Where to go in May

Latin America & Caribbean

Argentina · 19°C (66°F) · 6 rainy days

Buenos Aires

Cool, crisp days and occasional rain; museums, theatres and cafés are at their liveliest.

Brazil · 26°C (79°F) · 7 rainy days

Rio de Janeiro

One of the most comfortable months: warm, mostly dry days, clearer views from Corcovado and fewer visitors.

North America

United States · 29°C (84°F) · 5 rainy days

Honolulu

Dry, sunny and quieter than summer, with calm south-shore waters for swimming.

United States · 24°C (75°F) · 1 rainy days

Los Angeles

Warm inland but often grey at the beach in the mornings ('May Gray'), usually clearing by afternoon.

United States · 19°C (66°F) · 2 rainy days

San Francisco

Pleasant spring days as the fog season begins to build; one of the better months for walking and hiking.

Canada · 18°C (64°F) · 11 rainy days

Toronto

Mild, green and pleasant, with patios opening and the islands coming back to life after winter.

United States · 19°C (66°F) · 12 rainy days

Boston

Mild and green; college graduations from mid-May push hotel prices to their highest, so book early.

United States · 21°C (70°F) · 12 rainy days

Chicago

Pleasant and green, with river cruises in full swing; the lake stays cold, so near-shore areas can feel cooler than inland.

United States · 22°C (72°F) · 11 rainy days

New York City

Warm and green — one of the best months for walking, rooftop bars and outdoor dining.

United States · 24°C (75°F) · 11 rainy days

Washington, D.C.

Warm and pleasant before the humidity arrives; graduation weekends fill hotels.

Asia

Indonesia · 31°C (88°F) · 6 rainy days

Bali

Dry, sunny and less humid — one of the best months for trekking, diving and rice terraces.

Japan · 25°C (77°F) · 10 rainy days

Kyoto

Warm and green, with long days; Golden Week at the start of the month is very busy, then crowds ease.

Japan · 25°C (77°F) · 10 rainy days

Osaka

Warm and fresh; Golden Week at the start of the month brings crowds and higher prices, then it calms.

South Korea · 24°C (75°F) · 9 rainy days

Seoul

Warm, green and one of the most comfortable months, with lanterns for Buddha's Birthday.

Japan · 24°C (75°F) · 11 rainy days

Tokyo

Warm and pleasant, with azaleas and irises; trains and attractions are packed in the Golden Week days at the start of the month.

Europe

Ireland · 15°C (59°F) · 10 rainy days

Dublin

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

Often dry and bright, with long evenings for walking Arthur's Seat and the coast.

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

Amsterdam

Mild and bright with long evenings; terraces fill and the canals look their best.

Greece · 25°C (77°F) · 3 rainy days

Athens

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

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

Warm and green, with beer gardens open and long evenings by the canals.

Hungary · 22°C (72°F) · 9 rainy days

Budapest

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

Bright, long days and fresh green parks; café terraces and canal-side drinks fill up.

Croatia · 22°C (72°F) · 8 rainy days

Dubrovnik

Warm, green and ideal for sightseeing; brave swimmers start going in by late May.

Italy · 24°C (75°F) · 7 rainy days

Florence

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

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

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

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

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

Warm and green, ideal for walking and lake trips, with some thunderstorms.

Germany · 19°C (66°F) · 12 rainy days

Munich

Warm days, maypoles and full beer gardens; several public holidays bring busy long weekends.

Italy · 23°C (73°F) · 6 rainy days

Naples

Warm and sunny, with the islands opening for the season; one of the best months.

France · 21°C (70°F) · 5 rainy days

Nice

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

Long, mild days and gardens at their best; several public holidays create busy long weekends.

Portugal · 20°C (68°F) · 9 rainy days

Porto

Warm, longer days and terraces opening; a good month for walking and the Douro Valley.

Czechia · 20°C (68°F) · 8 rainy days

Prague

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

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

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

Warm and green, with terraces and heurigen gardens open and a busy cultural calendar.

Africa

Morocco · 29°C (84°F) · 2 rainy days

Marrakech

Hot by midday but pleasant in the mornings and evenings; a good month for the mountains and the coast.

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.

• Buenos Aires: Revolution Day — 25 May holiday, when locro and empanadas are served
• Honolulu: Lei Day celebrations (1 May)
• Dublin: Dublin Dance Festival (usually May)
• Edinburgh: Edinburgh Marathon Festival (usually late May)
• San Francisco: Bay to Breakers — costumed footrace across the city (usually the third Sunday of May)
• Toronto: Doors Open Toronto — free access to notable buildings (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)
• Boston: Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum (usually Mother's Day, mid-May)
• Chicago: Chicago beaches open for the season (usually Memorial Day weekend, late May)

Daylight in May

Day length on these trips ranges from about 10.3 hours in Buenos Aires 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