Where’s actually warm in May from Shannon?
Places averaging 20°C or more in May, with direct flights. Warmest first.
Warmest: Alicante, about 25°C. Warmest sea: Fuerteventura, 20°C. Driest: Fuerteventura, barely any rain.
Alicante
25°6/7+9°Cvs home7/10Worth the bother? Worth a look.“Sun, sea and a castle on the hill. Benidorm is down the road if you are feeling brave.”Corfu
25°6/7+9°Cvs home6/10Worth the bother? Could be tempted.“Green hills, blue water and a Venetian old town. The Greek island for people who like trees.”Fuerteventura
25°6/7+9°Cvs home7/10Worth the bother? Worth a look.“Endless beaches and a breeze that never clocks off. Bring a book, not a hairdryer.”Gran Canaria
25°6/7+9°Cvs home7/10Worth the bother? Worth a look.“Sand dunes, a proper city and sun on demand. Like a continent squashed into an island.”Lanzarote
25°6/7+9°Cvs home7/10Worth the bother? Worth a look.“Looks like the moon, feels like July. Half of Carlow is on your flight.”Málaga
25°6/7+9°Cvs home7/10Worth the bother? Worth a look.“A proper city with a beach attached. Tapas portions are not a meal.”Rome
24°7/7+8°Cvs home6/10Worth the bother? Could be tempted.“Three thousand years of history and the best pasta of your life. You will walk 20,000 steps and regret nothing.”Tenerife
24°7/7+8°Cvs home7/10Worth the bother? Worth a look.“Guaranteed sun. You will meet someone you went to school with.”Faro and the Algarve
24°6/7+8°Cvs home6/10Worth the bother? Could be tempted.“Golf, grilled fish and a sunburnt man from Mullingar. Grand.”Malta
24°5/7+8°Cvs home6/10Worth the bother? Could be tempted.“They drive on the left and speak English. Wexford with sun and 7,000 years of history.”Majorca
23°7/7+7°Cvs home6/10Worth the bother? Could be tempted.“Mountains, coves and a cathedral that shows off. Something for everyone, including the stag in seat 14C.”Budapest
22°7/7+6°Cvs home4/10Worth the bother? Think about it.“Thermal baths, ruin bars and the Danube lit up at night. Two cities for the price of one.”New York
22°7/7+6°Cvs home4/10Worth the bother? Think about it.“Loud, dear and absolutely brilliant. Clear US immigration in Ireland and land like a local.”Madeira
21°6/7+5°Cvs home6/10Worth the bother? Could be tempted.“Spring all year, cliffs everywhere and walks along water channels. Not a beach island, and that is fine.”Porto
21°6/7+5°Cvs home3/10Worth the bother? I wouldn’t.“Port wine, pretty bridges and a riverside built for long lunches. Your legs will remember the hills.”Kraków
20°7/7+4°Cvs home3/10Worth the bother? I wouldn’t.“A fairytale old town, cheap pints and pierogi everywhere. One of the best-value city breaks from Ireland.”Paris
20°6/7+4°Cvs home3/10Worth the bother? I wouldn’t.“Yes, it is as good as the films. Yes, the coffee is dear. No, you do not have to climb the Eiffel Tower.”Wroclaw
20°6/7+4°Cvs home3/10Worth the bother? I wouldn’t.“A beautiful market square, hunting for tiny bronze dwarves, and pints that cost less than a coffee at home.”May at a glance
| Place | Avg high | Sea | Sun a day | Rainy days | Flight | Dots |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alicante | 25°C | 18°C | 10h | 3 | 2h 35m | 6/7 |
| Corfu | 25°C | 19°C | 9h | 5 | 3h 25m | 6/7 |
| Fuerteventura | 25°C | 20°C | 10h | 0 | 4h 05m | 6/7 |
| Gran Canaria | 25°C | 20°C | 9h | 0 | 4h 10m | 6/7 |
| Lanzarote | 25°C | 20°C | 10h | 0 | 3h 55m | 6/7 |
| Málaga | 25°C | 18°C | 10h | 2 | 2h 50m | 6/7 |
| Rome | 24°C | 18°C | 9h | 5 | 2h 50m | 7/7 |
| Tenerife | 24°C | 20°C | 9h | 0 | 4h 15m | 7/7 |
| Faro and the Algarve | 24°C | 17°C | 11h | 3 | 2h 40m | 6/7 |
| Malta | 24°C | 18°C | 10h | 1 | 3h 25m | 5/7 |
| Majorca | 23°C | 18°C | 9h | 3 | 2h 25m | 7/7 |
| Budapest | 22°C | – | 8h | 8 | 2h 45m | 7/7 |
| New York | 22°C | – | 8h | 11 | – | 7/7 |
| Madeira | 21°C | 19°C | 7h | 2 | 3h 35m | 6/7 |
| Porto | 21°C | 15°C | 8h | 10 | 2h 10m | 6/7 |
| Kraków | 20°C | – | 7h | 11 | 2h 35m | 7/7 |
| Paris | 20°C | – | 7h | 9 | 1h 35m | 6/7 |
| Wroclaw | 20°C | – | 8h | 10 | 2h 45m | 6/7 |
| Dublin, for comparison | 16°C | 11°C | 6h | 10 | – | – |
Long-term averages, rounded. Rainy days are days with at least 1mm of rain. Sea temperature is shown where there is a beach to swim from.
Irish school holidays in May 2027
No mid-term or school holidays in May, so fares are usually calmer. Good news for anyone not tied to the school run.
What's on in May
Not every good trip is about the sun. Festivals, carnivals and Christmas markets worth the flight.
Madeira 21°C
Flower Festival: parades and flower carpets in Funchal, usually in late April or May.
Direct from ShannonMadrid 23°C
San Isidro, the city’s own festival, around 15 May.
Direct from DublinOslo 16°C
Constitution Day, 17 May: the whole country in traditional dress, parades everywhere.
Direct from Dublin
Dates move from year to year. Check the event's own website before you book.
Questions people actually ask
Where is warm in May with a direct flight from Shannon?
The warmest places with direct flights from Shannon in May are Alicante (25°C), Corfu (25°C), Fuerteventura (25°C), Gran Canaria (25°C) and Lanzarote (25°C). Those are average daytime highs.
Where is the sea warm enough to swim in May?
Nowhere direct is properly warm for swimming in May. The mildest sea is in Fuerteventura, at about 20°C: bracing, but warmer than at home.
Where is sunniest in May?
Of the places with direct flights, Faro and the Algarve gets the most sunshine in May, about 11 hours a day. Dublin averages about 6.
Are there school holidays in Ireland in May 2027?
No. With no mid-term or school holidays, fares and hotel prices are usually calmer, which makes it a good time for anyone without kids in school.
What's on in May?
Madeira: Flower Festival: parades and flower carpets in Funchal, usually in late April or May. Madrid: San Isidro, the city’s own festival, around 15 May. Oslo: Constitution Day, 17 May: the whole country in traditional dress, parades everywhere.