Events worth planning a trip around
Plan a trip around a festival, concert, match or tour, with dates, where to stay near the venue and how to get there.
Some trips start with an event: a concert, a music festival, a cup match or a tour date in a city you would not otherwise visit. The pages in this category are built for that decision. Each page covers the dates, where to stay near the venue and how to reach it from the nearest airport or train station. Browse by Music, Festivals, Follow a tour, Culture or Sport to find the type of event you want to travel for.
Book early when an event is large or runs for several days, since hotels near the venue can fill before the rest of the city. Check the dates against your flights and time off, and allow a buffer before a ticketed start time if you travel in from another city. Confirm ticket prices, entry rules and resale terms with the official seller before you pay for a room or a flight. If the event is in a smaller city, check the last train or bus home before you book.
Big events in May
Dates checked with the organisers
Festivals in May
Smaller festivals that make the month worth picking. The link opens the city guide.
Europe
- Prague Spring International Music FestivalPrague, Czechia
- Palio of FerraraFerrara, Italy
- Glyndebourne Festival OperaBrighton & Hove, England
- SudamjaSplit, Croatia
- festivities of San Isidro LabradorMadrid, Spain
- Schwetzingen FestivalHeidelberg, Germany
- Maggio Musicale FiorentinoFlorence, Italy
Asia
- Gangneung DanojeGangneung, South Korea
- Tado FestivalNagoya, Japan
- Duanwu FestivalChina
- Hiroshima Flower FestivalHiroshima, Japan
- Kanda MatsuriTokyo, Japan
- Aoi MatsuriKyoto, Japan
- Lotus Lantern FestivalSeoul, South Korea
Africa
- World Sacred Music FestivalFes, Morocco
North America
- Canadian Tulip FestivalOttawa, Canada
Plan by month
Where the weather is on your side, and what is on