Best Places to Visit in May 2026
345 destinations across 7 continents are in peak season this month — ranked by region with cost, weather, and what to expect on the ground.
Europe — 152 destinations

Skopje
North Macedonia
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Veliko Tarnovo
Bulgaria
Lviv
Ukraine
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Plovdiv
Bulgaria
Sarandë
Albania

Sighișoara
Romania
Tirana
Albania
Berat
Albania
Pamukkale
Turkey
Brașov
Romania
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Cluj-Napoca
Romania

Sibiu
Romania
Fethiye
Turkey
Mostar
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sofia
Bulgaria
Antalya
Turkey
Belgrade
Serbia
Eger
Hungary
Sarajevo
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Vilnius
Lithuania

Lake Balaton
Hungary
Bucharest
Romania

Český Krumlov
Czech Republic
Kyiv
Ukraine
Ohrid
North Macedonia
Palermo
Italy
Sintra
Portugal
Istanbul
Turkey

Karlovy Vary
Czech Republic
Krakow
Poland
Zagreb
Croatia
Belfast
United Kingdom
Thessaloniki
Greece
Warsaw
Poland
Bratislava
Slovakia
Gdańsk
Poland

Pula
Croatia
Riga
Latvia
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Zadar
Croatia
Budapest
Hungary

Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Germany

Black Forest
Germany

Dresden
Germany
Galway
Ireland
Naples
Italy

Piran
Slovenia
Prague
Czech Republic
Rhodes
Greece
Kotor
Montenegro
Ljubljana
Slovenia
Porto
Portugal
Berlin
Germany
Córdoba
Spain

Evora
Portugal
Naxos
Greece
Seville
Spain
Split
Croatia
Coimbra
Portugal

Cologne
Germany
Granada
Spain

Heidelberg
Germany
Cappadocia
Turkey
Cliffs of Moher
Ireland
Crete
Greece
Lisbon
Portugal
Madrid
Spain
Málaga
Spain
Marseille
France
Paros
Greece
Salamanca
Spain
Toledo
Spain

Delft
Netherlands
Athens
Greece
Azores
Portugal
Doolin
Ireland

Frankfurt
Germany
Madeira
Portugal
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Croatia
Verona
Italy
Brussels
Belgium
Cork
Ireland
Rome
Italy
Rotterdam
Netherlands
Tenerife
Spain

Utrecht
Netherlands
Algarve
Portugal
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Gothenburg
Sweden
Lake Bled
Slovenia

Ghent
Belgium
Hjørundfjord
Norway
Killarney
Ireland
Matera
Italy

Sardinia
Italy

The Hague
Netherlands
Valencia
Spain
Valletta
Malta

Aarhus
Denmark
Barcelona
Spain
Florence
Italy
Milan
Italy
Vienna
Austria
Bologna
Italy
Bordeaux
France
Bruges
Belgium
Colmar
France
Hardangerfjord
Norway
Salzburg
Austria
Amsterdam
Netherlands
Isle of Skye
United Kingdom
Lake District
United Kingdom
Bilbao
Spain
Dublin
Ireland
Dubrovnik
Croatia
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Hamburg
Germany
Lyon
France
Munich
Germany
Provence
France
Scottish Highlands
United Kingdom
Stockholm
Sweden
Tuscany
Italy
York
United Kingdom
Annecy
France
Mont Saint-Michel
France
Bergen
Norway
Lake Como
Italy
Mallorca
Spain
Nice
France
Bath
United Kingdom
Copenhagen
Denmark
Hallstatt
Austria
London
United Kingdom
Venice
Italy
Cannes
France
Lake Garda
Italy
Oslo
Norway
Cinque Terre
Italy
Amalfi Coast
Italy
Paris
France
Santorini
Greece

Bern
Switzerland
Capri
Italy
Ibiza
Spain

Lausanne
Switzerland
Cotswolds
United Kingdom
Lofoten Islands
Norway
Mykonos
Greece
Norwegian Fjords
Norway
Zurich
Switzerland

Geneva
Switzerland
Lucerne
Switzerland
Positano
Italy
Asia — 65 destinations
Bukhara
Uzbekistan
Bishkek
Kyrgyzstan
Samarkand
Uzbekistan
Lombok
Indonesia

Skardu
Pakistan
Tashkent
Uzbekistan
Batumi
Georgia

Hunza Valley
Pakistan

Melaka
Malaysia

Surabaya
Indonesia
Yogyakarta
Indonesia
Isfahan
Iran

Manado
Indonesia
Sapa
Vietnam
Tbilisi
Georgia
Almaty
Kazakhstan

Batam
Indonesia
Chengdu
China
Hoi An
Vietnam

Jakarta
Indonesia

Pingyao
China
Ubud
Indonesia
Yangshuo
China
Yerevan
Armenia
Gili Islands
Indonesia

Flores
Indonesia

Bohol
Philippines
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Coron
Philippines
Da Nang
Vietnam

Hualien
Taiwan
Xi'an
China
Astana
Kazakhstan
Guilin
China

Taroko Gorge
Taiwan

Gyeongju
South Korea

Jeonju
South Korea
Lijiang
China

Sokcho
South Korea
Baku
Azerbaijan
Bali
Indonesia
Cebu
Philippines

Sun Moon Lake
Taiwan
Taipei
Taiwan
Beijing
China
Busan
South Korea
Hangzhou
China
Suzhou
China

Huangshan
China
Jeju Island
South Korea
Koh Samui
Thailand
Shanghai
China
Siargao
Philippines
Seoul
South Korea
Hạ Long Bay
Vietnam
Zhangjiajie
China
Jeju
South Korea
Okinawa
Japan
Nikko
Japan
Kanazawa
Japan
Komodo Islands
Indonesia
Sapporo
Japan
Singapore
Singapore
Hakone
Japan
Lhasa
China
Paro
Bhutan
North America — 70 destinations
Mexico City
Mexico

Branson
United States

Jacksonville
United States
Memphis
United States
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Myrtle Beach
United States

San Antonio
United States

South Padre Island
United States
St. Louis
United States
Albuquerque
United States

Gatlinburg
United States
Boise
United States
Cincinnati
United States
Cleveland
United States

Houston
United States
Kansas City
United States
Madison
United States
Montreal
Canada
Raleigh
United States

Arches National Park
United States

Bryce Canyon National Park
United States
Charlotte
United States

Dallas
United States
Detroit
United States
Indianapolis
United States
Louisville
United States
Asheville
United States
Cancún
Mexico
New York City
United States
Niagara Falls
United States

Outer Banks
United States
Philadelphia
United States
Santa Fe
United States
Annapolis
United States
Toronto
Canada
Barbados
Barbados
Pittsburgh
United States
Chicago
United States
Curaçao
Curaçao
Nassau
Bahamas
Sedona
United States

Palm Springs
United States
Aruba
Aruba

Hilton Head
United States
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
United States
Washington, D.C.
United States
Boston
United States
Grand Canyon National Park
United States
Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia
San Diego
United States
San Francisco
United States
Atlanta
United States

Belize
Belize
Salt Lake City
United States
Tampa
United States
Austin
United States
Los Angeles
United States
Savannah
United States
American Southwest
United States
Las Vegas
United States
Denver
United States
Nashville
United States
Charleston
United States

Zion National Park
United States
Big Island
United States
Napa Valley
United States
Kauai
United States
Oʻahu
United States
Yosemite National Park
United States
Maui
United States
Turks and Caicos
Turks and Caicos
South America — 19 destinations

Copacabana
Bolivia

Sucre
Bolivia
La Paz
Bolivia
Puno
Peru
Salar de Uyuni
Bolivia
Arequipa
Peru
Cusco
Peru
Foz do Iguaçu
Brazil
Sacred Valley
Peru
Buenos Aires
Argentina
Salta
Argentina
Santiago
Chile
Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
São Paulo
Brazil
Paraty
Brazil
Atacama Desert
Chile
Iguazu Falls
Argentina
Machu Picchu
Peru
Easter Island
Chile
Africa — 26 destinations
Tunis
Tunisia

Atlas Mountains
Morocco
Chefchaouen
Morocco

Lake Malawi
Malawi
Ouarzazate
Morocco

Alexandria
Egypt
Asilah
Morocco
Agadir
Morocco
Fez
Morocco

Hurghada
Egypt
Rabat
Morocco
Tangier
Morocco
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Drakensberg
South Africa
Essaouira
Morocco
Casablanca
Morocco

Sharm El Sheikh
Egypt
Johannesburg
South Africa
Maputo
Mozambique
Marrakech
Morocco
Madagascar
Madagascar
Kruger National Park
South Africa
Mauritius
Mauritius
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe

Sossusvlei
Namibia
Seychelles
Seychelles
Okavango Delta
Botswana
Oceania — 7 destinations
Brisbane
Australia
Cairns
Australia
Fiji
Fiji
Tahiti
French Polynesia
Whitsundays
Australia
Uluru
Australia
Bora Bora
French Polynesia
Middle East — 6 destinations
Frequently asked
What's the best place to visit in May?
May is peak season in 345 destinations across 7 continents — including Paris, Lisbon, New York City, and many more. The right pick depends on your priorities: weather, budget, crowds, or specific activities.
Where's the cheapest place to travel in May?
Bukhara, Uzbekistan runs about $50/day mid-range — the lowest-cost peak-season destination on our May list. Compare flight prices alongside on-the-ground costs since flight cost can swing the total budget more than daily spend.
Where's the safest place to visit in May?
Kanazawa, Japan has a 96/100 safety score and is in peak season in May — one of the safest peak-season options this month for solo travelers and families.
Where's the best food in May?
Paris, France scores 5/5 on food and is in peak season this month — perfect timing if a food-led trip is the plan.
Is May a good time to travel?
May works for 345 destinations on our list — meaning you have plenty of options across budgets and regions. The trick is matching your destination to the season: avoid places where May falls in low season unless you're specifically chasing off-peak prices and don't mind weather extremes.