Where to go in May: 9 places at their best
May is the best-value month of the year for much of Europe. The days are long, the terraces are open, the sea is warming and the summer crowds have not arrived. Hotels and flights cost less than in July and August, and sights that are queue-heavy in summer are easy to walk into.
It is also a month of public holidays. The first of May and the long weekends around Ascension and Whitsun fill trains and rooms in much of Europe, and some countries have their own national days in May. In the southern hemisphere, May marks the start of the dry season in the Andes, which makes it a good month to look beyond Europe too. Here are nine places that are properly good in May.
Most of the list is in the north of Europe, because that is where May does its best work. If you want warmth you can count on, Greece is the surest bet, and if you want mountains, Peru and Norway are opening up for the season. Pick one climate per trip and the packing gets easy.
Greece
Spring brings wildflowers, green hills and warming seas. Athens and the mainland sights are at their best in May, before the heat, and island services and restaurants are running by now. The sea is still cool for swimming early in the month, but the crowds, the heat and the summer winds are weeks away. Greek Orthodox Easter often falls on a different date from Western Easter, so check it, as it is the biggest festival of the year and the islands are busy. Use the Athens itinerary, then read about island hopping by ferry and the Greece travel guide.
Croatia
May is green and quiet at the start and warm by the end. The sea is cold, but walking, sightseeing and cycling are at their best, and the islands are not yet full. Dubrovnik, Split and the islands feel like different places than in August. Some ferry lines and island restaurants are still on reduced timetables, so check them before you plan a tight route. By late May the water is swimmable for many people. The Croatia travel guide has a coast route.
United Kingdom
Spring is green and changeable, with bluebells in the woods in late April and May, and lambs in the fields. May is often lovely, and the days are long enough to see a lot. The early May bank holidays fill coastal towns and national parks, so book those weekends early or go on a weekday. London and Edinburgh are both good for walking in the longer light. Follow the London itinerary and the Edinburgh itinerary, and read the United Kingdom travel guide for the countryside.
Ireland
Spring brings long light evenings, spring flowers and fewer visitors than summer. May is fresh and green, with showers in the forecast on most days, so plan indoor options for the west and carry a waterproof. The Cliffs of Moher, the Ring of Kerry and Dublin are far less crowded than in July, and rooms and cars cost less. Weather changes quickly, and the sun often comes out in the afternoon. See the Ireland travel guide.
Norway
In May, fruit trees bloom around the Hardangerfjord and the waterfalls are at full flow from snowmelt. There are fewer people than in July and prices are lower. On 17 May, Constitution Day, towns fill with parades and people in traditional dress, and many shops close, which is worth seeing if you are in Oslo or Bergen. High trails can hold snow, so check conditions before you set out. Above the Arctic Circle, the sun does not set from roughly late May. Read the Norway travel guide.
Denmark
Late spring is quieter and cheaper, with mild weather and fewer visitors. Blossom and the first outdoor evenings arrive, and Copenhagen is at its best for cycling and eating outside. The days are long but not yet endless, and harbour baths are open for the brave. Pack a waterproof, as wind and rain can arrive in any month. Plan the days with the Copenhagen itinerary and the Denmark travel guide.
Hungary
Spring is green and mild, with terraces opening and Budapest at its best for walking. The long weekend around 1 May is busy with Hungarians travelling too. By June it can be hot, but in May the evenings along the river are long and pleasant. The thermal baths are good in any season, and easier in May than in the heat of July. Follow the Budapest itinerary and read the Hungary travel guide.
Poland
By May the cafe terraces are out in every square, the days are long and the cities are not yet full. It is a good season for Kraków, Warsaw and Gdańsk, and the countryside is green. April can still be cold and changeable, so May is the safer choice. Public holidays on 1 and 3 May can close shops, so buy what you need the day before. See the Poland travel guide.
Peru
May is the start of the dry season in the Andes, the best time for Machu Picchu and treks. Days are sunny and clear, nights are cold at altitude, and the mountains are at their best. The wet-season greenery lingers, and the crowds of July and August have not yet arrived. Lima sits under a grey, damp cloud from about May, so spend your time in the Andes and the Sacred Valley. Book Machu Picchu and any trek well ahead, as the things that sell out do so months in advance. Read the Peru travel guide.
Planning a trip for May
May rewards early bookings less than July does, but the best things still go. Rooms on the long weekends fill first, and the most popular island ferries and rail routes book out well before them. Our guide to how far in advance to book explains lead times. If you want to compare dates, shoulder-season travel shows why May and September are good value.
The weather needs thought, too. Pack layers for any northern country, and a swimsuit only if you are sure of the water. A trip that links two or three cities by rail suits May well, as the long evenings give you time to explore after you arrive.
Remember that opening times change in May. Some seasonal attractions, island hotels and mountain huts open only in the second half of the month or in June, so look up the specific places you want before you build a day around them. A phone call or a message to the host is usually enough, and it saves a wasted journey.
Groups have an easy time in May for another reason: it is easier to find a date that works. Schools are in session across much of Europe, so the weeks between the bank holidays are open for friends and couples without children, and flights on weekdays cost less. Pick dates for a group trip walks through how to agree a week without a long thread of messages.
