Where is hot in May? 8 spring holiday ideas for 2025

With two bank holidays and plenty of sunshine in the UK and abroad, May is understandably a popular time to plan getaways, whether you’re dreaming of the Canary Islands, a long weekend in southern Italy, or a long-haul trip further afield.

To help you plan your trip, we’ve put together a guide to the top destinations, from the warmest locations in Europe that are cheapest to fly to in May, to the best beach and city breaks as rated by thousands of visitors in our surveys.

And for travellers on a budget, we’ve shared independent price research that pinpoints some of the cheapest destinations for sunny May city breaks. Plus, read on for not only the warmest Canary Islands in May, but the best-value ones too.

Read on to see our full results and recommendations.

Planning a trip around the May bank holidays? Read our guide to maximising your bank holidays in 2025.

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Where in Europe is it hot in May — and cheap?

Marseille

Average peak temperature: 21°C

With more than 300 days of sunshine per year, Marseille is an underrated springtime holiday destination, often overshadowed by the neighbouring Nice and Cannes.

The city, which is the oldest in France, not to mention 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’ll likely have a cove to yourself.

When we checked Skyscanner, we found return flights as low as £28 for a week’s holiday in May.

Catania

Average peak temperature: 24°C

Another of Europe’s cheapest and southernmost destinations, Catania offers a chance to enjoy Sicily’s volcanic charm for less — we found return flights for under £30.

Expect highs of 24°C, minimal humidity and around eight hours of sunshine a day.

The city’s Baroque old town is a Unesco World Heritage Site, full of grand piazzas, ornate fountains and timeworn palazzi. Looming behind it is another Unesco listing: Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano and a constant, dramatic presence in the skyline.

Grab a snack from one of the many street food vendors — just don’t call their famed rice balls arancini. It’s a longstanding point of contention across Sicily, but in Catania, they’re arancino (masculine and cone-shaped), named after Mount Etna itself. 

When you’re ready to cool off, head for the lava-stone coastline, where lidos sit above the sparkling Ionian Sea.

Which Canary Island is warmest in May?

Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Playa Blanca and Puerto del Carmen are the hottest Canary Islands in May, sharing a maximum high of 23°C.

Fuerteventura

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.

Seville

Average peak temperature: 27°C

Few cities look as good in the sun as Seville. Blue skies complement the white and yellow houses of the Santa Cruz district, and tiny squares, dotted with orange trees, offer shade. If it gets too hot, the Arab craftsmen who built the leafy royal palace, the Alcazar, were experts at creating cooling courtyards with pleasant fountains, so take a seat there.

This seductive Andalusian city landed a top-10 score in our European cities survey, clinching five stars out of five for its food and drink and cultural sights.

As temperatures climb, locals will still be wearing long sleeves and even jackets. That's because, for them, anything under 30°C is not considered hot. Real heat comes later, with temperatures reaching 40°C or more. May is a sensible summer month to visit the beautiful, spectacular 'frying pan of Spain'.

Top UK destinations for holidays in May

Isles of Scilly

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 bring 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, perhaps even a puffin sighting. 

Malham

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 topped the table.

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.

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Best long-haul destinations for May holidays

Singapore

Average maximum temperature: 31°C

This tropical island nation's harmonious blend of nature and modern architecture attracts millions of visitors each year. While it's hot and humid all year round, the downpours ease off in late spring and prices are less steep than in the busy summer months. 

Singapore came joint second in our survey of the best long-haul cities. Visitors were wowed by its fusion cuisine – the food markets are especially good value.

Below the city’s modern high rises, you'll find many cultural influences – from traditional Chinese temples and mosques, to historic neighbourhoods such as Geylang, the old Malay quarter (now the red light district), Chinatown and Little India. 

Time it right in May and you can experience the celebration of Gautama Buddha's life, when Buddhists mark the occasion with spectacular lights, music, food and dancing. 

Barbados

Average maximum temperature: 31°C

When we calculated how much a week-long holiday in the Caribbean would cost, Barbados came out as one of the 10 most affordable islands. With nine hours of sunshine per day, May is the month to soak up some vitamin D before Barbados’s rainy season. 

The island has plenty of excellent-value places to stay in the south, such as Oistins or Christ Church parish, so steer clear of the big money resorts of the west coast and Speightstown. 

The capital, Bridgetown, is one of the Caribbean’s loveliest, and its Downtown and Garrison areas are so rich in well-preserved architecture that they are World Heritage listed. Its beaches are also dreamy – snorkel, surf or dive in the turquoise waters, or simply flop on the warm sand.

Weather data from Weather2travel.com.