Hotels
Where is it hot in May? Six places where summer starts early
In May it is already summer in parts of southern Europe and on the Red Sea, without the crowds of July. These are six places with sun and warmth in May, each with the hotel we would book.
This page contains affiliate links. If you book through them, Picolo earns a commission at no extra cost to you. Our picks are made independently by our editors.
Back home the trees are barely in leaf. On a terrace above Lindos the sun is high over the white village, the pool edge is warm underfoot and nobody has started laying towels on loungers at dawn. It is May, and summer has already arrived here.
May is an underrated month for sunshine. The heat has reached the eastern Mediterranean and the Red Sea, flights cost less than in the school holidays and there is room on the beaches. We picked six places with warm days in May, quoting average daytime highs for the month. The Mediterranean is still fresh, so choose a hotel with a pool if swimming matters.
In short: where is it hot in May?
The hottest place on our list in May is Hurghada on the Red Sea, at around 31°C by day. In Europe, Malta and Rhodes lead with around 24°C, while Crete, the Algarve and Alanya reach about 23°C. For cities and festivals rather than sun, see our guide to the best places to travel in May.
Hottest: Hurghada
Best for history and sun: Malta
Best for couples: Rhodes
Best for nature: Crete
Best for families: Alanya
The Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh
The pool at The Oberoi in Sahl Hasheesh.
Hurghada: the Red Sea is already summery
Hurghada averages around 31°C by day in May, with the sea at about 24°C. That makes the Red Sea the safest bet for real heat this month, with coral reefs a short boat ride from the hotels.
Spend your days snorkelling or diving the reefs offshore and take a boat to the Giftun islands. For more than beach time, day trips run to Luxor.
The catch: midday sun is fierce and a northerly wind often blows. Pick a hotel with shade and shelter. Read our Hurghada guide.
The Oberoi: a suite with its own courtyard
At The Oberoi in Sahl Hasheesh you stay in a low white-stone suite, often with a private courtyard and pool, and a jetty leads out to the reef. In May it is quiet. Book it for a calm week for two rather than a family holiday with water slides.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Oberoi
The Xara Palace
The terrace at The Xara Palace in Mdina.
Malta: warm stone towns and clear water
Malta averages around 24°C in May, and the weather is dry and sunny. Valletta, Mdina and the Three Cities around the Grand Harbour are pleasant to explore now, before summer turns the limestone into an oven.
Take the ferry to Gozo and Comino, where the Blue Lagoon is glass-clear, and swim off the rocks at St Peter's Pool on the south-east coast.
The catch: the sea is still cool in early May, and the Blue Lagoon fills with boats by midday. Go early. Read about Malta's best beaches.
The Xara Palace: inside the walls of Mdina
The Xara Palace is a small palazzo hotel set into the walls of Mdina, with a terrace that looks across most of the island. Once the day visitors leave in the afternoon, the town falls silent. A good pick for couples mixing sun with history, though you will need a car for the beach.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Xara Palace
Lindos Blu
The pool and sea view at Lindos Blu.
Rhodes: Lindos before the summer rush
Rhodes averages around 24°C in May, with the sea near 20°C. It is one of the sunniest islands in Greece, and in May there is still room on the beaches near Lindos and Tsambika.
Climb to the acropolis in Lindos early, swim in St Paul's Bay below the village and spend a day in the walled old town of Rhodes, with its medieval Palace of the Grand Master.
The catch: the west coast is windier than the east. Stay on the east side for calmer water. Read our Rhodes guide.
Lindos Blu: a pool above the bay
Lindos Blu sits on the hillside north of Lindos and is for adults only, with a pool that looks straight over Vlicha Bay. In May the pool is warm even when the sea is not. The village and the acropolis are a short taxi ride away.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Lindos Blu
Daios Cove
The pool and palms at Daios Cove in Crete.
Crete: green mountains and first swims
Crete averages around 23°C by day in May, with the sea near 19°C. The island is still green after winter, and wild flowers cover the hillsides.
In the east, take a boat from Agios Nikolaos or Elounda to the fortress island of Spinalonga. Further west, the gorge walks such as Samaria open for the season in May.
The catch: the sea is fresh in May, so pick a hotel with a heated pool if you plan to swim a lot. Read about Crete's best beaches.
Daios Cove: a bay of its own
Daios Cove is built around a sheltered bay outside Agios Nikolaos, with villas stepping up the hillside and many private pools. In May it is easy to get a villa with a sea view. It suits people who want to stay put, as you need a car to see more of the island.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Daios Cove
Bela Vista
Bela Vista and Praia da Rocha from above.
The Algarve: cliff beaches and long evenings
The Algarve averages around 23°C in May. The Atlantic is cool, but the sun is strong and the beaches below the golden cliffs are almost empty before summer.
Walk the Seven Hanging Valleys clifftop trail, take a boat into the caves at Benagil and eat grilled fish in Portimão or Lagos in the evening.
The catch: the water stays cold in May and the west coast can be windy. Think sun and scenery more than a swimming holiday. Read our Algarve guide.
Bela Vista: a villa above Praia da Rocha
Bela Vista occupies a tiled villa on the cliff above Praia da Rocha, and its terrace looks straight down onto the beach and rock stacks. It is a small hotel with more history than the big resorts. Good for couples, less so for families who want a large pool complex.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Bela Vista
Kirman Leodikya
The beach at Kirman Leodikya in Alanya.
Alanya: the riviera opens for the season
Alanya averages around 23°C by day in May, with the sea near 21°C. The coastal resorts have opened for the season, but the school holidays have not started.
Ride the cable car up to the castle above town, step into the Damlataş stalactite cave by Cleopatra Beach and drive up into the Taurus Mountains for a day.
The catch: the sea is cooler than the pool in May, and some beach bars are not yet open early in the month. Read our Alanya guide.
Kirman Leodikya: a lot for your money
Kirman Leodikya stands on the beach at Okurcalar, west of Alanya, with large pools, water slides, a kids' club and all-inclusive dining. May suits families with young children who are not tied to school holidays. Alanya town is half an hour away by taxi.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Kirman Leodikya
Good to know before you book
The sea is fresh: the Mediterranean sits around 19 to 21°C in May. The Red Sea is the exception at about 24°C.
The pool matters: choose a hotel with a heated pool if swimming is a priority.
Bank holidays fill flights: Ascension and Whitsun weekends are busy. Book early.
The sun is strong: even at 23°C you burn quickly. Use sun cream and seek shade at midday.
May sun: frequently asked questions
Where is it hot in Europe in May?
Malta and Rhodes are among the warmest places in Europe in May, at around 24°C by day. Crete, the Algarve and Alanya reach about 23°C.
Where is hottest in May within a short flight?
Hurghada on the Red Sea averages around 31°C in May with the sea near 24°C, the warmest place on this list.
Can you swim in the Mediterranean in May?
Yes, but the water is fresh at around 19 to 21°C. It improves towards the end of the month, and heated pools fill the gap.
Is May cheaper than summer?
Often, because the school holidays have not started. The exceptions are the Ascension and Whitsun weekends.
Where is best for a family holiday in May?
Alanya works well, with big resorts, water slides, kids' clubs and shallow beaches. The Red Sea is also good for snorkelling.