Comparison
Where to travel in May — dry-season islands, late-spring Europe and seaside cities close to home
Eight May picks — dry-season islands, late-spring Europe and nearby seaside cities — from climate normals and our guides, plus holiday crowds and heat.
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How to choose a May trip
In May, Bali and Da Nang are in their dry seasons, and Europe is in late spring, before the busy July-August months. You can head for a dry-season island or beach, walk a late-spring European city, or pick a seaside city close to home.
This article uses the 'best time to go' in each city guide and the May normals (average high, average low and rainfall) stored in our guides. Normals are averages over many years, so they don't tell you this year's weather, and the source agency and period differ by city. Bali and Bangkok use 1961–1990, an older period, and Barcelona uses 1981–2010, so treat them as rough figures. Check the forecast before you go.
Temperatures are in °C and rainfall in mm. The sources are listed below.
- Korea Meteorological Administration, 1991–2020: Busan and Jeju stations
- Japan Meteorological Agency, 1991–2020: Okinawa (Naha station)
- Central Weather Administration (CWA), Taiwan, 1991–2020: Taipei station
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: Honolulu (Honolulu International Airport station)
- Met Office (UK), 1991–2020: London (Heathrow station)
- IPMA (Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere), 1991–2020: Lisbon (Lisboa / Instituto Geofísico station)
- AEMET (Spanish State Meteorological Agency), 1981–2010: Barcelona (Barcelona Aeropuerto station)
- WMO World Weather Information Service, 1991–2020: Da Nang (Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration)
- WMO World Weather Information Service, 1961–1990: Bali (Denpasar; Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics, BMKG), Bangkok (Thai Meteorological Department, TMD)
Dry-season islands and beaches — Bali and Da Nang
Bali's April-October dry season brings the most sunny days. The May normals are a high of 33.1°C, a low of 24.1°C and 93 mm of rain (WMO/BMKG, 1961–1990, Denpasar). They come from an older period, so treat them as rough figures. The Mount Batur sunrise trek starts before dawn, so go with a local guide and bring good shoes and a warm layer.
Da Nang's February-May dry season is its most comfortable time. May has a high of 33.4°C, a low of 25.4°C and 71 mm of rain (WMO/Viet Nam MHA, 1991–2020). Flights and hotels get much pricier during Korean holidays and the summer peak, so compare dates.
Quieter Hawaii — Honolulu
Honolulu is warm all year, and April-May and September-October are quieter with pleasant weather. The May normals are a high of 29.3°C, a low of 21.9°C and 20.8 mm of rain (NOAA NCEI, 1991–2020, Honolulu International Airport).
Diamond Head needs an advance reservation for non-resident visitors, and Hanauma Bay is closed every Monday and Tuesday and requires reservations. Check official information before you add them to your plan.
Late-spring Europe — Lisbon, Barcelona, London
Lisbon is most pleasant in March-May and September-October. The May normals are a high of 23.1°C, a low of 14.4°C and 57.8 mm of rain (IPMA, 1991–2020). The hills are steep and the polished stone pavements get slippery in rain, so wear comfortable shoes with good grip.
Barcelona is warm and less crowded in May-June and September-October, the best time. May has a high of 21.1°C, a low of 12.8°C and 47 mm of rain (AEMET, 1981–2010, Barcelona Aeropuerto). July and August are hot and the busiest, with sights booking up fast.
London has long days and its best weather from May to September. May has a high of 18.4°C, a low of 9.1°C and 45.9 mm of rain (Met Office, 1991–2020, Heathrow). July and August are busiest and priciest, and rain is possible year-round, so pack an umbrella.
Seaside cities close to home — Busan and Jeju
Busan is mild and clear in May-June and September-October, the best times. The May normals are a high of 22°C, a low of 14.6°C and 155.9 mm of rain (KMA, 1991–2020). Beach-area hotels fill up and get pricey in summer and on weekends, so book early.
Jeju has its best weather in April-June and September-November. May has a high of 22.1°C, a low of 15°C and 95.6 mm of rain (KMA, 1991–2020). Seongsan Ilchulbong is closed on the first Monday of each month, and check official information on whether Manjanggul Cave is open and which section.
Think twice in May — holidays, heat and the start of the rains
Check holidays first. Tokyo and Osaka are crowded and pricey during Golden Week (late April to early May), and Fukuoka is busy then as well. Zhangjiajie's sights are very crowded over the May Day holiday (around 1 May). Holiday dates change every year, so check the official dates.
Some places are hot. Bangkok is very hot in March-May, with a May average high of 34°C (WMO/TMD, 1961–1990). Vientiane gets almost no rain in March-May with daytime highs above 40°C, and Delhi reaches up to 45°C in April-June.
In some places the rains begin. Ho Chi Minh City's May-November wet season brings afternoon showers, and in Phuket and Krabi rain and waves can cancel island tours from May to October. Okinawa's rainy season runs from mid-May to June, with a May rainfall normal of 245.3 mm (JMA, 1991–2020, Naha), and Taipei's May-June plum rains give it 239.9 mm in May (CWA, 1991–2020). Macau's typhoon season runs May to November. Our Southeast Asia rainy-season article below covers the seasons by region.
Check works and closures too. Himeji's Mt. Shosha Ropeway is scheduled to close from 5 February 2027 to around the end of October 2027 for major renovation, and from early July 2026 to around late July 2027 repair work around Himeji Castle's main keep narrows parts of the route and affects the view and the night illumination.
At a glance — May by city
A quick May summary. Figures are 'high/low temperature and rainfall'; sources and periods differ, so the comparison is rough.
- Dry-season islands and beaches: Bali 33.1/24.1°C, 93 mm (WMO/BMKG, 1961–1990); Da Nang 33.4/25.4°C, 71 mm (WMO/Viet Nam MHA, 1991–2020)
- Quieter Hawaii: Honolulu 29.3/21.9°C, 20.8 mm (NOAA NCEI, 1991–2020)
- Late-spring Europe: Lisbon 23.1/14.4°C, 57.8 mm (IPMA, 1991–2020); Barcelona 21.1/12.8°C, 47 mm (AEMET, 1981–2010); London 18.4/9.1°C, 45.9 mm (Met Office, 1991–2020)
- Seaside cities close to home: Busan 22/14.6°C, 155.9 mm; Jeju 22.1/15°C, 95.6 mm (both KMA, 1991–2020)
- Holiday crowds: Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka (Golden Week), Zhangjiajie (May Day)
- Hot or rains beginning: Bangkok, Vientiane and Delhi (heat); Ho Chi Minh City, Phuket, Krabi, Okinawa and Taipei (rain); Macau (typhoon season begins)
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FAQ
Where is fairly dry in May?
Among the cities here, by May rainfall normals, Honolulu 20.8 mm (NOAA NCEI, 1991–2020), London 45.9 mm (Met Office, 1991–2020) and Barcelona 47 mm (AEMET, 1981–2010) are low. Sources and periods differ, so the comparison is rough.
What is Bali like in May?
It is in the April-October dry season, with the most sunny days. The May normals are a high of 33.1°C, a low of 24.1°C and 93 mm of rain (WMO/BMKG, 1961–1990, Denpasar). They come from an older period, so treat them as rough figures.
Is Japan crowded in early May?
Tokyo and Osaka are crowded and pricey during Golden Week, from late April to early May, and Fukuoka is busy too. The dates change every year, so check the official dates, and avoid it or book early.
Are Southeast Asian beaches OK in May?
It depends on the region. Da Nang is in its February-May dry season, but Ho Chi Minh City's wet season starts in May, and in Phuket and Krabi waves can cancel island tours from May to October. If the beach is the goal, check that region's dry season.
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