Best Places to Visit in May
May is the traveler’s reward for surviving April. The weather is warm in the north, the south has shaken off its rainy season, and the tourist crowds are still a few weeks away from their summer peak. Over the years I have timed my favorite trips to May on purpose, and these are the destinations that shine brightest in this exact window.
The result is a trip that feels both fresh and unhurried from the first day. Spring weather and lighter crowds make it the best kept secret of the travel calendar.
Amalfi Coast, Italy
May is the ideal month for the Amalfi Coast. The summer heat has not set in, the gardens are exploding with flowers, and the famous seaside towns of Positano, Ravello, and Amalfi are calm before the June rush. I have driven the cliff road when it was almost empty, hairpin bend after hairpin bend with the sea glittering far below, and sat at a terrace café in Positano watching the sun drop over the water. The sea can still feel bracing at the start of the month, but the light and the lemon scented breeze make up for it a hundred times over.
Provence, France
Provence in May is lavender fields, hilltop villages, and market days that smell of herbs and fresh bread. The famous lavender blooms a little later in the summer, but May gives you green rolling hills, flowering gardens, and mild sunny weather without the crowds. I have spent May cycling between villages like Gordes and Roussillon, stopping for long lunches and glasses of rosé under the plane trees. The weekly markets are the heart of the region, and in May you can browse them at a relaxed pace rather than in a crush of tourists.
Bali, Indonesia
May is the tail end of Bali’s dry season turnaround, and the island is beautifully green with good weather and light crowds. The rice terraces of Tegallalang are lush, the beaches are warm, and the temple ceremonies are in full swing across the island. I have watched the sunset at Uluwatu in May with a warm breeze and no sense of rush, the cliffs dropping to the waves below. Add the surf, the waterfalls, and the art towns of Ubud, and you have the lush version of Bali that everyone pictures, before the visitor numbers of June and July climb.
Costa Rica
May is the start of Costa Rica’s green season, which actually makes it a wonderful time to visit. The rains come in short afternoon bursts that keep the forest vivid, and the wildlife is active and visible. I have seen sloths, howler monkeys, and a rainbow of toucans on the Osa Peninsula in May, when the trails were quiet and the jungle felt alive. The hotels are cheaper, the beaches are emptier, and the rainforest is at its most vibrant. Pack a light rain jacket, plan around the afternoon showers, and you will be glad you came.
San Francisco, California
May is the best month for San Francisco, when the famous fog stays offshore and the city basks in warm, sunny weather. The Golden Gate Bridge shows off its full colors, the ferry to Alcatraz runs on calm seas, and the parklands are green and full. I have ridden a cable car up Nob Hill in May with a clear view across the bay to the hills of Marin. Walk the waterfront, eat clam chowder at the wharf, and soak up one of the few times of year the city gets a long, reliable spell of perfect weather.
Practical Tips for May
May is the month to act early and pack smart. In the Mediterranean the water is still bracing early in the month, so a wetsuit or a willingness to just dip your toes helps you enjoy the coast fully. In the tropics the green season means short afternoon downpours, so a light rain jacket and a dry bag go a long way. For wildflower season in the hills, mornings are golden and evenings cool quickly. Across every one of these destinations, booking flights and stays for the first half of the month keeps you ahead of the price rises that arrive with the school holidays. Nobody regrets a trip taken in May, only the ones put off until later in the year.
Final Thoughts
May is the shoulder season done right. You get the green of the tropics, the bloom of Europe, and the dryness of the hills, all without the summer crowds and prices. The secret is to plan early, because as the month moves toward June the prices and the queues start to climb. Pick your favorite and go at the start of the month for the very best of it, and give yourself permission to do less, because May rewards a slower pace.
