Vol. 1 · Summer 2026
Independent travel journalism
LinkedIn
Instagram
TikTok
Pinterest
YouTube
ExplWorld
Journal
Destinations
Itineraries
Tools
About
Search
Newsletter
Log in
Tools
Where to travel in May
Every country scored for the month you can actually travel.
When are you free? Click a month, or drag across several
Jan
J
Feb
F
Mar
M
Apr
A
May
M
Jun
J
Jul
J
Aug
A
Sept
S
Oct
O
Nov
N
Dec
D
Beach
Hiking
City
Photography
Budget
Low crowds
Visa-free for my passport
Your passport
United States
Temperature you want
+
ZW
ZM
YE
VN
VE
VA
VU
UZ
UY
FM
MH
MP
VI
GU
AS
PR
US
GS
SH
PN
AI
FK
KY
BM
VG
TC
MS
JE
GG
IM
GB
AE
UA
UG
TM
TR
TN
TT
TO
TG
TL
TH
TZ
TJ
SY
CH
SE
SZ
SR
SS
SD
LK
ES
KR
ZA
SO
SB
SK
SI
SG
SL
SC
RS
SN
SA
ST
SM
WS
VC
LC
KN
RW
RU
RO
QA
PT
PL
PH
PE
PY
PG
PA
PW
PK
OM
NO
KP
NG
NE
NI
NZ
NU
CK
NL
AW
CW
NP
NR
NA
MZ
MA
EH
ME
MN
MD
MC
MX
MU
MR
MT
ML
MV
MY
MW
MG
MK
LU
LT
LI
LY
LR
LS
LB
LV
LA
KG
KW
KI
KE
KZ
JO
JP
JM
IT
IL
IE
IQ
IR
ID
IN
IS
HU
HN
HT
GY
GW
GN
GT
GD
GR
GH
DE
GE
GM
GA
FR
PM
WF
MF
BL
PF
NC
TF
AX
FI
FJ
ET
EE
ER
GQ
SV
EG
EC
DO
DM
DJ
GL
FO
DK
CZ
CY
CU
HR
CI
CR
CD
CG
KM
CO
CN
MO
HK
CL
TD
CF
CV
CA
CM
KH
MM
BI
BF
BG
BN
BR
BW
BA
BO
BT
BJ
BZ
BE
BY
BB
BD
BH
BS
AZ
AT
AU
AU
NF
AU
AM
AR
AG
AO
AD
DZ
AL
AF
SX
TV
Prime
Good
Mixed
Challenging
214 curated guides · the rest scored from climate normals
Best this month
95
Bulgaria
Curated
The best month — warm, green, and the rose harvest late on.
95
Croatia
Curated
The best month — warm, green and ahead of the crowds.
95
Czech Republic
Curated
Warm, green and long-dayed — the best month.
95
Greece
Curated
The best month — warm, sea warming, and ahead of the crowds.
95
Italy
Curated
The best month — warm, long-dayed and not yet packed.
95
Montenegro
Curated
The best month — warm, green and ahead of the ships.
95
Namibia
Curated
Dry season begins — clear, cool and superb.
95
Netherlands
Curated
Warm, long-dayed and green — the best all-round month.
95
Poland
Curated
Warm, green and long-dayed — the best month.
95
Portugal
Curated
The best month — warm, dry and ahead of the crowds.
95
Romania
Curated
The best month — wildflowers in the Saxon villages, warm and green.
95
Slovenia
Curated
Green, warm and long-dayed — the best month.
95
Spain
Curated
The best month — warm, flowering and ahead of the heat.
95
Turkey
Curated
The best month — warm everywhere, sea warming, sites uncrowded.
93
Western Sahara
Curated
92
Albania
Curated
Warm, green and the coast opening — an excellent month.
92
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Curated
The best month — warm, green and rafting season starting.
92
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Curated
92
Cyprus
Curated
Warm and dry with the sea warming, ahead of the heat.
92
Gibraltar
Curated
92
Guernsey
Curated
92
Hungary
Curated
Warm, green and long-dayed — the best month.
92
Iran
Curated
Warm and clear, with the Kashan rose harvest.
92
Israel
Curated
The best month — warm, dry and ahead of the heat.
92
Jersey
Curated
92
Moldova
Curated
The best month — warm, green and the countryside at its best.
92
North Macedonia
Curated
The best month — warm, green and Ohrid still quiet.
92
San Marino
Curated
The best month — warm, clear and ahead of the coach season.
92
Serbia
Curated
The best month — warm, green and long-dayed.
92
Seychelles
Curated
92
South Africa
Curated
Safari season opens as the bush dries; cool and clear.
92
Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Curated
92
Tunisia
Curated
91
Eswatini
Curated
90
Armenia
Curated
Warm, green and clear — an excellent month throughout.
90
Azerbaijan
Curated
Warm and clear as the mountain roads open.
90
Belarus
Curated
Green, mild and long-dayed — the best month.
90
Belgium
Curated
Warm, green and long-dayed as the season opens.
90
China
Curated
Excellent everywhere, apart from the Labour Day travel surge.
90
Christmas Island
Curated
90
Cook Islands
Curated
90
Denmark
Curated
Long days and mild weather as the season opens.
90
Fiji
Curated
90
France
Curated
Warm, green and pre-season — one of the two best months.
90
French Polynesia
Curated
90
Germany
Curated
Green, mild and long-dayed as the season opens.
90
Iceland
Curated
Long days, puffins arriving, and ahead of the summer crowds.
90
Ireland
Curated
The best month — long days, wildflowers, and ahead of the crowds.
90
Réunion
Curated
90
Samoa
Curated
90
South Korea
Curated
Warm, green and dry; the best spring hiking.
90
United Kingdom
Curated
The best month — long days, bluebell woods and no midges yet.
90
Uzbekistan
Curated
Excellent, with the desert heat only beginning to build.
88
American Samoa
Curated
88
Comoros
Curated
88
Estonia
Curated
Green, mild and long-dayed as the season opens.
88
Latvia
Curated
Green, mild and long-dayed — an excellent month.
88
Lithuania
Curated
Green, mild and long-dayed — an excellent month.
88
Mayotte
Curated
88
Morocco
Curated
Warm and dry, with heat building in the south late on.
88
Mozambique
Curated
88
Niue
Curated
88
Papua New Guinea
Curated
88
Pitcairn Islands
Curated
88
Solomon Islands
Curated
88
Syria
Curated
Warm and dry ahead of the summer heat.
88
Ukraine
Curated
Warm, green and long-dayed — climatically the best month.
88
Vanuatu
Curated
88
Wallis and Futuna
Curated
86
Faroe Islands
Curated
86
Guam
Curated
86
Isle of Man
Curated
86
Northern Mariana Islands
Curated
86
Tuvalu
Curated
86
Zimbabwe
Curated
85
Afghanistan
Curated
Warm and dry with the highland passes opening.
85
Bermuda
Curated
The sea finally warms and the season opens.
85
Georgia
Curated
Green, mild and lovely at low and middle altitude.
85
Indonesia
Curated
Dry season opens on Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara.
85
Japan
Curated
Dry, green and comfortable once Golden Week clears. Superb hiking.
85
Kazakhstan
Curated
Green steppe, mild days and the mountain trails opening.
85
Malaysia
Curated
Dry and clear on the east coast and across Borneo.
85
North Korea
Curated
Mild, green and the most comfortable month.
85
Pakistan
Curated
Northern valleys green and open; the plains are heating fast.
85
Peru
Curated
Dry season opens; landscapes still green from the rains.
85
Russia
Curated
Spring proper, long days, and Victory Day on the 9th.
85
Turkmenistan
Curated
Warm and dry before the summer extremes.
85
Vatican City
Curated
Warm and pleasant, though busy — book everything ahead.
84
Nauru
Curated
84
Tokelau
Curated
84
Zambia
Curated
80
Aruba
Curated
Hot, dry and quiet.
80
Bolivia
Curated
Dry season opens: crisp light, firm salt polygons, cold nights begin.
80
Curaçao
Curated
Hot and empty.
80
New Caledonia
Curated
80
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Curated
80
Timor-Leste
Curated
Dry season opens and dive visibility improves sharply.
80
United States
Curated
The sweet spot opens: parks accessible, crowds below peak.
78
Norfolk Island
Curated
78
Palau
Curated
78
Tonga
Curated
76
Senegal
Curated
75
Anguilla
Curated
Warm and quiet as places begin closing.
75
Bhutan
Curated
Warm and green, with pre-monsoon showers building.
75
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
Curated
Hot and quiet on Bonaire, wetter on Saba.
75
British Virgin Islands
Curated
Warm, quiet and good value.
75
Honduras
Curated
Hot and settled on the coast; interior rains begin.
75
Paraguay
Curated
Dry, mild, quiet — prime travel weather.
75
Saint Barthélemy
Curated
Quiet and, by local standards, affordable.
75
Saint Martin
Curated
Warm and quieter.
75
Sint Maarten
Curated
Quieter and warm.
75
Turks and Caicos Islands
Curated
Warm and quiet.
75
United States Virgin Islands
Curated
Warm and quieter.
74
Belize
Curated
Hot, mostly dry; shoulder-season prices begin.
72
Gabon
Curated
72
Gambia
Curated
72
Trinidad and Tobago
Curated
Last dry month; hot and settled.
70
Austria
Curated
Green valleys and mild cities while the high routes stay closed.
70
Brazil
Curated
Dry season opens in the Pantanal and center-west; Rio mild and clear.
70
Brunei
Curated
Inter-monsoon storms in the afternoons.
70
Cayman Islands
Curated
First rains; prices fall.
70
Philippines
Curated
Hottest month, first rains late; still good in Palawan.
70
Puerto Rico
Curated
First rains, fewer people.
70
Republic of the Congo
Curated
70
Singapore
Curated
Hot and stormy in the afternoons.
70
Sweden
Curated
Spring arriving fast in the south as the light lengthens.
68
Åland Islands
Curated
68
Antigua and Barbuda
Curated
Shoulder month — brief showers, warm sea, notably cheaper rooms.
68
Barbados
Curated
Hotter, stiller shoulder month; genuine hotel deals begin.
68
Canada
Curated
Cities in bloom; Rockies high trails still under snow.
68
Dominican Republic
Curated
Rains build, north coast first; strong shoulder-season value.
68
Ecuador
Curated
Transition; garúa mist begins on the coast, sierra drying.
68
Grenada
Curated
Showers return; chocolate festival; genuine hotel deals begin.
68
Saint Lucia
Curated
Jazz Festival month; first showers, still very workable.
68
Slovakia
Curated
Green and mild in the valleys; alpine trails still shut.
66
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Curated
Showers begin; green-season value.
66
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Curated
Showers begin; green-season value.
65
Bahamas
Curated
Afternoon showers begin mid-month; strong shoulder-season value.
65
Dominica
Curated
Showers return; the island turns impossibly green.
65
Finland
Curated
Spring arriving fast in the south while the north thaws.
65
Guadeloupe
Curated
The rains begin on Basse-Terre first.
65
Jamaica
Curated
First rains — short afternoon bursts, green landscapes, good deals.
65
Kyrgyzstan
Curated
Green and lovely at low altitude; passes still under snow.
65
Maldives
Curated
Southwest monsoon arrives; prices fall sharply.
65
Martinique
Curated
The rains arrive.
65
Mexico
Curated
Hottest month inland; rains break the heat late.
65
Mongolia
Curated
Warming and greening as the tracks dry out.
65
Montserrat
Curated
The rains begin.
65
Nepal
Curated
Hot below, hazy views above, pre-monsoon storms building.
65
Norway
Curated
Spring in the south with waterfalls at full melt; high passes shut.
65
Sri Lanka
Curated
Southwest monsoon arrives; the east coast comes into its season.
65
Switzerland
Curated
Valleys green and lovely while the high routes stay closed.
65
Taiwan
Curated
Plum rain season — humid and wet, particularly in the north.
65
Tajikistan
Curated
The Fann Mountains open; the high plateau is still snowbound.
65
Vietnam
Curated
Southern rains begin as afternoon storms; the north turns hot and sticky.
64
Ethiopia
Curated
62
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Curated
62
Guatemala
Curated
Rains begin; green-season discounts start.
62
Iraq
Curated
Heat building fast in the south.
62
New Zealand
Curated
62
Panama
Curated
Green season opens — sunny mornings, loud afternoons.
60
Argentina
Curated
Shoulder — Patagonia closes down; the Northwest dries out and shines.
60
Costa Rica
Curated
Green season begins — sunny mornings, wet afternoons, real discounts.
60
Cuba
Curated
Wet season opens with afternoon storms; sights empty out.
60
El Salvador
Curated
Rains start; swell consistent, lineups empty midweek.
60
Laos
Curated
First rains clear the smoke and break the heat.
60
Nicaragua
Curated
First rains cool everything; green returns fast.
60
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Curated
Seabirds return; services reopening.
60
Thailand
Curated
Monsoon arrives on the Andaman side; the Gulf islands open their dry season.
60
Venezuela
Curated
Rains build; Canaima rivers rising.
58
Haiti
Curated
Wet across most of the country.
55
Cambodia
Curated
Hot and humid as the rains arrive; landscape starts to green.
55
Chile
Curated
Late autumn — rain arrives in the south and center.
55
Colombia
Curated
Wettest month of the first rainy window; best accommodation deals.
55
Greenland
Curated
Break-up season — neither ice nor open water.
50
Guinea-Bissau
Curated
50
Hong Kong
Curated
Hot and humid as the rainy and typhoon seasons open.
50
Macau
Curated
Hot and wet; typhoon season starts suspending ferries.
50
Rwanda
Curated
48
Eritrea
Curated
48
Ghana
Curated
48
Uganda
Curated
48
Uruguay
Curated
Grey season begins; coastal towns close up.
46
Côte d'Ivoire
Curated
46
Nigeria
Curated
46
Sierra Leone
Curated
46
Togo
Curated
45
Egypt
Curated
Over 40 degrees in Luxor and Aswan.
45
Guyana
Curated
Long wet season — savannah floods, overland routes close.
45
India
Curated
Peak pre-monsoon heat. Himalayan foothills and Ladakh are the answer.
45
Oman
Curated
Very hot in the north, over 40 degrees.
45
Tanzania
Curated
Wettest month; green, quiet and difficult.
45
Yemen
Curated
Hot on the coast as the Socotra winds build.
44
São Tomé and Príncipe
Curated
42
Guinea
Curated
42
Suriname
Curated
Long wet season — rivers high, trails flooded.
40
Bangladesh
Curated
Very hot, and cyclone season on the Bay of Bengal.
40
Qatar
Curated
Over 40 degrees with humidity rising.
40
United Arab Emirates
Curated
Over 40 degrees with rising humidity.
38
Saudi Arabia
Curated
Over 40 degrees across most of the country.
35
French Guiana
Curated
Heavy rain, and turtle nesting at its peak.
35
Myanmar
Curated
Pre-monsoon heat then the rains; cyclone season on the Bay of Bengal coast.
34
Equatorial Guinea
Curated
32
Central African Republic
Curated
32
Chad
Curated
32
Djibouti
Curated
30
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Curated
30
Niger
Curated
26
Somalia
Curated
25
Falkland Islands
Curated
Cold, dark and mostly closed.
24
South Sudan
Curated
0
Antarctica
Curated
No access — season closed.
0
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Curated
No access — season closed.
0
Sudan
Curated
Scores suspended — active conflict.
95
Algeria
Climate estimate
95
Angola
Climate estimate
95
Australia
Climate estimate
95
Bahrain
Climate estimate
95
Botswana
Climate estimate
95
Burundi
Climate estimate
95
Cabo Verde
Climate estimate
95
Jordan
Climate estimate
95
Lebanon
Climate estimate
95
Libya
Climate estimate
95
Madagascar
Climate estimate
95
Malawi
Climate estimate