Best Countries to Visit in May 2024
England
Caesar, and all who came after him, tried to rule all of Britannia but were never successful. England is the epicenter of the United Kingdom, which used to contain an amalgamation of many countries. Because of this, England has some of the most diverse and historical sites to see on the planet. Often called a "rainy ship", England sits on an island which sees a significant volume of rainfall throughout the year. May is one of the few months where England does not have many rainy days, making it a popular tourist attraction.
If modern history is your thing, see the royal houses, Big Ben and London Bridge. England's history is deep-rooted with all the tribes that inhabited it, meaning there is always something to see, from the historical dark ages to the middle ages, to the height of its power in the world.
Hungary
Hungary is an exciting location that is ranked among the top 20 most visited places in the world. Hungary's position in Europe is extremely significant and its lands have had cultural influence and importance throughout history. Although not considered Slavic, it merges the Slavic culture with a variety of other traditions, including Hunnic, Mongolian, Finnish, Turkish, and Islamic. It also has a large and bustling Jewish community, adding to its diverse enrichment.
Hungary contains many UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which include the Biosphere reserves and the 2nd largest thermal lake in the globe.
Peru
Peru is perhaps one of the most esoteric places on the planet. Although its climate is always warm due to its proximity to the equator, it can sometimes have a chill in the air throughout the rainy and winter months. Peru is a beautiful destination in May, as the temperature is just perfect to be able to explore its many wonders. While everyone has heard of Machu Pichu and its wonderfully different history and myths, Lake Titicaca and the numerous parts of the Amazon Rainforest are extremely popular tourist destinations.
Peru merges its traditional beliefs and influences with its modern-day reliance on Christianity. The various vendors utilize alpaca wool instead of the more common sheep wool in the west, creating a unique feel and a wonderfully colorful stitching pattern. Although there are various buildings to visit in this cultural mix, remember to bring your hiking boots to explore the breathtaking beauty.
Japan
The "Land of the Rising Sun" is an adage to the cultural enrichment that Japan has historically brought to Asia, and ultimately, the West. Depending on the visitor, Japan has an extremely refreshing way of life that causes everyone to look inwards. The brash and bold monikers that are often considered normal in Western life are contrasted with the patience and innovation of the Japanese tradition. This is also evident in the aforementioned adage, which explains the way Japan presents itself - poetic, fertile, and powerful. With a blend of architecture, nature, and customs, Japan will never disappoint its travelers.
- Different sources and individuals may place different degrees of importance upon the various individual qualities of a given destination, resulting in different lists. Multiple lists are displayed here for comparison and contrast.
Country | Conde Nast | Holidify | Wanderlust | Specific Attractions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 17 | 17 | Avg 34°C high, 20°C low; Mild weather and smaller crowds, Kakadu National Park, Phillip Island (fairy penguins, humpback whales), Tasmania, diving and snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, Viva Sydney music festival. | |
| Austria | 14 | Vienna - Museums, coffeehouses, Genussfestival Food Fair, Hofburg Palace, rooftop bars, Palmenhaus greenhouse, wine, St. Stephens Cathedral, Schönbrunn Palace. | ||
| Bahamas | 15 | 19 | 5 | Avg 29°C high, 22°C low; Beaches and sea with minimal crowds, Cabbage Beach, Pig Beach (Big Major Cay), reef diving in Abacos, flamingos in Inagua National Park, beach-fucused islands including Long Island, Blue Lagoon Island, Eleuthera and Harbour Island, Bimini Island. |
| Botswana | 17 | 18 | Avg 27°C high, 10°C low; Wildlife viewing (elephants, crocodiles, hippos, etc.) at Chobe National Park or Okavango Delta (Morami Game Reserve), safaris, national parks and reserves. | |
| Canada | 19 - Vancouver Island | 15 | Mountain hiking in Whistler, architecture of Quebec, Niagara Falls, Banff National Park. | Vancouver Island - Avg 17°C high, 10°C low; Forest hiking, bear-watching, whale-watching, outdoor activities (whitewater rafting, paragliding, snorkeling, scuba diving), food and glamping, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. | |
| Cape Verde | 20 | Avg 27°C high, 20°C low; Sun and beaches, volcanic hot springs, desert treks. | ||
| Costa Rica | 11 | Arenal Volcano region - Smaller crowds, lush greenery, scenic volcano views and national park. | ||
| Croatia | 13 | Beaches and sea, architecture (including Dubrovnik's walled city), wine, seafood, scenic islands. | ||
| Cyprus | Avg 17°C high, 7°C low; Nicosia | |||
| Czech Republic | 14 | 15 | Avg 18°C high, 3°C low; Prague - Architecture and scenery, scenic hiking, the padlocked bridge, Czech Beer Festival, shopping and sightseeing in Wenceslas Square, Prague Castle, cathedrals and museums, Rudolfinum gallery, Wallenstein Garden and Vrtba Garden, Speculum Alchemiae | Vyšehrad - Scenic hillsides, parks and statues, beer gardens, gothic architecture. | |
| Egypt | 13 | Avg 34°C high; 24°C low, beaches and sea, beach hotels, Grand Egyptian Museum, pyramids, Nile cruises. | ||
| France | 3 | Avg 12°C high, 3°C low; Paris (cafes, art and museums, fashion, Eiffel Tower, cuisine, Notre Dame cathedral, Luxembourg Gardens, architecture), Marseille (ruins, Calanques National Park, cathedrals, ), Lyon (architecture, Parc de la Tete d'Or, Museum of Fine Arts), Loire Valley (châteaus and cathedrals, Musee des Blindes, scenery and architecture). | ||
| Germany | 05 - Munich | Munich - Avg 19°C high, 8°C low; Fruhlingfest (essentially a Springtime version of Oktoberfest), wave surfing in the Englischen Garten. | ||
| Greece | 11 - Dodecanese Islands | 2 | Greek Islands (Dodecanese chain, Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Corfu, Crete - Avg 23°C high, 17°C low; whitewashed houses and blue sea, ancient ruins, island beaches, Byzantine architecture. | |
| Hungary | 6 | Quaint rural villages, nightlife in Budapest, architecture, largest synagogue in Europe, third-largest church in Europe, World Heritage sites, UNESCO Biosphere reserves, second-largest thermal lake in the world. | ||
| Iceland | Avg 9°C high, -2°C low; Reykjavik | |||
| Indonesia | 16 | Avg 31°C high, 24°C low; Jakarta, Komodo Island (Komodo dragons in mating season). | ||
| Ireland | 08 - Dublin | Dublin - Avg 15°C high, 6°C low; International Literature Festival, pub crawls (literary or otherwise), Grand Canal, Abbey Theatre. | ||
| Israel | 16 - Tel Aviv | Tel Aviv - Avg 24°C high, 17°C low; Beaches and sea, restaurants and cuisine, art, boutiques and nightlife. | ||
| Italy | 02 - Sicily | 09 - Tuscany and Florence | 1 | Sicily - Avg 22°C high, 12°C low; Beaches and sea, wine, wildflowers, temples and ruins. scenic countryside. | Tuscany - Avg 23°C high, 12°C low; UNESCO world heritage sites, medieval country houses, ancient cities, scenic hills, wine country, Cinque Terra seaside villages, gardens and nature preserves, art and museums, Florence (gelato, Uffizi gallery, Accademia museum, Santa Croce and Santa Maria Novella basilicas, art and sculptures). | |
| Japan | 8 | 2 | Avg 3°C high, -6°C low; Lush National Parks, Hokkaido, cherry blossoms, Ashikaga Flower Park, wisteria tunnel at Kawachi Fuji Gardens, beaches and ocean, Japanese architecture, cuisine. | |
| Jordan | Avg 12°C high, 6°C low; Amman | |||
| Malta | 4 | 22 | Avg temps 24°C high, 15°C low; Beaches and sea, cliffs and coves, scuba diving and snorkeling, temples, ancient ruins, fishing villages, wine and cuisine in Valletta, nightlife and parties, Upper Barrakka Gardens, HMS Maori. | |
| Mauritius | 21 | Natural beauty, island beaches and ocean, scuba diving and snorkeling, surfing and kite surfing, seaplane rides, Black River Gorges National Park, Seven Colored Earth at Chamarel. | ||
| Morocco | 12 | 3 | Avg 25°C high, 12°C low; Marrakech, Rabat, Casablanca, Essaouira, hiking the Atlas Mountains, greenery, El Kelaat M'Gouna in the Dades Valley, art and culture in Rabat, teh beach at Kennitra, Rhythms of the World Concert music festival. | |
| Nepal | 18 | Avg 24°C high, 10°C low; Kathmandu, mountain trekking through scenic greenery and flowering rhododendrons, Rato Machhindanath Jatra festival, Pokhara, Bodhnath, Bhaktapur. | ||
| Norway | 10 - Norwegian Fjords | 19 | Norwegian Fjords - Avg 16°C high, 6°C low; Scenic cliffs and ocean views, wildflowers and hiking trails, cocktails in Bergen, Pulpit Rock. | Svalbard - Wildlife cruises focused on polar bear sightings. | |
| Peru | 7 | 9 | Avg 23°C high, 15°C low; Lima, Inca Trail and Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca and the Amazon rainforest, Fiesta de Florecer ("Bloom Party") in Cajamarca, | |
| Philippines | Avg 31°C high, 25°C low; Siargao | |||
| Portugal | 01 - Algarve | 11 | Algarve (Avg 23°C high, 18°C low; beaches and ocean, tourist resorts and quiet towns, olive groves, quaint country retreats), scenery from green mountains and rocky cliffs to desert landscapes in Alentejo, surfing and beaches, golfing, cuisine. | |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Avg 30°C high, 22°C low; | |||
| Seychelles | 5 | Island beaches and ocean, snorkeling and scuba diving, luxury resorts, wildlife spotting and ecotourism, Vallee de Mal in Praslin, Anse Lazio. | ||
| South Korea | 1 | Avg 23°C high, 13°C low; Damyang Bamboo Festival, Boseong Green Tea Festival, Seoul nightlife | ||
| Spain | 03 - Catalonia | 10 | 13 | Festivals including Barcelona's Primavera Sound music festival, Cordoba's Cruces de Mayo and Cordoba Festivals, and Madrid's San Isidro Festival. | Catalonia region - Avg 20°C high, 12°C low; Barcelona (Gaudi architecture, cuisine, nightlife), Girona (medieval architecture, cuisine), Costa Brava (resorts, beach hotels, or charming coastal towns), Aiguablava |
| Sri Lanka | 7 | East coast - Lesser crowds, beaches and sea, wildlife sightings (leopards, sloth bears), Yala National Park, Vesak (Buddhist holiday). | ||
| Turkey | 12 - Istanbul | 20 | Scenic hiking with rugged coastlines and lush mountains, quaint villages, Istanbul (Avg 13°C high, 7°C low; art and bazaars, food, mosques and culture, boat nightclubs and other nightlife). | |
| United Kingdom | 07 - Brighton | 4 | 04, 12, 14 | Scenic countryside, castles and ruins, beaches and surfing, nature walks. | Brighton - Avg 14°C high, 10°C low; Hip beach towns, Great Escape music festival, Brighton Fringe arts festival. | South of England - Wild bluebells and flower shows in Kent, Wiltshire, and Chelsea (among others), London and its many attractions. |
| United States | 14 - Memphis, Tennessee | 18 - California | 6 | California - Avg 22°C high, 12°C low; Yosemite National Park (waterfalls and mountains); road trips through Big Sur; surfing San Diego; food and outdoor activities in San Francisco; star-spotting, Disneyland, and beaches in Los Angeles; exploring Malibu and Palms Springs. | Memphis, Tennessee - Avg 27°C high, 17°C low; Memphis in May festival (blues music and BBQ), Graceland, Beale Street blues clubs. | Washington, DC - Avg 23°C high, 12°C low; National Monument Parade, Passport DC, free jazz at the National Gallery of Art | |
| Uzbekistan | 8 | Explore Silk Road, especially Samarkand (mosques, mausoleums, blue mosaics). | ||
| Vietnam | 16 | 10 | Most comfortable weather of the year (32°C high and dry season), Buddha's birthday celebrations, hiking rice fields and other outdoor activities, scenic views (Mu Cang Chai, Ninh Binh, Pu Luong, and Cat Ba), Sa Pa, Ha Giang, Bac Ha. |