Where are the best places to travel in May?

How we chose, and what this list leaves out

May is the month when northern-hemisphere cities warm up without the peak heat of July and August, and it is the start of the cool dry season on the South African highveld. This page offers eight places that suit May for a stated reason, along with the cost of going then.

This is our own selection, not a ranking. A place made the list if the WMO World Weather Information Service, which republishes national weather service averages, had a May figure for a station in or near it, and if the numbers showed a reason to go that we could explain plainly. We aimed for a spread of regions and avoided repeating the main picks on our April page. Averages cover long periods at one station, so any single May can differ.

Barcelona: warm enough for the coast, cool enough for walking

Barcelona suits May as a city break with a seaside edge. The WMO lists an average May high of 21.1 degrees Celsius and a low of 12.8, with 47.3 mm of rain over 6.7 days (1981 to 2010 normals). April is cooler, with a high of 18.0, so May is the month when outdoor lunches become comfortable.

Climate data says nothing about crowds or rates, so check those separately. Evenings still call for a layer. For a stay of a week or more, an apartment near a market gives you the option to cook; see Barcelona for stays and our cooking in an aparthotel kitchen guide for practical tips.

Dubrovnik: the mildest nights in this list

Dubrovnik gives the Adriatic coast at a gentle temperature. The WMO lists an average May high of 21.3 degrees Celsius and a low of 15.2, the warmest overnight figure in our May table, with 76.1 mm of rain over 9.5 days. The WMO page does not state the normals period. March in the same table has a high of only 14.4, so the coast warms markedly through spring.

Rain is more frequent here than in Barcelona or Malta, so allow for the odd wet day. The walled old town is compact, which suits the cooler hours of the day. Croatia has many bases beyond one town, and the Croatia hub lists them.

Malta: the driest May in this list

Malta stands out for how little it rains. At the Luqa station the WMO lists an average May high of 23.3 degrees Celsius and a low of 14.9, with only 6.6 mm of rain over 2.8 days (1961 to 1990 normals). That is the lowest May rainfall in the table. Compare March at the same station, with 40.9 mm over 8.9 days.

The record dates from 1961 to 1990, and a single airport station describes only one part of a small island. Even so, a dry May suits walking and visits to outdoor sites. Browse stays across Malta.

Prague: pleasant days and a spring music festival

Prague warms up quickly through spring. The WMO figures for the Praha Ruzyne station give an average May high of 20.3 degrees Celsius and a low of 9.7, with 53.2 mm of rain over 8.5 days (1981 to 2010 normals). In March the same station shows a high of only 9.1, so May is a different city.

The Prague Spring music festival's 2026 edition ran from 12 May to 4 June, according to the festival's own site. The same site, read in October 2026, said the previous edition had ended and that ticket sales for the 82nd edition begin in early November, but it did not state the 2027 dates. Check that site for the schedule before you plan around it. See Prague for stays.

Copenhagen: cool air and showers on 13 days

Copenhagen is a pick for travellers who like cool weather. The WMO lists an average May high of 15 degrees Celsius and a low of 7, with 40 mm of rain over 13 days (1961 to 1990 normals); this station reports whole numbers. That is the coolest May high in our table, and the March high of 5 shows how recent the thaw is.

Rain falls on 13 days on average, though the monthly total of 40 mm is lower than Barcelona's 47.3 mm. A waterproof layer is a sensible packing choice. Browse Copenhagen for stays.

Seoul: warm days before the heavier rain

Seoul suits May for mild weather. The WMO lists an average May high of 23.6 degrees Celsius and a low of 13.5, with 103.6 mm of rain over 8.6 days (1991 to 2020 normals). That is the warmest May high in our table and also the largest rainfall total, spread over fewer than nine days.

The step up from April is clear: a high of 17.9 and 72.9 mm of rain at the same station. The Korea Tourism Organization's climate page, read in October 2026, advises checking the forecast for visits from the end of June to the end of July, when the summer rainy season falls, so May comes before that period. Plan indoor options such as museums and covered markets for wet days. A longer stay can use a kitchen for simple meals between restaurant outings. See Seoul for stays.

Vancouver: drier than March, still cool

Vancouver improves a lot between March and May. The WMO lists an average May high of 16.5 degrees Celsius and a low of 8.4, with 67.9 mm of precipitation over 13 days (1971 to 2000 normals). March at the same station has 114.3 mm over 17 days, so May has roughly 40% less precipitation.

It is still a cool, showery month for an outdoor-focused trip, with a high similar to Copenhagen's. Mountain and coastal conditions differ from the airport station, so check local forecasts before hiking. See Vancouver for stays.

Johannesburg: autumn turning dry in the southern hemisphere

In the southern hemisphere, May is late autumn, and Johannesburg is entering its dry months. The WMO lists an average May high of 18.9 degrees Celsius and a low of 7.2, with 13 mm of rain over 2.9 days (1961 to 1990 normals). In March the same station recorded 91 mm over 11.9 days, and June shows only 9 mm.

The trade-off is cold nights: a low of 7.2 means warm layers after sunset. Rainfall is the second lowest in the May table, after Malta. Read your own government's current travel advice for South Africa before you book, and see Johannesburg for stays.

May climate at a glance

The table collects the May figures quoted above. All come from the WMO World Weather Information Service station pages, and the normals period differs by station, so compare patterns rather than small differences.

Practical notes for May trips

May holidays and long weekends change demand in many countries, and the dates differ by year, so check local calendars. Our when to book guide explains how to compare timing and rates. For the next month, see best places to travel in June.

None of the figures on this page are forecasts, and none describe entry rules. For visa and immigration questions, use the official immigration website of the country you plan to visit. The table below shows our own aparthotel figures for the countries on this list.