Where to Go in May for Sun: 14 Warm Destinations Compared
Afternoon highs, rainfall, sea temperature and the catch for each place, from Cancún to the Greek islands and the Red Sea, based on official climate normals.
- 14 destinations compared
- 72 to 95°F average afternoon highs
- 75°F Red Sea water in Hurghada
- May 31 Memorial Day 2027
Where is it warm in May? Close to home, Cancún is hot (91°F) with moderate rain before the wet season. May is also one of the best months for Southern Europe: Seville, Malta, Crete, Rhodes, Cyprus and Mallorca run 74 to 81°F with little rain and far smaller crowds than summer, though the sea is still cool (64 to 70°F). For warm water near Europe, the Red Sea is the answer, and farther out Bali and Mauritius enter their dry season while Thailand, the Maldives and the Caribbean turn wetter.
The figures below are climate normals published by each country’s national weather service and collected by the World Meteorological Organization, except Antalya, which comes directly from the Turkish State Meteorological Service. They describe a typical May, not the forecast for your trip. Each station is listed in the sources.
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- Which destination for which trip
- Close to home: Cancún
- Southern Europe before the crowds
- Turkey, Morocco, Egypt and Jordan
- Bali and Mauritius
- Comparison table
- Where not to go in May
- Dates, insurance and data
- FAQ
Which warm destination in May for which trip
- Memorial Day long weekend: Cancún and the Riviera Maya, 91°F, a short flight from most US hubs.
- Europe before the summer rush: Seville (81°F), Malta (74°F), Crete and Rhodes (74 to 76°F).
- Warm air and swimmable sea: Cyprus (80°F, sea 70°F) or the Red Sea in Egypt (89°F, sea 75°F).
- Bucket-list island: Bali (92°F, sea 84°F) or Mauritius (85°F), as their dry season starts.
May rainfall at a glance:
- Hurghada 0 in
- Aqaba 0 in
- Malta 0.3 in
- Larnaca 0.4 in
- Marrakech 0.4 in
- Heraklion 0.6 in
- Rhodes 0.7 in
- Málaga 0.8 in
- Faro 0.8 in
- Seville 1.2 in
- Palma 1.3 in
- Antalya 1.3 in
- Mauritius 1.9 in
- Cancún 3.5 in
- Bali 3.7 in
Average May rainfall. Yellow: under 2.4 in. Light blue: 2.4 to 6 in. Dark blue: over 6 in.
Close to home: Cancún and the Riviera Maya
1. Mexico: Cancún and the Riviera Maya
Cancún: 91°F in the afternoon, 76°F at night, 3.5 in of rain over 7 days.
May is hot and still fairly dry in Cancún, before rain jumps to 5.4 in in June. It is a good fit for a Memorial Day long weekend: beaches, cenotes and an early-morning visit to Tulum or Chichén Itzá.
Good to know: sargassum seaweed can reach some Caribbean beaches from late spring in certain years. Check recent reports for your area before you book.
Southern Europe before the summer crowds
May is one of the best months to combine sun and sightseeing in Southern Europe: warm afternoons, little rain and lower demand than June to August. The trade-off is a sea still around 64 to 70°F.
2. Spain: Seville and Málaga
Seville: 81°F in the afternoon, 58°F at night, 1.2 in of rain over 6 days. Málaga: 76°F, 58°F at night, 0.8 in over 5 days, sea around 64°F.
May is the last comfortable month in Seville before 90°F in June and 97°F in July. Málaga combines a beach, a walkable old town and easy day trips to Granada and Ronda.
Good to know: the sea in Málaga is the coolest on this page. Book the Alhambra in Granada well ahead.
Hotels in Seville’s Santa Cruz quarter: recent prices and reviews
3. Portugal: the Algarve
Faro: 72°F in the afternoon, 55°F at night, 0.8 in of rain over 7 days, sea around 66°F.
Mild rather than hot in May. The cliffs of Lagos and the Seven Hanging Valleys trail are far more pleasant now than in midsummer.
Good to know: the Atlantic stays cool here all year, around 70°F even in summer.
4. Spain: Mallorca
Palma: 75°F in the afternoon, 52°F at night, 1.3 in of rain over 6 days, sea around 66°F.
The southeastern coves and the Serra de Tramuntana are best explored now, without the July and August crowds.
Good to know: nights are still cool, 52°F in Palma. Pack a jacket for the evenings.
5. Malta
Luqa: 74°F in the afternoon, 59°F at night, 0.3 in of rain over 3 days, sea around 66°F.
English is an official language, Valletta is compact and walkable, and boat trips to Gozo and Comino are easy. May is almost dry.
Good to know: Comino’s Blue Lagoon is already busy on weekends. Go early in the day.
6. Greece: Crete
Heraklion: 74°F in the afternoon, 59°F at night, 0.6 in of rain over 4 days, sea around 66°F.
In May, Crete is green and in bloom, well before the summer rush. A great month for hiking the gorges and visiting Minoan sites such as Knossos.
Good to know: the sea warms to around 73°F in June. If swimming is the goal, wait a month.
7. Greece: Rhodes
76°F in the afternoon, 60°F at night, 0.7 in of rain over 5 days, sea around 68°F.
A medieval old town on the UNESCO list and sheltered beaches such as Lindos. In May you can explore on foot without the heat of July.
Good to know: Orthodox Easter falls on Sunday, May 2, 2027. It is a major holiday weekend in Greece, with changed opening hours.
8. Cyprus
Larnaca: 80°F in the afternoon, 61°F at night, 0.4 in of rain over 4 days, sea around 70°F.
Cyprus is May’s best compromise between warm air and a sea you can actually swim in. Paphos, on the west coast, combines ancient sites and coves.
Good to know: 70°F water is still brisk for long swims; it reaches about 75°F in June.
Turkey, Morocco, Egypt and Jordan
Warmer and drier, and the only place near Europe where the sea is properly warm in May: the Red Sea.
9. Turkey: Antalya
78°F in the afternoon, 60°F at night, 1.3 in of rain over 5 days, sea around 70°F.
The Turkish Riviera combines beaches, the ruins of Perge and the old town of Kaleiçi. May suits sightseeing; June is beach season, with 87°F and a sea around 77°F.
Good to know: Eid al-Adha (Kurban Bayramı) is expected around May 16, 2027, a peak period for domestic travel.
10. Morocco: Marrakech and Agadir
Marrakech: 85°F in the afternoon, 59°F at night, 0.4 in of rain over 3 days. Agadir: 76°F, 61°F at night, 0.2 in, sea around 66°F.
Marrakech is already warm in May, with cool nights: the last window before 92°F in June. Our guide lists things to know before visiting Morocco.
Good to know: Eid al-Adha, expected around May 16 or 17, 2027, is a public holiday; some shops and sites close.
11. Egypt: Hurghada and the Red Sea
Hurghada: 89°F in the afternoon, 72°F at night, no rain, sea around 75°F.
The Red Sea is the only truly swimmable sea near Europe in May. Reefs are reachable by snorkel from many hotels.
Good to know: Luxor reaches 102°F in May. This is a month for the beach and diving, not for the Nile Valley temples.
12. Jordan: Aqaba and Petra
Aqaba: 95°F in the afternoon, 69°F at night, almost no rain, sea around 73°F.
A one-week loop works well: Petra and Wadi Rum in the cooler highlands, then the Red Sea at Aqaba. See things to know before visiting Jordan.
Good to know: heat builds fast. Visit Petra at opening time and carry plenty of water; Aqaba passes 100°F in June.
Wadi Musa hotels at the Petra gate: recent prices and reviews
The map below shows available places to stay and their rates for the dates you choose.
Farther away: Bali and Mauritius enter the dry season
13. Indonesia: Bali
Denpasar: 92°F in the afternoon, 75°F at night, 3.7 in of rain over 8 days, sea around 84°F.
Bali is coming out of the wet season: the rice terraces are at their greenest and the summer crowds have not arrived.
Good to know: some showers remain. The driest stretch runs from June to September, with 1 to 2 in a month.
14. Mauritius
Port Louis: 85°F in the afternoon, 71°F at night, 1.9 in of rain over 6 days, sea around 81°F.
Cyclone season is over, rain has dropped since February and the sea is still warm, before cooling to about 77°F in June.
Good to know: the west coast, around Flic-en-Flac, is the driest and most sheltered from the wind.
Tours and activities to book ahead
The Alhambra, Knossos, a boat trip to Comino, a cenote tour near Tulum or a Red Sea snorkeling day: our partner GetYourGuide lets you book these ahead. Check the meeting point, guide language and cancellation terms before paying.
See all activities on GetYourGuide
Comparison table: May by the numbers
May averages for one reference station per destination, from warmest sea to coolest.
| Station | High / low | Rain (days) | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denpasar (Bali) | 92 / 75°F | 3.7 in (8) | 84°F |
| Port Louis (Mauritius) | 85 / 71°F | 1.9 in (6) | 81°F |
| Hurghada (Egypt) | 89 / 72°F | 0 in | 75°F |
| Aqaba (Jordan) | 95 / 69°F | 0 in | 73°F |
| Larnaca (Cyprus) | 80 / 61°F | 0.4 in (4) | 70°F |
| Antalya (Turkey) | 78 / 60°F | 1.3 in (5) | 70°F |
| Rhodes (Greece) | 76 / 60°F | 0.7 in (5) | 68°F |
| Heraklion (Crete) | 74 / 59°F | 0.6 in (4) | 66°F |
| Luqa (Malta) | 74 / 59°F | 0.3 in (3) | 66°F |
| Palma (Mallorca) | 75 / 52°F | 1.3 in (6) | 66°F |
| Faro (Algarve) | 72 / 55°F | 0.8 in (7) | 66°F |
| Agadir (Morocco) | 76 / 61°F | 0.2 in (2) | 66°F |
| Málaga (Spain) | 76 / 58°F | 0.8 in (5) | 64°F |
| Cancún (Mexico) | 91 / 76°F | 3.5 in (7) | not listed |
| Marrakech (Morocco) | 85 / 59°F | 0.4 in (3) | n/a |
| Seville (Spain) | 81 / 58°F | 1.2 in (6) | n/a |
Temperatures rounded to the nearest degree. Rainy days are days with at least 0.04 in (1 mm) of rain, where the station publishes them.
Where not to go in May
- Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Maldives: the monsoon sets in. Phuket gets 10.6 in of rain over 20 days, Malé 8.6 in. Aim for February or March instead.
- Miami and the Caribbean: rain picks up, with 5.1 in in Miami and 4.9 in in Punta Cana. Hurricane season starts June 1.
- Dubai and Luxor: 98°F and 102°F in the afternoon. Outdoor sightseeing is exhausting.
- Seychelles: 6.3 in of rain over 16 days at Mahé. The driest period runs from June to August.
Dates, insurance and staying connected
- Memorial Day: Monday, May 31, 2027, the busiest travel weekend of the month.
- Orthodox Easter: May 2, 2027, a major holiday in Greece and Cyprus.
- Eid al-Adha: expected around May 16 or 17, 2027, a public holiday in Morocco, Egypt, Jordan and Turkey.
- Atlantic hurricane season: starts June 1.
Many US health plans offer limited or no coverage abroad, and a hospital stay can be expensive in Mexico or Europe alike. Check your health plan and credit card benefits first. For medical expenses and medical evacuation, our partner Chapka offers Cap Assistance 24/7: coverage and limits are listed on the policy page.
To have mobile data as soon as you land without hunting for a local SIM card, a Yesim e-SIM, our partner, installs before you leave. Check on its page that your destination is covered and at what rate.
FAQ
Where is warm in May without a long flight from the US?
Cancún and the Riviera Maya, at 91°F with 3.5 in of rain for the month. Miami and the Caribbean are warm too, but wetter as the rainy season begins.
Is May a good time to visit Europe for sun?
Yes, for sightseeing: Seville (81°F), Malta, Crete and Rhodes (74 to 76°F) are warm and mostly dry, with fewer crowds than summer. The sea is still cool, around 64 to 70°F.
Where is the sea warm in May?
Bali (84°F) and Mauritius (81°F). Near Europe, only the Red Sea is properly warm: about 75°F in Hurghada and 73°F in Aqaba.
Is May a good time for Thailand?
Not for the Andaman coast: Phuket gets 10.6 in of rain over 20 days in May. Bali and Mauritius are much drier that month.
Where to go for sun in other months
January, February, March, April, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.
Sources
Pages accessed October 21, 2026. Unless noted, climate normals come from the World Meteorological Organization’s World Weather Information Service, which publishes data supplied by each national weather service.
- Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (Mexico), via WMO: Cancún (1971-2000).
- AEMET (Spain), via WMO: Seville, Málaga and Palma (1981-2010). IPMA (Portugal), via WMO: Faro (1961-1990). Malta Meteorological Office, via WMO: Luqa (1961-1990).
- Hellenic National Meteorological Service, via WMO: Heraklion and Rhodes (period not stated). Cyprus Department of Meteorology, via WMO: Larnaca (2002-2011).
- Turkish State Meteorological Service (MGM): Antalya climate statistics (1930-2025). Direction de la Météorologie Nationale (Morocco), via WMO: Marrakech and Agadir (1991-2020).
- Egyptian Meteorological Authority, via WMO: Hurghada and Luxor (1981-2010). Jordan Meteorological Department, via WMO: Aqaba.
- BMKG (Indonesia), via WMO: Denpasar (1961-1990). Mauritius Meteorological Services, via WMO: Port Louis (1971-2000).
- For the caveats, via WMO: Phuket, Malé, Miami Beach, Punta Cana, Dubai and Mahé.
- World Sea Temperatures: average May sea temperatures. NOAA, National Hurricane Center: hurricane season dates.
- US Office of Personnel Management: federal holidays. Calendar Date: expected Eid al-Adha 2027 date.
Maintained by the Advised Traveler team. Climate averages do not predict the weather during your trip: check the forecast before you go. Spotted an error? Let us know.