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Where to go in May: countries and events

Greece, Croatia and Portugal for warm-weather trips in May, plus events such as the Cannes Film Festival and Vivid Sydney.

May suits three countries with warm weather: Greece, Croatia and Portugal. Each one fits a different kind of trip, so decide the trip type first. Greece and Croatia fit coastal stays and island trips, where the sea is the main draw. Portugal fits a trip built around city sightseeing and walking.

Some May trips are built around events. The Cannes Film Festival takes place in mid-May in Cannes, France, and Vivid Sydney, a light festival in Sydney, usually starts in late May and runs into June. Weather and sea temperature differ by region, so check them for the exact place you plan to stop before you set dates. If you are choosing between a beach trip and a city trip, start with the country, then pick the dates around any event you want to attend.

Best in May

Our writers rate these countries at their best this month

The Treasury carved into sandstone cliffs in Petra, Jordan, with people belowMiddle EastJordanWarma rocky mountain sideEuropeAustriaWarm, greenA desert landscape with rocks and clouds in the skyNorth AmericaUSAMild, parksA group of people standing on top of a beach next to the oceanEuropeEnglandMild, long daysThe Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Giotto's Campanile in Florence, ItalyEuropeItalyWarm, long daysBicycles parked on a bridge over a canal in Amsterdam with historic buildingsEuropeThe NetherlandsTulips, mildwoman sitting on top of cliff facing buildingsEuropeMontenegroWarm, greenbrown concrete building beside river during daytimeEuropeBelgiumWarm, green

Also at their best: France, Lebanon, Bulgaria, Portugal, Peru, Paraguay, Cabo Verde, Papua New Guinea, Mauritius, French Polynesia, Albania, Spain. Every country, month by month

Big events in May

Dates checked with the organisers

Events calendar
equestrian riding horse at daytime
Apr 30 – May 1, 2027 · Churchill Downs, LouisvilleKentucky DerbyThe Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs: how the two-day Oaks and Derby tickets work, what infield general admission gets you, what you cannot carry in, and where to sleep in Louisville.Read the event guide

On tour in May

Concert tours with shows this month

group of people raising there hands in concertMay 1 – 29, 2027Def Leppard 2027 North American tourLos Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento and 5 morecrowd raising their handsMay 1 – 10, 2027Olivia Rodrigo The Unraveled TourBarcelona, Londoncrowd partying with red stage lightsMay 1 – 8, 2027Sabaton The Legendary Tour Part 2Budapest, Prague, Bratislava and 3 morea large crowd of people in front of a stage with lightsMay 1 – 30, 2027Bruno Mars The Romantic TourKaohsiung, Hong Kong, Bocaue and 1 morecrowd of people at concertMay 1 – 30, 2027Nickelback Everything Under the Sun Tour 2027San Antonio, Mexico City, Leeds and 3 morea crowd of people at a concert with their hands in the airMay 1 – 31, 2027Harry Styles Together, Together 2027Pasadena, Toronto, Atlanta and 1 more

Festivals in May

Smaller festivals that make the month worth picking. The link opens the city guide.

Europe

Asia

Africa

North America

DestinationsWhere to go, when to go and how to get around in 221 countries. Every practical fact shows the date we checked it and who checked it.Where to stayNeighborhoods walked end to end: who each area suits, how far it is from the airport train, and the hotels we would book ourselves.PlanVisas and entry rules, travel insurance, eSIMs and rail passes, explained in plain words and rechecked when the rules change.EventsFestivals, concerts and tours with confirmed dates, rooms near the venue and the fastest way on to the next city.StoriesField reports and data stories from the road. We time the queues, count the costs and say what changed since last year.

Asia

KansaiTokyoBangkokOsakaSiem ReapMt FujiOkinawaKōbeManilaKyotoAll Asia

Caribbean

Fort-de-FranceNassauPort of SpainNegrilSan JuanOcho RiosHavanaEleutheraEl Yunque National ForestSosúaAll Caribbean

Africa

MarrakechRabatToubkal National ParkMaasai MaraCape WinelandsDiani BeachMombasaNairobiAswanSharm El SheikhAll Africa

Events

Sapporo Snow FestivalCherry blossomGion MatsuriDía de MuertosOktoberfestKandy Esala PeraheraEvents calendar

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