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Best holiday destinations in May
May is one of our most popular holiday months and for good reason. The weather in southern Europe is warming up nicely, so it’s the perfect time to explore somewhere a little closer to home, whether you fancy the romance of Italy or culture of Spain. Looking a bit further afield and wondering where to go in May? The balmy temperatures make May an ideal month to travel to North America and North Africa too.
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Puglia, Italy
With its Mediterranean climate, May is the perfect time to visit the ‘heel of Italy’ with temperatures in the pleasant early 20s. With countryside that’s blanketed with olive groves, a collection of historic cities and fairytale towns, and a coastline, Puglia is a rich region filled with simple pleasures. One of the greatest perks of visiting now is there are also fewer crowds, particularly around must-see destinations including the traditional white trulli houses of Alberobello.
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Spain
The white-sand beaches of Mallorca, Andalucia’s age-old bodegas and flamenco bars, the sleepy seaside villages of Cantabria – whether you’re rekindling a love affair with an old favourite or striking out to explore somewhere new, there’s always plenty to discover when you travel to Spain. This is the ideal month to explore too. Enjoy cooling sea breezes on boat rides, gentle sun on the beaches of the Costas and the chance to explore medieval towns and cobbled streets in warm temperatures.
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Austria
Look beyond the country’s winter snow and city breaks and you’ll quickly discover that May is one of the best months to visit Austria to make the most of its wonderful mountain and lakeside scenery. Head to Zell am See in the Austrian Alps for a chance to go walking around the lake and into the hills, see the majestic Krimml Falls, Europe’s highest waterfalls, as well as enjoyably sunny weather to explore picturesque Salzburg with its musical history.
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Madeira
Madeira’s gentle climate means it’s rarely too hot or too cold, but May is one of the best months to visit the island with its spring flowers in bloom and Madeira’s annual Flower Festival taking place. Watch the processions, parades and displays before discovering some of the plants which flourish in Madeira’s subtropical weather, including at the Botanical Gardens. It’s also a great month to explore the island’s levadas, former irrigation channels turned walking routes.
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Catalonia
There’s far more to Catalonia than its tempting capital Barcelona, with its unmissable architectural treasures. Discover pretty white-washed seaside towns, tucked between the glittering sea and the green mountains, historic medieval villages such as Besalú and set off on boat trips along the Empuriabrava Canal or the beaches and coastline of the Costa Brava. Pleasantly sunny, without being too hot to sightsee, May is the perfect month to get outdoors and explore this lovely corner of Spain.
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Romania
From its Black Sea coast to the rugged mountains, not to mention historic castles, picturesque villages and vibrant cities, there’s plenty to discover in Romania. And May is the ideal month to see the best of this little-visited country. It’s not too hot for sightseeing in Bucharest and Brasov, but the warmer weather has also come to the peaks in Transylvania for a visit to ‘Dracula’s’ Castle and pretty medieval Sighisoara, with wildflowers blooming in the hills as well.
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Tuscany
Tuscany is never less than beautiful, whether you’re indulging in the art and history of the cities or exploring its rolling hills and vineyards, but it’s hard to beat May as the perfect month to visit this tempting corner of Italy. With pleasantly warm temperatures to stroll the streets of Florence, Siena, Pisa and Lucca, the crowds of summer are yet to arrive and the hillsides are vibrantly green. It’s also the start of the traditional village festival season, celebrating local food and heritage.
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Corfu
One of the first Greek islands to attract tourists, it’s no surprise that people are still flocking there decades later. And May is a fantastic month to visit Corfu before the often searing temperatures of summer; attractions have reopened for the main season but the crowds have yet to arrive, so it’s an ideal time to discover Venetian history in Corfu Town, the dramatic mountainous scenery of the north and the legends of Mouse Island, also Prince Phillip’s birthplace.
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Balkans
Stretching for over 500,000 km2, the Balkan region is a fascinating mix of little-visited destinations and countries where tourism has boomed over the past few decades. But whether you’re hoping to go walking and discover history in Albania, explore glorious coast and the walled city of Dubrovnik in Croatia, venture off the beaten track to find wonderful scenery in Montenegro and north Macedonia, or simply hit the beach before the busy summer period, May is the month to go.
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Morocco
From the endless dunes of the Sahara to the snow-capped peaks of the Atlas mountains, the palm-lined valleys to the twisting labyrinthine alleys of the medinas in the historic cities, not to mention Roman remains and a palace that once rivalled Versailles, Morocco is eternally alluring. And there are few better months to appreciate it all than May, when flowers bloom in the foothills, and when there’s glorious sunshine without the punishing heat of late summer.
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Uzbekistan
Travel to Uzbekistan and you'll find desert cities, great domed madrasahs, bazaars filled with exotic spices and silks – it’s a destination that conjures up images of the enchanted tales of ‘Arabian Nights’. For an added reason to visit in May, the Silk and Spice Festival often takes place this month in Bukhara, a wonderful demonstration of Uzbekistan culture and an effort to revive the historical legacy of the ancient Silk Route. May is also warm and dry, without being too hot.
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Canada
Venture into the the wilds of the Rocky Mountains, stroll through the streets of Toronto, Montréal and Vancouver, discover Nova Scotia’s coastal charms, and introduce you to the rolling landscapes of the prairie provinces, revel in the rolling landscapes of the prairie provinces this month. Canada’s landscapes change throughout the year to reflect the different seasons and, after a cold hard winter, spring sees temperatures rise, flowers erupt in a blaze of colour, glacial lakes freeze and the perfect weather to get outdoors or enjoy a city break.
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Japan
Along with the bright lights of Tokyo, the temples of Kyoto and history of Nara, there’s another reason to tempt you to Japan in May – the chance to see the country’s national sport at the Sumo Wrestling Tournament which takes place this month. With tickets included to the official tournament on our Essence of Japan tour and Grand Tour of Japan, you can experience the energy and excitement first-hand, and enjoy pleasantly warm days before the rains and humidity of summer.
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Florida, USA
Famously sun-kissed, the peninsula of Florida boasts over 180 beaches just waiting to be explored, and so much more besides. The Sunshine State sees gloriously hot temperatures all year around, but during the summer, it can be uncomfortable, and with the rainy season also closing in, May is an ideal time to explore from an abundance of wildlife in Everglades National Park to lively cities like Miami.
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