Europe is a bit of a weather trip. Winters are so frigid you can hardly bear to go outside, and summer brings heat waves that make it hard to get through a day without an afternoon nap. Luckily, there are some in-betweens, and May is one of them. Gone are the days of unexpected downpours, and the humidity and heat haven’t entirely set in yet.
Instead, we’re left with a spot of near-perfection, where cities buzz with life, flowers are in full bloom, and locals are still in a cheerful post-winter mood.
There are so many wonderful places worth exploring in this sweet spot of spring. Here are the best European cities you have to visit in May:
Bilbao, Spain
There is no shortage of recommendations for Madrid and Barcelona, but have you ever considered visiting Spain’s notably Basque city? Bilbao is a city of contrasts. It’s where cutting-edge architecture meets a deep sense of Basque traditions.
Like many European cities, this one is a hotspot for art lovers and foodies. It’s particularly famous for its legendary Guggenheim Museum, where you can find masterpieces by David Hockney and Pablo Picasso.
When it comes to food, the Casco Viejo neighborhood, or Old Town, is the star of the show. It’s lined with pintxos bars where you can indulge in light tapas made with some of the freshest seafood.
Tirana, Albania
Albania is making a big comeback on the travel scene, and we’re all here for it. Tirana was once shrouded by communism. Today, it’s bursting at the seams with colorful buildings, quirky cafes, and a seriously vibrant nightlife scene. Somehow, it still feels relatively undiscovered by the hordes of tourists that saturate the rest of the continent in May.
While bursting with spring activity in May, you can still feel the cold and dark history. If you’re interested in the city’s past, check out the Bunk’Art, an underground bunker turned museum. The city comes to life in May, when temperatures hover around the mid-20s. And best of all, the Albanian Riviera is just a short drive away.
London, England
While the winters are long and dull, spring is where London makes its comeback. Flowers start to bloom, the sun appears, and people finally begin to make eye contact on the tube.
In spring, England’s capital is like an explosion of color, culture, and history. When you aren’t eating a Sunday roast at the pub, Hyde Park’s rose garden or the conservatories at Kew Gardens are a must in May.
May is also the month of the Royal Chelsea Flower Show. For one week, the Royal Hospital Chelsea is filled with floral designs, gardens, and displays worth every penny of the entrance fee.
Stockholm, Sweden
If you thought Stockholm was all ice and darkness, you’ve got to give this city a visit in May. While short, spring and summer in this Scandinavian capital are exquisite. The sun sticks around until nearly 10pm in May, giving you plenty of time to explore the city’s islands, historic districts, and outdoor cafes.
The Old Town, called Gamle Stan, is the heart of Stockholm. Its cobblestone streets and old wooden buildings give it a distinctively Scandinavian feel.
But there’s more than just city sights to see. Stockholm, a fjord city made up of 14 islands, is stacked with parks and beaches. Hopping between the cool Baltic water and a hot sauna is a favorite local pastime.
Marseille, France
Marseille is France’s second-largest city behind Paris, but doesn’t really get the attention it deserves. It’s a port city famous for its vibrant culture with a side of grittiness. It’s less of a picture-perfect image of the Provence and feels more authentic and lived-in than the surrounding postcard villages.
Spring is one of the best times to visit the city, mostly because it’s peak season to hike through the nearby Calanquies National Park. This provincial park on the Mediterranean is crisscrossed with hiking trails, sparkling coves, and cliffs to explore on foot.
Rhodes, Greece
Greece consistently tops the charts of travel bucket lists. But you probably haven’t heard as much about Rhodes as you have the islands of Mykonos and Santorini. May is the start of peak season on the Greek islands, which is precisely what makes Rhodes such an excellent choice for spring.
Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese Islands of Greece and the ninth-biggest island in the Mediterranean. It was the former site of the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
The medieval Old Town is dotted with hidden courtyards, grand palaces, and landmarks like the Acropolis of Lindos. And with minimal crowds and favorable prices compared with nearby islands, May is an exceptional time to explore the city.
Toulouse, France
Toulouse is sometimes called ‘La Ville en Rose’, or ‘the Pink City’, because of the uniquely pink bricks used across the city center.
Toulouse comes to life in Spring, when warm days last late into the night, making it possible to explore the city on foot or bike. As the late spring light brings the pink bricks to life, cafes spill onto sidewalks, and musicians pop up on every corner.
May is also a month of culture in Toulouse. During the month, plenty of musical concerts and performances are held, helping earn the city its name as a UNESCO City of Music.
Lyon, France
If Paris is the City of Love, consider Lyon the City of Food. By area, it’s the second largest city in the country but feels very spread out and spacious. It’s the culinary center of France, and May is the best time to experience the city’s classic cuisine.
Restaurant terraces overflow onto cobblestone streets, the most famous being bouchon. These traditional bistros serve everything from charcuterie boards to Lyonnaise salads.
But Lyon isn’t only about food. The Old Town (called Vieux Lyon) is a Renaissance fan’s dream. It’s most famous for its hidden passageways (called traboules) tucked under buildings. During the Second World War, these tunnels allowed the French army to come and go without being detected by enemies.
Rome, Italy
Rome is stunning no matter the time of year, but there is something special to be said about it in May. Poppies bloom along the sidewalks, piazzas buzz with activity, and you can visit the Colosseum without sweating through an entire outfit. The city is at its absolute best—sunny but mild and not yet overcrowded.
The first thing you’ll want to do is hit the major landmarks; the Colosseum, Vatican City, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and Roman Forum. But you’ll also want to visit some of the undercover spring gems, like the sunny streets of Trastevere. Villa Borghese Gardens and the Orange Garden are blooming with spring bulbs during May.
Liverpool, England
Liverpool is one of those cities that entirely changes with the seasons. If you’re a fan of warmer, longer days and bunches of flowers, May might be the month for you to visit. The city has some of the most incredible nature walks, particularly the Sefton and West Lancashire coastal paths.
When the weather doesn’t cooperate, there are plenty of fascinating museums to explore. The Open Eye Gallery of Photography, the Tate Liverpool, and the National Museums of Liverpool are some of the best.
Lucerne, Switzerland
In all honesty, Lucerne is one of the most beautiful places to visit in spring. The entire city looks like the inspiration for a storybook, with medieval bridges, a lake, and the iconic Swiss alps towering in the background.
May is when the colors of spring really hit. The cold winter has left rivers and waterfalls rushing, and the land lush and fertile. The ski crowds have left, but the mountains are still dusted with snow. I recommend trekking around the lake along the Stoos Ridge Trail and admiring the city and lake from the peak of Fronalpstock.
If you need a bit more of a challenge, Mount Rigi and Mount Pilatus are two incredible mountains worth hiking.
Heidelberg, Germany
Heidelberg is one of those cities that makes it feel like you’ve stepped into the pages of your favorite fairytale. It’s home to one of the most beautiful castles on the continent, and an Old Town that gives Rome a run for its money.
The Heidelberg Castle’s romantic ruins attract around a million tourists each year. Visiting in May means you can avoid the crowds, and experience the castle gardens in full bloom. Heidelberg also hosts their annual Queer Festival Heidelberg to celebrate love and diversity during May.
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