Best places in May
Destinations ranked by overall draw and how well May fits each.
Best picks for May
Italy
The benchmark for food, history, and beauty.
France
Paris is only the opening act — wine country, the Alps, and two coastlines.
Greece
Ruins in the morning, a swim by noon, taverna until dark.
Japan
Extraordinary food, culture, and cities. Nothing quite prepares you for it.
Spain
Food, beaches, and three or four cities that each justify the trip.
United States
A continent pretending to be a country — cities, deserts, and the best national parks anywhere.
Bali, Indonesia
Warm, affordable, endlessly deep — beach, wellness, and culture in one place.
China
Ancient history and hypermodern cities at a scale that's hard to grasp until you're there.
Croatia
Dubrovnik, the Adriatic coast, ancient cities. Compact and beautiful.
Czech Republic
Prague earns the crowds. The rest of the country is the bonus.
Hawaii
A handful of islands where the landscapes and the ocean genuinely earn the flight.
Iceland
Geysers, glaciers, northern lights, hot springs.
Trending in May
Underrated spots having a moment this May.
Bali, Indonesia
Warm, affordable, endlessly deep — beach, wellness, and culture in one place.
South Korea
Seoul alone justifies the flight — food, nightlife, and mountains inside the city.
Denmark
A long weekend in Copenhagen — design, cycling, and new-Nordic food.
Belgium
Canals, beer, and Flemish art, all an easy train ride apart.
Skip in May
Off-season for these places — rainy, too hot, or limited access.
Frequently asked
Where's best to go on holiday in May?
Italy leads our May list — The benchmark for food, history, and beauty. For a holiday you also want Italy or France; the full ranking above is sorted by how well May fits each place.
Where's the best place to travel in May?
Italy. The benchmark for food, history, and beauty. May is peak season there.
Where should I avoid in May?
Places like Thailand, The Alps, United Arab Emirates are off-season — rainy, too hot, or limited access. Worth checking the calendar on the destination page before you book.
What's a good budget destination in May?
Italy, France, Greece all sit in the budget-to-mid range and work well in May.
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