May is the month for those in the know: the Mediterranean is already in full swing — blooming maquis, sea temperatures surpassing 18°C, terraces reopening — yet the summer crowds are still absent. Meanwhile, across the globe, Bali, the Andes, and the Indian Ocean transition into the dry season. Add the Ascension (Thursday, 6 May 2027) and Pentecost (Monday, 17 May) holidays, and you have one of the best months for value and enjoyment. Here's where to go in May, from a long weekend to a journey of a lifetime. Travelling earlier in spring? Our guide where to go in April has you covered.
Our 10 May destinations fall into three categories: the Mediterranean before the crowds, the oceanic mildness within four hours' flight, and the grand journeys opening their dry season. For each: real weather, sea temperature, and what makes this month unique.
Essential Gear for May Travels
May is the month of short formats: a four-day break in the Cyclades, a week in Apulia, a grand departure to the Andes. Three companions cover the spectrum: a foldable daypack that weighs nothing and absorbs return finds, a bag with a shoe compartment for alternating between beach sandals and hiking boots, and a weekend bag that transitions from Ascension holiday to gym without a change. Our trio for this month:
May Destinations at a Glance
Average air and sea temperatures in May, flight times from Paris, and the highlight of each destination — enough to compare at a glance before delving into the details of each stop.
| Destination | Air | Sea | Flight from Paris | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crete (Greece) | 24 °C | 20 °C | 3 h 20 non-stop | Samaria Gorge + first swims |
| Naxos & Paros (Cyclades) | 22 °C | 19 °C | 3 h 15 + ferry | white villages without the crowds |
| Puglia (Italy) | 23 °C | 18 °C | 2 h 20 non-stop | trulli, baroque and orecchiette |
| Corsica (France) | 21 °C | 17 °C | 1 h 35 non-stop | flowering maquis, passport-free bridges |
| Montenegro (Kotor) | 22 °C | 18 °C | 2 h 40 non-stop | Balkan fjord on a budget |
| Azores (São Miguel) | 19 °C | 17 °C | 4 h non-stop | whale peak, crater lakes |
| Essaouira (Morocco) | 24 °C | 18 °C | 3 h non-stop | gentle trade winds, arty medina |
| Bali (Indonesia) | 30 °C | 28 °C | 17 h layover | start of dry season, rice paddies |
| Peru (Cusco) | 20 °C | — | 16 h layover | Machu Picchu under clear skies |
| Reunion Island | 27 °C | 26 °C | 11 h non-stop | clear cirques, calm lagoon |
The Mediterranean Before the Crowds
Crete, Open Gorges and Inviting Seas
May is arguably THE month for Crete: 24°C in the afternoon, a sea reaching 20°C on southern beaches, and the Samaria Gorge — Europe's longest — reopening in early May after winter, weather permitting. Descend the 16 kilometres between 300-metre-high walls and oleanders, reward yourself with a swim at Agia Roumeli, and head back to the tavernas of Chania where tables are scented with lemon lamb. The island is green, hills covered in flowers, and Minoan sites — Knossos leading the way — can be visited without queues. For the gorges, a proper small hiking backpack changes the day: light, with water, and a warm layer for the start at altitude.
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Naxos and Paros, the Cyclades in Preview
In May, the Cyclades offer what they no longer do in August: white alleys where conversations can still be heard, tavernas where you can sit without a reservation, and the light that made the archipelago famous. Naxos lines up its vast beaches — Agios Prokopios, Plaka — facing a 19°C sea that becomes inviting in the afternoon; Paros plays the village card, with Naoussa and its boats, Lefkes and its marbles. Reach the archipelago via Athens then ferry, or by direct seasonal flights resuming in late spring. Four days suffice for a first taste — the perfect format for an Ascension holiday.
Apulia, Italy with an Olive Scent
The heel of Italy's boot is at its peak in May: 23°C, fields of ancient olive trees as far as the eye can see, and villages preparing for summer without having yet endured it. Stay in a trullo with conical roofs around Alberobello, head down to the exuberant baroque of Lecce, and follow the cliffs of Polignano a Mare where the first brave souls dive into an 18°C sea. On the menu: orecchiette with cime di rapa, fresh burrata, and Salento wines, in trattorias where the cover charge is still a spring price. At 2 hours 20 minutes from Paris, it's one of the best value-for-distance destinations of the month.
Corsica, the Maquis in Bloom 1h35 Away
For a May holiday without a passport, Corsica is unbeatable: 21°C, a maquis in full bloom scenting the trails, and beaches — Palombaggia, Rondinara — almost deserted facing a 17°C sea waiting for the most motivated. It's the perfect month for hiking: the Customs Officers' Path from Macinaggio, the Calanques de Piana at sunset, the first stages of the GR20 for the seasoned. End the days with a plate of charcuterie and a fiadone, congratulating yourself for beating the high season — May rentals often cost half of what they do in July.
Montenegro, the Balkans' Fjord at a Bargain
The Bay of Kotor remains one of Europe's most beautiful landscapes: a deep ria where mountains plunge into the Adriatic, Venetian villages by the water, and in May, no cruise ships in chains or crowded alleys. Climb the 1,350 steps of Kotor's walls in the cool morning, push on to Perast and its two islets, swim — 18°C, it's earned — in the coves of Lustica. All at prices reminiscent of what Croatia cost fifteen years ago: Montenegro is the Adriatic's bargain, at 2 hours 40 minutes direct flight.
Oceanic Mildness Within 4 Hours
Between the Portuguese Atlantic and the Moroccan coast, two stops play a different tune than the Mediterranean: lively oceans, gentle trade winds, and landscapes unlike any other — all within carry-on range, perfect for our collection of carry-on bags for the short flights that take you there.
The Azores, the Whale Rendezvous
May is THE month for the Azores for a reason few destinations can offer: it's the peak of the great cetacean migration. Blue whales, fin whales, and sei whales cross off the coasts of São Miguel and Pico, joining the resident sperm whales — the species calendar is detailed by the the official Azores Tourism website. Between sea outings, São Miguel island offers its crater lakes — Sete Cidades, Lagoa do Fogo —, Furnas hot springs, and roads lined with hydrangeas starting to bloom. 19°C, an island's changing and green weather: the Azores are not a beach destination, they're European Galápagos 4 hours away by flight.
Essaouira, Morocco's Arty Trade Winds
While Marrakech starts to heat up seriously, Essaouira remains in its temperate bubble: 24°C, a constant trade wind cooling the ramparts and delighting kitesurfers. The medina — UNESCO-listed — lines up art galleries, marquetry workshops, and riads at gentle prices; the blue port continues to land sardines and sea bream grilled facing the gulls. Alternate between surfing or kiting on the wide beach, camel rides to the Diabat dunes, and sunsets from the sqala. At 3 hours by flight, it's the most exotic break of the month in this price range.
The Grand Journeys: Dry Season Begins
Under the tropics and in the Andes, May turns the tide: where April closed windows (Maldives, Caribbean), May opens wide ones — and for these multi-stage itineraries, a soft bag from the travel bag family handles domestic flights and minibus trunks far better than a hard suitcase.
Bali, the Return of the Dry Season
May reignites Bali: the monsoon retreats, the air lightens, and the island returns to its sunny 30°C with a 28°C sea. The terraced rice fields of Jatiluwih and Tegallalang are neon green after the rains, temples — Uluwatu at sunset, Besakih at the volcano's foot — are visited under a finally reliable sky, and warungs serve nasi goreng and passion fruit juices for next to nothing. It's also one of the smartest months budget-wise, before the July-August rush: our guide how much does a trip to Bali cost details the real cost, item by item.
Peru, Machu Picchu Under Clear Skies
In the Andes, May is the month insiders book months in advance: the rainy season has just ended, the mountains are still green, and the sky takes on the clarity that makes legendary photos at dawn over Machu Picchu. Acclimatise for two days in Cusco — 20°C in the sun, cool nights — descend the Sacred Valley between Pisac and Ollantaytambo, and finish at the citadel, on foot via the Inca Trail for the most prepared. Early May, the Fiesta de las Cruces dresses villages in flowered crosses and brass bands. An altitude tip: everything that lightens the bag pays off in comfort between 2,500 and 4,300 metres.
Reunion, the Austral Winter Clearing the Cirques
In May, Reunion enters its austral winter — and that's excellent news: no more summer rains, the air becomes dry, the trails dry out, and the three cirques — Mafate, Cilaos, Salazie — are finally revealed without their cloud caps. Down below, the Ermitage lagoon remains at 26°C for evening snorkeling; up high, the Piton de la Fournaise and the Piton des Neiges are open to early risers under crystal-clear dawns. Alternate between Creole houses, shared curries, and Saint-Paul markets, at 11 hours direct flight without excessive jet lag. For those who want to hike AND swim on the same day, it's the best month to start.
Packing for May
May rewards smart packing: the holidays are short, the temperature differences real — 17°C at the start of a Cretan gorge at dawn, 30°C in Bali — and the formats follow one another. Three habits make the difference. First, light layering: a thin fleece and a windbreaker cover all Mediterranean evenings. Then compartmentalisation: a set of organisers transforms a four-day bag into a miniature wardrobe, and the same set follows into the summer suitcase. Finally, always a foldable daypack: ceramics from Apulia, argan oil from Essaouira, or coffee from the Sacred Valley, the return always weighs more than the departure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where to go in May for warmth? For sure: Bali (30°C, sea at 28°C), Reunion (27°C, lagoon at 26°C), and on a shorter flight, Essaouira (24°C) or Crete (24°C). The Mediterranean is mild everywhere, but the real guaranteed warmth is found under the tropics entering the dry season.
Where is it warm in May in Europe? The south leads the race: Crete (24°C) ahead of Apulia (23°C), the Cyclades and Montenegro (22°C), then Corsica (21°C). It's especially the month when southern Europe becomes perfect for walking, visiting, and dining outdoors — without the furnace or the crowds of July.
Where to swim in May? For truly warm water: Bali (28°C) and the Reunion lagoon (26°C). In the Mediterranean, Crete opens the ball with 20°C on southern beaches; Cyclades (19°C), Apulia, and Montenegro (18°C) are worth trying in the afternoon. Essaouira's Atlantic (18°C) is reserved for wetsuit surfers.
Where to go for 4 days in May? The Ascension (6 May 2027) and Pentecost (17 May) holidays lend themselves to short flights: Corsica at 1h35, Apulia at 2h20, Kotor at 2h40, Essaouira at 3h. Four days also suffice for a first taste of Naxos and Paros via Athens — with carry-on luggage for quick boarding and disembarking.
