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
1 May 2024
Turkey Encompassed
15 5125
1 May 2024
Taste of Istanbul
3 673
1 May 2024
Cappadocia Short Break
4 718
1 May 2024
Best of Spain
15 5500
1 May 2024
Explore Spain & Portugal
15 6445
2 May 2024
Premium Venice to Dubrovnik
16 10475
2 May 2024
Premium Tuscany
8 7100
2 May 2024
Premium Venice to Split
9 5780
2 May 2024
Madrid to Marrakech
15 5200
2 May 2024
Premium Turkey in Depth
15 7095
2 May 2024
Spain, Portugal & Morocco
24 6490
2 May 2024
Best of Italy
14 5845
2 May 2024
Best of Turkey
15 3760
2 May 2024
Iceland's Golden Circle in Depth
5 3825
2 May 2024
Premium Rome to Dubrovnik
23 17595
2 May 2024
Premium Sicily and Puglia
17 13855
2 May 2024
Premium Sicily
10 6935
2 May 2024
Premium Rome to Split
16 12070
2 May 2024
Portugal Real Food Adventure, featuring Galicia
8 4975
3 May 2024
Northern & Southern Ireland
8 4520
3 May 2024
Portuguese Camino
10 3450
3 May 2024
Iceland Discovery
8 5400
3 May 2024
Italy Real Food Adventure
8 4545
3 May 2024
Premium Split to Belgrade
16 9565
3 May 2024
Premium Split to Dubrovnik
8 5095
3 May 2024
Premium Balkans in Depth
26 14980
3 May 2024
Rome to Amalfi
8 3605
4 May 2024
Cycle Prague to Vienna
8 3640
4 May 2024
Cycle Central Europe & the Danube
15 6370
4 May 2024
Highlights of Andalucia
8 3790
4 May 2024
Western Balkans Uncovered
12 4140
4 May 2024
Highlights of Dalmatia
12 4805
4 May 2024
Cycle the Loire Valley
7 3665
4 May 2024
Hike the Rota Vicentina in Portugal
8 2950
4 May 2024
North Spain Discovery
8 3350
4 May 2024
Dubrovnik to Santorini
22 8025
4 May 2024
Highlights of Turkey & the Greek Islands
15 7385
4 May 2024
Dubrovnik to Athens
15 4960
4 May 2024
Greece Sailing Adventure: Cyclades Islands
10 3581
4 May 2024
Sail Greece: Santorini to Mykonos
8 2465
4 May 2024
Baltic Experience
12 4140
4 May 2024
Highlights of Portugal
8 3165
4 May 2024
Explore Croatia
8 2820
4 May 2024
Barcelona to Rome
15 6610
4 May 2024
Eastern Europe Explorer
18 5490
4 May 2024
Dubrovnik to Bled
15 5700
4 May 2024
Kosovo, Albania & Macedonia Explorer
15 3910
4 May 2024
Best of Central Europe
15 4590
4 May 2024
Journey through Central Europe & Romania
24 7395
4 May 2024
Budapest to Bucharest
10 3035

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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FAQs

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.

    Learn more about Accessible Travel with Intrepid

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