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May · 15 top picks

Where to go in May

May sits between seasons in many places, and that works in its favour. Southern Africa is dry and mild: Zambia hits 26.2°C with just 1 rain day, Namibia sees almost none at 26.6°C, and Zimbabwe and Madagascar both offer warm days with little rain. Cape Verde stays rain-free at 23°C. Around the Mediterranean, Spain, Gibraltar and Cyprus warm up nicely before the summer crowds, and the Middle East (Israel, Jordan) is hot but dry. Peru's dry season brings clear skies in the Andes at 21.4°C. Elsewhere, heat and humidity take over: India reaches 39.7°C, Saudi Arabia 37.5°C, and Thailand gets 18.4 rain days. Northern destinations like the Faroe Islands and Svalbard stay cold, with Svalbard averaging -2.1°C.

Top picks

Best places to go in May

Ranked by our month score: temperature, rain, sunshine and sea.

  1. Cape Verde 23°C

    1.Cape Verde

    10.0/10

    Africa

    Scores 10 with highs of 23°C, no rain days and 11.7 hours of sunshine daily.

    High / low
    23°C / 22°C
    Rain days
    0
    Sun daily
    11.7 hrs
    Cape Verde guide →
  2. Zambia 26°C

    2.Zambia

    9.7/10

    Africa

    Scores 9.7. The rain has stopped, with 4 mm, highs of 26.2°C and 10.9 hours of sun.

    High / low
    26°C / 16°C
    Rain days
    1
    Sun daily
    10.9 hrs
    Zambia guide →
  3. Madagascar 21°C

    3.Madagascar

    9.5/10

    Africa

    Scores 9.5. The dry season starts, with 2.6 rain days, 12 mm of rain and highs of 20.6°C.

    High / low
    21°C / 10°C
    Rain days
    3
    Sun daily
    10.2 hrs
    Madagascar guide →
  4. Gibraltar 21°C

    4.Gibraltar

    9.2/10

    Europe

    Scores 9.2, with pleasant 21°C highs, 12.3 sun hours and only 4.2 rain days.

    High / low
    21°C / 15°C
    Rain days
    4
    Sun daily
    12.3 hrs
    Gibraltar guide →
  5. Spain 24°C

    5.Spain

    8.8/10

    Europe

    Top score of 8.8. Madrid averages highs of 24°C, 12.6 hours of sun and only 6.3 rain days.

    High / low
    24°C / 12°C
    Rain days
    6
    Sun daily
    12.6 hrs
    Spain guide →
  6. Israel 28°C

    6.Israel

    8.4/10

    Asia

    Highs around 28°C, rain on about 2 days.

    High / low
    28°C / 16°C
    Rain days
    2
    Sun daily
    12.6 hrs
    Israel guide →
  7. Jordan 28°C

    7.Jordan

    8.2/10

    Asia

    Highs around 28°C, rain on about 1 days.

    High / low
    28°C / 16°C
    Rain days
    1
    Sun daily
    12.7 hrs
    Jordan guide →
  8. Portugal 20°C

    8.Portugal

    8.2/10

    Europe

    Highs around 20°C, rain on about 9 days, sea 16°C.

    High / low
    20°C / 13°C
    Rain days
    9
    Sun daily
    11.8 hrs
    Portugal guide →
  9. Japan 20°C

    9.Japan

    8.1/10

    Asia

    Top score of 8.1, with mild 20°C highs, 9.3°C lows and 9.8 sun hours a day.

    High / low
    20°C / 9°C
    Rain days
    10
    Sun daily
    9.8 hrs
    Japan guide →
  10. Peru 21°C

    10.Peru

    8.1/10

    Americas

    Scores 8.1. Lima is still mild at 21.4°C, with 1 mm of rain and the sea near 20°C.

    High / low
    21°C / 17°C
    Rain days
    0
    Sun daily
    10.5 hrs
    Peru guide →
  11. Bahamas 28°C

    11.Bahamas

    8.0/10

    Americas

    Highs around 28°C, rain on about 16 days, sea 28°C.

    High / low
    28°C / 24°C
    Rain days
    16
    Sun daily
    11.2 hrs
    Bahamas guide →
  12. Australia 20°C

    12.Australia

    7.9/10

    Oceania

    Scores 7.9, with mild 19.5°C highs, only 62 mm of rain and 8.7 sunny hours a day in Sydney.

    High / low
    20°C / 11°C
    Rain days
    8
    Sun daily
    8.7 hrs
    Australia guide →
  13. Bermuda 22°C

    13.Bermuda

    7.9/10

    Americas

    Highs around 22°C, rain on about 11 days, sea 22°C.

    High / low
    22°C / 21°C
    Rain days
    11
    Sun daily
    11.5 hrs
    Bermuda guide →
  14. Fiji 29°C

    14.Fiji

    7.6/10

    Oceania

    Highs around 29°C, rain on about 8 days, sea 29°C.

    High / low
    29°C / 22°C
    Rain days
    8
    Sun daily
    9.8 hrs
    Fiji guide →
  15. Tonga 26°C

    15.Tonga

    7.6/10

    Oceania

    Highs around 26°C, rain on about 12 days.

    High / low
    26°C / 25°C
    Rain days
    12
    Sun daily
    9.4 hrs
    Tonga guide →

May

Warm & sunny

Highs of 24 °C or more and few rainy days.

May

Short-haul from Europe

Within about 3,500 km of central Europe.

Honest advice

Toughest weather in May

Places where the weather is usually at its worst this month.

Side by side

May weather comparison: top 10 destinations

Average weather of each destination's main city this month, and our month score out of 10.

May weather for the top 10 destinations
Destination Avg high Avg low Rainfall Sun hrs/day Sea temp May score
Cape Verde 23°C 22°C 0 mm 11.7 hrs – 10.0
Zambia 26°C 16°C 4 mm 10.9 hrs Inland 9.7
Madagascar 21°C 10°C 12 mm 10.2 hrs – 9.5
Gibraltar 21°C 15°C 25 mm 12.3 hrs Inland 9.2
Spain 24°C 12°C 31 mm 12.6 hrs Inland 8.8
Israel 28°C 16°C 8 mm 12.6 hrs – 8.4
Jordan 28°C 16°C 6 mm 12.7 hrs – 8.2
Portugal 20°C 13°C 85 mm 11.8 hrs 16°C 8.2
Japan 20°C 9°C 137 mm 9.8 hrs – 8.1
Peru 21°C 17°C 1 mm 10.5 hrs 20°C 8.1

FAQ

Travelling in May

Where is warm in May?

Cyprus and Angola are the warmest top picks, with highs of 29.9°C and 29.9°C. Jordan and Israel follow close behind at around 28°C. These countries also have low rain days, so the heat comes with mostly dry, sunny weather.

Is Thailand good to visit in May?

Thailand is a tough call in May. Highs reach 35.7°C and rain falls on about 18 days of the month, which means hot, humid conditions mixed with frequent downpours. That combination makes travel more demanding than in drier months.

Where is the weather toughest in May?

India and Saudi Arabia are the hottest, with highs of 39.7°C and 37.5°C. Svalbard and Jan Mayen sit at the other extreme, with highs of only -2.1°C. Thailand and the Faroe Islands add heavy or frequent rain, around 18 and 17 rain days, to the mix.

Is Cape Verde good in May?

Yes, Cape Verde scores the highest of any destination in May, at 10 out of 10. It has a high of 23°C and 0 rain days expected, giving dry, mild conditions all month.

Which destinations have the driest weather in May?

Cape Verde and Namibia are driest, with 0 and 0.3 rain days expected. Peru is close behind with just 0.1 rain days. All three combine low rainfall with warm highs between 21°C and 27°C, making them reliable dry-season choices this month.