Best places to visit in Europe in May

Europe

Ireland · 15°C (59°F) · 10 rainy days

Dublin

Georgian squares, free museums, trad-music pubs and a coastline by train. Often one of the sunniest months, with long evenings and gardens in flower; a good time for coastal walks.

United Kingdom · 15°C (59°F) · 9 rainy days

Edinburgh

A castle on a volcano, medieval closes, free museums and August festivals. Often dry and bright, with long evenings for walking Arthur's Seat and the coast.

Netherlands · 17°C (63°F) · 9 rainy days

Amsterdam

Canal rings, Golden Age art, brown cafés and a city made for bikes. Mild and bright with long evenings; terraces fill and the canals look their best.

Greece · 25°C (77°F) · 3 rainy days

Athens

The Acropolis, late-night tavernas and beaches a tram ride away. One of the best months: warm days, long evenings and the first beach days on the Riviera before the summer heat.

Spain · 22°C (72°F) · 6 rainy days

Barcelona

Gaudí architecture, Gothic lanes, tapas bars and city beaches. Warm and sunny with long evenings and the first beach days, though the sea is still cool.

Germany · 20°C (68°F) · 8 rainy days

Berlin

Cold War history, world-class museums and nights that never end. Warm and green, with beer gardens open and long evenings by the canals.

Hungary · 22°C (72°F) · 9 rainy days

Budapest

Thermal baths, Danube views and ruin bars at Central European prices. Warm and green, ideal for walking the riverbanks, though May has some of the most frequent showers of the year.

Denmark · 16°C (61°F) · 8 rainy days

Copenhagen

Harbour swims, Tivoli lights, Danish design and a city made for bikes. Bright, long days and fresh green parks; café terraces and canal-side drinks fill up.

Croatia · 22°C (72°F) · 8 rainy days

Dubrovnik

A walled Adriatic city of limestone streets, sea forts and island swims. Warm, green and ideal for sightseeing; brave swimmers start going in by late May.

Italy · 24°C (75°F) · 7 rainy days

Florence

Renaissance masterpieces, Brunelleschi's dome and Tuscan food on foot. Warm, long days and gardens in full flower; one of the most pleasant months for walking and for day trips to Chianti.

Turkey · 22°C (72°F) · 5 rainy days

Istanbul

Byzantine domes, Ottoman palaces and ferries between Europe and Asia. Warm, sunny and long days, ideal for Bosphorus ferries and walking the hills before summer humidity arrives.

Portugal · 23°C (73°F) · 6 rainy days

Lisbon

Hilltop viewpoints, yellow trams and custard tarts on the Tagus. Warm, sunny and still comfortable — one of the best months to visit before summer crowds peak.

United Kingdom · 18°C (64°F) · 8 rainy days

London

Free national museums, royal landmarks, West End theatre and riverside walks. Long, mild days and the parks at their greenest; two bank-holiday weekends make for busy Mondays.

Spain · 22°C (72°F) · 6 rainy days

Madrid

Velázquez and Goya by day, tapas bars and late nights after dark. Warm, sunny and one of the best months, with the city's own festivals and terraces full in the evenings.

Italy · 23°C (73°F) · 10 rainy days

Milan

Gothic Duomo, The Last Supper, fashion streets and canal-side aperitivo. Warm and green, ideal for walking and lake trips, with some thunderstorms.

Germany · 19°C (66°F) · 12 rainy days

Munich

Beer gardens, royal palaces, world-class art and the Alps on the horizon. Warm days, maypoles and full beer gardens; several public holidays bring busy long weekends.

Italy · 23°C (73°F) · 6 rainy days

Naples

Pizza's birthplace, baroque churches, Vesuvius and Pompeii next door. Warm and sunny, with the islands opening for the season; one of the best months.

France · 21°C (70°F) · 5 rainy days

Nice

Pebble beaches, Old Town markets and a rail gateway to the Riviera. One of the best months for walking and day trips; Riviera hotels fill and prices jump during Cannes and Monaco event weeks.

France · 20°C (68°F) · 9 rainy days

Paris

World-class museums, café terraces and walkable riverside quarters. Long, mild days and gardens at their best; several public holidays create busy long weekends.

Portugal · 20°C (68°F) · 9 rainy days

Porto

Riverside terraces, azulejo tiles, port-wine lodges and the Douro Valley. Warm, longer days and terraces opening; a good month for walking and the Douro Valley.

Czechia · 20°C (68°F) · 8 rainy days

Prague

Gothic spires, a hilltop castle and Europe's great beer halls. One of the best months, with lilac and fruit blossom, long days and beer gardens opening.

Greece · 23°C (73°F) · 2 rainy days

Santorini

Cliff-top villages, a flooded caldera and black-sand beaches in the Cyclades. Warm, sunny and green, ideal for the Fira–Oia hike; the sea is cool but swimmable by the end of the month.

Spain · 28°C (82°F) · 3 rainy days

Seville

Moorish palaces, orange-tree squares, tapas bars and flamenco. Warm, sunny and lively, with flower-filled patios and the start of the heat by late May.

Austria · 21°C (70°F) · 8 rainy days

Vienna

Imperial palaces, coffee houses, Klimt and world-class music. Warm and green, with terraces and heurigen gardens open and a busy cultural calendar.

Italy · 24°C (75°F) · 5 rainy days

Rome

Ancient ruins, Vatican art, Baroque piazzas and long trattoria lunches. Warm and sunny with long evenings; the municipal rose garden on the Aventine is in bloom and major sights are very busy.

Italy · 22°C (72°F) · 9 rainy days

Venice

Canals, Byzantine mosaics and lagoon islands with no cars at all. Warm and pleasant, among the best months for walking and the lagoon islands, but busy at weekends.

Spain · 24°C (75°F) · 1 rainy days

Tenerife

Mount Teide, year-round sunshine and black-sand Atlantic beaches. One of the best-value months: dry weather, thin crowds and red tajinaste flower spikes in Teide National Park.

Turkey · 26°C (79°F) · 4 rainy days

Antalya

A walled harbour old town, long beaches and Roman cities below the Taurus Mountains. One of the best months: warm days, swimmable sea by late May and resorts open without peak crowds.

Serbia · 24°C (75°F) · 11 rainy days

Belgrade

A fortress over two rivers, kafana dinners and nights on floating clubs. Warm and green with long evenings on terraces; occasional heavy showers.

Turkey · 25°C (77°F) · 3 rainy days

Bodrum

A Crusader castle, whitewashed bays and gulet cruises on Turkey's Aegean coast. Warm, sunny days and a swimmable sea by the end of the month; good value before high season.

Beach, city or budget: May picks by trip type

What's on in May

Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.

• Dublin: Dublin Dance Festival (usually May)
• Edinburgh: Edinburgh Marathon Festival (usually late May)
• Amsterdam: Remembrance Day two-minute silence (4 May) and Liberation Day festivals (5 May)
• Athens: Open-air cinemas start their season (usually May)
• Barcelona: Primavera Sound music festival at Parc del Fòrum (usually late May or early June)
• Berlin: Labour Day street festivities in Kreuzberg (1 May)
• Copenhagen: Copenhagen Marathon (usually May)
• Florence: Giardino dell'Iris opens below Piazzale Michelangelo (usually May)
• Istanbul: Conquest of Istanbul anniversary celebrations (29 May)
• Lisbon: Lisbon Book Fair in Parque Eduardo VII (usually late May into June)
• London: RHS Chelsea Flower Show (usually late May)
• Madrid: Dos de Mayo celebrations, especially in Malasaña (2 May)

Daylight in May

Day length on these trips ranges from about 13.5 hours in Tenerife to 16.3 hours in Edinburgh (sunrise to sunset on 15 May). Longer days mean more sightseeing time; shorter ones favour museums, food and evenings.

May weather compared

Questions travellers ask