Best places to travel in May 2025 & 2026

Thailand’s weather is reliably dry and hot throughout May, but the majority of the crowds have headed home, making this an excellent time to visit. Throughout the month you’ll enjoy summery temperatures and uncrowded beaches, as well as mostly blue skies, with just a small chance of rain.

If you tire of the beach, you might take a guided walking tour of Bangkok’s street food or go to Dragon Island, where you can explore the bizarre rock formations, sheer limestone cliffs, hidden grottoes and untouched beaches. For an in-depth look at Thai life, head north to Chiang Mai and spend a day with a local family.

Across the northern half of the country, spring has settled in with pleasantly warm temperatures. April rains have left much of the landscape lushly green, from the prairie grasslands of the Midwest to the woodlands of New England. It’s a fine time for exploring outdoors, especially in the national parks, where the wildlife is active.

In the southern half, spring is starting to shade into summer, but days are still comfortable and you can expect dry weather and sunny skies. (The exception is Hawaii, which sees Pacific storms and lots of rain.)

Despite the comfortable weather, the crowds are generally thin until Memorial Day (the last weekend in May).

Though Croatia is a year-round destination, May is a particularly lovely time to experience all that the country has to offer. The weather is warm and sunny, but not too hot for hiking, kayaking and other outdoor activities. You’re also visiting before the summer crush that occurs as spring turns to summer.

May is also when Split celebrates its patron saint, Domnius, with processions, traditional klapa music, a rowing contest, and a street fair. For a more rural experience, consider a guided tour of the Šibenik Islands, where you’ll find more traditional villages. Or enjoy the country’s landscapes with a bout tour of Krka National Park.

May is the only month that’s pleasant across the whole of China, making it the best time for a grand tour of the country. Temperatures are warm, but not yet sticky and hot. In Yunnan, the flowers are in full bloom and rhododendron bushes cover the mountain slopes in shades of pink and white. Be aware that the first few days of May are a national holiday and very busy, so plan around those dates.

Your visit might include a walk along one of the less-busy sections of the Great Wall or a leisurely cruise down the Li River. To sample the many nuances of China’s cuisines, consider a guided food tour in Shanghai or Chengdu.

May marks the beginning of the dry, cooler period in Botswana. Humidity falls, leaving comfortably warm conditions. Nights and early mornings can have a chill in the air, so you might need an extra layer for dawn safaris and after sundown.

As temperatures gradually dip, animals become more active. You’ll see them in peak health thanks to the abundance of water on the ground. As well as game drives, you can take boat or mokoro (traditional canoe) trips to explore wildlife along the Okavango Delta’s reed-lined waterways. Botswana’s reserves are never crowded, but you’ll see even fewer visitors than later in the season, and might be able to take advantage of lower prices.

Under a warm sun and clear skies, Jordan blooms in May. Early spring rains have turned the valleys green and you’ll see wildflowers soaking up the sun across the country, even in the desert. This is a popular time to visit thanks to the moderate weather, so be sure to plan well ahead to secure the best options, especially if you want to see Petra.

The comfortable weather also makes May an excellent month for hiking in the nature reserves, where the flora and fauna are abundant. If you prefer to drive, you can take a guided Jeep tour of the Mars-like Wadi Rum.