Where is hot in May?

May in brief

Dubai leads the table with 39°C by day and 24°C at night, a 29°C sea and 0 rainy days (7 h 36 min from London). Abu Dhabi leads with 37°C by day and 26°C at night, a 29°C sea and 0 rainy days (7 h 36 min from London). Sharm El Sheikh leads with 35°C by day and 23°C at night, a 25°C sea and 0 rainy days (5 h 36 min from London). Bangkok leads with 33°C by day and 27°C at night, a 31°C sea and 20 rainy days (12 h 42 min from London). Chiang Mai leads with 33°C by day and 25°C at night and 14 rainy days (12 h from London).

Warm rather than hot (20-25°C): Ayia Napa 25°C, Antalya 25°C, Marmaris 25°C, Fethiye 25°C, Albufeira 24°C, Sicily 24°C and 60 more. Hot but wet - over 25°C with more than eight rainy days: Bangkok (20 days), Chiang Mai (14 days), Ho Chi Minh City (25 days), Goa (8 days), Guanacaste (18 days). Over 30°C by day: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharm El Sheikh, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Ho Chi Minh City and 11 more. For scale, London averages 17°C in May.

Short, mid and long-haul in May

• Short-haul (up to 4.5 h): Marrakech 28°C, Sousse 27°C, Seville 27°C, Agadir 26°C, Kusadasi 25°C, Crete 25°C and 72 more - see the short-haul list
• Mid-haul (4.5-7 h): Sharm El Sheikh 35°C, Hurghada 31°C, Kololi 28°C, Limassol 26°C, Boa Vista 26°C, Ayia Napa 25°C and 3 more
• Long-haul (7 h+): Dubai 39°C, Abu Dhabi 37°C, Bangkok 33°C, Chiang Mai 33°C, Ho Chi Minh City 33°C, Goa 33°C and 41 more

By region

• Europe: 78 destinations, warmest Seville (27°C)
• Asia: 14 destinations, warmest Bangkok (33°C)
• Caribbean & Mexico: 14 destinations, warmest Puerto Vallarta (32°C)
• Africa: 12 destinations, warmest Sharm El Sheikh (35°C)
• Indian Ocean: 6 destinations, warmest Goa (33°C)
• The Americas: 6 destinations, warmest Guanacaste (31°C)
• Middle East: 2 destinations, warmest Dubai (39°C)
• Oceania & Pacific: 2 destinations, warmest Hawaii (26°C)

Egypt for the balance; the Gulf for stronger heat

Sharm El Sheikh combines a 25°C sea with hot days and a flight of 5 h 36 min, making it a strong fit for travellers who prioritise swimming and dry weather. Hurghada has the same flight time, but its 31°C days and 24°C sea offer a less fierce version of the trip. Both average no rainy days in May. Dubai and Abu Dhabi also have no rainy days, with warmer seas at 29°C, but daytime highs of 39°C and 37°C favour shade or indoor breaks at midday. Their flights take 7 h 36 min. Choose the Gulf if very warm water matters more than comfortable daytime walking; choose Egypt for the better balance of heat and travel time.

Longer flights do not guarantee better weather

Puerto Vallarta stands out if you can accept a flight of 12 h 18 min: its 32°C days, 26°C sea and 3 rainy days make a comparatively dry long-haul combination. Bangkok matches the heat at 33°C but has 20 rainy days, so it suits travellers happy to keep outdoor plans flexible rather than those relying on uninterrupted dry weather. Ho Chi Minh City has the same daytime high and 25 rainy days, making rain an even bigger trade-off. Goa sits between these choices, with 32°C days, a 30°C sea and 8 rainy days, reached in 10 h 12 min. Choose it for very warm swimming water if some rain is acceptable, not because heat alone promises dry days.

Choose gentler warmth if you want to stay outdoors

You do not need the hottest destination for a useful change from London's 17°C May days. Ayia Napa, Antalya, Marmaris and Fethiye reach 25°C, making them sensible options if you prefer warmth without the Gulf's intensity. Albufeira, Sicily and Valencia reach 24°C; Gran Canaria and Majorca are gentler again at 23°C. These suit travellers who would rather keep moving during the day than organise everything around avoiding peak heat. Do not treat pleasant air temperatures as a guarantee of warm swimming water, though. For hotter days with cooler evenings, Las Vegas offers 30°C by day and 17°C at night, with 1 rainy day, but requires a flight of 11 h 18 min.