1
Cappadocia
Turkey- Temperature
- 9–21°C
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Prices
- €€€
+Excellent temperatures and long days
–More visitors and higher prices
May
Best nature and outdoor destinations in May
For landscapes and the outdoors in May, Cappadocia comes out first, with average highs around 21°C.
Destinations known for landscapes and outdoor activities, ranked by how good the month is there. Each card shows the real average temperature, crowd level and price level for May, and links to the full May guide for that destination.
By Daan · Last reviewed October 2026
Photo: Maui (#2 on this list)
- 2
Maui
United States- Temperature
- 20–30°C
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Prices
- $$$
+Dry, sunny and quieter.
–Few events.
3Rio de Janeiro
Brazil- Temperature
- 20–27°C
- Crowds
- Low
- Prices
- $$
+Best overall balance of weather, crowds and price.
–Few headline events, and the sea starts to cool.
4Cusco
Peru- Temperature
- 4–21°C
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Prices
- $$$
+Clear skies and green hills.
–Cold nights.
5Kotor
Montenegro- Temperature
- 14–24°C
- Crowds
- Moderate-High
- Prices
- €€€
+Warm days, swimming starts late in the month.
–Cruise ships most days.
6Sardinia
Italy- Temperature
- 13–24°C
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Prices
- €€€
+Warm days, quiet beaches.
–The sea is still fresh.
7Amalfi Coast
Italy- Temperature
- 15–25°C
- Crowds
- Moderate-High
- Prices
- €€€€
+Warm, green and almost everything open.
–Weekends and holidays are busy at Positano and Amalfi.
8Lake Como
Italy- Temperature
- 12–23°C
- Crowds
- Moderate-High
- Prices
- €€€
+Peak garden season and comfortable temperatures.
–Weekends and holidays are busy.
9Lucerne
Switzerland- Temperature
- 9–19°C
- Crowds
- Moderate-High
- Prices
- $$$$
+Warm weather and long days.
–Swiss prices at full strength.
10Maldives
Maldives- Temperature
- 27–32°C
- Crowds
- Low
- Prices
- $$
+The southwest monsoon begins, bringing fewer visitors, softer prices and the start of major manta activity.
–Rain becomes less predictable and seas can be rougher.
11Seychelles
Seychelles- Temperature
- 26–31°C
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Prices
- $
+Generally sunny and relatively dry
–Winds can begin affecting exposed beaches
12Bali
Indonesia- Temperature
- 25–30°C
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Prices
- $$$
+Warm, increasingly dry and noticeably calmer than the summer peak.
–Popular areas begin filling up toward the end of the month.
13Mauritius
Mauritius- Temperature
- 22–29°C
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Prices
- $$$$
+Warm days and lower humidity.
–Occasional showers.
14Cape Town
South Africa- Temperature
- 10–21°C
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Prices
- $$
+A quieter alternative to summer.
–Less reliable outdoor weather.
15Crete
Greece- Temperature
- 16–24°C
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Prices
- €€
+The gorge usually opens.
–Sea still fresh.
Temperatures are monthly averages. Crowd and price levels are my own judgement. Want to narrow it down? Filter all destinations for May.
FAQ
Best nature and outdoor destinations in May
What are the best nature and outdoor destinations in May?
Cappadocia, Maui and Rio de Janeiro come out best in May. Destinations known for landscapes and outdoor activities, ranked by how good the month is there.
Which of these is warmest in May?
Maldives, with average highs around 32°C in May.
Which of these is quietest in May?
Rio de Janeiro, where crowds in May are low.
Best nature and outdoor destinations in another month
More ideas for May