Places by month

Where to go in May with friends

42 places at their best in May, picked from our guides for group trips.

Spring is the best time for cities and for walking: long days, mild temperatures and fewer crowds than in summer. It is also the season of long weekends, made for a trip all together.

Add the destinations you like to a Roamie trip: the group votes with 10 points each and, if needed, the wheel decides.

Isle of Skye
United Kingdom
The Quiraing, the Fairy Pools and the Old Man of Storr within a few miles, with weather that changes by the hour. May and September bring fewer midges and fewer crowds.
Best time
May–Jun, September
Budget
€€€budget.2
NatureAdventure
From the guide Hiking and nature: 6 outdoor trips for your group
Amalfi Coast
Italy
Colourful villages clinging to the cliffs, the Path of the Gods and boat trips to Capri. Get around by ferry or bus: in high season a car is more trouble than help.
Best time
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Budget
€€€budget.3
RomanticFood & WineRelax
From the guide Trips for couples travelling with friends: 6 destinations
Amsterdam
Netherlands
Canals to explore by boat, historic brown cafés, clubs and festivals almost every summer weekend. Accommodation is pricey, so book early and share.
Best time
Apr–Jun, September
Budget
€€€budget.3
NightlifeCulture
From the guide Nightlife: 6 European cities to party in with friends
Barcelona
Spain
Dinner is late, going out even later, and the next day you recover on the beach. Gaudí, El Born and the Gothic Quarter win over anyone in the group who isn't a night owl.
Best time
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Budget
€€€budget.2
NightlifeCultureRelax
From the guide Nightlife: 6 European cities to party in with friends
Bled
Slovenia
The lake with its island church, Vintgar Gorge and Triglav National Park close by. In summer, add rafting and canyoning on the Soča river.
Best time
May–Jul, September
Budget
€€€budget.2
NatureRelaxAdventure
From the guide Hiking and nature: 6 outdoor trips for your group
Douro Valley
Portugal
Terraced vineyards dropping to the river, quintas to stay in and taste wine at, and slow cruises on the Douro. In September the harvest makes it even more special.
Best time
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Budget
€€€budget.2
Food & WineRomanticNature
From the guide Trips for couples travelling with friends: 6 destinations
Picos de Europa
Spain
The Cares Trail, the Covadonga lakes and villages serving fabada and cider. Less known than the Alps, and cheaper.
Best time
May–Jul, September
Budget
€€€budget.1
NatureAdventureFood & Wine
From the guide Hiking and nature: 6 outdoor trips for your group
Provence (Luberon)
France
Stone villages perched on hills, weekly markets and lavender fields in bloom from late June to July. A country house with a pool is the best way to enjoy it.
Best time
May–Jul, September
Budget
€€€budget.3
RomanticFood & WineRelax
From the guide Trips for couples travelling with friends: 6 destinations
Santorini
Greece
White houses on the caldera, world-famous sunsets and wineries making volcanic wine. Skip August and look for a house in Imerovigli or Pyrgos, calmer than Oia.
Best time
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Budget
€€€budget.3
RomanticRelax
From the guide Trips for couples travelling with friends: 6 destinations
Sofia
Bulgaria
A compact capital with Orthodox cathedrals, hot mineral water fountains and Mount Vitosha half an hour from the centre. Eating out is cheap even for big groups.
Best time
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Budget
€€€budget.1
CultureAdventure
From the guide Budget group trips: 6 destinations where your money goes further
Tbilisi
Georgia
Khachapuri, khinkali and wine made in clay amphorae following a tradition thousands of years old. The wineries of Kakheti make a perfect group day trip.
Best time
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Budget
€€€budget.1
Food & WineCultureNightlife
From the guide Food trips: 6 cities to eat your way through together
Albufeira
Portugal
Beaches below Algarve cliffs, villas with pools to share among many and the Strip for the evenings. For groups who prefer kayaking into sea caves and seafood dinners to dancing until dawn.
Best time
May–Sep
Budget
€€€budget.2
RelaxNightlifeAdventure
From the guide Bachelor and bachelorette parties: 6 destinations to celebrate as a group
Alsace (Colmar)
France
Half-timbered houses along canals, the Wine Route through flower-filled villages and hearty food. In December its Christmas markets are among the prettiest in Europe.
Best time
May–Jun, Sep–Oct, December
Budget
€€€budget.2
RomanticFood & WineCulture
From the guide Trips for couples travelling with friends: 6 destinations
Belgrade
Serbia
In summer, nights are spent on the splavovi, floating clubs on the Sava and the Danube. Low prices and a warm welcome for groups.
Best time
May–Sep
Budget
€€€budget.1
NightlifeFood & Wine
From the guide Nightlife: 6 European cities to party in with friends
Berlin
Germany
Techno clubs open all weekend long, bars in Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain and history on every corner by day. Large groups do better splitting up at club doors.
Best time
May–Sep
Budget
€€€budget.2
NightlifeCulture
From the guide Nightlife: 6 European cities to party in with friends
Bologna
Italy
Tortellini, mortadella and taverns under the porticoes, with Modena and Parma under an hour away by train for balsamic vinegar and Parmigiano. A group pasta class is a classic.
Best time
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
Budget
€€€budget.2
Food & WineCulture
From the guide Food trips: 6 cities to eat your way through together
Bucharest
Romania
The old town fills with bars every night, and Therme, just outside the city, is one of the largest spas in Europe: party at night, unwind by day.
Best time
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
Budget
€€€budget.1
NightlifeCulture
From the guide Bachelor and bachelorette parties: 6 destinations to celebrate as a group
Copenhagen
Denmark
You get around by bike, swim in the harbour baths in summer and eat well in the food halls. Pricier than average, so sharing an apartment pays off.
Best time
May–Sep
Budget
€€€budget.3
CultureFood & WineRelax
From the guide Long weekends in Europe: 6 cities to visit with friends
Granada
Spain
A university city where every drink comes with a free tapa, the Alhambra to book well ahead and sunset from the Mirador de San Nicolás. Hard to spend little better than this.
Best time
Mar–May, Oct–Nov
Budget
€€€budget.1
CultureFood & WineNightlife
From the guide Cheap weekends for students and flatmates: 6 cities
Istanbul
Türkiye
Bazaars, mosques, ferries across the Bosphorus for the price of a bus ticket and street food everywhere. Plenty to share out between history lovers and fans of the bars in Karaköy.
Best time
Apr–May, Sep–Nov
Budget
€€€budget.1
CultureFood & WineNightlife
From the guide Budget group trips: 6 destinations where your money goes further
Lake Como
Italy
Lakeside villas with gardens, ferries between Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio and trails with views. Easy to reach from Milan, and just as good for a long weekend.
Best time
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
Budget
€€€budget.3
RomanticRelaxNature
From the guide Trips for couples travelling with friends: 6 destinations
Lisbon
Portugal
Seven hills, yellow trams and miradouros for sunset: easy to explore on foot and by tram. At night Bairro Alto and Cais do Sodré keep even the most mixed groups happy.
Best time
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
Budget
€€€budget.2
CultureFood & WineNightlife
From the guide Long weekends in Europe: 6 cities to visit with friends
Ljubljana
Slovenia
Small, green and laid-back, with bars along the Ljubljanica river and the alternative Metelkova district. Lake Bled is under an hour away by bus.
Best time
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
Budget
€€€budget.2
CultureNatureFood & Wine
From the guide Cheap weekends for students and flatmates: 6 cities
Lyon
France
Often called France's food capital: traditional bouchons, the Les Halles Paul Bocuse food hall, and Beaujolais and Rhône Valley wines within day-trip range.
Best time
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
Budget
€€€budget.2
Food & WineCulture
From the guide Food trips: 6 cities to eat your way through together
Madeira
Portugal
The levadas, irrigation channels with paths alongside, cross laurel forests and cliffs. Spring-like weather all year and sunrise on Pico do Arieiro.
Best time
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
Budget
€€€budget.2
NatureAdventureRelax
From the guide Hiking and nature: 6 outdoor trips for your group
Marrakech
Morocco
A riad all to yourselves, Jemaa el-Fna square at sunset and trips to the Agafay desert or the Atlas mountains. Best avoided in the hottest summer months.
Best time
Mar–May, Oct–Nov
Budget
€€€budget.1
CultureAdventureFood & Wine
From the guide Budget group trips: 6 destinations where your money goes further
Naples
Italy
Pizza, coffee and sfogliatelle on every corner, the alleys of the old town and Vesuvius in the background. With an extra day, add Pompeii, Procida or the Amalfi Coast.
Best time
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
Budget
€€€budget.1
Food & WineCulture
From the guide Long weekends in Europe: 6 cities to visit with friends
Osaka
Japan
The local motto is kuidaore, eat until you drop: takoyaki and okonomiyaki in Dotonbori, cheap izakayas, and Kyoto and Nara less than an hour away.
Best time
Mar–May, Oct–Nov
Budget
€€€budget.2
Food & WineNightlifeCulture
From the guide Food trips: 6 cities to eat your way through together
Porto
Portugal
Azulejos, the Dom Luís bridge over the Douro and port wine cellars with tastings. The area around Galeria de Paris is packed with cheap bars that stay open late.
Best time
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
Budget
€€€budget.1
CultureFood & WineNightlife
From the guide Cheap weekends for students and flatmates: 6 cities
Riga
Latvia
An Art Nouveau old town you can cover on foot, beer halls, late-night bars and prices that are still low for Europe. Summer nights are extraordinarily long.
Best time
May–Sep
Budget
€€€budget.1
NightlifeCulture
From the guide Bachelor and bachelorette parties: 6 destinations to celebrate as a group
San Sebastián
Spain
Hopping from bar to bar for pintxos is made for groups, and La Concha beach is right in town. One of the cities with the most Michelin stars per resident.
Best time
May–Sep
Budget
€€€budget.3
Food & WineRelax
From the guide Food trips: 6 cities to eat your way through together
Seville
Spain
Tapas for a few euros, flamenco in Triana and the Alcázar, not to be missed. The city is at its best in spring; in summer the heat is truly fierce.
Best time
Mar–May, Oct–Nov
Budget
€€€budget.1
CultureFood & WineNightlife
From the guide Cheap weekends for students and flatmates: 6 cities
Split
Croatia
Diocletian’s Palace as the city centre, boats to hire as a group for the islands and bars along the seafront. In summer boat parties leave almost every day.
Best time
May–Sep
Budget
€€€budget.2
NightlifeRelaxAdventure
From the guide Bachelor and bachelorette parties: 6 destinations to celebrate as a group
Thessaloniki
Greece
Greece’s student city: a seafront for strolling, bars full until late and some of the country’s best food at low prices. The beaches of Halkidiki are close by.
Best time
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
Budget
€€€budget.1
Food & WineNightlifeCulture
From the guide Cheap weekends for students and flatmates: 6 cities
Vilnius
Lithuania
A UNESCO-listed baroque old town, the self-proclaimed republic of Užupis, and lakes and castles nearby such as Trakai. Not overrun by tourists and reasonably priced.
Best time
May–Sep
Budget
€€€budget.1
CultureNature
From the guide Budget group trips: 6 destinations where your money goes further
Bratislava
Slovakia
Small, affordable and an hour from Vienna: a compact centre, Danube boat trips and cellars of Slovak wine. Ideal for a short weekend without spending much.
Best time
Apr–Sep
Budget
€€€budget.1
NightlifeCulture
From the guide Bachelor and bachelorette parties: 6 destinations to celebrate as a group
Budapest
Hungary
Historic baths to share, the ruin bars of the Jewish Quarter and Parliament lit up on the Danube. Prices below most European capitals.
Best time
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct, December
Budget
€€€budget.1
CultureNightlifeRelax
From the guide Long weekends in Europe: 6 cities to visit with friends
Kraków
Poland
One of Europe's largest medieval squares, the Kazimierz district full of bars, and Polish food at honest prices. It is also the base for visiting the Wieliczka salt mine.
Best time
May–Sep, December
Budget
€€€budget.1
CultureFood & WineNightlife
From the guide Long weekends in Europe: 6 cities to visit with friends
Malta (St Julian’s)
Malta
Paceville packs the island’s nightlife into a few streets; by day there are coves, boat trips to Comino and Valletta. English is spoken everywhere and sunshine is almost guaranteed.
Best time
May–Oct
Budget
€€€budget.2
NightlifeRelax
From the guide Bachelor and bachelorette parties: 6 destinations to celebrate as a group
Prague
Czechia
Some of Europe's cheapest beer, multi-storey clubs and a fairytale old town to see by day. Perfect for stag and hen parties, but not only.
Best time
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct, December
Budget
€€€budget.1
NightlifeCulture
From the guide Nightlife: 6 European cities to party in with friends
Valencia
Spain
City and beach in one weekend: the City of Arts and Sciences, the Turia park by bike and paella where it was born. Mild weather almost all year round.
Best time
Mar–Jun, Sep–Oct
Budget
€€€budget.2
RelaxFood & WineCulture
From the guide Long weekends in Europe: 6 cities to visit with friends
Wrocław
Poland
One of Poland’s most student-filled cities: a colourful market square, islands on the Oder and hundreds of little gnome statues to hunt down. Beer and dinners cost very little.
Best time
Apr–Sep
Budget
€€€budget.1
CultureNightlife
From the guide Cheap weekends for students and flatmates: 6 cities