Memorial Day may be the unofficial kickoff for summer, but why wait until then to take a vacation? There are plenty of reasons to squeeze in a May trip before peak vacation season starts—whether to celebrate America’s most beloved roadway, immerse yourself in a spiritual ritual dating back centuries, or catch a tulip festival in an unlikely North American city.
Here are our 10 best places to travel in May.
Adelaide, Australia
Adelaide Central Market, home to specialty delis and fresh-produce vendors, will host meet-the-maker experiences during the city’s food festival in May.
Photo by Vincent_Nguyen/Shutterstock
Adelaide is already on our radar this year. A new United nonstop flight from San Francisco has made this coastal capital of South Australia easier to reach from the U.S. than ever. And there’s plenty to see on arrival, too, including the extraordinary cultural center Yitpi Yartapuultiku, which opened last summer as a celebration of the region’s First Nations people.
The extra draw this month is Tasting Australia (May 8 to 17), an annual South Australian food festival held in Adelaide. Highlights include a free-to-enter pop-up food district in Victoria Square, Adelaide’s largest public square, and meet-the-maker sessions at Adelaide Central Market, a food hall home to more than 70 vendors.
Where to stay: Adelaide Marriott
- Book now: marriott.com
Two years ago, the 150-year-old General Post Office building in the Central Business District was repurposed as this 285-room five-star hotel. Rooms are set in a 14-story tower, so they have spectacular views across the city.
Insider tip
May marks the start of fall in Australia. For leaf peeping, head to the Adelaide Hills, a semirural region about a 30-minute drive from the city center. “The colors are spectacular,” says Adelaide Marriott general manager Paul Gallop. He recommends exploring the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden, which is “especially beautiful.”
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque’s KiMo Theatre was built in 1927 on what would become Route 66.
Photo by Eric Williams
This year is a big one for America’s Mother Road: On April 30, Route 66 turns 100. One of the first continuous stretches of paved highway, it quickly became synonymous with all-American road tripping, and it’s so renowned that Congress established a dedicated commission to oversee this year’s celebrations.
Mark the centenary in Alburquerque. Route 66 runs right through town along Central Avenue, lined with neon signs, motels, and diners, including the aptly named 66 Diner.
Where to stay: El Vado Motel
- Book now: elvadoabq.com
Crash in one of Central Avenue’s iconic spots. The El Vado Motel opened barely a decade after Route 66 was built. Now it sits on the National Register of Historic Places. It was rebooted as a funky, 22-room motel in 2018.
Insider tip
The motel’s event specialist, India Archer, recommends breakfast at Duran’s Central Pharmacy. “Order huevos rancheros with Christmas,” she says. That’s local lingo for smothering your breakfast meal in both red and green chiles.
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta’s Caribbean Carnival dates back to the late 1980s.
Photo by BluIz70/Shutterstock
Atlanta is hosting a slew of cultural events in May. The most headline-grabbing is the Jazz Festival, running from May 23 to 25. It has a 2026 lineup that includes Grammy winner Esperanza Spalding and hip-hop group The Roots. Entry is free, and performances run from 1 to 11 p.m. daily.
From May 22 to 24, you can also catch the city’s Caribbean Carnival. The main parade kicks off from Rodney Cook Sr. Park around 10 a.m on Saturday. The festival dates back to the late 1980s, when locals of Caribbean descent devised it to fete their cultures and help enhance the city’s international reputation; expect costumed bands, soca (a modern form of calypso) and reggae music, and lots of food trucks.
Don’t fret if your trip has to occur early in the month: You can catch the tail end of the Atlanta Film Festival, which concludes on May 3.
Where to stay: The Tess
- Book now: marriott.com
This brand-new boutique hotel in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood is a 201-room property named after an imaginary globetrotter with a fondness for books and music. Book a table at the rooftop Tesserae restaurant for classic cocktails and skyline views.
Insider tip
We’ve already raved about Atlanta’s restaurant scene, but further recommendations are always welcome. Go to Delbar in Buckhead, says The Tess general manager Nils Bergmann—but don’t go alone. “The dishes are all served family-style, so the best way to enjoy it is with friends and family,” he says, recommending the tahdig (scorched rice).
Indianapolis, Indiana
Head to Indianapolis, where May brings a packed cultural calendar.
Photo by FilmRAW/Shutterstock
Starting in April, 800 miles of trails across Indianapolis and Central Indiana will connect into a walkable, bike-friendly network called the Greater Indy Trailways. In May, travelers can put the new system to use, pedaling between the city’s latest cultural openings.
Start by biking the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, then switch to the Pleasant Run Greenway to reach the Contemporary Art Museum of Indianapolis. Opening May 1 in a converted dairy just south of downtown, the museum’s five-acre campus will be home to galleries and storefront studios. Alternatively, head northeast from the city center along the Pogues Run Greenway to find the Factory Arts District, a former industrial complex now home to more than 120 resident artists. In the heart of Indianapolis, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art is running an exhibition titled Cowboy Couture: The Fashion of Jerry Lee Atwood until August 2, featuring quirky Western-inspired ensembles made by Atwood, an Indianapolis-based fashion designer.
Where to stay: The Alexander
- Book now: thealexander.com
This 209-room downtown hotel is named in honor of the city planner behind Indianapolis’s original grid structure. A $20 million refurbishment due for completion this spring will update its rooms and restaurants. The impressive $3 million art collection remains.
Insider tip
For an Indianapolis-made souvenir, seek out People for Urban Progress products at local stores, including Silver in the City on Massachusetts Avenue, says The Alexander’s general manager, Matthew Smith. The nonprofit company creates one-of-a-kind products from scraps, turning discarded event banners, stadium seats, and other industrial textiles sourced from around Indianapolis into bags, accessories, and home goods.
Kii Peninsula, Japan
Ise-Jingū is one of Japan’s most sacred Shinto sites.
Photo by MyPixelDiaries/Shutterstock (L); Jaione_Garcia/Shutterstock (R)
Japan’s Mie prefecture, on the Kii Peninsula in southern Honshu, is home to the country’s most sacred Shinto site, the Ise-Jingū, or Ise Grand Shrine. Dedicated to the sun goddess, Amaterasu Omikami, it technically comprises more than 120 smaller shrines and is considered the nation’s spiritual heart.
Every 20 years, the shrine is demolished and rebuilt from scratch—a ceremony known as the Shikinen Sengū, repeated without interruption since 690 C.E. The 63rd cycle is currently underway, building toward a full reconstruction in 2033.
This month, one of the most spectacular moments of the eight-year process is open to onlookers: hundreds of locals hauling enormous cypress logs through the streets and along the Isuzu River, dressed in white robes and chanting the traditional work song “Kiyari-uta” as they go.
Where to stay: Inishie no Yado Ikyu
- Book now: ikyu.com
Each of the 58 rooms at this recently renovated ryokan (inn) has its own outdoor hot-spring bath for secluded onsen rituals. Pick from either a Japanese-style room, with tatami mats, or one equipped with Western beds.
Insider tip
Local licensed guide Yuko Muraguchi recommends an Ago Bay kayak tour with the Shima Nature School. “You can experience the exhilaration of gliding along the coastline, past pearl cultivation rafts,” she says.
Namibia
Namibia is home to an estimated 24,000 elephants.
Photo by imageBROKER.com/Alamy Stock Photo
May is Namibia’s Goldilocks month, a transitional period between the country’s wet and dry seasons when the bush is still lush, but wildlife is easier to spot, and peak-season prices have yet to kick in.
Travel this month, and you could be one of the first guests to stay at Nkasa Linyanti, the latest camp from Natural Selection, an operator known for its intimate, low-impact safari properties. Set on a 74,000-acre private concession within the wetland wilderness of Nkasa Rupara National Park in the country’s northeast, the camp makes the most of seasonal flooding that peaks around this time and transforms the surrounding landscape into a topography reminiscent of Botswana’s Okavango Delta. The result is a safari experience a world away from the desert landscapes Namibia is best known for: Activities on offer at the camp include mokoro excursions (trips in traditional dugout canoes) and boat safaris alongside guided walks and birding experiences.
Where to stay: Nkasa Linyanti
- Book now: naturalselection.travel
Sleep in one of six under-canvas suites that are raised on wooden stilts at Nkasa Linvanti. The suites’ elevated position provides sweeping views across the surrounding floodplains.
Insider tip
Experience dance performances, live music demonstrations, art shows, and craft displays at the Windhoek /Ae //Gams Arts and Cultural Festival in Namibia’s capital from May 8 to 9. “The festival emphasizes creativity as a tool for dialogue, reflection, and social change,” says Natural Selection managing director Ally Ndekurona Karaerua.
Lošinj Island, Croatia
Croatia’s Lošinj island plays host to an off-road triathlon each May.
Photo by Miroslav Posavec/Shutterstock
The cool climate, clean air, and clear waters of this 29-square-mile Croatian island are reason enough to visit Lošinj before the Mediterranean holiday season kicks off. But in May, the picturesque town of Mali Lošinj will also host the three-day Xterra Croatia, a demanding off-road triathlon that runs from May 8 to 10.
Opt to join one of several races in the contest—a full-distance triathlon for seasoned competitors, a supersprint for children aged 14 and 15, or the 24.4-mile mountain-bike race (a thrilling off-road biking experience snaking through the island)—or simply watch from the sidelines. The run course passes through the heart of Mali Lošinj, so onlookers can easily catch the action from the waterfront before retreating to one of the harbor cafés.
Where to stay: Hotel Bellevue
- Book now: losinj-hotels.com
The 206-room Hotel Bellevue sits in Čikat Bay, a short walk from the triathlon course. After race day, the spa is well set up for recovery, with a cryosauna, a cold plunge, and waterbeds alongside indoor and outdoor saltwater pools.
Insider tip
Arrive on the island a few days before the triathlon event, says Hotel Bellevue general manager Kristina Krstinić, and you can experience Nerezinski Muaj, a 200-year-old spring festival held on the first Sunday in May in the namesake coastal village’s main square. “It celebrates spring, youth, and new life,” she says.
Ottawa, Canada
More than 300,000 blooming tulips transform Ottawa’s Commissioners Park into a sea of color each spring.
Photo by Emad Aljumah/Shutterstock
Tulipomania isn’t limited to the Dutch: For 11 days every May, the Canadian province of Ottawa succumbs to the same madness, with more than 300,000 blooms popping up around the capital in Commissioners Park. The Dutch government has gifted a bale of tulip bulbs to the country annually since 1945, an act of thanks for Canada’s role in liberating the Netherlands during World War II, and the riot of color each spring grows rowdier every year. In 2026, the Canadian Tulip Festival will run from May 8 to 18.
Where to stay: Fairmont Château Laurier
- Book now: fairmont.com
This crenellated fantasia of a property first opened in 1912 and is now a local landmark. Of its 430-rooms, book one of the Fairmont Gold options for access to a private lounge and personalized concierge.
Insider tip
Cycle to the festival in the morning to beat the crowds and avoid tricky parking situations, says the hotel’s catering and sales coordinator Jessica LeClair.
South Coast, Jamaica
Jamaica’s fishing communities are rebuilding after Hurricane Melissa struck in October 2024.
Photo by Caspar Rae/Unsplash
Last October, Hurricane Melissa made landfall in western Jamaica as a historic Category Five storm, killing at least 45 people and causing an estimated $8.8 billion in damage. The island is recovering fast, but there is still much to be done.
On May 23, the island commemorates a major 1938 rebellion as a national day of volunteerism and service. Given the ongoing recovery, that spirit is particularly resonant this year. Visitors are welcome to join community projects: On the south coast, the nonprofit Breds Foundation oversees a 625-acre fishing sanctuary established to combat overfishing. After you spend a day giving back, the officially observed public holiday on that Monday offers you a guilt-free afternoon on the beach.
Where to stay: Jakes Hotel
- Book now: jakeshotel.com
This 49-room hotel on Jamaica’s rugged south coast is the antithesis of Jamaica’s all-inclusive resorts. The Jakes is a bohemian collection of oceanfront cottages with walls made from seashells, recycled stained glass windows, and outdoor showers.
Insider tip
Jakes’ chairman, Jason Henzell, recommends guests head underwater at the 625-acre marine sanctuary, Malcolm Bay and Galleon Beaches. Book a snorkeling tour led by environmental wardens for the chance to spot parrotfish, angelfish, doctor fish, snapper, and squid.
West Cork, Ireland
A guided walking tour allows you to take in the rugged peninsulas and dramatic clifftops of West Cork.
Photo by Donn21/Shutterstock
Want to explore a wilder side of Ireland? Head straight for its west coast, where rugged peninsulas jut into the turbulent Atlantic, ancient stone circles punctuate the hills, and, in May, the hedgerows bloom with white hawthorn blossom. We named this region as one to watch in 2026, so if you’ve been tempted, let the spring weather seal the deal.
Take it all in on foot during CIE Tours’ new Cork to Kerry walking tour, which covers up to six miles a day at an unhurried pace. You’ll travel through the Beara Peninsula, Killarney National Park, and the Dingle Peninsula, with hands-on experiences en route, such as turf cutting and breadmaking. Culture lovers should time a visit around the Fastnet Film Festival in the village of Schull from May 20 to 24, which showcases short films from local and international filmmakers.
Where to stay: The Lake Hotel Killarney
- Book now: lakehotelkillarney.ie
This lakeside hotel (on the shore of Loch Léin) has been in the same family for almost a century. Interiors have a country-castle vibe, with four-poster beds and grand fireplaces. Book a room with a balcony if you want to enjoy lake views.
Insider tip
Pick up some Irish Atlantic sea salt from local stores before leaving, says CIE Tours’ Conor Wall. “It’s sustainably harvested from the waters off the Beara Peninsula. It has a clean, sea-fresh flavor, and it’s one of those things you’ll actually cook with once you’re home.”
This article was originally published in 2024 and most recently updated on February 27, 2026, with current information.
