Most of Europe still isn’t warm enough for sitting on a beach or by the pool in May, but you’ve still got lots of great choices if you are looking for culture, food, nightlife, and just about anything else. The Nordic region is still too chilly to be comfortable this month, but just about the rest of Europe will be pleasant in May where you’ll only need a light jacket or sweater most of the time. The year 2024 looks like it’s going to be another popular one for travel to Europe so expect large crowds in summer and high hotel prices in those months, especially if you don’t book early.
In case you were looking for warm places to visit you might instead check our list of cheap destinations with great weather in May, which highlights choices from around the world. And if you really want a beach destination, check our list of Caribbean islands ranked from cheapest to most expensive for some great bargains.
If you are the type who likes to live it up a bit while traveling you might be interested in our new list of the cheapest 5-star hotels in Europe, starting at US$80 per night for a super nice place.
Important May holidays for Europe in 2024
- May 1 – International Workers’ Day/Labour Day/May Day: A public holiday all over Europe
- May 9 – Ascension Day (Germany, France, Italy, Spain etc)
- May 14 to 25 – Cannes Film Festival (France)
- May 27 – Spring Bank Holiday (UK)
How is the weather in Europe in May?
As you’ll see by scrolling down the choices below, May brings hot, or at least warm, temperatures to most of the Mediterranean countries, so they are perfect for visiting this time of year. In fact, all of the places that are hot or warm in May in Europe are also much hotter and sometimes unbearable in July and August, so May is the perfect month to arrive.
Central Europe is still a bit on the chilly side in May, but it’s warm enough to enjoy being outdoors in the day, so it’s a good time to visit these areas as well.
Northern Europe, including Britain and the Netherlands, is still fairly cool in May, but these aren’t places you visit to sit by a pool or on a beach anyway, so visiting in May is still one of the better times of the year.
Warmest places in Europe in May for beach visits
Costa del Sol/Malaga, Spain
- May avg high: 75F/24C
- May avg low: 56F/13C
- May avg precip: 0.9″/2.3cm
Costa del Sol highlights in May
- Very nice beaches with great hotel prices in May
- A variety of different towns to choose from
- Small crowds and still plenty of activities
- Malaga city tours and museums
- Easy for English speakers
May is the first month of the year that southern Spain has reliable enough warm days that you can book a beach trip for sunbathing. Most people have at least heard of Spain’s famous Costa del Sol, which is a group of beach towns just west of Malaga and the Malaga Airport. Each town has its own vibe and style, with Marbella being the most famous and most upscale of them and Torremolinos being the first of them and still the most interesting.
Since the season doesn’t really begin until June, hotel and apartment rental prices in this area can be very good in May. And cheap flights into Malaga are easy to find on various discount airlines all over Europe in May. If you are coming from North America it’s probably cheaper to fly into Madrid or Barcelona and then book a separate flight from there to Malaga. On the other hand, if you are coming from North America it might not be worth stopping in this area at all. It’s a place most people visit simply to relax and sit in the sun.
- Good 3-star hotels in May from €56 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in May from €75 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in May from €14 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Costa del Sol
>>>Costa del Sol/Malaga prices and travel tips
Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
- May avg high: 75F/24C
- May avg low: 64F/18C
- May avg precip: 0.2″/0.5cm
Tenerife highlights in May
- Sandy beaches and hotel pools everywhere
- A relaxing atmosphere with very affordable food and drinks
- Interesting and mellow nightlife with no huge clubs
- Teide volcano and national park
- Comfortable and familiar for English speakers getting out of the cold
The Canary Islands are warm pretty much all year round, and May is one of the better months because it’s warm enough for sunbathing but still not so warm that it can get uncomfortable. Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, and the most popular island for English speaking tourists, but you could get similar weather in any of them.
Hotels and apartment rentals are good deals in Tenerife all year round. The best area that usually has the best weather in Tenerife is along the southwest corner of the island, in Los Cristianos and up the coast from there. Flights into either Tenerife airport are pretty cheap from the European continent. Often the flights into the North Airport are cheaper, and there is a public bus that connects it with the South Airport in one hour. Air+hotel package deals from major cities in Europe can be great deals as well. The main activity is relaxing in the sun. Aside from an interesting volcano in the south, there isn’t much to do here and even the nightlife is quite mild.
- Good 3-star hotels in May from €37 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in May from €56 for two people
- All-inclusive resorts in May from €145 per couple
>>Check hotel deals for Tenerife
>>>Tenerife prices and travel tips
Antalya, Turkey
- May avg high: 79F/26C
- May avg low: 58F/14C
- May avg precip: 1.3″/3.3cm
Antalya highlights in May
- Sandy beaches in some areas, but it’s worth checking your hotel
- Very cheap food and drinks
- Small crowds in May yet good weather
- Historic Antalya with the old city filled with restaurants and bars
- Good beach destination for English speakers
Antalya isn’t technically in Europe, but nearly all the guests who come here are European and it’s a fairly short flight from many large European cities. This is a historic city with interesting sights and ruins on display in the Old Town center, but most people who come here head straight to one of the larger beach hotels in either direction from the city center.
The value at hotels here is excellent, especially as the value of the Turkish Lira has struggled recently. Some areas in greater Antalya are popular with certain nationalities, so that’s worth looking into if you prefer to fit in. There are beaches where Germans or Brits or Russians or Swedes dominate, particularly at all-inclusive resorts. Many Europeans are skipping all of Turkey in the current political climate, which has helped bring room rates down even more. There have been no reports of any problems for tourists in Antalya, though it never hurts to check the news before you book. It will be interesting again in 2024 because Russians had been a large portion of the visitors, and the Ukraine war may slow that down a bit, or maybe not.
- Good 3-star hotels in May from €23 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in May from €35 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in May from €9 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Antalya
>>>Antalya prices and travel tips
Non-beach destinations that are nice in May
Rome, Italy
- May avg high: 72F/22C
- May avg low: 53F/12C
- May avg precip: 1.3″/3.3cm
Rome highlights in May
- Coliseum, Ancient Rome, Vatican City, Trevi Fountain etc.
- Modest crowds and pleasant weather
- Easier to get into major attractions than summer
- East connections for day trips to Naples or Pompeii
- Cheaper hotel prices than high season
The warmest summer days in Rome can be brutal, but May is pretty much lovely from start to finish so it’s the ideal time to come. Many of the famous sights here are outdoors, so being able to see them in pleasant and dry weather is a huge plus, and you get that all month long in May.
The busy tourist season in Italy starts in June, so May is really the perfect month to visit as you’ll get cheaper flights, cheaper hotels, and smaller crowds even though the weather is perfect. If you have extra days you might consider taking a train down to Sorrento for a few days along the Amalfi Coast nearby, which is also wonderful this time of year. It’s worth noting that Rome can be a rather hectic place to visit, so many savvy travelers prefer to stay only a few days and move on to someplace more relaxing. Rome is an obvious stop on the best Italy itineraries, and the whole country has pleasant weather in May.
- Good 3-star hotels in May from €83 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in May from €105 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in May from €14 per person
Florence, Italy
- May avg high: 74F/23C
- May avg low: 52F/11C
- May avg precip: 2.9″/7.3cm
Florence highlights in May
- The Duomo (Florence Cathedral)
- Ponte Vecchio Bridge
- Uffizi Gallery (make reservations)
- Amazing food in the capital of Tuscany
- Easy base for day trips to Pisa, Siena, Cinque Terre, and hill towns
For most people who start their first Italy visit in Rome, the wonderful Tuscan city of Florence is their next stop. Florence was the cultural center of the world for hundreds of years and you’ll see evidence of that on display even today. You get a bit more rainfall in this area, but it’s still dry most of the time here, and most of the sights here are indoors anyway.
Since Rome can feel a bit chaotic, it’s nice to linger in Florence if you have extra days. You can do a day trip to Pisa or Siena from here, as well as the Cinque Terre. There are also some very nice hill towns just a short train ride away, so Florence is an ideal hub for sightseeing in the central Italy region.
- Good 3-star hotels in May from €73 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in May from €121 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in May from €21 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Florence
>>>Florence prices and travel tips
Venice, Italy
- May avg high: 70F/21C
- May avg low: 54F/12C
- May avg precip: 2.7″/6.8cm
Venice highlights in May
- St. Marks Square and Basilica
- Rialto Bridge
- Canal rides (expensive but memorable!)
- Walk the island in peace in the morning and later evening
- Probably Europe’s most photogenic city
If you are going to Rome and Florence then you should head next to Venice. The May temperatures are very pleasant, which will help you deal with the crowds here. The key to a good Venice visit is to stay for one or two nights on the main island so you can do most of your sightseeing in the early morning and evenings, before or after the day-trippers are here. Venice is usually filled with cruise passengers and those on bus excursions from around 9 AM until around 5 PM, so the hours before and after that are the nicest for exploring.
Hotels on the main island are understandably more expensive than those on the mainland, but they are worth it at least for one night to avoid the crowds. The main sights can be seen in less than a day, and it’s so crowded that you really won’t want to linger for more than two days, although Venice is so unforgettable that no one regrets a visit.
- Good 3-star hotels in May from €85 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in May from €133 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in May from €34 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Venice
>>>Venice prices and travel tips
Paris, France
- May avg high: 68F/20C
- May avg low: 53F/12C
- May avg precip: 2.4″/6.0cm
Paris highlights in May
- Eiffle Tower
- Louvre and Musée d’Orsay
- Seine cruise at sunset to see the lights and bridges
- Amazing food that exceeds expectations
- Arc de Triomphe, Versailles Palace etc.
Paris is farther north than you might realize, so it’s cooler in May than most of Europe, but it’s still pretty much a perfect month to visit. This city is popular all year with tourists from all over the world, but the May crowds are lighter than the June crowds, so it’s easier to hit the main sights in less time. Speaking of that, if you want to see the famous sights in a few days you should consider a Paris Pass.
Hotel prices are moderate in May, but this is also a major business capital so many of the 4-star hotels in the city center will be full for most of the month. You should be able to stay reasonably in non-business neighborhoods such as the glorious Rue Cler or the more edgy Montmartre. One other great thing about Paris is they have Metro stations within a few blocks of almost everywhere, so you can save money by staying a bit out of the center, and then take the Metro into the tourist areas in a short time for not much money.
- Good 3-star hotels in May from €80 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in May from €106 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in May from €24 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Paris
>>>Paris prices and travel tips
Nice, France
- May avg high: 68F/20C
- May avg low: 56F/13C
- May avg precip: 1.9″/4.8cm
Nice highlights in May
- Explore the city before summer crowds make it almost unbearable
- Walk the Promenade des Anglais (beach walk)
- Castle Hill
- Great food (different from Paris)
- Famous farmer’s market through the center of town
Visitors who fly into Paris and want to see something else in France will often end up in Nice. This Mediterranean city is packed all summer with French people on their annual holidays, but that doesn’t start until late June, so May is a perfect time to visit.
The city of Nice itself is a very worthwhile destination, but it’s also a great stop because it’s a 20-minute train ride from Cannes to the west and from Monaco to the east. Both of those cities are fascinating day trips, yet the hotels in both are quite expensive so Nice is the ideal base. The Cannes Film Festival is held in May so some people come to see the stars and that can fill up some hotels in Nice since it’s so close. If you want to visit Cannes and Monaco while here, it could be worth staying in the area near the Nice train station so you don’t have to spend too much time going back and forth.
- Good 3-star hotels in May from €84 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in May from €106 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in May from €29 per person
London, England
- May avg high: 63F/17C
- May avg low: 48F/9C
- May avg precip: 2.0″/5.0cm
London highlights in May
- Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey
- Tower of London and Tower Bridge
- West End theatres
- Oxford Street for shopping
- Smaller crowds and cheaper hotels than summer
London is famous for having only a few good weeks of weather each year, so the best you can hope for is to avoid the coldest and rainiest months. May is a very good month to visit because the crowds are smaller than they are in summer, and yet the weather is still warm enough and the days are long enough to do whatever you like.
You can easily take the Eurostar train from here to Paris in a bit over two hours, and then be in Amsterdam in a bit over 3 hours from there. London hotels are expensive all year round, but you should have a better chance of finding a decent deal in May compared to July or August. The London Pass can be a good choice for those who want to do a lot of sightseeing in a short time. The British pound continues to be weak as 2024 goes on so England is cheaper now than it has been in many years, even with the inflation they have also been experiencing.
- Good 3-star hotels in May from £69 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in May from £108 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in May from £28 per person
>>Check hotel deals for London
>>>London prices and travel tips
Split, Croatia
- May avg high: 72F/22C
- May avg low: 59F/15C
- May avg precip: 2.2″/5.5cm
Split highlights in May
- Warm, sunny weather and very small crowds
- Stunning historic center (rivals Dubrovnik)
- Cheap hotels and sobes (local name for accommodation)
- Easy to get around in May
- Ferries to nearby islands are cheap
As far as Croatian cities are concerned, Dubrovnik, is far better known, but Split is really the better choice for most visitors. Dubrovnik is a popular cruise port with a small (and stunning) walled city at its core, so it’s far more crowded and expensive than Split, which is actually a bit older with more interesting sights.
Split is also the main travel hub along the Croatian coast, as the train comes here but doesn’t reach Dubrovnik. There are also ferries in Split that can take you to the various nearby islands. The May weather may not be warm enough for sunbathing every day, but on some days it will be. And since the main tourist season doesn’t start until June, hotel prices and apartment rentals (called ‘sobes’ here) are very reasonable.
- Good 3-star hotels in May from €55 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in May from €67 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in May from €14 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Split
>>>Split prices and travel tips
Barcelona, Spain
- May avg high: 72F/21C
- May avg low: 61F/12C
- May avg precip: 2.3″/5.8cm
Barcelona highlights in May
- Amazing architecture unlike anywhere else in the world
- Great beaches right in the city
- Sagrada Familia cathedral (nearly complete now)
- Hotels are cheaper than in summer
- Great nightlife that is easy to join for foreigners
You might expect Barcelona to be warmer in May than the temperatures listed above, but it’s farther north than you might expect, even though it’s on the Mediterranean. This city has become so popular with tourists that visiting in a mild-weather month is best because it’s easier to deal with the crowds at Sagrada Familia and along the Rambla than in summer.
Flights into Barcelona can be cheap, especially from within Europe, but even from the US and Canada the fares are reasonable. If you are visiting Barcelona you should really also visit Madrid (see below) and get there on the high-speed train in only 3 hours. Both cities are huge and quite different from one another.
- Good 3-star hotels in May from €54 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in May from €65 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in May from €13 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Barcelona
>>>Barcelona prices and travel tips
Madrid, Spain
- May avg high: 71F/22C
- May avg low: 51F/11C
- May avg precip: 2.0″/5.0cm
Madrid highlights in May
- Prado Museum
- Puerta del Sol (main square)
- Royal Palace
- Inexpensive hotels in May
- Best and easiest place to enjoy tapas culture (free food with cheap drinks)
In recent years it’s Barcelona (above) that has taken most of the spotlight in Spain, but Madrid is still a gorgeous and fascinating capital city. You should absolutely plan on spending about 3 days in each of them because they are so different and both so filled with worthwhile sights.
The May weather is pleasant enough for sightseeing in the day, and the evenings are mild enough that staying out late is still comfortable if you bring a jacket or sweater. You can get to nearby Toledo on a short train ride so it’s a popular day trip, and connections to Seville and Granada are also good so Madrid is an ideal hub for a full visit to Spain.
- Good 3-star hotels in May from €61 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in May from €72 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in May from €19 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Madrid
>>>Madrid prices and travel tips
Lisbon, Portugal
- May avg high: 71F/22C
- May avg low: 56F/13C
- May avg precip: 2.2″/5.5cm
Lisbon highlights in May
- Castles, towers, and cathedrals, all in the historic center
- Tram 28, which connects many of Lisbon’s tourist sights in style
- Elevador de Santa Justa – the famous outdoor elevator
- Great cuisine at appealing prices
- Fado (famous local music) shows to go along with great meals
Speaking of the Iberian Peninsula, Lisbon might be the most underrated capital in Europe. The remote location makes it difficult to combine with other cities unless you fly in or take the night train from Madrid. But those who do make the trip are rewarded with a lovely and interesting city that is also an unusual bargain.
Hotels and hostels in Lisbon are known for high quality at moderate prices, and May is one of the better month for deals before summer begins. The warm but not hot weather is also ideal for sightseeing in this hilly town. This is a good city to start a Europe tour in this month, because temperatures will get warmer as you move north and east as June approaches.
- Good 3-star hotels in May from €63 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in May from €73 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in May from €22 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Lisbon
>>>Lisbon prices and travel tips
Valletta, Malta
- May avg high: 72F/22C
- May avg low: 59F/15C
- May avg precip: 0.5″/1.3cm
Malta highlights in May
- Historic Valletta and harbour
- Blue Grotto
- Popeye Village
- Pleasant small island where English is common
- Cheap food and drinks, even with a great view
If you aren’t British or Maltese, you might not know much about this former British possession. This small group of islands is located just south of Sicily, and it has some of Europe’s best year-round weather. There aren’t many sandy beaches on these islands, but there is plenty of sunshine and places to enjoy it.
The value in Malta is also very good, as you can get hotels and meals even in the tourist-friendly areas such as Sliema at very appealing prices. Valletta itself is the small historic capital district with only a few hotels, so most people stay elsewhere on the coast and visit Valletta for a few hours here and there.
- Good 3-star hotels in May from €58 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in May from €82 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in May from €21 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Valletta
>>>Valletta prices and travel tips
Interlaken, Switzerland
- May avg high: 66F/19C
- May avg low: 46F/8C
- May avg precip: 4.8″/12.0cm
Interlaken highlights in May
- Jungfraujoch railway and Schilthorn cable car
- Lauterbrunnen Valley (perhaps the most beautiful mountain area in the world_)
- Cable cars and mountain walks
- Adventure sports
- Spend a night in the tiny mountain village of Gimmelwald
Many people know they want to visit somewhere in Switzerland, but they aren’t sure where. That’s the main reason I wrote an article called where to go in Switzerland on a short visit. If you are thinking about Switzerland I hope you read it, but the short version is that you should probably head to the Interlaken area, and also Lucerne if you have more than 3 days or so.
Interlaken is Switzerland’s top outdoor sports capital, with skiing and snowboarding for almost half the year, as well as hiking and paragliding among other things for the rest of the year. May is usually too late to ski, but a perfect time for the non-snow adventure activities. The Alps views here are the best in Europe, particularly the Schilthorn cable car and observation deck, and the Jungfraujoch railway. Hotels here are famously expensive and the public transportation system is so good that it can be a good idea to stay in one of the nearby villages instead of in Interlaken itself, at least if you find a good deal on a nice hotel.
- Good 3-star hotels in May from €222 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in May from €279 for two people
>>Check hotel deals for Interlaken
>>>Interlaken prices and travel tips
Berlin, Germany
- May avg high: 66F/19C
- May avg low: 48F/9C
- May avg precip: 2.1″/5.3cm
Berlin highlights in May
- Brandenburg Gate and Unter den Linden
- Reichstag Building and Berlin Cathedral
- Fascinating and unusual nightlife
- Cheap hotels for a big European city
- Beer gardens and outdoor markets
Berlin is another huge tourism success story for Europe, as it’s now one of the continent’s most popular cities for holidays. The May weather might look a bit chilly, but it is pleasant enough and very nice as you avoid the even larger crowds starting in June.
There are a lot of outdoor attractions in Berlin, but at least May is a fairly dry month so you should be able to spend all day outside and be comfortable. One of Berlin’s many charms is that it’s one of the cheapest capital cities in western Europe. Hotel deals here are still quite good, especially in the areas of the former East. Rates were up quite a bit for the dates we checked for 2024, but usually you’ll find better deals than the ones mentioned below.
- Good 3-star hotels in May from €83 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in May from €93 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in May from €14 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Berlin
>>>Berlin prices and travel tips
Amsterdam, Netherlands
- May avg high: 61F/16C
- May avg low: 46F/8C
- May avg precip: 2.0″/5.0cm
Amsterdam highlights in May
- Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House
- Rijksmuseum and Rembrandt House
- Stunning 16th Century architecture and canals
- “Coffeeshops” and other odd ball attractions
- Nearly car-free city center that is walkable
Those temperatures above might not look too appealing, but Amsterdam is another city that is so crowded from June through August that it can feel unbearable at times. May is a perfect month to come for decent temperatures and moderate rainfall. This is mostly an indoor city, but of course you’ll want to do a canal tour and perhaps a walking tour, so you can schedule those on the best weather days of your stay.
Flights into Amsterdam can be reasonable from all over the world. And if you are already in Europe you’ll find that trains here are wonderful. The high-speed train from Paris takes only a bit over 3 hours, and Berlin is only a bit over 5 hours away. A new hotel tax that launched in 2020 has made it even more expensive than it already was, but Amsterdam is amazing enough that it doesn’t sting as much as it might elsewhere.
- Good 3-star hotels in May from €126 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in May from €161 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in May from €43 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Amsterdam
>>>Amsterdam prices and travel tips
Krakow, Poland
- May avg high: 68F/20C
- May avg low: 48F/9C
- May avg precip: 2.2″/5.5cm
Krakow highlights in May
- Historic district surrounded by a park
- Wawel Royal Castle
- Day trip to Auschwitz (worth it)
- Cheap hotels and hostels
- Cheap local food and fun nightlife even for tourists
We consider Krakow to be Europe’s best big city travel bargain, and May is a great month to visit before the larger summer crowds descend on the place. There are a few cheaper large big cities in Europe, but none of them are this nice or interesting. Krakow has also become popular with the party crowd who fly in for weekend breaks to enjoy the cheap hotels, food, and drinks.
One of the reasons that Krakow isn’t even more crowded is that the trains are still fairly slow in this part of Europe, and the closest other large cities are Prague and Budapest. For that reason you might want to fly into Krakow, but you can also consider buses because they are usually cheaper and often just as fast as trains around here.
- Good 3-star hotels in May from €54 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in May from €63 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in May from €13 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Krakow
>>>Krakow prices and travel tips
Prague, Czech Republic
- May avg high: 66F/19C
- May avg low: 47F/8C
- May avg precip: 3.0″/7.5cm
Prague highlights in May
- Prague Castle and Charles Bridge
- Old Town Square and Astronomical Clock
- Some of Europe’s finest original architecture
- Excellent beer that is cheap if you avoid other tourists
- One of Europe’s nightlife capitals
The May temperatures in Prague don’t look great, and it does rain a bit this month. Still, the crowds in Prague have gotten so out of hand in summer that you’ll be far better off visiting before the main crush begins in June. The main sightseeing corridor in Prague is now almost like Venice in that it can be exhausting during peak season, so May is more enjoyable.
While Prague hotel prices have gone up in recent years, it’s still possible to get a well located hotel with good rates. And food here is still cheap as long as you avoid the most touristy places with the big English-language menus out front. If you have 2 or 3 more days in your trip you should consider a side trip to the wonderful small town of Cesky Krumlov, which is 3 hours away on a scenic bus ride or train.
- Good 3-star hotels in May from €90 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in May from €95 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in May from €14 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Prague
>>>Prague prices and travel tips
Budapest, Hungary
- May avg high: 71F/22C
- May avg low: 51F/11C
- May avg precip: 2.5″/6.3cm
Budapest highlights in May
- Hungarian Parliament Building
- Buda Castle
- Hot springs that are cheap and easy to visit
- Cheap food and hotels (if you avoid the Danube-view places)
- Ruin pubs and other unusual nightlife with cheap drinks
If Krakow is our best big-city bargain in Europe, Budapest is probably right behind it. The May temperatures are warm enough for sightseeing and the hotel rates here this month are still very modest. As long as you stay a bit away from the river, you can get excellent bargains in both accommodation and food.
The nightlife in Budapest is also a highlight, even for those who speak no Hungarian. The famous “ruin pubs” are like nothing you’ve seen before, with several forms of entertainment going on at all times, along with cheap drink prices.
- Good 3-star hotels in May from €51 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in May from €64 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in May from €11 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Budapest
>>>Budapest prices and travel tips
Athens, Greece
- May avg high: 79F/26C
- May avg low: 57F/14C
- May avg precip: 0.9″/2.3cm
Athens highlights in May
- Acropolis and Parthenon
- Acropolis Museum
- Ancient Agora of Athens
- Cheap hotels and food by Europe standards
- Ferry ride away from many islands, which are opening for the year in May
The month of May is perfect in Athens as it’s plenty warm enough to enjoy the outdoor sights such as the Acropolis, but not yet so hot and crowded that it can get miserable. May is also the first month of the year that visiting the Greek Islands is worthwhile, so many people will spend 2 or 3 days in Athens and then take a ferry or flight to an island for some serious relaxation.
Greece has hundreds of islands with hotels and tourism, spread over a large area. There are a few within a short ferry ride to Athens, but the most famous ones are farther out. If this is your first visit to Greece you should consider Santorini, Mykonos, or Rhodes. They are the most popular and can be reached by ferry or air. Santorini has become so insanely crowded during summer in recent years that it’s probably not worth a visit, but in May it should still be rather pleasant.
- Good 3-star hotels in May from €74 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in May from €83 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in May from €12 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Athens
>>>Athens prices and travel tips
Istanbul, Turkey
- May avg high: 71F/22C
- May avg low: 54F/12C
- May avg precip: 1.3″/3.3cm
Istanbul highlights in May
- Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque
- Grand Bazaar and general shopping
- Topkapi Palace
- Great food at very reasonable prices
- Very cheap hotels in central locations
Many of us grew up with an image of Istanbul being surrounded by desert, but it’s actually on a similar latitude to Chicago, Rome, and Barcelona, so the May temperatures here are still mild. Easily one of the most fascinating and historic cities in the world, Istanbul had become somewhat expensive for a few years, but a fall in the currency here and drop in visits due to a few political protests have put it back into the bargain category.
Turkey has gone through some struggles in recent years, not having to do with the pandemic. Their government has been trying to kick-start the economy with low interest rates and that has triggered runaway inflation instead. Fortunately for outside visitors, the currency decline is outrunning the inflation rate, so all of Turkey is a fantastic bargain in 2024. Consider a visit to the stunning Cappadocia area if you’ve got 2 or 3 extra days.
- Good 3-star hotels in May from €56 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in May from €63 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in May from €12 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Istanbul
>>>Istanbul prices and travel tips
Roger, thank you for the helpful travel info. I’m planning to travel to Europe May 19-June 4 with my stepdad and 18yo daughter. We went on an AMAZING Italy adventure last August and we want to do a similar trip before my daughter leaves for college. Here’s the deal… we found a great airfare into London, so we’d like to spend a few days there and then fly to another part of Europe (2-3 cities?) for the remainder of the trip. How long do we need in London and then where do you suggest? We’ve already done Italy as well as Paris and southwestern France. Im kind of intriged by your descriptions of Krakow, Prague & Budapest or Lisbon and Spain. We’d need to return to London to fly home. We’ll be backpacking and staying in B&Bs and we’d prefer to use trains over driving. That was the best part of our Italy trip- the trains, B&Bs and backpacks. We felt so much more immersed in the places we visited as opposed to staying in hotels & driving a car. Thanks for any suggestions.
Michelle,
I totally agree about how train trips around Europe are far more special and fulfilling that flying around. I’d plan on either 3 or 4 nights for London. Most likely you’ll arrive in the late morning or early afternoon, but you’ll probably be jet-lagged so you won’t get much sightseeing in that first day. London is filled with top sights so I’d spend 4 nights there if you can spare them, but three would also work.
Keeping with the train thing, you could actually take a train from London to Amsterdam on the Eurostar these days, and Amsterdam is one of Europe’s more amazing cities. After three nights in Amsterdam you could take a train to Berlin in about 6.5 hours (about the same amount of time if you flew, but MUCH more enjoyable on the train) for 3 nights and then to Prague in 4 hours 21 minutes for three more nights before flying back to London for your flight home.
Generally speaking I’m a big fan of spending 3 nights in almost any European city you visit. Doing the trio of Krakow, Prague, and Budapest would be amazing, but it’s a bit challenging by train because the trains in that part of Europe are still a bit slow, so it takes 6 to 8 hours to get between each of those cities. The trains are pretty cheap though and the rides are reasonably scenic, so I’d still prefer that to flying.
The trains in Spain (which run mainly on the plain) are faster so you can get between the big cities in 2 to 3 hours in most cases. Unfortunately, the only train from Madrid to Lisbon goes at night, and I’m not a big fan of night trains, although I am a big fan of Lisbon and Portugal. You could fly instead or even take a 12-bus ride during the day or an 8-hour overnight bus ride. I’d either just stay in Spain or fly to Lisbon though. For Spain you’d definitely want to do Barcelona for 3 or 4 nights and Madrid for 3 or 4 nights. In addition to that you could do Seville, Granada, or Valencia, which are also all great and quite different from each other. You could even go to the Costa del Sol around Malaga, as it’s quite fun in summer and the beaches are great.
As for budget, Krakow and Budapest are cheaper than the others, and Prague is still pretty reasonable. Amsterdam is pricey for hostels but not bad for food and drinks. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
Thank you for a wonderful article and the in depth comments. I have an upcoming trip that has some unusual requirements and I would love any suggestions. I am taking my 18yr old to Italy for her make a wish in May. In the 8 days they cover we will be in Parma for cooking school and then possibly Rome (the 2nd city is up to us, so open to suggestions). I am planning on extending the trip- essentially being in Europe the entire month of May. I am looking for suggestions of cities that aren’t at a premium in May but also have accessibility- as I will be managing luggage, oxygen and a wheelchair (she can walk, just not long distances).
Although I have been to Italy and Germany several times, it has been solo and without the worry of child, hilly cobblestone streets and a wheelchair. The places I have been considering are Milan, Budapest and Vienna. I would love to take her to the Amalfi coast,Tuscany or Croatia but am concerned that it will be too hilly for her to enjoy.
My goal is simple: to create an itinerary that won’t make her feel limited. (BTW- many Americans do not realize how lucky we are to have the #ADA and so don’t realize how complicated travel can be #accessibility-wise. Finding information is incredibly difficult. It would be a GREAT, and much needed, series of articles). If you have ANY thoughts- from flattest cities, to best transportation options I would be immensely grateful. I am adding hashtags so others with this struggle can more easily access your articles.
All the best- Christina
#disbilitytravel #EuropewithaWheelchair #EuropeanAccessibilty #AccessibilityinItaly
Christina,
This is an interesting request and I’ll try me best to help. As another person who has also mostly traveled solo and not had to study accessibility options, I’m not an expert. But I have been to nearly every major destination in Europe and I think I can probably help. You are right about the Amalfi Coast in particular, as it’s almost nothing but steep hills and staircases. Tuscany is also quite hilly, although Florence itself is rather flat. And the Croatian coast is mostly hilly with cliffs alternating with beaches.
Milan is a big and busy city that doesn’t actually have many tourist sights and it’s not very “Italian” compared to Rome, Florence, and Venice etc. Vienna is pretty much flat and that could be a great option if she appreciates culture. Really Vienna’s most distinctive traits are its palaces and opera houses and that sort of thing. As for Budapest, it’s really two cities divided by the Danube. The Buda side (west) is quite hilly and it’s where the castle is located, while the Pest side (east) is mostly flat and it’s where most of the hotels are located and lots of other sights. Budapest could work if you are really drawn to it, but I’m thinking Barcelona might be a great option.
Barcelona is mostly flat and the streets are wide with generous sidewalks so it should be easy to get around. It also has nice beaches right in the city, and a pretty good public transport system that I think is probably accessible. The city has become very crowded in summer in the last few years, but I think in May it wouldn’t be so bad.
For that matter, Paris is nearly flat and it’s top of my list of European cities you should visit at least once. On that note, central Rome is mostly flat, but I really don’t think the Italians are as good at accessibility in that way. I hope this helps at least a little and I’ll be happy to try again if you have any other questions. -Roger
Dear Roger,
You are doing a great service here and wanted to appreciate.
We are planning to visit Switzerland in May 2019 and am looking at following plan. Let me know if I can refine this or a better suggestion. We do not prefer very cold weather so we are ok if the weather is moderate (70F-80F).
Day 1 Arrive at Zurich – Take train to Interlaken
Day 2 Visit Jungfraujoch, Local Sight Seeing
Day 3 Visit Montreaux Chillon Castle, Matterhorn in Zermatt
Day 4 Leave Interlaken and proceed to Lucerne
Day 5 Sight seeing in Lucerne
Day 6 Leave Lucerne for Bern
Day 7 Sight seeing in Bern
Day 8 Leave Bern for Geneva or Lugano
Here’s where I am in dilemma on which one is better Geneva or Lugano. Are there any suggestions?
Are there any great places I am missing in this self made itinerary?
Thanks much in advance.
Harish,
I’m glad you find this helpful. Your itinerary looks pretty good, but it’s a bit rushed in places. For 7 or 8 days in Switzerland I’d recommend spending at least 3 days in the Interlaken area and at least two days in the Lucerne area. Check out my main article on planning a trip to Switzerland for more details.
On your current plan you’d be really only spending one day in Interlaken and you’d be on the train back and forth to Montreux and Zermatt most of the day. It’s probably better to spend one night in Zermatt so you don’t have to spend so much time on trains in a day.
Bern is a lovely small city, but the main reason to go to Switzerland is to enjoy the natural beauty of the Alps and other areas. Bern is also small enough to see in half a day or a full day on a day trip, so you might just save it for that in case the weather in the mountains is fogged in, which happens a lot and can happen any day of the year.
Geneva has a really nice setting on a lovely lake, but the town itself is quite plain and it’s mostly known for business. Lugano is definitely a more interesting town and it’s also on a gorgeous lake. I hope this helps and let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Good afternoon. My fiance and I are planning a trip to Europe for our honeymoon this spring. Last October we went to Sweden, Netherlands, and Switzerland. We were thinking of trying to go to either the Canary Islands this time, or to Austria/Czech/Greece. Do you have recommendations? Ideally we would stay 10-14 days, and travel in either late March of in May. Thank you!
Kelly,
Congrats on the upcoming wedding. This reminds me that I should probably write at least one article about the better honeymoon destinations in Europe. But for now I’ll try to help you with this.
Personally, I find the Canary Islands to be kind of boring. The weather is good or great all year round so they are very popular with northern European people who want to escape the cold. But aside from relaxing there isn’t much to see or do, at least compared to Europe’s great cities and scenic areas.
Especially if you can go in May instead of March, I think your idea for Austria, Prague, and Greece could be fantastic. Vienna and Prague will still be fairly chilly in March, and the Greek islands are more or less shut down between November and early May. If you have 14 days you could spend 2 or 3 days in Vienna and 2 or 3 days in Salzburg and 3 days in Prague and then fly to Athens for 2 or 3 days and then take a ferry or flight to Santorini or Mykonos to relax in the sun a bit.
Again, the Canary Islands are pleasant and you’d enjoy your time there, but (assuming you are in North America) you’d probably be better off just going to Cancun or Puerto Vallarta instead. If you want to explore some of Europe’s better cities I think your plan would be great, and in May you should have nice weather the whole time. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Roger,
Hello and good day to you!
I wanted to start off by saying thank you for responding to the many questions of the people above me on this forum. The information was great and very informative. The time and effort you spent on your replies is going to help many people on their travels, including myself.
I have purchased round-trip tickets to Dublin from Providence, RI in May 2019. I live in Texas, so I have another flight from San Antonio to Providence to begin my journey. I will technically get 19 nights on my trip, for the first day I will lose a day due to traveling and the differences in time zone.
Right now my itinerary is as follows:
4 nights in Dublin. In not particular order, I plan to take an exhausting one day tour out of Dublin to visit Northern Ireland. I also plan to see the Cliffs of Moher, which night also be a day trip from Dublin. I haven’t totally decided what city/cities I will based up at. And lastly, I would love to visit western Cork. But all-in-all, I will be in Ireland in general for 4 days.
I have already purchased a flight from Dublin to Amsterdam, whereas I will fly there on the morning of my 5th day of travel.
At this point is where I play tug-o-war with where I want to go next. I really want to make the best of my trip, as this is my first time to Europe in my late 20s. I am backpacking by myself and planning to use the train. The only time I might consider a flight is when I would gain back some time(E.g 2 hours on a plane vs 14 hours on a train). I do realize that 3 days should be a minimum stay for most cities.
2 nights in Amsterdam
1 night in Brussels
3 nights in Paris
(Fly from Paris to Venice. No train due to it being overnight only. Also, flying is the same price as the train for this trip and date.The only way I would take the train is if going through Switzerland would have been during the daytime. However, that’s not the case.)
2 nights in Venice
2 nights in Cinque Terre
(train from Cinque Terre/La Spezia area to one of the nearby airports (Milan,Florence, Bologna, or Pisa) and take a flight to BCN or Girona, whatever is cheapest.)
and lastly, 3 nights in Barcelona.
(Flight from Barcelona to Dublin)
Dublin, 1 night of 2nd visit.
Flight, next afternoon.
Does this sound like too much? I am looking for honest advice, like it seems you have given to many people. If so, let me know because I am open to switching things up. No matter what revisions I make to my plan, I would need to be in Dublin for my last evening before my return flights back home.
Thank you, in advance for anything you can advise me about changing to my plans. P.S. I am also not dead set on doing all of the mentioned cities. I would love to see many more places; However, I have not the time to do everything that my heart desires. I realize I will more than likely return SOONER than later 🙂 I really want to make the best out of my trip given that I cannot switch the 4 nights in Dublin and the flight to Amsterdam on the 5th day. But if you may suggest a different route, I would fully take this into consideration as I solidify my plans in the upcoming weeks.
-Ashley
Ashley,
I enjoy trying to help people and these questions also help me figure out what to write about on this site, so I’m glad it’s helpful. And interestingly enough, after most of a decade on the road I’m actually based in Kerrville, TX at the moment, so howdy neighbor.
I think your plan looks quite good and I don’t see any major problems, although I will make a few comments. Four days in Ireland will be a fantastic start, although if I were you I’d probably stay in Dublin only one or two of those nights, or maybe none if you are going to spend a couple nights there at the end anyway. In my opinion Dublin is an interesting city, but it’s really the scenery and small towns and castles that are the magic of Ireland, so taking long train rides back and forth to Dublin might be less enjoyable and it’ll be quite expensive. It’s true that I recommend 3 nights in each place, but as a backpacker touring Ireland in a few days I think I’d stay in Galway and Cork for at least a night each.
Amsterdam is a personal favorite of mine (I lived there for awhile) and I’d recommend staying 3 nights there. The train from Amsterdam to Paris stops in Brussels and what I recommend is to stop there for a few hours and put your backpack in a locker and then explore the area around the Grand Place (main town square) for a few hours and then take another train to Paris. The Grand Place area is pretty amazing, but in my opinion the rest of Brussels is pretty dull, especially compared to Amsterdam.
Flying from Paris to Venice is the best method since those trains are slow and expensive, as you have discovered. You might have a quick scan of my advice for where to stay in Italy. The quick version is that Venice is so crowded and frustrating that a one-day visit there is enough for many people, although it’s definitely worth seeing because there is nothing else like it. And if you only had a couple more days to spend in Italy I’d do them in Rome. The Cinque Terre is simply these 5 little fishing villages (3 of which are very photogenic from a few spots) and are now so overrun with tourists that many people regret visiting. May would be a good month though, and not so insanely crowded. Still, Rome is one of the world’s most incredible cities and it would be weird to skip it in favor of Cinque Terre on your first visit.
Flying from Italy to Barcelona is the best way as well. That’s really it. I’m sure this will be an excellent trip and I’m happy to answer other questions if you have them. -Roger
Hi Roger.. We are wanting to travel to Europe for 9 days in the 2nd half of may with a 1 year old. Will you be able to suggest which will be a good place to visit with a baby that is not more on the streets, more relaxing and pretty and less agenda destinations. We would not want to hop a lot of places and would prefer short journeys. Thanks!
Aditi,
I’m not exactly an expert on traveling with infants, but I don’t think it would be much of an issue in most of Europe. I assume you’d travel with a stroller and almost all of Europe’s public transportation systems are stroller-friendly, and that includes trains and buses. I guess it would be best to choose places that are mostly flat because pushing a stroller up or down a hill could be a chore.
With that in mind I’d choose 2 or 3 places and spend 3 to 4 days in each. London and Paris are mostly flat so they could be good choices. Rome and Florence are also mostly flat (though Rome does have some gentle hills) so they could be good as well. Venice is amazing, but there are a lot of stairs and bridges to get over the canals so I would save that one for later.
Barcelona and Madrid are mostly flat as well. Amsterdam is famously flat and there are no stairs to deal with going over the canals. One excellent trip would be London for 3 nights then the Eurostar train (2.5 hours) to Paris for 3 nights and then the high-speed train (3.5 hours) to Amsterdam for 3 nights. I hope this helps and let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
Thanks for responding.
From your earlier response in January and due to some change of plans on our end…we have decided to keep the trip to Slovenia, Crotia and Greece as you had suggested. Please let me know if you think fist week of September is a good time to do the below – We have 2 weeks to do the entire itinerary
1.Fly into LjubLjana, Slovenia
2.Spend 3 days in Ljubljana and visit Lake Bled, Bled Castle, Predjama Castle, Postojna Cave.Drive to Piran and visit the city for its local attractions
3. End of the third day drive (or take a train, if there is one) to Split, Crotia
4. Spend 3 days visiting Split and Dubrovnik
—Question if Crotia is not a part of Schengen, how do we enter/exit Crotia? would you know?
5. Fly out to Athens, Greece and do the local attractions there or a day trip
6. End the trip in Santorini
Looking forward to your response. thanks again!
Mahesh,
Your itinerary looks great and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Since Slovenia is Schengen and Croatia isn’t, the train will stop at the border and immigration officers will come aboard and go through the carriages to check everyone’s passport and eligibility to enter. As long as you don’t need a visa (and I assume you won’t) then it usually takes only a few seconds per person. The train can be stopped for up to 30 minutes to check each person if the train is full, but some portion of that is already factored into the travel time. Sometimes there is also a drug dog that goes through the train, just so that doesn’t surprise you if it happens. Have a great trip. -Roger
Hi.
We are planning to visit the following in the second half of May. Please advise whether it is safe and feasible for a 11-night trip?
Berlin, Krakow, Budapest, Zagreb and Dubrovnik.We have been to Prague, Cesky Krumolov, Vienna, Salzburg earlier.
A friend of mine plans to go to Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon and Porto. He is keen to know whether in view of the Catalonia protests, Spain – particularly Barcelona is safe to visit for a family.
Thanks,
Chetan
Chetan,
Your trip looks really interesting. My normal advice is to spend 3 nights in almost any city you visit, but if you’ve recently traveled around that part of Europe and you prefer two nights per stop then that should work for you. On the other hand, I would also recommend either skipping Zagreb or spending just one night there. It’s a nice enough city, but it’s kind of a dud compared to the others on your list, and Croatia is at its best and most interesting along its coast.
Another thing to consider would be to go to Split instead of Dubrovnik. Split is easier to reach since it has a train station (to reach Dubrovnik you have to take a bus from Split), and hotels in Split are generally much cheaper because it’s not as touristy or small as Dubrovnik. Aside from that the cities are very similar in that they are all made out of white marble, and Split is a little older. Dubrovnik has impressive city walls that are still intact, but it also gets a lot of cruise visitors so every restaurant within the city walls is very touristy and expensive.
I haven’t heard any news from Spain that affects tourists, so I don’t think it is unsafe. The standard advice no matter where you travel is to avoid public demonstrations and protests, and as long as they do that in Spain I believe they’ll be fine. Barcelona in particular is bursting at the seams with so many tourists, and I haven’t heard of any incidents that have slowed that down. But I haven’t visited myself in almost two years, so I may not be the best judge. -Roger
Hi
V r planning a trip to the following cities in the month of May from Dubai
Prague
Vienna
Budapest
Bratislava
Is it the right time to visit these places
Pls suggest
Thanks
Reena,
I’d say May is the perfect time to visit those cities, and especially from Dubai where it will already be sizzling. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
I stumbled upon your website while doing research on my upcoming Euro trip in Sep 2018 and I must say its really nice of you to help people out and give them information on how to plan it best.
My wife and I are planning to do a 2-week trip this year from Canada (Sept 1-15) and have sorta finalized the below cities/countries based on my little bit of research and what I want to see/do.
Both of us are not much into indoor activities (like museums) but prefer outdoors watching nature/views/landscape and little bit of walking so would like your recommendations if there is a must-see city on the list below that we’ve missed
Could give me some pointers on if this plan is doable or if I’m trying to do a lot in 2 weeks?
1.Flight from Toronto, Canada into Prague, CR (rent a car)
2.Prague and then drive to Cesky Krumlov
3.Hallstatt, Austria (or any other city that you can recommend in Austria)
4.Budapest
3.Split and Dubrovnik, Croatia
4 Kotor, Montenegro
5.Drive back to Dubrovnik and flight to Athens, Greece
6.Want to end the trip in Santorini (rome2rio says there is a ferry from Athens to Santorini)
Appreciate your help and guidance on this.
thanks,
Mahesh
Mahesh,
I’m happy to try to help. My general recommendation is to play on staying 3 nights in just about any city you visit. If you try to go faster than that you end up spending every other day on trains or in airports, and only half your time actually sightseeing. So if you have 14 days I would recommend choosing 5 cities at most. It looks like you’ve got 9 cities on your list, which would give you an average of 1.5 days in each, and you’d be spending more than half of your time in transit.
Another issue is that driving between cities in Europe is a big headache in most cases. All of the cities on your list are at least one thousand years old and the cities were laid out for walking or horses, so parking in or near town centers is extremely rare and expensive. Towns like Cesky Krumlov and Hallstatt are small and you could probably park for free at a hotel on the edge of town, but then you would be far from the main sights. It’s much better and FAR less stressful to take trains between all of these cities. It will probably be cheaper as well, especially as one-way international car rentals are usually expensive in Europe.
Driving a rented car between wine regions and national parks and that sort of thing in Europe can be a good idea, but driving between cities and historic towns is expensive and complicated so I don’t recommend it.
My top recommendation would be to fly into Prague and spend 3 nights there. Then take a train to Budapest or a bus or train to Cesky Krumlov and then a bus or train to Budapest. You might even consider going to Salzburg, which is near Hallstaat, and it’s the most interesting tourist town in the Austrian Alps area. After that I would fly to Athens and spend 2 or 3 nights there and then take the ferry to Santorini for the last 3 days. If you wanted to include Croatia it would mean either flying into Split or taking a very long train ride. There are no major highways along the coast in Croatia, so even driving takes a long time. I would just save Croatia for a future trip though. Split is very interesting, and Dubrovnik is similar to Split except it’s often crowded with cruise passengers and it’s twice as expensive and harder to reach. I’m happy to answer other questions if you have them. -Roger