Where to go in May

As far a cheap city breaks go, you can never go wrong if you head east. Eastern and Central Europe offer up some pretty incredible cities that are easily explored in a long weekend. For medieval charm and a brilliant nightlife scene, Krakow ticks all the boxes for city break on a budget. The city’s atmosphere is nothing short of mythical; legend has it the city was founded after the defeat of a dragon!

First stop for any trip to Krakow is the Old Town where you’re bound to run into Rynek Główny, the biggest market square in Europe. Wawel Castle is a must by day. By night, there’s no livelier place in this cultural town than its western quarter for restaurants, bars and clubs filled to the brim with students and expats. Late-spring is the ideal time to visit this part of Poland, before the masses of tourists arrive in summer and when the students are still in town.

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Spring and autumn are by far the best times of the year to visit, when you can avoid the snow of winter and the smog of summer. You'll still need a warm jacket at this time of the year, for the cool evenings.

While Cyprus offers something for travellers in every season, springtime is ideal if you’re travelling on a budget and still want that beach-y island experience. Seaside resort room prices are still reasonable and will hardly be crowded like they are in the summer. In May you’ll also see the island blanketed in wildflowers that quickly whither once the daily temperatures heat up in June.

Cyprus has more to offer than just beaches and the usual seaside amenities. This island’s history and culture set it apart from neighbouring Turkey and Greece. Explore the archaeological ruins in Pafos, the countless Byzantine castles and churches, order as many meze dishes as you can manage to eat, windsurf along the coast, cycle your way along a wine route and don’t be shy to cross the border to delight in both the Greek and Turkish influences on offer here. It’s as easy as crossing the street in Nicosia!

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Days are long, sunny and cloudless across Cyprus in May, the ideal weather for hiking inland and in the mountains, touring ancient sites and spending time at the beach.

Berlin is without a doubt Europe’s rising star. This is one of the continent’s fastest growing capitals in terms of tourism and rightly so. It’s about time people started to pay this city some attention! Vibrant indie culture, an astounding history you can still feel and culinary delights (more than just wurst on the menus here!) make this a city you just can’t afford to miss.

Which brings us to our next point: as far as capital cities go, Berlin is one that comes under budget. Cheap eats, plenty of free museums and attractions, budget beer in an open-air garden and a city that you could just wander around (or cycle) for days make this a great city for a long weekend or even a week or two. Things start to pick up in the summertime, so sneak in a trip to Berlin in the spring if you want to bag a bargain on a hotel room and your flights. Is it your first time here? Don’t miss the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, a walk through the Holocaust Memorial and a visit to Schloss Charlottenburg.

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Late-spring in Berlin is ideal, when the city's trees are fragrant and green. Enjoy warm days that are ideal for city sightseeing, and especially cycling!

If you haven’t been to Budapest yet, shame on you! The Hungarian capital is quickly becoming one of the most talked about cities in Central Europe. It’s long been a favourite among budget backpackers and travellers but it’s about time this beauty got her moment in the limelight. Straddling the Danube, Budapest stretches out across the Buda hills to the west and the flat plain of Pest to the east, each distinctly different yet both unmistakably part of Budapest’s landscape.

While you wander the streets, its’ important to look up. This city is a mix-match of baroque, neoclassical, Art Nouveau and Eclectic architecture with some real gems from its “golden age” in the late 19th century. Every visitor should visit at least one thermal bath; it’s a must. Since the times of the Romans, Budapest has been famous for its healing mineral waters and today, there’s nothing like a good soak and a massage at one of the thermal spas: Szechenyi, Rudas, Gellert, among others.

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As in much of Continental Europe, May brings with it sunny, warm days that typically go up to 20°C in the afternoon and then dip down again in the evenings.

Vietnam has come a long way in the last decade as a tourist destination. These days you can find more than just roaming backpackers populating the country’s pristine beaches, tucking in to some local cuisine and booking island cruises around Halong Bay. Try experiencing Vietnam like a local.

When planning your itinerary, there are a few spots that should definitely make it on there: Halong Bay for one and cities like Ho Chi Minh City (as French as France) and Hoi An, for grand architecture and Chinese teahouses. There is plenty of choice when it comes to beaches and the national parks here are top-notch. Visit Phong Nha-Ke Bang for the oldest karst mountains in Asia, Ba Be for caves and evergreen forests and Cat Tien for tropical rain forests.

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May is the middle of low season in Vietnam but we can’t think of any better time to visit! There are no typhoons to worry about (they arrive in the autumn) and you can enjoy at half the price… so go ahead and splurge!

Hello, Mexico! Hello sand and sea and sun! Cabo San Lucas sits pretty at the very southern tip of Baja California, looking out to the Pacific Ocean. Sure, Cancun is probably Mexico’s hottest holiday spot, but Cabo San Lucas offers so much more, with fewer crowds.

While you can spend your entire trip lazing around the beaches and pools, this is the ideal place to get up close and personal with the Pacific and try jet skiing, parasailing, snorkelling, diving and kite-surfing. For adventures on land, there’s also horseback riding and hiking along the rocky coastline. The city’s natural playground in and around Land’s End will keep you occupied by day and by night; the city’s eccentric clubs will keep you partying by dawn. Congo line, anyone?

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Peak season across Mexico is in the winter, so save yourself a bit of cash by waiting until May to plan your trip here. You’ll enjoy sun every day with temperatures around 30°C.