(1) PARIS, FRANCE

Temperatures in May: max. 20 C, min. 15C

May is probably one of the best months to visit the city of love, when everything is in bloom, including love. The parks are full of colors, and most days are sunny and warm. Every May there are events such as Taste of Paris, Night of Museums, etc. Among the main attractions of Paris are the Eiffel Tower, boat trip on the Seine, the Louvre Museum, the Palace of Versailles, and many others.

How to get there? Direct flights Sofia-Paris are offered by EasyJet, which lands at Orly Airport, Ryanair and Wizzair, which land at the more distant Paris Beauvais Airport, as well as Bulgaria Air, which lands at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.

(2) FLORENCE, ITALY

Temperatures in May: max. 23 C, min. 12C

Florence is one of those places in Italy that will make you fall in love with this country and want to visit it again and again. The birthplace of the Italian language is full of UNESCO World Heritage sites, museums, monuments, ancient cities, and the Tuscany region itself is also famous for its vineyards growing in Chianti, rolling Tuscan hills, insanely beautiful Cinque Terre coastline, as well as the coastal region of Maremma. In May, it’s warm enough in Florence to walk on a short sleeve and try the sweet Italian ice cream, while the city isn’t crowded and stuffed by organized tour groups. 

How to get there? There are still no direct flights from Sofia to Florence Amerigo Vespucci International Airport, which is very close to the city center and can be reached by bus in less than 30 minutes, and by taxi in 15 minutes. From Sofia, the most convenient way to get to Florence is with a Ryanair flight to Pisa, from where you can get to Florence Central Station by train or bus.

(3) SICILY, ITALY

Temperatures in May: max. 22 C, min. 12 C

May is undoubtedly one of the best months to explore Sicily, the weather is wonderful, the crowds are not at their peak and there are lots of fun and delicious festivals that will take you to the unforgettable Bella Italia. While you are there, be sure to visit the beautiful Syracuse and Teormina, and join the water festival (from 1 to 4 May) in Mondello,  the procession in Marsala on May 11,  the Flower Festival with the huge colorful carpet in Noto (from May 16 to 20),  the Kite Festival in San Vito Lo Capo (from May 21 to 25) and many others. The wine tour to Mount Etna is also worth visiting, as well as the many beaches that enjoy 350 sunny days a year.

How to get there? Ryanair has daily flights to Catania, and Wizzair flights in May are every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

(4) ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Temperatures in May: max. 22C, min. 13C

Before the great summer heat in Turkey, May is an ideal time for an easy and affordable city break in Istanbul. The city is a wonderful mixture of European and Asian culture, rich history and modern buildings.  The calls to prayer from the gleaming mosques are intertwined with the sound of loud music from the restaurants on the boats sailing on the Bosphorus. Like Rome, Istanbul is erected on 7 hills. The city is spread over two continents: Asia and Europe. Among the must-see attractions are the Hagia Sophia Mosque, erected in 360, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, which was the first mosque in the Ottoman Empire to have 6 minarets, the Grand Bazaar – one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, and many others.

How to get there? It takes about 6 hours by carSofia-Istanbul. Another convenient way is with the night train Sofia-Halkali, as this May part of the railway network is under repair, but departing at 18:45 from Sofia and in the morning at 10:00 the visitors are there. The most convenient are the direct flights of Turkish airlines to Istanbul International Airport (ISA), as well as the more budget flights of Pegasus to Sabiha Airport (SAW), in the Asian part of the city.

(5) NORWEGIAN FJORDS, NORWAY

Temperatures in May: max. 16C, min. 6C

Norway is known for some of the longest, narrowest, deepest and undoubtedly most beautiful fjords in the world. The pristine landscape of the Norwegian fjords is even listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The best time to check them out is in May, when wildflowers are thriving and hiking trails are blissfully quiet – no tourists, and no annoying summer flies. Probably Oslo is the easiest starting point, and from there visitors can take a panoramic train to Bergen, which is one of Norway’s most charming cities. On the way back, it’s worth joining an organized tours by train to Voss, from there by panoramic bus to Gudvangen, from where you can take a boat through Nærøyfjord and Aurlandsfjord, branches of Sognefjord and reach Flam. From there, one of the most scenic trains FlamLine to Myrdal departs, after which the train continues to Oslo. Cruising through the fjords is fascinating, the majesty of nature is palpable – the sheer cliffs descending over the crystal clear water are impressive.

How to get there? Norwegian airlines offer direct flights Sofia – Oslo, and this is one of the youngest fleets in the world, which means fewer emissions and a more comfortable flight.

(6) AZORES, PORTUGAL

Temperatures in May: max. 19 C, min. 14C

The Azores are known for their natural beauty, with stunning mountain landscapes, lakes, volcanoes and lagoons. This Portuguese Island chain in the Atlantic Ocean is an excellent destination for enthusiasts of active tourism, offering everything from hiking to waterfalls to paragliding. Although the weather there is always a bit unpredictable, the chances of wind and rain are lowest in May, which predisposes to snorkeling or swimming with dolphins, and with smaller waves compared to those of the winter months, beginner surfers will feel more confident. Also, the largest festival in the Azores – the Feast of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Miracles – usually takes place in May (this year it is between May 23 and 27, 2025).

How to get there? The main airport on the island is Ponta Delgada Airport (PDL), and on each of the islands there is a separate airport served by SATA, and some of them have only 1 flight per day. The main airlines that fly to Ponta Delgada are the Portuguese airlines TAP (with flights from Lisbon and Funchal), Ryanair (with flights from London Stansted, Frankfurt, Lisbon and Porto). From Sofia to Ponta Delgada with one transfer there is Sofia-Prague-Ponta Delgada or the slightly longer than hours option Sofia-Frankfurt-Ponta Delgada.

(7) GRANADA, SPAIN

Temperatures in May: max. 25C, min. 12C

Granada is one of the most visited places by tourists in Spain. As the city is the seat of an archbishop, it is dotted with Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical churches, monasteries, hospitals, palaces and mansions. May is the best time to visit this Andalusian city, with pleasant temperatures and long sunny days. Then the famous festival Dia de la Cruz is held  (May 3), in which the city comes alive with music, flamenco dancers, etc. While you’re there, be sure to visit the Moorish Alhambra Palace with its beautiful gardens, which are especially stunning in May.

How to get there? Granada has a small airport 12 km west of the city, but due to the limited number of flights, it is probably easier to get there by flight from Malaga and from there by but or train. Direct flights Sofia-Malaga are offered by Ryanair, Wizzair and Bulgaria Air.

(8) BARBADOS

Temperatures in May: max. 31C, min. 25C

Barbados is a true tropical paradise, known for its hundreds of beautiful beaches, with crystal clear waters and golden to white sands. It is one of the best Caribbean islands for surfing, especially along the south and east coasts from the Atlantic Ocean. Surf conditions are usually good from November to June, with the advantage of May being that although there may be a little more precipitation compared to previous months, it is still sunny and prices are significantly lower. The best places to catch waves include Freights Bay (suitable for beginners), South Point and Soup Bowl, as well as Batsheba, which hosts international competitions. While you’re there, be sure to visit Harrison Cave – one of the island’s natural wonders, colorful botanical gardens such as Hunte’s Gardens and Andromeda Botanic Gardens), as well as to visit one of the local rum distilleries, as Barbados is believed to be the birthplace of rum.

How to get there? Probably the most convenient are the flights from Sofia-London-Bridgetown.

(9) BALI, INDONESIA

Temperatures in May: max. 28C, min. 23C

Whenever you go to Bali, you can’t go wrong, but the dry, hot and sunny days in May are not to be missed. This charming island located in Indonesia is a true tropical paradise known for its stunning landscapes, gorgeous beaches, and rich culture. It is no coincidence that it is called “the island of the gods”. Especially beautiful is the mountain city of Ubud with numerous museums, ancient temples, surrounded by lush forests and rice paddies. While you’re there, be sure to try the world’s most expensive coffee, Kopi Luwak, and why not join a cooking class.

How to get there? Probably the most convenient are Turkish airlines flights Sofia-Istanbul-Bali, as well as those of Qatar airlines: Sofia-Doha-Bali.

(10) BOTSWANA

Temperatures in May: max. 28C, min. 10C

Botswana is one of the best safari destinations, with 40% of the country’s total land set aside for national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Botswana also has the largest population of elephants in the world, being home to the Okavango Delta, one of Africa’s seven natural wonders. May is the beginning of the dry and cool seasons, with the landscape still green from the rains in the previous months, but also significantly sunnier. Wildlife seems to be full of energy, thanks to all the water, and the animals also become more active as temperatures drop. Prices and the number of tourists are also lower compared to the peak months (June-September).

How to get there? Botswana’s main airport is Sir Seretse Khama in Gaborone, but most visitors come to the country from Johannesburg, South Africa. From Sofia to Botswana can be reached with 2 transfers with Qatar Airways: Sofia-Doha-Johannesburg-Gaborone, the whole journey taking about 24 hours.