The best places to go in May: Our top travel picks for a solo holiday
In the Northern Hemisphere, there’s a whisper of summer in the air this month. Layers are slowly coming off, days are getting longer and the natural world is becoming brighter by the day. Europe has not quite reached its heady heights of July and August, but temperatures are rising comfortably – making it the perfect time for a city break amid the cobbled streets of Lisbon and Porto in Portugal, or to seek out carefree island-hopping and vineyard cycling in Croatia.
Meanwhile, over in Central America and on the Caribbean coast, the beaches and ruins are quiet, ideal for crowd-free exploring. Read on to discover the best places to go in May for a solo holiday.
Japan
Average temperature: 24°C / 75°F
Why you should visit now:
Golden Week kicks off in May in Japan, where the whole nation celebrates a number of notable days, from Shōwa Day (the late Emperor Hirohito’s birthday) on 29 April to Children’s Day on 5 May. Watch the festivities unfold in downtown Tokyo or Kyoto. Alternatively, disappear into the countryside to explore the Sagano Bamboo Forest, ride a traditional wooden boat on the Hozugawa River and take part in a private ramen masterclass.
Expert tip:
Add Nezu Jinja in Tokyo to your itinerary, one of the oldest and least visited shrines in Japan.
Turkey
Average temperature: 22°C / 72°F
Why you should visit now:
Too much heat can turn a pleasant day on foot into a chore. That’s why it’s wise to visit Turkey in May before the sizzling summer heat takes over. Start in the city of Izmir. Lose yourself in the backstreets, seeking out culinary delights like stuffed mussels and lokma honey balls (AKA Turkish doughnuts). Then, venture east to the Göreme National Park. Here, you can soar above the Cappadocia region – with its caves and fairy chimneys – on a sunrise hot-air balloon ride before thundering through the rock-cut valleys on an ATV tour.
Expert tip:
Hungry after all the action in Cappadocia? Book a table at Lil’a restaurant for the finest in Anatolian cuisine.
Bali
Average temperature: 28°C / 82°F
Why you should visit now:
Love scuba diving? May is shoulder season in Bali and one of the best times to explore the island’s underwater world. Visibility is generally excellent, plus it’s the prime time to spot manta rays gracefully gliding through reefs, also teeming with other marine life. Venture over to Gili Meno island, where a private boat tour will drop you off at an underwater sculpture park, just off the island’s west coast. Swim between the eerily beautiful circle of 48 life-size statues, before watching the waters flush hot pink in the setting sun.
Expert tip:
Strong currents and powerful waves dominate Bali’s coastline, so book with a reputable conservation-led operator and always check it’s safe before entering the water.
Mexico
Average temperature: 28°C / 82°F
Why you should visit now:
There’s more to Mexico than Cancun. Visit Oaxaca state, the country’s cultural and culinary heartland, in May and you’ll be treated to lower prices and fewer crowds. Tlacolula de Matamoros – a popular Sunday market, a short 45-minute colectivo ride from Oaxaca city – is the place to try barbacoa lamb and memelas cakes. Next, head to Mezcal Mal de Amor to learn how the popular alcoholic drink is made from agave. From here, journey south to Puerto Escondido, where the surf-pummelled coastline serves up an enticing combination of natural beauty and raucous nightlife.
Expert tip:
Feeling adventurous? Grasshoppers are a delicacy in Mexico, especially in Oaxaca, where they are served gently fried with pepper, garlic and lemon.
New Zealand
Average temperature: 16°C / 60°F
Why you should visit now:
Gold-burnished leaves fall from the trees in New Zealand in May, the last month of autumn, before winter sets in. With the crowds long gone, you’ll likely have the hiking and mountain biking trails all to yourself. Visit Rotorua, a meeting point for adrenaline-fuelled bikers, looking for mixed ability routes through the ancient redwood trees. Meanwhile, foodies should journey south for the Bluff Oyster Festival, held every May on the country’s southerly tip, where you can tuck into the best salt-laced seafood, fresh off the boat.
Expert tip:
Get clued up with Kiwi hiking lingo. ‘Scroggin’ means trail mix, made up of dried fruit and nuts, while ‘tramper’ is another term for a hiker.
Portugal
Average temperature: 20°C / 68°F
Why you should visit now:
City break season in Europe is at its best in May, when temperatures flirt with the sentiment of summer, but aren’t fully seduced by its high heats. Happily, two of the most affordable favourites are based in Portugal, where you can tick off Lisbon’s rooftop bars, cool restaurants and street-food markets, before zipping along the coast to Porto’s riverside port houses. Better still, May is toasty enough to take in the coast in between, trying out your surfing skills or some sand-side yoga.
Expert tip:
Unesco-listed Sintra makes a great side trip from Lisbon. But as one of Portugal’s top sites, it can get busy. So, swerve the crowds on a 4×4 adventure.
Croatia
Average temperature: 20°C / 68°F
Why you should visit now:
By this time of year, crowds have already been building in Croatia’s cobblestone towns of Split and Dubrovnik. But the islands are now opening up on the cusp of the summer season. Glide around them on an island-hopping adventure, perhaps stopping at Sipan – the largest of Dubrovnik’s Elaphiti Islands – to try stand-up paddleboarding.
Expert tip:
See Croatia’s islands in style with Flash Pack. From Split, you’ll swing by Shkoy beach club on lesser-visited Drvenik Veliki island and cap it off with lunch at Labadusa, a tavern on nearby Ciovo.
Ready to take off on your next adventure? Join Flash Pack today to discover group solo holidays with like-minded people in their 30s & 40s.
To find out where to go in June, read our expert travel tips, ideas and inspiration.
Images: Adobe and Flash Pack
