Thanks to its double bank holidays, plenty of sunshine in the UK and abroad, May is understandably a popular time to plan getaways.
Perhaps you’re dreaming of the Canary Islands, or a long weekend in Greece, Italy or southern France — or even a last-minute adventure further afield.
Read on for a guide to the top destinations we recommend for May, based on independent Which? price research that pinpoints some of the cheapest destinations for sunny May city breaks in France, Italy and Greece. We’ve included some of the cheapest (yet warm and sunny) European hotspots, with return flights from the UK as low as £28 in some cases.
We’ve also shared insights into not only the hottest Canary Islands in May, but also the best-value ones — plus the top UK beach and city breaks as rated by thousands of visitors in our surveys.
Planning a trip around the May bank holidays? Read our guide to maximising your annual leave using bank holidays in 2026.
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Average peak temperature: 23°C
You may be surprised to learn that you can find return flights to Corfu for under £60 from at least three UK cities this May — Birmingham, Manchester and London. Especially as the island was voted among Which? members’ top five favourite Greek isles in our latest survey.
But the trade-off for cheap prices is very little. The sea temperature, at a fresh 19°C, may not be ideal for longer swims but still makes for pleasant paddling. And while you might need a light jacket in the evenings, 7.30-8pm sunsets make for top golden-hour dining among a food scene that Which? members gave a full five stars.
The clement temperatures make for comfortable strolls around the old town, which during peak summer months can become overrun with other tourists and cruise ship crowds.
Average peak temperature: 23°C
For a budget Italian getaway, skip Milan and Rome, and head further south to Naples. We found return flights as low as £38 from Manchester, £42 from London Luton and £73 from Edinburgh.
That’s not the only reason to plan your trip to Italy’s third-largest city this month. May also marks ‘Maggio dei Monumenti’, a month-long festival celebrating the city’s cultural heritage, with exhibitions, attractions, concerts, readings and tours taking place citywide. Many of the events are free and accompany rare openings of palaces, churches and state buildings usually closed to the public.
The weather’s perfectly suited for cultural expeditions and long days exploring on foot, with mild temperatures, no humidity, 14 hours of daylight and nine hours of daily sunshine. You might encounter a rain shower or two, but that’s all the more reason to dip into another museum, gallery or perhaps even a Neapolitan bakery along the way.
Average peak temperature: 21°C
With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, Marseille is an underrated springtime holiday destination, often overshadowed by the neighbouring Nice and Cannes.
The city, which is the oldest in France, and also one of the hottest, offers a good mix of rugged character and rich history. Take in sweeping harbour views from the 17th-century Fort Saint-Nicolas, browse the city’s well-curated galleries and museums, or take a boat ride out to the Château d’If – the island fortress immortalised in The Count of Monte Cristo.
There’s plenty of beachfront close to the city, too — but venture further into the craggy limestone Calanques and you’re likely to have a cove to yourself.
When we checked Skyscanner, we found direct return flights in May 2026 as low as £34 departing from Manchester, £47 from Edinburgh, and £50 from London Stansted.
Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Playa Blanca and Puerto del Carmen are the hottest Canary Islands in May, sharing a maximum high of 23°C.
Average peak temperature: 23°C
Fuerteventura is the second-biggest of the Canary Islands and has the archipelago’s best beaches. The temperature is balmy rather than baking in May, but you can still expect nine hours of sunshine a day and minimal rainfall.
You get a lot for your money too. When we calculated the cost of a DIY holiday in the Balearics and Canaries, it came out as the best-value Spanish island. It’s also one of the cheapest destinations for an all-inclusive holiday.
Esquinzo-Morro Jable and Puerto del Rosario, the capital, are among the most developed tourist spots, with a wide range of hotels, restaurants, shops and beaches. Costa Caleta was Fuerteventura’s top-rated town in our survey of the Canary Islands’ best resorts, its broad sandy beach and shallow waters making it popular with families.
Las Playitas, a charming fishing village on the southeast coast, also offers a quieter setting, while Costa Calma is the gateway to the rugged beaches of the Jandía peninsula.
Average peak temperature: 14°C
Off the coast of Cornwall, these remote isles, some of which are uninhabited, consistently top the table in our survey of the best Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), now known as National Landscapes.
Readers awarded it five out of five stars in four categories (scenery, walks, accommodation, and peace and quiet).
Temperatures in May are mild, rather than hot, with average highs of 14°C, so take your windbreaker if you’re heading to the beach. But in return for bringing a light jacket, you’ll enjoy spring wildflower blooms, fewer crowds on your coastal ambles, and perhaps even a puffin sighting.
Average peak temperature: 20°C
Late spring is the perfect time to strike out into the British countryside. When we asked ramblers to rate more than 50 of the nation’s favourite walks, Malham Cove and Gordale Scar was ranked among the top 10 walks in the UK.
This dramatic 7.5-mile walk in the Yorkshire Dales scored the full five stars for scenery and places of interest in our survey. The route snakes through Gordale Scar, a sheer ravine with waterfalls, before climbing to the top of Malham Cove – an amphitheatre-shaped limestone cliff that had a cameo in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
The cove is a half-hour stroll from Malham, a Dales village with stout stone buildings, plenty of places to stay and two cosy pubs.
| Scenery | Waymarking | Places of interest | Food & drink | Visitor facilities | Walk score | |
| Malham Cove & Gordale Scar | 89% |
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Average peak temperature: 29°C
Many travellers have now caught on to the fact that Vietnam is a budget traveller’s paradise and a destination where your pound will likely go the furthest. Tourist numbers are booming. That’s why arriving in May, just before typhoon season begins, could be a clever choice. Provided you’re prepared for hotter temperatures and the occasional rain shower, May offers an opportunity to visit famous attractions and tourist sites that may be otherwise overrun by crowds.
Take the city’s infamous Train Street, where trains zip past just inches from cafes. Due to overtourism, authorities now restrict access at times — but visitors in shoulder-season months probably won’t have issues.
Head out in the morning to enjoy verdant foliage in the capital’s parks and gardens, cool off in the city’s many air-conditioned galleries, and plot strategic stops to sample the local coffee culture – much of which is, fortunately, served on ice.
Weather data from Weather2travel.com.
