-and-a-half stretch of local eateries, boutiques, and hotels, eminently walkable but also served by a free trolley. Here you can enjoy weekly farmer’s markets, movies in the park at dusk, and free concerts for young and old.
The weekend of Mother’s Day, will see the Artisphere festival take over town. Some 135 galleries pop up to showcase artists from around the world. Live demonstrations from glass blowers and chalk artists, and performances by dance troops and musicians line the streets.
Things are just as lively over Memorial Day Weekend, with the launch of Greenville’s own Scottish Games – Gallabrae. Competitions and events, dancing in the streets and a sea of BBQ to gorge on await. Kilts are, happily, optional.
9. Washington D.C., US.
- Learn more: Washington D.C. travel guide
- Why visit in May? Pay your patriotic respects on Memorial Day.
For where to spend Memorial Day weekend, there’s nowhere more heart-stirring than the nation’s capital. Make a long weekend of it to really get to the heart of the stories that define America’s military history.
At Arlington National Cemetery, pay tribute to 400,000 fallen military personnel and their families. Visit the moving World War II Memorial and walk the extraordinary Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall. On Monday, the 26th, the city erupts in patriotism in pageantry, awash in red, white, and blue for the National Memorial Day Parade.
The largest in the US, the parade goes down Constitution Avenue. On route, it shares the story of American military service and sacrifice in a grand, fitting style. The event draws hundreds of thousands to the capital to pay their respects. Expect huge crowds and an atmosphere like nowhere else.
The best warm places to visit in May to enjoy nature.
Be it the Caribbean, South America or Africa, the natural world puts on an epic springtime show in May. On land, in the ocean, or both – pick your preferred landscape and just go!
10. The Bahamas.
- Why visit in May? Swim with pigs before crowds get in the way.
White sand beaches, bright blue skies, and only the lightest of breezes – the Bahamas are one of the best warm places to visit in May. Before storm season arrives, the weather finds its perfect balance – hot but not humid, calm with no threat of hurricanes. Summer crowds have yet to fill hotels and beaches and the waters are blissfully still.
Whatever you do, don’t miss the world-famous swimming pigs at Big Major Cay. Fifty miles from Georgetown on the island of Great Exuma, you can only reach the pigs by boat but booking a trip to see them is quick and easy.
11. Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica.
- Why visit in May? Let the sheer force of nature refresh your spirit and senses.
Get a taste of Blue Zone living in the spectacular jungles, mountains, beaches, and waterfalls of the Nicoya peninsula. My preferred base is the gorgeous village of Montezuma close to the Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve.
Here you can spend your days lazing, swimming, and wildlife spotting on its white sand beaches. It’s the Costa Rica you see splashed across brochures, brought to life in pura vida perfection.
Hike to Montezuma Waterfall just south of the village, but don’t be distracted by the small falls at the start. Keep going to the higher falls for the best show and fewer people. Later, reserve a beach table at Playa de los Artistas for delicious fresh food, cool cocktails, and sand between your toes while you dine.
12. Serengeti, Tanzania.
- Why visit in May? Get your mind blown watching the greatest migration on Earth.
There is no bad time to go on safari in Tanzania. But if you want to elevate one of the great travel experiences even further, visit during the great wildebeest migration. It is one of nature’s most magnificent sights.
Visiting in May gives you a great chance to catch the start of the migration, although it’s not guaranteed. Depending on the season’s rainfall, the wildebeests’ 500-mile trek usually starts between late April and early June. From the birthing and feeding ground of the southeastern Serengeti, they move north through the Moru Kopjes. This is the area to focus on.
And if you don’t catch the migration, don’t worry. Head to Arusha and hike up or fly over Mount Kilimanjaro. Or make for the Ngorongoro Crater and explore the wildlife of the world’s largest intact (thankfully inactive) volcanic crater.
13. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
- Learn more: Puerto Vallarta travel guide
- Why visit in May? The best month to enjoy beaches and nature without crowds.
The best place to travel in May is the beach resort city of Puerto Vallarta. Its combination of warm spring weather and reasonable prices makes it popular but not too popular. Temperatures average a balmy 77°, and rain isn’t part of the conversation.
Beyond those statistics, it’s simply a great place to vacation. The beach at Playa Conchas Chinas offers seclusion from the buzzing city sands. The rock formations of El Púlpito and La Pilitas are lovely stops in the Zona Romantica of Los Muertos beach.
Nature lovers should head just south of the city to Los Arcos Marine Park for fantastic snorkeling and pelican squadron spotting.
