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Where to Travel in May 2025Beat the crowds to the Greek Islands

Where to go on holiday in May

As the mercury rises in the Northern Hemisphere, much of Europe becomes an ideal destination—head to Italy before the crowds of summer arrive. The Mediterranean is pleasantly warm, with the cruising season in Greece, Croatia, and Turkey starting, and much of the Far East is looking beautiful. The further north you go, the more hours of sunlight you can enjoy during the day, and although there are no more Northern Lights, Iceland is looking beautiful.

There are a number of unique experiences to be had in May, chief among them the bi-annual migration of the Berbers in Morocco. To help you decide where to go in May 2025, we've put together some of the best destinations and experiences to be found at this time of year, as well as our choice of the top beach and wildlife destinations for May.

Top Experiences City Breaks Festivals and Events Beach Destinations Wildlife Destinations Recommended Trips Calendar

Top Destinations and Experiences in May

May Destinations

Microflight over Victoria Falls

After the wet season, the Zambezi River is swollen with water and cascades over the Victoria Falls to create an impressive display of nature's power. With so much water, the spray can often block views from the ground, so this is the ideal time to take to the skies for a bird's eye view of the Falls, witnessing it in all its glory on a microflight above the river canyon. Temperatures aren't unbearably hot yet either, so it's a good month for safari.

Recommended tour: Masai Mara to Kruger

May Destinations

Find the Lost City

May marks the start of the dry season in Peru, which kicks off the high season for visiting Machu Picchu. The lack of rainfall makes hiking the famed citadel more visible and accessible, and the Inca Trail is open to those looking to explore on foot. Inca Trail a much more pleasant experience. Yet as the rains have only just stopped, the landscapes are still lush with green. And as an additional bonus, the crowds are thinner than in the peak month of June.

Recommended tour: Machu Picchu by Train

May Destinations

Explore the Greek Islands

If you prefer to explore ancient ruins and lounge on sun-kissed beaches without a crowd, May is an ideal month to visit Greece. It's when the Mediterranean sun really starts heating up, yet temperatures remain comfortable enough for sightseeing and sun-lounging. Prices are also still a bit cheaper than the high-season months of June to August, when holiday makers descend.

Best City Breaks in May

City Breaks

New York

New York, USA, in May offers a perfect blend of mild weather and vibrant city life. Central Park blossoms with colourful flowers, making it ideal for picnics and leisurely strolls. The city's numerous outdoor events, such as Fleet Week, provide unique cultural experiences. Plus, the pleasant temperatures make exploring iconic attractions, such as Times Square and the Statue of Liberty, enjoyable without the sweltering summer heat.

City Breaks

Lima

Marking the start of the dry season in Peru, May is a fantastic month for visiting the capital of Lima. This city is the place to go if looking to hit the surf, thanks to its position on the Pacific coast, or to experience the lively Peruvian nightlife. As the unofficial gastronomical capital of South America, it’s also a destination for the foodies, with world-renowned chefs and plenty of traditional cuisine on offer.

City Breaks

Amman

The capital of Jordan is a great option for a city break in May. Home to a number of historical sites such as the historic Citadel and Roman Amphitheatre, you can happily explore Amman in the warm, springtime temperatures. The city also offers the National Archaeological Museum and a hubbub of souqs, mosques, and coffeehouses, providing a fantastic insight into Jordanian life and Middle Eastern culture.

City Breaks

Florence

We've highlighted Florence, but in reality, May is a great time to visit all of Italy's cities. From Venice to Palermo and Milan to Naples, temperatures are warming up, but the summer hordes of European tourists haven't yet arrived. This means attractions such as Florence's Uffizi Gallery are quieter, and you should find hotel and flight prices are cheaper too. As well as a city break, May is a great time to book one of our Italy tours if you'd like to see even more of the country!

Best Festivals and Events in May

Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo celebrates the date of the Mexican army’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War in 1862. In the city of Puebla, the day is celebrated with re-enactments, traditional dance and music, and plenty of food. Across the border, Cinco de Mayo has become a big event in America and now represents a celebration of all things Mexican.

Migration of the Berbers

Twice a year, the nomadic Berber tribes journey across the Atlas Mountains from the edge of the Sahara in search of greener pastures for their herds of livestock. Travelling with goats, sheep, camels, and donkeys, as well as all their belongings, the tribes take a scenic route that takes a few weeks, camping en route. It's a unique adventure for intrepid travellers and a great time to visit Morocco.

Bergen International Festival

Founded in 1953, Bergen's largest arts festival brings together prominent artists from around the world. Over 200 music, ballet, opera, theatre, dance, literary and performing arts events are held during the two weeks and it's the most important festival of its kind in Norway. Performances are held in a variety of venues, including theatres, churches and villas

Best Beach Destinations in May

Spring is in full swing across the Mediterranean come May, with the mercury starting to creep up and the tourist season kicking off. The wet season is slowly creeping up on Southeast Asia, which means the weather can be a mixed bag with the odd shower likely wherever you go. There's plenty of coastal areas that will experience near-perfect weather. Cancun and the Caribbean Coast are drawing to the end of the dry season.

Thailand

The east coast of peninsula Thailand is an ideal beach destination at this time of year, with high temperatures and little rain expected. Islands such as Koh Samui and Koh Phangan are where you should head for the best weather, or Krabi on the mainland, as the west coast will be experiencing a little more rain.

Turkey

The Mediterranean is beautiful at this time of year; temperatures have warmed up nicely, and resorts have opened their doors for the start of the peak holiday season. With most of the northern hemisphere still at school, many resorts can be a little quieter in May, so it'll be more of a laid-back experience.

Morocco

Morocco may not scream beach destination for many travelers, but there's over 1200 miles of coastline from Agadir in the north to charming Essaouira and Taghazoute in the south. Temperatures are reliably warm throughout the day, and the peak season crowds have yet to descend.

Greece

It's not quite peak summer season, so Greece is still relatively quiet, but the islands are beginning to heat up. The majority of tourism businesses will be opening up, and it's a great time to steal a bargain on an island cruise. School holidays won't have started, meaning prices are cheaper and cruise ships are less crowded.

Best Wildlife Destinations in May

May is the second month of the main rains across equatorial East Africa, so Kenya and Tanzania are not ideal at this time of year, with the watered vegetation providing cover for the animal residents, making safaris more challenging. However, further south, the dry season has begun, so game viewing is better. Across the Galapagos, it's business as usual, as endemic species court, breed, and nest as they do throughout much of the year.

South Africa

It's the beginning of the dry season in South Africa, which makes it the ideal time to search for the Big 5 in Kruger National Park. The vegetation is thinning and wildlife gathers around watering holes. It's not yet too dusty, the skies are generally clear and the crowds have yet to hit

Botswana

Like much of southern Africa at this time of year, Botswana begins its dry season, and game viewing on land is starting to reach its prime, with ideal temperatures for visitors—clear skies, mild heat, and few mosquitoes. However, the floods won't hit the Okavango Delta for another month.

Namibia

Wildlife viewing is on the rise in Namibia in May, with the safari season really kicking off in June. However, May arguably offers the best weather, with moderate temperatures, little rainfall, and still a bit of greenery around. Prices can also be better in the shoulder season.

India

It's the last month of the year that India's national parks are open before the monsoon rains draw in. Temperatures are becoming very hot in the northern regions of India, but the vegetation will be at its thinnest after months of no rain, so prowling tigers will be more visible, perfect for a safari.

Recommended Tours in May

If you're struggling to decide where to travel in May, then why not browse our recommended tours for the month? From the Greek islands to the towering sand dunes of Namibia, there's sure to be the perfect trip for you in here somewhere!