In spring, when it gets warm and nature pleases with lush greenery and a riot of colors, a burning desire to travel awakens. At this time, there is still no sweltering heat, crowds of tourists, and you can choose a trip to your liking – to sunbathe on the sea, make a dizzying rafting trip on a stormy river, go on an extremely interesting, informative tour or wander through the narrow streets of the ancient city. And now, finally, the long weekend is coming, and there is an opportunity to make your dreams come true. Let’s tell you where to go on vacation for the May holidays in 2025.
When are the May holidays in 2025?
Before planning a trip, let’s take a look at the calendar. On Labor Day, the official weekend will be from May 1 to May 4, and on Victory Day from May 8 to May 11. Thus, you can go on a short tour for 4 days, and if you manage to arrange 3 days off between the holidays, you will get a good mini-vacation of 11 days. This time will be enough to fly to distant lands and bask on the shores of the warm sea or wander into the most remote, untamed corners of our country. In this article, we have compiled a selection of tourist destinations where it will be interesting to spend a full vacation.
The best tours for the May holidays
After a long winter, I really want real warmth. It’s no secret that most of us go on vacation with our children at sea. It’s still cool in the Krasnodar Territory and Crimea and you can’t swim enough, the only way out is to go to hot countries abroad.
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Turkey
Turkey is one of the three leaders in beach holidays among our tourists. However, there is still no real heat in early May and the sea water is cool, so it is better to go to Alanya, the warmest major city in the country on the Mediterranean coast. The water temperature at the beginning of the month is rarely above 18-21 ° C, but you can already swim a little. In the central part of the resort there is the famous Cleopatra beach with white, coarse sand, not typical for this coast. According to legend, the queen of Egypt herself bathed in this wonderful place.
A beach holiday in May is good to combine with sightseeing. In the central part of the state there is a mysterious underground city of Derinkuyu, where, according to scientists, about 20,000 people lived in ancient times. The real miracle of eastern Turkey is Van, the largest soda lake. Next to it is an equally impressive natural object – the active volcano Nemrut-Dag. And of course, you should definitely visit Pamukkale, a natural thermal baths located on numerous terraces of white limestone.
There are direct flights from Russia to Turkey, you do not need a visa to enter, you only need a passport. It takes a little over 5 hours to fly from Moscow.
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Egypt
Egypt is the best place to go to the seaside for the May holidays with the whole family. This is an inexpensive destination, you can choose a week-long tour so that the children are not late for school at the end of the holidays. It’s already warm here in early May. The water warms up to 22-26 ° C, and the air to 30-34 ° C. It’s a little cooler in Alexandria. Diving enthusiasts should go to Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada to admire the coral reefs in the clear waters of the Red Sea.
What to see in Egypt:
- The Pyramids and the Great Sphinx in Giza, which are the hallmark of the country. The height of the pyramid of Cheops is about 140 m, it is larger than the building with 40 floors.
- Valley of the Kings, located in a picturesque rocky gorge.
- Karnak Temple, the main sanctuary and the largest religious complex of the New Kingdom.
What to try:
- Drink made from sunflower seeds and sugar cane.
- Zalyabia is a sweet in the shape of balls.
- A dessert resembling a syrup-soaked semolina pie with nuts called basbusa.
To visit Egypt, as well as Turkey, you only need a passport, the visa will be delivered directly at the airport of arrival. A direct flight to Hurghada takes about 6.5 hours on average.
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UAE
It’s already summer in the United Arab Emirates in May. The average daytime temperature is +35-36 °C. The water in the sea near the coast of the Gulf of Oman warms up to +23-24 °C, and in the shallower Persian Gulf to +27 °C. There is no need to be afraid of the heat – buses and hotel rooms are equipped with air conditioning.
Mornings in the UAE are good to spend on the shores of the azure, transparent sea. By the way, the beaches here are wonderful, with well-developed infrastructure, equipped with cabins and sun beds. During the day, in the heat, you can go to the mall, go on an excursion or to the Ferrari World amusement park in Abu Dhabi. It has the fastest roller coaster in the world, with trailers reaching an unprecedented speed of 240 km/h. Be sure to visit the Louvre, which stands on the water, which is a complex of buildings with rare works of art and the famous mosque with four minarets and 82 domes.
Important! Do not forget that the United Arab Emirates is a Muslim country. Respect local traditions. It is better for women to wear clothes that cover their shoulders and knees.
You can stay in the country without a visa for as long as 90 days. Flights to Russia are convenient. There are direct flights from our capital to Dubai. The flight takes 5.5-6 hours.
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Thailand
One of the most beloved and sought-after tourist destinations for long-term holidays. You need to go here on all holidays in order to have time to enjoy the lush vegetation, the warm turquoise sea, the beaches with snow-white sand, ride elephants and get acquainted with Buddhist culture. The rainy season begins in May, but tropical showers are short-lived and usually occur only at night or in the afternoon. But it’s hot outside (+33-34 °C), and the sea water is as warm as fresh milk (+27-29 °C).
Spring is a time of holidays. The most significant of them is not on May 9, as in our country, but on May 4 – the Day of the coronation of Ram X, when celebrations are held in large settlements and fireworks are launched in the evening. Beach lovers can take a tour to the popular resorts of Krabi, Koh Samui, Phuket. While in Thailand, be sure to visit the Angthong Marine Park, a crocodile farm, go by jeep or elephant to Namuang Waterfalls, and, of course, get acquainted with the main attraction – the Great Buddha of Phuket, a 45 m high statue. This can only be done from afar, the attraction is temporarily closed.
Important! In Thailand, when entering Buddhist temples, it is customary to take off shoes and headgear. Also, when visiting shrines, you should wear clothes covering your back, knees and shoulders.
There are direct flights from Russia to Thailand to Pattaya, Bangkok and Phuket. A direct flight to Phuket from Moscow takes about 9.5 hours. You don’t need a visa for a weekend trip, you just need a passport.
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Vietnam
May is really hot in Vietnam. During the day, the temperature is in the range of +29-35 °C and the sea is very warm (+27-29 °C), especially in Nha Trang. Holidays here are no less attractive than in Thailand, and prices are lower. So, for just 1-1.5 dollars, you can order a whole plate of scallops. Fukuoka is home to the extraordinarily picturesque Sao Beach with clear azure waters. The sea is shallow, and this is the best place to go for the May holidays with a child.
The most famous attraction of the country is the statue of the Reclining Buddha. Its height is 11 m and its length is 49 m. It is located on Mount Taku, at an altitude of half a kilometer, 30 km south of Phan Thiet. Fans of active and educational tourism in Vietnam will not be bored. For example, in Fukuoka, they organize excursions to Vinpearl Safari Park, where giraffes, flamingos and lemurs live, to the 4-meter-high Suoi Tran Waterfall, and in Nha Trang to Monkey Island and other interesting places.
You can stay in the country for up to 45 days without a visa. A direct flight from Moscow to Ho Chi Minh City will take about 9.5 hours. Starting from March 22, Aeroflot has launched direct flights to Nha Trang, which will allow faster access to the resort. Travel time is 10 hours.
May holidays are a gift for travel lovers
The May holidays are a great opportunity to arrange an extra vacation and see the world. It doesn’t matter which vacation you choose – beach, sightseeing or active. The main thing is that you will return home in a great mood, full of energy and new, unforgettable impressions. And as a souvenir of the trip, you will have bright and beautiful photos that you will proudly show your friends with a slight nostalgia for a pleasant time.
