Where should I travel in May?
May brings early summer without the peak-season crowds. The Mediterranean warms up, days get long, and Ascension Day often gives Danes an extra-long weekend.
Find your own match in May
We've already picked May. Wayoop asks about your budget, travel time and wishes and finds up to three destinations that suit you.
5 ideas for travelling in May
01Photo: Arne Müseler · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · Wikimedia Commons Algarve, Portugal
Cliffs, coves and coastal walks in good weather, before the summer holidays fill the beaches.
02Photo: Zysko serhii · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons Croatia
Split, Dubrovnik and the islands are warm and green, but not yet as busy as in July and August.
03Photo: Carsten Steger · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons Sicily, Italy
Great for combining ancient ruins, Mount Etna and food – before summer heat makes sightseeing hard work.
04Photo: Adli Wahid · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons Istanbul, Turkey
Comfortable weather for exploring mosques, bazaars and the Bosphorus. Tulips bloom in the city's parks in spring.
05Photo: Daniel Kraft · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons The Scottish Highlands
Long light evenings and often one of the drier months. Good for road trips and hiking, before midge season peaks.
Where is it warm in May?
In May summer warmth reaches the Mediterranean: the Algarve, Croatia and Sicily usually have warm days while the sea is still fresh. Istanbul is mild, and Scotland is cool but light.
18 of the 28 destinations typically reach at least 25 degrees by day in May.
- 30°+
- 25–29°
- 20–24°
- Below 20°
| Destination | Day | Night | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muscat · Oman | 38° | 29° | 30° |
| Dubai · United Arab Emirates | 36° | 25° | 30° |
| Hurghada · Egypt | 31° | 23° | 25° |
| Phuket · Thailand | 31° | 26° | 32° |
| Phu Quoc · Vietnam | 31° | 26° | 32° |
| Cancún · Mexico | 31° | 25° | 27° |
| The Gambia · West Africa | 29° | 23° | 28° |
| Bali · Indonesia | 29° | 24° | 29° |
| Galle · Sri Lanka | 29° | 26° | 30° |
| Punta Cana · Dominican Republic | 29° | 25° | 29° |
| Miami · Florida, USA | 29° | 23° | 29° |
| Antalya · Turkey | 28° | 16° | 22° |
| Cyprus · Mediterranean | 27° | 18° | 22° |
| Rhodes · Greece | 26° | 18° | 20° |
| Sal · Cape Verde | 26° | 21° | 24° |
Holidays in May: good to know
Ascension Day and Whitsun often fall in May. The long weekends are popular, so flights and hotels get pricier quickly.
These ideas are general seasonal tips. Weather, opening times and prices vary from year to year, so check before you book.
Find your own match in May
We've already picked May. Wayoop asks about your budget, travel time and wishes and finds up to three destinations that suit you.