Beat the heat with a European holiday in May

Before the intense sun and boatloads of tourists settle in for the summer season, find time in May to take a tour to some of the top 10 European destinations for this month. Visit Spain in May for warm and balmy weather, perfect for partaking in the San Isidro Festival or exploring the Moorish architecture of its major cities. If you’re keen to get your steps in before the peak mid-year heat, hike up the ruins of the old coastal cities of Croatia or get lost in the fortresses, temples and stunning landscapes of the central Mediterranean wonder that is Malta.

Top 10 Europe tours May 2024

Departing Days From NZD
21 May 2024
Premium Northern Spain
10 9920
7936
23 May 2024
Best of Turkey
15 4120
3708
23 May 2024
Premium Sicily
10 10490
8917
23 May 2024
Premium Venice to Dubrovnik
16 14885
11908
23 May 2024
Premium Venice to Split
9 9385
7978
23 May 2024
Amalfi Coast: Hike & Kayak
8 4135
3722
24 May 2024
Premium Split to Dubrovnik
8 7070
5656
24 May 2024
Turkey Encompassed
15 6080
5168
25 May 2024
Discover Central Europe
8 2260
1921
25 May 2024
Highlights of Turkey & the Greek Islands
15 8860
7974
25 May 2024
Athens to Santorini
8 4700
4230
25 May 2024
Turkey Highlights
8 2995
2696
25 May 2024
Barcelona to Berlin
15 7255
6167
25 May 2024
Paris to Berlin
8 3985
3388
25 May 2024
Barcelona to Paris
8 3570
3035
25 May 2024
Cycle the Danube
8 3745
3371
25 May 2024
Berlin to Budapest
8 2355
2002
25 May 2024
Berlin to Venice
15 4565
3881
25 May 2024
Croatian Coastal Cruising: Dubrovnik to Split (Aurora)
8 4620
4158
25 May 2024
Sail Italy: Procida to Amalfi
4 1931
1559
25 May 2024
Explore Spain & Portugal
15 7570
6435
25 May 2024
Madrid to Marrakech
15 5185
4408
25 May 2024
Real Turkey
Ages 18 to 35
15 2590
2331
25 May 2024
Essential Turkey
Ages 18 to 35
10 1665
1499
25 May 2024
Classic Greece
8 4310
3664
25 May 2024
Highlights of Italy
8 2890
2457
25 May 2024
Amalfi Coast Sailing Adventure
8 4212
3398
25 May 2024
Best of Greece
15 8435
7592
25 May 2024
Premium Spain in Depth
20 19070
15256
25 May 2024
Premium Belgrade to Bucharest
11 6735
6062
25 May 2024
Slovenia & Croatia Real Food Adventure
13 8230
6996
25 May 2024
Ljubljana to Split Real Food Adventure
8 4790
4072
25 May 2024
Journey through Central Europe & Romania
24 8975
7629
25 May 2024
Best of Central Europe
15 5825
4952
25 May 2024
Dubrovnik to Santorini
22 10905
9815
25 May 2024
Dubrovnik to Athens
15 6070
5463
25 May 2024
Mainland Greece Discovery
8 3515
2988
25 May 2024
Scandinavia Explorer
15 9860
8874
25 May 2024
Spain, Portugal & Morocco
24 6635
5640
25 May 2024
Best of Spain
15 6270
5643
25 May 2024
Classic Spain & Portugal
22 11775
10009
25 May 2024
North Spain Discovery
8 3680
2944
25 May 2024
Taste of Istanbul
3 850
25 May 2024
Cappadocia Short Break
4 818
25 May 2024
Berlin to Rome
22 7515
6388
25 May 2024
Barcelona to Venice
29 11760
9996
25 May 2024
Europe Explorer
36 14520
12342
25 May 2024
Northern Norway Explorer
9 6525
5873
25 May 2024
Slovenia to Macedonia Real Food Adventure
21 12455
10587
25 May 2024
Croatia & Slovenia
8 3660
2928

Highlights of May 2024 tours

Cinque Terre and the stunning beach, Italy

Cinque Terre, Italy

Get lost as you roam the brightly coloured seaside villages of Cinque Terre on an Italian adventure. Sample the region’s local produce at the clifftop vineyards and olive groves while travelling between Monterosso, Corniglia and Riomaggiore. The walking routes of this region will give you a stunning view of the northwest Italian coastline but may require an afternoon swim to cool off after the steep climb.

A train station in Budapest during sunset, Hungary

Budapest, Hungary

Explore both sides of Budapest by day and night for a taste of this Eastern European capital city. Find yourself relaxing in a thermal bath or ascending the steps of Castle Hill for a panoramic view of the beautiful cityscape. End your evening with a stroll or boat ride along the Danube to see the beautiful vista by night or stop by one of the region’s signature ruin bars for Hungary’s national drink, pálinka.

Eating custard tarts in Portugal

Real food adventure, Portugal

Take a dive into new cuisine on a Real Food Adventure through Portugal. Sample Galician food on day one and learn how to cook it on day two. Sip on port and discover its origins in the city of Porto then enjoy the rustic life of a Portuguese farm before heading to the country’s capital. While admiring the city’s historical splendour, treat yourself to tapas and finish with the country’s favourite custard tarts.

Cliffs of Moher, Ireland

Ancient landscapes in Ireland

Fancy an Irish adventure? Let Ireland’s ancient history astound you while traipsing across its vast island scenery. You’ll be met with man-made and natural wonders alike such as Ross Castle and The Giant's Causeway. When away from the country, find yourself tucked into a classic Irish pub for an energetic live performance, local delicacies and a pint of signature brew – a perfect way to end your day.

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Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Learn more about Intrepid’s COVID-19 policy

A tour in Europe can vary depending on the countries you want to visit, the style of tour, and how long you want to go for but you can expect to pay anywhere between USD$1,000 to USD$5,000, with most tours around USD$2,500. 

Whether or not you need a visa to travel to European countries largely depends on the nationality on your passport and whether the country you're travelling to is part of the Schengen Agreement. This agreement sees 26 European countries offer visa-free travel to nationals from 60 other countries including Australia, the United States, Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom. 

To determine whether the country you're travelling to requires a visa, head to the Schengen Visa's information website. 

Read more about visas for Europe

    Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. However, we’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

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