Best holiday destinations in May

Deciding where to go in May for some deliciously hot and sunny weather? We have a great selection of destinations, from the starting-to-warm-up Med to the hot theme parks of Florida and other options in between.

Top 5 things to do in Palma Nova, Majorca
Top 5 things to do in Palma Nova, Majorca © Ian Dagnall - Alamy Stock Photo

Top five destinations to visit in May 2024 for the best weather

Although temperatures in the Mediterranean are still cool, it's the first month of the year when you can realistically plan a beach holiday close to home. Discover our favourite places, near and far, when it comes to choosing where to go in May for the best weather.

1. Cyprus

  • Flight time from London: 5 hours
  • Daily high: 26°C
  • Daily hours of sunshine: 10
  • Sea temperature: 20°C

Sitting in the eastern Med, which is quite a bit further south than the western edge, Cyprus is both warmer and sunnier than destinations such as the Canary Islands at this time of year.

Expect long sunny days at resorts along the south coast, from Paphos to Ayia Napa, with daytime temperatures in the mid-to-high twenties.

On the beach in Cyprus
On the beach in Cyprus © smikeymikey1 - Fotolia.com

Heat and humidity is low, so if you're planning on doing lots of outdoor activities it shouldn't be too hot, however, the sea is still a little cool to be thinking about a beach holiday. If this is on your mind, it may be worth the extra hour or so flight to the resorts of the Red Sea.

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2. Florida, USA

  • Flight time from London: 9.5 hours
  • Daily high: 29°C
  • Daily hours of sunshine: 10
  • Sea temperature: 27°C

Although the rainy season officially starts in Florida in May, don't be put off, as there's still plenty of sunshine and warm daytime temperatures, with just moderate heat and humidity.

In and around Miami the seas are beautifully warm, though be warned, the sun is already really strong so high factor sunscreen is essential.

Where to go on holiday in May
Where to go on holiday in May © sborisov - Fotolia.com

If it's the theme parks of Orlando you're heading for, it's normally hotter than the coast as it's inland and away from the cooling effect of the sea.

It can be slightly cloudier than southern Florida, but you should still see nine hours of sunshine and temperatures creeping just above 30°C on average.

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3. Majorca, Spain

  • Flight time from London: 2.5 hours
  • Daily high: 21°C
  • Daily hours of sunshine: 9
  • Sea temperature: 17°C

Whether you're looking for somewhere lively and loud or blissfully peaceful, the island of Majorca has it all.

From the party town of Magaluf to the secluded shores of Alcudia, and sophisticated town of Port de Pollenca, Majorca is a delightfully diverse destination.

Indulge in fine dining, shopping, and spa treatments or hit the great outdoors hiking, cycling or stand up paddle boarding.

The old town of Alcudia, Majorca
The old town of Alcudia, Majorca © GanMed64 - Flickr Creative Commons

While days are warm with no heat and humidity to worry about, the sea is still a little on the cool side, so you may want to hunt for a hotel with a heated pool.

Evenings, too, can get chilly, dropping as low as 12°C, so pack an extra layer for after dusk. While the island doesn't bask in the kind of conditions that follow in summer, it's a thoroughly pleasant time to go with good weather and plenty to do.

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4. California, USA

  • Flight time from London: 11.5 hours
  • Daily high: 23°C
  • Daily hours of sunshine: 9

Looking to the west coast of America, California is beautiful in May with an abundance of spring sunshine.

It's also got a bit of everything, from expansive parks such as dramatic Yosemite, redwood-rich Sequoia and Kings Canyon (among many others), to bustling vibrant cities such as San Diego and San Francisco.

Arriving at Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Arriving at Yosemite National Park, California, USA © Dawn Endico - Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0

As a general rule, temperatures are higher the further south and inland you go in the state, with Los Angeles hitting 23°C with nine hours of sunshine, compared with San Francisco, which peaks at about 18°C but with 11 hours of sunshine.

No holiday here is going to centre around swimming in the Pacific, which remains cold almost all year round. Instead, hit the trails, shops, restaurants, sights and activities of this colourful state.

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5. Antalya, Turkey

  • Flight time from London: 4.5 hours
  • Daily high: 25°C
  • Daily hours of sunshine: 10
  • Sea temperature: 20°C

Much like Cyprus, Turkey enjoys an early spring, and by May daytime temperatures are already warm with lots of sunshine, even more so than in the western Med.

The coastal resort of Antalya sees loads of sunshine and warm temperatures, although these do fall to the mid-teens overnight, so definitely pack an extra layer.

Heat and humidity is low during the day, making it a good time of year to get out and about exploring without it being too hot, which is a good thing as the sea isn't necessarily warm enough for everyone.

One of many hotels along the coast near Antalya, Turkey
One of many hotels along the coast near Antalya, Turkey © Castenoid - Fotolia.com

There's plenty to see and do in Antalya: consider visiting ancient ruins, natural mineral springs or, simply, enjoying a drink and some good food on the seafront. May is one of the quietest months in southern Turkey, so it's also relatively peaceful.

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Alternative destinations to visit in May 2024

As well as the five destinations above, there are a few other long haul options worth considering. While temperatures start to climb in Europe making it more accessible for UK holidaymakers, there are destinations further afield that also offer fabulous weather in May.

If you'd like to get up close and personal with wilderness, then consider a safari in Botswana.

It's a very comfortable time of year to visit, with highs of 25°C, no heat and humidity, only a slim chance of a shower and nine long hours of sunshine. It does get cold at night though, dropping to around 8°C, so cosy PJs recommended for sleeping out in the bush.

Game viewing in the shallow waters of the Okavango Delta
Game viewing in the shallow waters of the Okavango Delta © Tim Copeland - Flickr CC BY 2.0

If you're after somewhere in May that's seriously hot and sunny, look no further than Dubai. It's already heating up nicely by this time with daily highs of around 37°C and no less than 11 hours of sunshine.

The added element of very high heat and humidity sits on top of the high temperatures, often making it feel even hotter. The sea is positively balmy at 29°C and evenings are warm too, rarely dropping lower than 23°C.

This is a great holiday destination in May for those who like it hot and want to go somewhere with every amenity and facility. From massive malls to water parks, indoor skiing, kids' theme parks and much more, Dubai is a haven for luxury lovers and families with a little extra cash to splash.

Long Beach on the east coast of Mauritius
Long Beach on the east coast of Mauritius © Guillaume - Flickr CC BY 2.0

Our final destination is another that requires relatively deep pockets - the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. It's less ferocious than Dubai at this time of year and perfect for a beach break.

Days peak at about 27°C with nine hours of sunshine and only moderate heat and humidity. The sea is warm at 26°C and there's only an outside chance you'll catch a passing rain shower. Go for the beaches, swimming, snorkelling, and general indulgence.

Whether you're guided by price, distance, climate or a mixture of all three, the good news is that by this time of year there are loads of great options close to home and further afield - it just depends what you want to see and do.

If you'd like to find out more, we have a detailed look at the weather in May in other popular destinations, and don't forget to see our latest holiday offers and May half term holiday deals from leading providers to help you get away for less.

Destination ideas for May 2024

  • Month: May
  • Daytime temperature: 22 - 28°C [remove]
  • Sunshine hours: 8 hours or more [remove]
  • Sea temperature: 25°C or warmer [remove]

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Rank Rating Score Destination
1 Weather Score for Bahamas in May is 100% 100% Bahamas
  Weather Score for Florida in May is 100% 100% Florida, United States
  Weather Score for Guadeloupe in May is 100% 100% Guadeloupe
  Weather Score for Hawaii in May is 100% 100% Hawaii, United States
  Weather Score for Madagascar in May is 100% 100% Madagascar
  Weather Score for Mauritius in May is 100% 100% Mauritius
  Weather Score for Mozambique in May is 100% 100% Mozambique
  Weather Score for Puerto Rico in May is 100% 100% Puerto Rico
  Weather Score for South Africa in May is 100% 100% South Africa
  Weather Score for Texas in May is 100% 100% Texas, United States
  Weather Score for Western Australia in May is 100% 100% Western Australia, Australia
12 Weather Score for French Polynesia in May is 97% 97% French Polynesia
  Weather Score for Jamaica in May is 97% 97% Jamaica
  Weather Score for Queensland in May is 97% 97% Queensland, Australia
15 Weather Score for British Virgin Islands in May is 94% 94% British Virgin Islands
  Weather Score for Martinique in May is 94% 94% Martinique
  Weather Score for Mexico in May is 94% 94% Mexico
  Weather Score for Seychelles in May is 94% 94% Seychelles
  Weather Score for Virgin Islands in May is 94% 94% Virgin Islands
20 Weather Score for Brazil in May is 93% 93% Brazil
  Weather Score for Ecuador in May is 93% 93% Ecuador
22 Weather Score for Fiji in May is 92% 92% Fiji
  Weather Score for Indonesia in May is 92% 92% Indonesia
  Weather Score for Kenya in May is 92% 92% Kenya
  Weather Score for Papua New Guinea in May is 92% 92% Papua New Guinea
26 Weather Score for Anguilla in May is 89% 89% Anguilla
  Weather Score for Antigua in May is 89% 89% Antigua
  Weather Score for Bali in May is 89% 89% Bali, Indonesia
  Weather Score for Cuba in May is 89% 89% Cuba
  Weather Score for Dominica in May is 89% 89% Dominica
  Weather Score for Dominican Republic in May is 89% 89% Dominican Republic
  Weather Score for Grenada in May is 89% 89% Grenada
  Weather Score for Red Sea in May is 89% 89% Red Sea, Egypt
  Weather Score for St Barthelemy in May is 89% 89% St Barthelemy
  Weather Score for St Kitts & Nevis in May is 89% 89% St Kitts and Nevis
  Weather Score for St Lucia in May is 89% 89% St Lucia
  Weather Score for St Vincent & the Grenadines in May is 89% 89% St Vincent and the Grenadines
  Weather Score for Tanzania in May is 89% 89% Tanzania
39 Weather Score for Georgia (USA) in May is 88% 88% Georgia, United States
  Weather Score for New South Wales in May is 88% 88% New South Wales, Australia
  Weather Score for South Carolina in May is 88% 88% South Carolina, United States
42 Weather Score for China in May is 86% 86% China
  Weather Score for Hong Kong in May is 86% 86% Hong Kong
  Weather Score for Japan in May is 86% 86% Japan
  Weather Score for Panama in May is 86% 86% Panama
  Weather Score for Philippines in May is 86% 86% Philippines
  Weather Score for Samoa in May is 86% 86% Samoa
  Weather Score for Turks & Caicos in May is 86% 86% Turks and Caicos
49 Weather Score for Barbados in May is 83% 83% Barbados
  Weather Score for Cayman Islands in May is 83% 83% Cayman Islands
  Weather Score for Curacao in May is 83% 83% Curacao
  Weather Score for Lombok in May is 83% 83% Lombok, Indonesia
  Weather Score for Maldives in May is 83% 83% Maldives
  Weather Score for Trinidad & Tobago in May is 83% 83% Trinidad and Tobago
55 Weather Score for Costa Rica in May is 81% 81% Costa Rica
  Weather Score for Kerala in May is 81% 81% Kerala, India
  Weather Score for Malaysia in May is 81% 81% Malaysia
  Weather Score for Palau in May is 81% 81% Palau
  Weather Score for Sri Lanka in May is 81% 81% Sri Lanka
60 Weather Score for Bermuda in May is 80% 80% Bermuda
  Weather Score for Cape Verde in May is 80% 80% Cape Verde
  Weather Score for Peru in May is 80% 80% Peru
63 Weather Score for Aruba in May is 78% 78% Aruba
  Weather Score for Goa in May is 78% 78% Goa, India
  Weather Score for India in May is 78% 78% India
  Weather Score for Mexico's Caribbean Coast in May is 78% 78% Caribbean Coast, Mexico
  Weather Score for Venezuela in May is 78% 78% Venezuela
68 Weather Score for Singapore in May is 75% 75% Singapore
  Weather Score for Thailand in May is 75% 75% Thailand
  Weather Score for Vietnam in May is 75% 75% Vietnam
71 Weather Score for Antalya Coast in May is 72% 72% Antalya Coast, Turkey
  Weather Score for Cyprus in May is 72% 72% Cyprus
  Weather Score for Egypt in May is 72% 72% Egypt
  Weather Score for El Salvador in May is 72% 72% El Salvador
  Weather Score for Israel in May is 72% 72% Israel
  Weather Score for Oman in May is 72% 72% Oman
77 Weather Score for Gambia in May is 68% 68% Gambia
78 Weather Score for Albania in May is 67% 67% Albania
  Weather Score for Algarve in May is 67% 67% Algarve, Portugal
  Weather Score for Bodrum & Izmir Coast in May is 67% 67% Bodrum and Izmir Coast, Turkey
  Weather Score for Calabria in May is 67% 67% Calabria, Italy
  Weather Score for California in May is 67% 67% California, United States
  Weather Score for Campania in May is 67% 67% Campania, Italy
  Weather Score for Cook Islands in May is 67% 67% Cook Islands
  Weather Score for Corfu in May is 67% 67% Corfu, Greece
  Weather Score for Costa Almeria in May is 67% 67% Costa Almeria, Spain
  Weather Score for Costa Blanca in May is 67% 67% Costa Blanca, Spain
  Weather Score for Costa Dorada in May is 67% 67% Costa Dorada, Spain
  Weather Score for Costa de la Luz in May is 67% 67% Costa de la Luz, Spain
  Weather Score for Costa del Sol in May is 67% 67% Costa del Sol, Spain
  Weather Score for Crete in May is 67% 67% Crete, Greece
  Weather Score for Croatia in May is 67% 67% Croatia
  Weather Score for Dalaman & Marmaris Coast in May is 67% 67% Dalaman and Marmaris Coast, Turkey
  Weather Score for Formentera in May is 67% 67% Formentera, Balearic Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for Fuerteventura in May is 67% 67% Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for Gran Canaria in May is 67% 67% Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for Greece in May is 67% 67% Greece
  Weather Score for Halkidiki in May is 67% 67% Halkidiki, Greece
  Weather Score for Ibiza in May is 67% 67% Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for Italy in May is 67% 67% Italy
  Weather Score for Kefalonia in May is 67% 67% Kefalonia, Greece
  Weather Score for Kos in May is 67% 67% Kos, Greece
  Weather Score for Lanzarote in May is 67% 67% Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for Lefkada in May is 67% 67% Lefkada, Greece
  Weather Score for Lesbos in May is 67% 67% Lesbos, Greece
  Weather Score for Malta in May is 67% 67% Malta
  Weather Score for Montenegro in May is 67% 67% Montenegro
  Weather Score for Morocco in May is 67% 67% Morocco
  Weather Score for Mykonos in May is 67% 67% Mykonos, Greece
  Weather Score for Namibia in May is 67% 67% Namibia
  Weather Score for New Jersey in May is 67% 67% New Jersey, United States
  Weather Score for Pakistan in May is 67% 67% Pakistan
  Weather Score for Paros in May is 67% 67% Paros, Greece
  Weather Score for Paxos in May is 67% 67% Paxos, Greece
  Weather Score for Peloponnese in May is 67% 67% Peloponnese, Greece
  Weather Score for Portugal in May is 67% 67% Portugal
  Weather Score for Rhodes in May is 67% 67% Rhodes, Greece
  Weather Score for Samos in May is 67% 67% Samos, Greece
  Weather Score for Santorini in May is 67% 67% Santorini, Greece
  Weather Score for Sardinia in May is 67% 67% Sardinia, Italy
  Weather Score for Sicily in May is 67% 67% Sicily, Italy
  Weather Score for Skiathos in May is 67% 67% Skiathos, Greece
  Weather Score for Skopelos in May is 67% 67% Skopelos, Greece
  Weather Score for Skyros in May is 67% 67% Skyros, Greece
  Weather Score for South Korea in May is 67% 67% South Korea
  Weather Score for Spain in May is 67% 67% Spain
  Weather Score for Syros in May is 67% 67% Syros, Greece
  Weather Score for Thassos in May is 67% 67% Thassos, Greece
  Weather Score for Tonga in May is 67% 67% Tonga
  Weather Score for Tunisia in May is 67% 67% Tunisia
  Weather Score for Turkey in May is 67% 67% Turkey
  Weather Score for UAE in May is 67% 67% UAE
  Weather Score for Virginia in May is 67% 67% Virginia, United States
  Weather Score for Zante in May is 67% 67% Zante, Greece
135 Weather Score for Jordan in May is 65% 65% Jordan
136 Weather Score for Cambodia in May is 64% 64% Cambodia
  Weather Score for Slovenia in May is 64% 64% Slovenia
  Weather Score for Venetian Riviera in May is 64% 64% Venetian Riviera, Italy
139 Weather Score for Bulgaria in May is 61% 61% Bulgaria
  Weather Score for France in May is 61% 61% France
  Weather Score for Gibraltar in May is 61% 61% Gibraltar
  Weather Score for La Gomera in May is 61% 61% La Gomera, Canary Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for Majorca in May is 61% 61% Majorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for Menorca in May is 61% 61% Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for Naxos in May is 61% 61% Naxos, Greece
  Weather Score for New York in May is 61% 61% New York, United States
  Weather Score for Tenerife in May is 61% 61% Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for Tuscany in May is 61% 61% Tuscany, Italy

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Where to go on holiday for the best weather

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Kirsten Henton

Kirsten Henton

Kirsten Henton is Weather2Travel.com's editor. Kirsten writes, commissions and edits our travel features, liaising with our contributors and ensuring copy is spick-and-span. A member of the British Guild of Travel Writers, Kirsten also freelances writing articles on travel, history and the outdoors for titles such as Scotland Magazine and BBC Travel.

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