Where to go in May

The dry season opens — Rio's underrated sweet spot begins.

Vivid Sydney launches late May — the light festival draws crowds but the city rewards a longer look.

The dry season opens — reliable sun, lower prices than peak, beach conditions excellent.

The sweet spot — 21°C, green parks, long evenings, and still 25% below peak prices.

Arguably Rome's finest month — warm evenings, golden light, before the summer crush.

The finest month — warm sun, lemon harvest fragrance, clear water, and 30% below summer prices.

Chelsea Flower Show, warm parks, 18°C — London at its most seductive before summer prices arrive.

Near-perfect conditions — warm days, low rain, before the summer surge.

Arguably the best month: warm, bright, beach-adjacent, not yet exhausting.

One of Vienna's finest months — warm evenings, outdoor culture, and the city at its most Viennese.

Near-perfect: 20°C, almost no rain, and the city fully alive before summer peaks.

One of Paris's finest months — warm, green, and culturally alive.

Post-blossom calm with perfect temperatures — the underrated window.

Near-perfect: warm enough for everything, not yet overwhelmed.

The best undisputed window: warm, dry, growing but not yet overwhelming.

One of New York's finest months — warm, green, culturally alive before the summer heat.

Winter approaching — quiet city, budget prices, and the fynbos at its most colourful.

Excellent but warming — the last comfortable month before the summer heat becomes serious.

Post-tulip calm with excellent temperatures — the underrated window after April's crowds.

Dry season begins — 90mm of rain, 7 hours of sunshine, and the best diving conditions returning.

Post-blossom and warm — fresh green temples and the Aoi Matsuri festival, but Golden Week is very busy.

The green sweet spot — lupine fields starting, near-midnight sun, pre-tourist-peak prices.

Rainy season begins — mornings are still clear and warm, but afternoon showers start arriving.

Post-blossom calm with perfect temperatures — the underrated window.

Great Singapore Sale begins and rainfall eases slightly — a workable month with improving conditions.

Transition month — still very good weather, prices easing, and fewer Western tourists.

SW monsoon arrives: rain increases significantly and prices drop sharply. Surf season begins.

Still the first wet season — similar to April, but the city is already thinking about Feria.

Shoulder month: humidity rising but prices drop significantly and beaches thin out.

Rainy season begins: prices fall sharply but afternoon downpours become the norm.

Monsoon arrives — west coast beaches close and prices drop sharply.

Heat begins in earnest — significant discounts open up, but outdoor Dubai is shutting down until October.