10 Places You Have to See in May (PHOTOS)

Each passing month brings new reasons to travel, so as April comes to an end, here are 10 destinations that are best explored in May.

1. Experience The Midnight Sun In Northern Norway

May is an excellent time to visit Northern Norway, especially the North Cape because above the Arctic Circle, the sun never sets from May through July, allowing visitors to experience 24 hours of sunlight. This phenomenon lasts longer the further north you are, which is why the “Midnight Sun” continues for the longest time in places such as Svalbard islands and the North Cape. At the North Cape, the Midnight Sun is expected to begin on May 14.

2. Celebrate The Anniversary Of Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

Oregon's Crater Lake National Park will celebrate its 122nd anniversary on May 22, 2024, making it the perfect time to explore this stunning park. Crater Lake National Park is the fifth oldest park in the United States and it is home to the famous caldera of Crater Lake, which was formed by the destroyed volcano Mount Mazama. Crater Lake is 1,943 feet at its deepest point, making it the deepest lake in the United States.

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3. Go Diving At Grüner See (Green Lake) In Austria

Located near the Austrian town of Tragoss at the foot of the Hochschwab mountains, Grüner See, or Green Lake, is a beautiful lake known for its emerald green color. In winter, the lake is relatively small and surrounded by a county park, but every spring from mid-May to mid-July, it doubles in size as snow and ice melts from the nearby mountains and runs down into the basin. The lake grows so much that it engulfs most of the surrounding park, submerging benches and bridges and even drowning many alpine flowers that are still blooming. As a result, from May through July, the lake is a popular diving spot for those who wish to explore the submerged park trails in the icy, clear water.

4. Explore Paraguay

May is the perfect time to visit Paraguay, when the weather is usually beautiful. Paraguay is often overlooked by tourists because it is a landlocked country with no beaches or mountain ranges like its neighbors Argentina and Brazil. Even so, Paraguay is home to some amazing natural reserves and parks full of wildlife, impressive jesuit ruins and colonial towns. Visitors can also join in the festivities of Paraguay’s Independence Day, held on on May 14.  Parades, fireworks and concerts are usually held across the country to celebrate the day the country gained independence from Spain in 1811.

5. Take A Tiger Safari In India’s Ranthambore National Park

6. Enjoy Greece Without The Crowds

One of the best times to visit Greece is in May, when the weather is warm and pleasant, prices are lower and the beaches and ancient ruins are less crowded with the hordes tourists that come during the summer high season. According to Frommers, spring even brings beautiful wildflowers that are not to be missed. Be sure to tour some of the islands, from Santorini to Cyclades. 

7. Attend The 126th Rochester Lilac Festival, New York

Held in Highland Park in Rochester, New York, each year, the Rochester Lilac Festival is the largest free festival of its kind in North America. The festival lasts for 10 days, running May 10-19, and features gardens full of more than 700 varieties of blooming lilacs on thousands of plants, as well as concerts, wine and chocolate tastings, special exhibits and other events. The festival will even feature a 5K and 10K race.

8. Relax On The Beach In The Bahamas

May is a great time to visit the Bahamas because it is perfect beach weather: temperatures are comfortable, the water is warm and it isn’t yet hurricane season. Not only that, but there are very few bugs or mosquitoes at this time of year. With more than 700 islands and 2,400 cays, there are plenty of beaches and resorts to choose from, but be sure not to miss the Pink Sands beach of Harbour Island, where the sand gets its pink color from microscopic shelled animals known as Foraminifer that have washed ashore. 

9. See Yosemite National Park's Waterfalls During Peak Flow

Yosemite National Park’s waterfalls are the most impressive when the most snowmelt occurs, causing peak runoff. According to the National Park Service, this usually occurs in May for most of the park’s falls, including Bridalveil, Yosemite Falls and Sentinel Falls. During the rest of the year, some of these California waterfalls will dwindle down to only a trickle or will become completely dry, such as Ribbon Fall, which flows only from March through June, with peak flow in May.

10. Roam Through The Countryside Of Tuscany

It is best to visit Tuscany, Italy in May before most of the summer tourists arrive. May offers visitors perfect weather to roam through this beautiful Italian countryside, explore the renaissance city of Florence and the walled city of San Gimagnano or go wine tasting. There are also numerous festivals and celebrations taking place this month, including the crossbow festival Giostra dell’Archidado in Cortona and the Festa del Grillo in Florence, where mechanical crickets are sold in decorated cages. 

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