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In the cities or the countryside, May is a particularly glorious time to visit Italy. The weather is reliably warm and sunny, but you’re early enough to avoid the worst of the summer crowds. Additionally, May is known as the Month of the Rose, and gardens across the country are at their peak.

The calendar is also packed with festivals. In Assisi, Calendimaggio is a medieval and renaissance festival of performances and processions. On Ascension Day, Venice celebrates Festa della Sensa with regattas and rowing races. The festival culminates with the mayor tossing a gold ring into the water — a symbol of the city’s annual ‘wedding to the sea’.

Thailand’s weather is reliably dry and hot throughout May, but the majority of the crowds have headed home, making this an excellent time to visit. Throughout the month you’ll enjoy summery temperatures and uncrowded beaches, as well as mostly blue skies, with just a small chance of rain.

If you tire of the beach, you might take a guided walking tour of Bangkok’s street food or go to Dragon Island, where you can explore the bizarre rock formations, sheer limestone cliffs, hidden grottoes and untouched beaches. For an in-depth look at Thai life, head north to Chiang Mai and spend a day with a local family.

Across the northern half of the country, spring has settled in with pleasantly warm temperatures. April rains have left much of the landscape lushly green, from the prairie grasslands of the Midwest to the woodlands of New England. It’s a fine time for exploring outdoors, especially in the national parks, where the wildlife is active.

In the southern half, spring is starting to shade into summer, but days are still comfortable and you can expect dry weather and sunny skies. (The exception is Hawaii, which sees Pacific storms and lots of rain.)

Despite the comfortable weather, the crowds are generally thin until Memorial Day (the last weekend in May).

Though Croatia is a year-round destination, May is a particularly lovely time to experience all that the country has to offer. The weather is warm and sunny, but not too hot for hiking, kayaking and other outdoor activities. You’re also visiting before the summer crush that occurs as spring turns to summer.

May is also when Split celebrates its patron saint, Domnius, with processions, traditional klapa music, a rowing contest, and a street fair. For a more rural experience, consider a guided tour of the Šibenik Islands, where you’ll find more traditional villages. Or enjoy the country’s landscapes with a bout tour of Krka National Park.

May is the only month that’s pleasant across the whole of China, making it the best time for a grand tour of the country. Temperatures are warm, but not yet sticky and hot. In Yunnan, the flowers are in full bloom and rhododendron bushes cover the mountain slopes in shades of pink and white. Be aware that the first few days of May are a national holiday and very busy, so plan around those dates.

Your visit might include a walk along one of the less-busy sections of the Great Wall or a leisurely cruise down the Li River. To sample the many nuances of China’s cuisines, consider a guided food tour in Shanghai or Chengdu.

May in Scotland brings warm weather, and the snow has melted everywhere except the highest peaks. Flowers are in full bloom and the countryside is brilliant green, but the midges haven’t arrived yet. This is also the start of many Highland Games, which run through the whole summer.

Now is a good time to hike through the waterfalls and lush valleys of Skye, or cruise the waters around Islay to look for wild goats, seals, and, if you’re lucky, dolphins and porpoises. You can also look for wildlife in the ancient Caledonian forest of the Rothiemurchus Estate.