Where is hot in May on a short-haul flight?

May in brief (short-haul)

Marrakech leads the table with 28°C by day and 13°C at night and 4 rainy days (3 h 36 min from London). Sousse leads with 27°C by day and 15°C at night, a 19°C sea and 3 rainy days (3 h 6 min from London). Seville leads with 27°C by day and 15°C at night and 5 rainy days (2 h 42 min from London). Agadir leads with 26°C by day and 16°C at night, a 18°C sea and 1 rainy days (3 h 48 min from London). Kusadasi leads with 25°C by day and 15°C at night, a 19°C sea and 5 rainy days (4 h from London).

Warm rather than hot (20-25°C): Antalya 25°C, Marmaris 25°C, Fethiye 25°C, Albufeira 24°C, Sicily 24°C, Valencia 24°C and 53 more. For scale, London averages 17°C in May.

By flight time from London

• Under 3 hours: Seville 27°C, Albufeira 24°C, Valencia 24°C, Costa de la Luz 24°C, Ibiza 23°C, Benidorm 23°C, Alicante 23°C, Majorca 23°C
• 3 to 4.5 hours: Marrakech 28°C, Sousse 27°C, Agadir 26°C, Kusadasi 25°C, Crete 25°C, Athens 25°C, Antalya 25°C, Marmaris 25°C

By region

• Europe: 74 destinations, warmest Seville (27°C)
• Africa: 4 destinations, warmest Marrakech (28°C)

For heat: Marrakech, Seville or drier Agadir

Marrakech suits travellers whose priority is hot afternoons rather than swimming in the sea. Its 28°C daytime high makes shade and a slower midday pace sensible, but nights fall to 13°C, so pack a layer. Seville offers a shorter flight at 2 h 42 min, against Marrakech's 3 h 36 min, while still reaching 26°C. The trade-off is slightly less heat and 5 rainy days rather than 4. Agadir is the stronger choice if avoiding rain matters most: it also reaches 26°C but has just 1 rainy day. You spend longer flying, at 3 h 48 min, and its 18°C sea makes it better for coastal warmth than leisurely swimming.

For a coastal stay: Sousse balances heat and flight time

Sousse makes a strong compromise for travellers wanting hot days without pushing towards the flight limit. You get 27°C afternoons, 3 rainy days and a flight of 3 h 6 min, though the 19°C sea can still feel cool. If swimming matters more than maximum air temperature, Antalya has warmer water at 21°C. Its catch is a longer 4 h 24 min flight and 6 rainy days, with daytime highs of 25°C. Crete and Kusadasi suit those who prefer fewer rainy days than Antalya, but their 19°C seas offer no swimming advantage over Sousse. Marmaris and Fethiye sit between them for sea temperature at 20°C, with Fethiye the rainier choice.

For less travel time: accept warmth rather than peak heat

Albufeira is worth considering if you want a shorter flight and do not need the hottest afternoons. At 2 h 54 min from London, it delivers 24°C days, compared with London's 17°C. The drawbacks are a chilly 17°C sea and 6 rainy days, so it suits time outdoors better than a swimming-led holiday. Sicily offers the same daytime temperature with 4 rainy days and a slightly warmer 18°C sea, though the flight takes 3 h 12 min. If gentler warmth is enough, Majorca and Ibiza reach 23°C, while Malaga and Tenerife reach 22°C. Choose these for less intense daytime warmth, not because you expect the hottest weather.