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Best holiday destinations in May

Kirsten Henton

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 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.

Cyprus
Florida, USA
Majorca, Spain
California, USA
Antalya, Turkey

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 © 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.

Recommended for Cyprus

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 © sborisov - Fotolia.com — Holidays to South Beach Miami, Florida, USA © 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.

Recommended for Florida

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 © 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.

Recommended for Majorca

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 © Dawn Endico - Flickr Creative Commons

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.

Recommended for California

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 © 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.

Recommended for the Antalya Coast

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 © Tim Copeland - Flickr Creative Commons

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 © Guillaume - Flickr Creative Commons

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

Month

Destination

Daytime temperature

Sunshine hours

Sea temperature

Monthly rainfall

Days with some rain

Heat & humidity

Metric (°C / mm) | Imperial (°F / inches)

Where to go on holiday for the best weather

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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