The Best Places To Visit In May

With the cold winter chill firmly behind us and the sweltering summer sun not quite here yet, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to looking for the best places to visit in May.

As with other shoulder months, you’ll be treated to fewer crowds and cheaper prices at this time of year. But you’ll also find the weather in that perfect sweet spot, with warmer temperatures in Europe and North America and the wet season ending in parts of South East Asia and East Africa.

And that makes it an ideal time for a trip filled with sunny beach days, hikes through lush forests, or just soaking up some culture in the shape of local festivals.

So, have your sunglasses, sun cream, and passport at the ready while we run you through some of the best places to visit in May! Let’s get into it:

Madeira, Portugal

Why? The Madeira Flower Festival

Key dates: The whole month, but aim for the 3rd & 17th May (2026) for floral parades

Closest airport: Funchal (FNC)

Madeira in spring is just a little extra special. It’s a great time for taking on the island’s actually jaw-dropping hikes and wandering along its black sandy beaches, and as an added bonus, the surrounding meadows and fields will be blooming.

And the locals love it too. So much so, they have a special Flower Festival!

The whole month of May is dedicated to celebrating the island's stunning natural beauty, with floral parades that add sweet smells and a kaleidoscope of colour to Funchal. Sure there’s a little less glitter, but with a lot more petals, these gorgeous and intricately decorated floats could even give Brazil's carnivals a run for their money!

Seychelles

Why? Good weather, great for outdoor activities 

Key dates: All month

Closest airport: Mahé (SEZ)

If you’re looking for warm places to visit in May, Seychelles is hard to beat.

As the start of the dry season, the weather is ideal for all of your outdoor activities, whether that’s hiking through lush jungles or heading straight for the beautiful beach. 

FYI, Anse Source d’Argent is the beach you’ll have seen all over socials!

And if you’re no stranger to donning some fins on holiday, then you’ll find a whole other world waiting for you below the water. With great water visibility, May is one of the best times to go snorkelling and diving near the Port Launay Marine Park.

Camogli, Italy 

Why? The Camogli Fish Festival

Key dates: 2nd Sunday in May (10th May 2026)

Closest airport: Genoa (GOA)

Now, you may have never heard of Camogli before, but you’ll find it on the Ligurian Coast (just over half an hour away from Genoa). And on the 2nd Sunday in May, you’ll see it come alive.

Ever since the 50s, this tiny village has had its own Fish Festival to celebrate its centuries-old fishing traditions. How do they celebrate, you ask? Well, they cook up a feast using a giant frying pan and dish it out to the attendees — for free!

It’s worth sticking around and visiting some of the other towns on the Ligurian Coast, too. Sestri Levante is a particularly great choice if you’re looking for somewhere quiet and beachy.

Bali, Indonesia

Why? Good weather, fewer crowds than in summer

Key dates: All month

Closest airport: Denpasar (DPS)

If you’re looking for beach holidays in May, Bali’s got to be top of your list.

The island is transitioning from the rainy season into the sunny, dry season at this time of year, which makes it the perfect middle ground.

You’ll be there before all the summer crowds descend, you can spend a day at the beach without packing an emergency brolly, and the forests will still be beautifully lush and green.

Of course nowhere in Bali is gonna be crowd-free (it is Bali after all!), but if you head for a quieter village like Uluwatu, you’ll still be able to find a bit of peace and quiet.

Ottawa, Canada

Why? The Canadian Tulip Festival

Key dates: 8th-18th May 2026

Closest airport: Ottawa (YOW)

You can never have too many floral festivals, right?

For 11 days every May, Ottawa hosts the Canadian Tulip Festival —  the biggest in the world! And it’s all thanks to an annual gift of tulip bulbs that Canada has received from the Dutch royal family every year since the 1940s. 

With the city blanketed in over a million multicoloured tulips (mainly in the Commissioners Park), they really take it seriously over there. It’s definitely the kind of trip your Instagram feed will thank you for later! 

Then, once you’re all tulip-ed out, there’s plenty to keep you busy, including markets, walking trails, a fun run, and loads more.

Machu Picchu, Peru

Why? Great conditions for hiking Machu Picchu

Key dates: All month

Closest airport: Cusco (CUZ)

May in Machu Picchu is where everything just comes together perfectly.

You’re there at the start of the dry season, which means you’ll still be treated to lush green landscapes, but you’ll also have bright blue skies and uninterrupted panoramic views of the citadel.

It’s also before the summer crowds join in on the fun, so you’ll have plenty of room on the trails and won’t have to worry about a selfie stick blocking your perfect pic.

And if you’re looking to do it on the cheap, there are loads of great tips in our guide to visiting Machu Picchu on a budget from Navigator Lauren.