Best Destinations to Visit By Month: April, May and June
Spring and early summer are some of the best times to travel, with longer days, warmer weather, and destinations at their most vibrant.
From April to June, we feel the sweet spot includes second cities and less-crowded alternatives that ooze culture and atmosphere.
Think North Macedonia over Greece, Seville instead of Madrid, or a few days in Tbilisi, Georgia vs Paris. Every destination on this list is somewhere we’ve personally travelled to and have returned (or would love to soon!).
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At A Glance Calendar
If you’re short on time, just scan the table below for exciting ideas.
|
When |
Where |
Best For |
Why |
|---|---|---|---|
|
April |
Panama |
Culture, History, Beach Lovers. |
Shoulder season; less crowds. |
|
April |
Lisbon |
Coastal City Lovers, History Lovers, Foodies |
Less busy that peak summer. |
|
April |
South Africa |
Safari Adventurers, Culture, Sun |
Dry, before rainy season starts. |
|
April |
Jordan |
Sunseekers, Dead Sea Bobbers, History. |
Great weather! |
|
May |
Seville |
Sunseekers, Foodies, History Lovers, Music & dancing! |
Avoids torturous heat of summer. |
|
May |
Montenegro & Albania |
Sunseekers, History Lovers, Food & Wine. |
Sunny days, & less crowds. |
|
May |
Istanbul |
City Lovers, Food, History, Hammam Spas! |
Pleasant walking around the city. |
|
May/ June |
Islay, Scotland |
Whisky, Culture, Nature, Scenery |
Long days, calmer ferry crossings. |
|
May |
Prague |
Culture, river walks, castles & beer! |
Week days should be less busy. |
|
June |
North Macedonia |
Old city streets, great food, wines. |
Like Greece without crowds. |
|
June |
Gdansk, Poland |
Coastal City explorers, History lovers. |
Days warmer and lots of daylight. |
|
June |
Tbilisi, Georgia |
Adventurers, Ancient City, Foodies & Wine Lovers. |
May can be rainy & Jul/August too hot! |
|
June |
Cotswolds, UK |
Rural, country Historic villages, pub lovers. |
Trees & scenery in full bloom. |
Best Destinations April, May and June
Panama, Central America
Why Visit?
April is really in shoulder season, but we have visited in this month and it was fine. It will be cheaper too than the peak of Jan-March. The weather in April hovers at 29-32°C (88-90°F) and it will be humid but still good for exploring and the beach!
What to Do:
- Visit Miraflores Lock station & partially sail the canal – a must!!
- Take a train across Panama, parallel to the great canal.
- Shop for a Panama Hat (although it originates from Ecuador)!
- Paddle (or be paddled) in a dug out canoe up river and explore traditional Embera villages.
- Indulge in abundant local seafood; eat somewhere different every night without crossing town.
Here’s three popular tours to book when you’re heading to Panama, including the San Blas islands we wished we’d visited.
Good to Know:
You can be caught in a downpour at any time, even if this is the dry season. Don’t worry, it doesn’t last.
Next time, we will also visit the San Blas islands, a hidden gem in Panama.
Our Panama Highlights:
✅ Until we were sailing the Panama Canal, you don’t appreciate the scale, and especially what’s involved at each lock.
✅ Lunch at a traditional Panama village, touristy but the people were warm and chatty.
✅ Taking the train across the country (in an hour) – so cool!
ℹ️ Read Top Places to Visit in Panama to design your perfect trip.
Lisbon, Portugal
Why Visit?
Although Lisbon is a year round destination, it’s definitely somewhere to enjoy during spring and early summer. In April, temps hover at 55°C (70°F), and ramp up in May.
What to Do:
- Join a walking tour around Alfama; Lisbon – past & now.
- Eat local sardines or seafood at the waterfront.
- Discover UNESCO Sintra, nestled in the hills of Serre de Sintra.
- Watch a traditional FADO music show in the old city.
- Stroll or take a boat cruise on the Tagus River
Here are popular tours in and around Lisbon, perfect to fit into a 2-3 day visit.
Good to Know:
For a captial city, Lisbon is quite compact, so easy to get around walking or by taking trams. The system is efficient and locals use them.
The tourist trams (where there was an accident in 2025) tend to be packed and overpriced) and the local trams follow the same route!
Our Lisbon Highlights:
✅ Gorging on Pasteis de Nata while in Belem (so good!)
✅ Standing at a windy Cabo da Roca (most western point of mainland Europe)
✅ Sintra – beyond the castle, finding a spot for port tasting!
ℹ️ Use our 7 Day Lisbon and Porto Guide for full day to day itinerary ideas.
Kwazulu Natal – South Africa
Why Visit:
The weather in this part of South Africa averages 24°C (75°F) so ideal for safari days, beach and mountains, which will be a few degrees cooler.
What To Do:
- Explore Durban, its cosmopolitan heart
- Relax north of the city in Umhlanga Rocks beach area.
- Spend a couple of nights on safari: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Reserve.
- Drive to Drakensberg Mountains (tallest in South Africa) for hiking, bird watching, horse-riding, lodge life.
- Explore the Midlands on your return; stop in Pietermaritzburg, to visit Nelson Madela’s capture site museum.
Good To Know:
- We always rent a car in South Africa; but do get a 4×4 type if you’re heading to Drakensberg, as roads can be rough.
- South Africa is great value but there is a lot of poverty. Stay low key with your dress and don’t wear flashy jewelery.
- Pre-book safari and accommodation: they sell out fast!
Our Kwazulu-Natal Highlights:
✅ Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve – the oldest, but with far less mass tourism and we saw elephants to rhinos.
✅ Drakensburg Mountains – incredible place to get away & relax, or be adventurous: climbing, hiking, horse-riding!
✅ Weekend brunch at Tasha’s in Durban with our sister.
ℹ️ Use our South Africa article for more details of how to create a bucket list trip.
Jordan, Middle East
Why Visit:
Temps averages 68°C (73°F) in April, so wherever you go in the country, it’s going to be comfortable.
What To Do:
- Visit Jerash, viewed as the best preserved provincial Roman city and only 30m (48km) from the capital Amman.
- Shop in the old city souks in Amman; they literally sell everything.
- See the holy spot Mount Nebo, an easy day trip
- Be enthralled by Petra, it’s huge: take a donkey ride to see more.
- Bob like a duck in the Dead Sea, and slather yourself in mud!
Good To Know:
- You can base yourself in Amman and take day trips but consider a couple of nights in Petra and a Dead Sea resort.
- It’s fine to buy local beer and wine at hotels and restaurants, but don’t drink it out in the open. Our driver gifted us a bottle of red wine from his local region; delicious!
Our Jordan Highlights:
✅ Petra at night – the lights completely change the rocks.
✅ Wadi Rum desert driving with tea in a Bedouin family home.
✅ Floating in the Dead Sea: as a poor swimmer this is a dream!
ℹ️ Read our 7 day Jordan Itinerary for day to day detailed ideas.
Seville, Spain
Why Visit:
Expect warm days with highs around 26°C to 29°C (79°F to 84°F) in May.
What To Do:
- Spend a day exploring UNESCO Real Alcazar Palace and relaxing in it’s gardens .
- Slow down and enjoy stopping at a cafe, watching life go by.
- Gorge on tapas; Seville is said to be where tapas were created.
- Take a city horse-drawn ride or river boat trip as sun starts to set.
- Visit the Palace with its stunning tiled alcoves, and marvel at how much architectural beauty this city has to offer.
Good To Know:
- Afternoon siestas are common, so do as the locals do, and enjoy a short nap. Many shops and businesses close for several hours.
- With several world class UNESCO sites to visit, it can get busy, so try and see these top sights early in the day ie. when they open!
Our Seville Highlights:
✅ Being entranced by dancers and singers at a Flamenco Show, then eating tapas in outdoor pavement cafes
✅ Spending a day in UNESCO Real Alcazar Palace and Gardens with it’s Moorish Influences
✅ Discovering 52 alcoves of colourful tiles at Plaza de Espana.
✅ Hiring a gondola & gliding under the bridges: a mini Venice!
ℹ️ Design your Weekend in Seville Itinerary with the help of our comprehensive article.
Montenegro
Why Visit:
Between April and June, you’ll have great weather and avoid peak season hotel and tour charges. Temp averages 24°C (75°F) year round.
What To Do:
- Bay of Kotor, a beautiful fjord like region, hike to the old fortress, and take a tour on the blue waters.
- Make time to explore coastal towns like Kotor, Bar, Budva, Uljinc.
- Tear away from the coast to explore cave like Orgorg Monastery.
- Drive through Durmitor National Park to Albania.
- Explore Lake Shrader and mountains of Northern Albania.
Good To Know:
- Be aware of international cruise ships docking, because when they do, there is a huge influx of day trippers
- It can take a while to cross the border between Montenegro and Albania, especially on Fridays and Sundays.
Our Montenegro Highlights:
✅ Labyrinth of Old Kotor passageways, cobbles full of quaint restaurants and cafes.
✅ Boat trip from Kotor to Perast – eat at the waterfront restaurant for the freshest fish & salads.
✅ Driving through mountains to Shkodra is stunning with valleys, lush hillsides and waterfalls. The colours were incredible.
ℹ️ Our Montenegro and Northern Albania article shares the top places we visited, with tips on getting around & between countries.
Istanbul, Turkey
Why Visit:
April and May are fabulous months to visit as it’s comfortable to walk around, and the summer peak of tourists is yet to come. The weather averages 21°C (70°F) in May; we found it perfect!
What To Do:
- Linger around Sultanahmet area; visit the stunning mosques.
- Spend a morning touring Topkapi Palace and its gardens.
- Bargain your way around the bazaars; enjoy free tastings!
- Eat dinner ( at least one night )at a roof top restaurant and watch the city transform from day to night, as mosques lit up.
- Sail on the Bosphorus Strait to enjoy east and west continents.
Good To Know:
- Istanbul is huge and you simply can’t see it all in a few days. We’ve been at least 10 times, and still find new corners of the city. Pace yourself and enjoy what you have time for!
- Pack a scarf (or buy one) as you must wear one to enter mosques.
Our Istanbul Highlights:
✅ Grand Bazaar – our Channel bags were only the start in the maze of 1000+ shops each with a unique street name and #.
✅ Hammam – don’t be shy, do as the locals do, the birch scrub really wakes up your skin.
✅ Turkish food – away from the tourist streets, fresh bread with eggplant caviar is hard to beat for comfort and taste.
ℹ️ Our 3 days in Istanbul Itinerary gives you a perfect basis for a first visit to this exciting Turkish city.
Isle of Islay, Scotland
Why Visit:
With highs averaging 16°C (61°F) late May, you’re not coming here for the heat! But you’re going to love the 16+ hours of daylight!
What To Do:
- As Scotland’s whisky island, tour several, taste and find your favourite water of life ‘tipple’.
- Visit in May for the Islay Festival of Music and Malt (book well in advance as accommodation and ferry space is limited).
- Take the ferry from Islay to Jura, a completely different island, rugged and wild.
- Take a boat tour to the infamous Corryvreckan whirlpool.
- Bring your swimsuit and try some Scottish wild swimming.
Good To Know:
- There isn’t any major public transport on the island. Either bring your own, or just hire local taxis to get around.
- Zero tolerance in Scotland for drinking and driving! You will be asked at distilleries who is the designated driver and offered soft drinks.
Our Islay Highlights:
✅ The ferry ride from Oban to Islay, seeing dolphins and whales.
✅ Meeting islanders – we met Jim McEwan master distiller, trimming his garden grass.
✅ Whisky Tasting – book a taxi, and do a couple a day. My find was Lagavulin Distillers Edition – worth every penny!
ℹ️ Here’s how to Combine Islay with Colonsay and Jura for a perfect South Hebrides Scottish adventure.
North Macedonia
Why Visit:
May weather is great for travelling around warming up to 26°C (78°F) during the month.
What To Do:
- Don’t miss this sight of Skopje; random looking statues linked to Project 2014. A walking tour helps you get the inside scoop!
- Go eat dinner in the residential Debar Maalo district of the city for leafy avenues with outdoor seating & great food.
- Take a trip to Matka Canyon and visit the Vrelo Cave System.
- Head south to Bitola and enjoy some fresh mountain air hikes.
- Spend a few days in Lake Ohrid with its UNESCO old town.
Good To Know:
- This is an emerging destination and so you won’t find as much infrastructure as perhaps elsewhere in Europe – but that’s why we love it.
- You can fly to Sofia and then get a transfer down to Skopje as flights directly are less frequent.
Our North Macedonia Highlights:
✅ Skopje’s giant statues and Ottoman era bazaar with streets named after what they sell (or sold), eg. gold, tea.
✅ Taking a boat trip on Lake Ohrid to the Bay of Bones.
✅ Stobi ruins were a hidden gem, the mosiac floors a highlight.
ℹ️ Get our North Macedonia detailed itinerary with where to go, and what to see in this beautiful European country.
Prague, Czech
Why Visit:
Mid to late May is a good bet for weather at around 23°C (74°F). It may rain more a bit more in June but it’s not constant. Expect cooler and less crowds in April in what’s more the shoulder season!
What To Do:
- An historic walking tour that includes Prague Castle.
- Climb Petrin Hill (or take the funicular) for some great views.
- Sign John Lennon Peace wall.
- Buy yourself some local crystal – made sure it’s authentic!
- Treat yourself to a Trdelnik (ice-cream stuffed into a doughnut) – super sweet and delicious 🙂
Good To Know:
- Avoid Easter as crowds will be unbearable, and often weekends see a surge in stag and bachelorette parties.
- Several of the streets off the main square are a tourist trap so avoid eating here.
- It’s easy to take a day trip (or overnight as we did) to Karlovy Vary to soak in the therapeutic hot springs.
Our Prague Highlights:
✅ Walking to Prague Castle early in the day without the crowds is enchanting.
✅ Come early, grab a front row, glass of wine and watch the clock show – it’s fun, crowded, but you have to to do it!
✅ Getting off the tourist track and exploring Mostecka Lane.
ℹ️ Use our Top Things To Do in Prague to build your dream itinerary, and find where to stay and eat.
Tbilisi, Georgia
Why Visit:
May is a perfect month to enjoy Tbilisi. If you want to head the mountains or see more of Georgia, wait until June as it can be snowy and rainy at altitude in May (we know, we were there!). Tbilisi averages 23° C (77° F) in May.
What To Do:
- Get lost in the maze of the old city, as you explore.
- Relax in an ancient hot spring bath in the city centre.
- Visit the old capital, close to town but really a village.
- Go wine tasting in Kakheti; an easy day trip from Tbilisi.
- Don’t miss out on trying Georgian food; it’s fresh, flavourful and likely made a few hours before you eat it.
Good To Know:
- Don’t try and drive in Tbilisi. This city is ancient with a maze of streets making up its heart. It’s far better to walk.
- Georgia is a very religious country so expect to see many monasteries and churches if you take any cultural tour.
Our Tbilisi Highlights:
✅ Food – don’t leave without trying my favourite Khachapuri (gooey cheese bread), and Khinkali dumplings (meat or cheese).
✅ After many visits, I still love Old Town’s higgidly-piddigly mix of architecture from ancient Georgia to Soviet era.
✅ Taking a day trip to the old capital of Mtskheta, wondering through the local market stalls finding wine ice-cream!
ℹ️ Use this Tbilisi Guide to choose your top experiences for your trip or for a full itinerary around Georgia in 7-10 days.
The Cotswolds, England
Why Visit:
Typically in June, you will enjoy daily high temperatures of 19°C (66°F) but there will be days when it will feel warmer.
What To Do:
- Walk through the cobbles of timeless villages like Stowe, and do some window shopping and stop for a coffee.
- Eat at pubs in the villages; they’re often antique buildings with real character, and cheaper than restaurants.
- If you love Clarkson’s Farm TV show, head to the shop. It’s tiny but check it out and make time for a cider – delicious.
- Indulge in a full English Afternoon tea, complete with scones & jam/cream, sandwiches and a little cake. Can’t beat it!
Good To Know:
- The roads around this part of England are narrow and so if you are driving, be prepared for some congestion and high parking fees.
- If you can avoid coming at the weekend, it seems half of London descends here, but early in spring during the week should be quiet with walks to yourself.
Our Cotswolds Highlights:
✅ Pubs like The Porch House in Stow, the oldest inn in Britain.
✅ Afternoon tea, a British ritual! Try Tisanes Tea Room in Broadway
✅ Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow on the Wold early in the day, having cobbled streets to ourselves.
ℹ️ Read our Best Villages to Visit in The Cotswolds for a full breakdown of each one, and where to stay and eat.
FAQ
Finding a perfect destination for a spring trip is easy. State side try Florida, Hawaii, San Antonio. In Europe, try Seville, Florence or Tblisi, Georgia. South Africa is great to visit in April and May too.
Travel Resources
Here’s 3 planning resources to help you plan whichever amazing trip is calling your name. We find them reliable and competitive:
Flights & Accommodation: Expedia and Booking.Com
Weather Checks: Average Weather for Every Country
Tours and Experiences: Get Your Guide and Viator.
More Travel Destinations By Month
What about the other 9 months of the year? For more ideas check out posts for:
Happy Planning!
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