16 Best Places to Travel in May
May is one of the best months for traveling. This lovely spring month encompasses that sweet spot before Labor Day marks the official start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. It's during this time that colorful flowers continue to burst on the scene, temperatures climb, and the sun decides to stay out for longer.
Since May isn't high season in most places, traveling during this month also means great deals on everything from rental cars to hotels to airfare. From North Carolina to Greece to Mexico, there are a slew of cheap places to visit in May.
Another bonus to traveling at this time: you won't have to elbow your way through crowds to see the historic attractions in Italy, the winding trails of Yellowstone National Park, or the beaches of Nantucket.
Discover more top destinations around the world with our list of the best places to travel in May.
Machu Picchu, Peru
If you have dreamed of hiking the Inca Trail to the world-renowned Machu Picchu in Peru, then May is the ideal month to do it. The rainy season will have just ended, and you can take advantage of this small window before the popular tourist season starts in June.
In May, travelers are rewarded with stunning vistas of lush green valleys and cooler temperatures, which make for perfect conditions to hike in this world-class hiking region. It can get chilly at night at this time of year, so you will want to pack a few extra layers.
Machu Picchu isn't really a last-minute destination. You should book your trip many months in advance to reserve lodging and obtain the necessary permits for hiking, as they are becoming more restrictive. May will have far fewer hikers on the trails as you make your way to the main reason you came: Peru's top attraction, Machu Picchu.
One of the top UNESCO World Heritage sites, the gardens, temples, and unforgettable scenery of this ancient Incan city is breathtaking.
Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Peru
Mackinac Island, Michigan
Mackinac Island is one of the best places to travel in May, and one of the top destinations for a vacation in the Midwest. Visiting this magical Michigan locale is like taking a trip back in time to a quaint and charming spot filled with romance. During May, guests can enjoy the island's spectacularly blooming gardens and landscapes without the annoying crowds that descend upon this lovely spot in summer.
To get here, you'll have to take a ferry from St. Ignace or Mackinaw City. Once you arrive, be prepared to ditch the car. They aren't allowed on Mackinac Island, so you will travel by horse and carriage, bicycle, or on foot during your vacation.
Take a trip up the hill to the Grand Hotel to learn about its history on the island as a getaway for the social elite in the late 1800s. There are plenty of other attractions to enjoy while you're there.
Mackinac Island is a vacation for the senses, too. Feel the cool breeze coming off Lake Huron as you relax in an Adirondack chair. Smell the scent of the lilac trees coming into full bloom. See the hundreds of gardens being planted as the official tourist season gets underway. It's easy to see why this is such a popular place to visit in Michigan.
May is a nice time to visit the Mackinac Island State Park, which you can do by horseback or by walking on the trails.
Read More: Top Attractions & Things to Do on Mackinac Island
Nantucket
An iconic summer destination for the East Coast elite, Nantucket is more than just a pricey place to enjoy long weekends at the shore. This palatable historic isle lies 30 miles south of Cape Cod and boasts pristine beaches, immaculate hotels, and adorable cobblestone streets to up the charm factor. It's packed with fun things to do and points of interest so beautiful, you'll be happy you packed a camera.
Visiting in May ensures you can enjoy all the quaintness without the crowds and high prices. Plus, you should be able to find direct flights at this time of year from bigger airports in cities like Boston and New York. With mild temperatures and little rain, visiting Nantucket in May is the perfect way to enjoy some much-needed outdoor time.
Check out the Great Point Lighthouse, build a sandcastle on one of Nantucket's best beaches, and eat your way through the delectable restaurants.
Read More: Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Nantucket
Nepal
If you are eager to visit Nepal, it makes sense to go in May for several reasons. Firstly, May offers great weather for hiking and sightseeing. The June rains in the Himalayan Mountains have not yet started, and the skies are blue. Since it is such a great month for mountain treks, you will want to plan far in advance to make sure that you get the lodging and hiking tours that you want, as they can book quickly.
There are several treks in Nepal to consider. The most popular will be the trek to the Mount Everest base camp, where you will see some of the Sherpa villages and Buddhist Monasteries. Another is the Annapurna Circuit trek, which offers great views of the region and the opportunity to see some of Nepal's cultural diversity along the trails.
Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Nepal
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is one of the most spectacular national parks in the United States, and it's best seen in May. The reason is twofold: visitors won't have to jostle the large summer crowds, and the temperature is ideal for a day spent hiking – it's not too hot nor too cold.
From the dense forests and pristine natural lakes to jaw-dropping geysers, quiet streams, and an abundance of wildlife, Yellowstone is a bucket-list trip for many. There are more than 3,000 square miles to explore as you snap photographs of bison and elk that roam the open landscape. It's best to be prepared before you arrive, planning which attractions to see and tours to take in advance.
In May, you will find the tail end of winter making its way out of sight, and the trails opening to visitors. With the exception of Memorial Day weekend, which is crowded, May is a great time to visit.
You can grab a front-row spot to see Old Faithful, walk the trails, view the formations at Mammoth Hot Springs, kayak on Yellowstone Lake, and hike the many trails with natural surprises like waterfalls and clean, fresh air.
West Yellowstone is the most popular base for accessing the park; it's filled with fun things to do, so plan to spend a day or two there.
Tanzania
Having the opportunity to witness the great Serengeti wildebeest migration in Tanzania is an experience you will never forget. Targeting May for your travel presents one of the best opportunities to see it.
May is still on the tail end of the rainy season, but given the increased wildlife-viewing opportunities at this time, it is an easy trade-off. Late-season rains have tapered off in recent years, and when it does rain, it typically does not last all day.
Migration patterns are dictated by seasonal rainfall, which changes each year, so you will want to look into that before booking your trip. Generally, in May, the Serengeti wildebeest are moving north through the Moru Kopjes, so you will want to focus your stay in that region.
While the wildebeest migration is one of the top reasons to go in May, there are many other sites and attractions in Tanzania to explore, from Mount Kilimanjaro to the beaches of Zanzibar.
Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Tanzania
Italy
Sicily and Tuscany are two regions in Italy that are ideal to visit in May. Many of the typically busy tourist areas will also be easier to visit and take less time to explore, making it easy to visit the country's top attractions.
The countryside of Sicily is blanketed with wildflowers, and the summer tourists have not arrived, which means you'll have the whole towns (almost) to yourself. Weather is stable and comfortable in May, and the outdoor theaters and festivals are getting underway, so you won't be at a lack for fun things to do or delectable treats to eat.
Tuscany is another beautiful region peppered with attractions that are nice to visit in May. Let's be honest, Tuscany is gorgeous at any time, but May is a definite winner. You will find bright flowers adorning windowsills and picturesque scenery in the countryside. Green fields with red poppies and roses will surround you. May temperatures are pleasant for enjoying the outdoors and the village festivals that get underway this month.
Early in the month, you can wear short-sleeved shirts and take a jacket for the evening. By the end of May, temperatures will begin to heat up along with the uptick in tourists. This is when you'll notice higher rates on things like airfare and hotels as well.
Read More: Best Places to Visit in Italy
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is one of the best places to travel in May, especially for country music fans. Technically the shoulder season, this month boasts perfect temperatures (we're talking highs in the upper 70s and lows in the high 50s) to make walking around and shopping on Music Mile all the more enjoyable.
Don't miss a visit to Centennial Park, which includes a full-scale replica of the Athens Parthenon, and a walk across the historic John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge is cleansing for your soul, not to mention a treat for your camera.
While it is likely to rain a bit in May, you'll be able to dodge the wet by popping into the Ryman Auditorium (once home to the Grand Ole Opry), Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Tennessee State Museum.
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Ottawa, Canada
The month of May is a beautiful time to visit Ottawa. Winter has finally been relegated to the rearview mirror, the summer tourists haven't yet arrived, and the spring flowers are in full and glorious bloom. Plus, you can score some great deals on transportation and the city's best hotels when traveling to Ottawa in May.
During May, visitors are treated to the spectacular Canadian Tulip Festival, featuring more than one million tulips and attracting more than half a million visitors. It commemorates the first of many outdoor festivals of the season. Be sure your camera is charged.
There are so many other things to do, from a walk on Parliament Hill to a boat trip along the Rideau Canal. Besides the impressive spring display of flowers, May weather is comfortable, with warming temperatures, but it is not hot.
Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Ottawa
Casablanca, Morocco
May is one of the best months of the year to visit the attractions of Casablanca and really any of the regions in Morocco. The summer temperatures can hit sweltering highs, making visiting the busy markets and mosques uncomfortable for most tourists.
The temperatures in May, however, are more conducive to walking in the outdoor sun and visiting this vibrant city, which is also a popular cruise ship port.
Casablanca is known to many people from the famous 1945 movie of the same name. It is the country's largest city with an abundance of activity, especially in the Old Medina, the historic part of the city, and the Hassan II Mosque, the most iconic landmark in Casablanca.
If you want to visit several cities in Morocco, you can base yourself in Casablanca and make side trips to places like the vibrant city of Fes and bustling Marrakesh. May offers a great opportunity to take part in excursions like a camel trek through the Sahara, which would be unbearable to do in the summer months.
Miami, Florida
There is almost no time of the year when Miami, Florida is not bustling with visitors, but May is a great time to go for the weather. Miami's incredible beaches are hard to resist, and a visit in May means the spring breakers have left for the season, and the summer vacationers have not yet arrived.
Temperatures in May are summer-like and not yet at their peak, so a day on South Beach is comfortable.
If the beach is not your scene, you can find many other things to do in Miami, from taking an airboat ride through Everglades National Park to visiting more than 150 shops at the Bayside Marketplace. Be sure to take in some of Miami's diverse food scene at one of the many outdoor dining restaurants by the water.
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Greece
Some of the most popular tourist destinations in Greece like the Acropolis in Athens, Heraklion on Crete, and the glorious beaches of Santorini, are best experienced in May. It is the shoulder season in the country, so rates for hotels and airfare are more reasonable than the high summer tourist season.
The biggest advantage to visiting in May is that the crowds are much smaller, so the lines for getting into popular tourist attractions will be shorter, which could be the difference of several hours for visiting each attraction on your itinerary.
May does come with a slight risk of occasional inclement weather but the trade-off is worth it. You will have fewer people around as you stroll through old sections of the cities and in the marketplaces that can even be crowded by locals during the low season. The other advantage of fewer tourists means you have an edge when it comes to haggling for souvenirs at the markets.
There are many fun flower festivals in Greece in May, like the famous Rhodian Flower Festival.
Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Greece
The Bahamas
The Bahamas is a great vacation destination year-round, but May has some advantages. The weather at this time is moderate, meaning there is almost no chance of a hurricane; humidity is low; mosquitos (which can quickly ruin a vacation) are not in full force; and the temperatures are hot but not uncomfortable.
Another bonus of traveling to the Bahamas in May: the weather conditions are ideal for sailing whether you arrive with your own boat or book a charter for a sunset cruise.
If you like to swim and snorkel, you're in luck — the water temperature in May feels like a warm bath. This month is great for lower tourist numbers at the beaches and for excursions.
Since there are fewer tourists this time of year, you can find great rates for hotels and more availability on flights to the islands, especially the most popular isle to visit: Nassau.
Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in The Bahamas
French Riviera
There's something uber-romantic about visiting the French Riviera in May. Glitz and glam are always present in this luxurious region, but May's Cannes Film Festival brings the social elite and celebrities to the area's colorful streets.
Private yachts sail around the Cannes harbor during the 12-day spectacle, and over-the-top extras can be found in local shops and eateries. The hotels up their game (and their prices) to attract the elite, and you might just rub elbows with an A-lister on the beach at this South of France gem.
May is also the month for the Monte Carlo Formula 1 Grand Prix in Monaco. If you are looking for the most exciting and lively time to visit the French Riviera, and you can afford it, May is your month.
If you do not have extra cash to burn then you may want to consider your trip for a different time of the year when you can visit the Metropole Shopping Mall and other attractions without the distractions and extra costs.
Rio de Janeiro
May can be a perfect time to visit Rio de Janeiro, when the days have cooler temperatures and the vibrant life of the Brazilian city is in full swing. Hotel prices in May will have dropped a bit after the heavy tourist rush for Carnival festivities and many visitors have gone home.
You will have great beach weather without the sweltering temperatures of the summer season, which runs from December through February. Considering the number of fab beaches in Brazil, this is a definite plus.
May is comfortable for outdoor sightseeing of iconic places like Sugar Loaf Mountain and taking a tour through the Tijuca Rain Forest. One of the best ways to explore Rio is on foot through the various neighborhoods, where you can get a feel for the culture and local food. There are many walking tours available if you do not want to venture out on your own.
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Washington D.C., USA
If you're searching for a May vacation that will appeal to the eye as well as the pocketbook, look no further than America's capital, Washington, D.C. May boasts comfortable temperatures and a short drop in tourists who visited earlier to see the cherry blossoms in full glory. They'll pick up again in June.
March and early April are the best times to visit Washington, D.C. for cherry blossoms. At this time, the famed city is framed by the most lusciously pink blossoms, so beautiful they'll leave you speechless. Those who visit in early May might be lucky enough to catch them on their way out, a hint of pink still blanketing the town; it depends on the weather.
The city's most popular tourist attractions will be less crowded during May, which means visitors can see Capitol Hill, the Lincoln Memorial, and the National Mall without having to elbow their way through hordes of people. Also, the city's pretty parks will be flush with vibrant colors and offer plenty of picnic opportunities.
Read More: Top-Rated Day Trips from Washington, D.C.
Map of Places to Travel in May
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More May Travel Ideas: Another consideration for May is other destinations in Europe that will become tourist traps once the summer vacation season gets underway. Some options to consider are the historical sites in Austria, visiting some of the colorful cities in Denmark like Copenhagen, or staying at one of the many European resorts along the Italian Riviera or in the Canary Islands.
