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 ZAR
21 May 2024
Premium Northern Spain
10 113255
96267
23 May 2024
Best of Turkey
15 47045
42341
23 May 2024
Premium Sicily
10 119790
95832
23 May 2024
Premium Venice to Dubrovnik
16 169895
23 May 2024
Premium Venice to Split
9 107075
23 May 2024
Amalfi Coast: Hike & Kayak
8 47195
44836
24 May 2024
Premium Split to Dubrovnik
8 80730
64584
24 May 2024
Turkey Encompassed
15 69420
55536
25 May 2024
Discover Central Europe
8 25805
20644
25 May 2024
Highlights of Turkey & the Greek Islands
15 101115
25 May 2024
Athens to Santorini
8 53660
25 May 2024
Turkey Highlights
8 34175
25 May 2024
Barcelona to Berlin
15 82815
25 May 2024
Paris to Berlin
8 45455
25 May 2024
Barcelona to Paris
8 40725
25 May 2024
Cycle the Danube
8 42770
40632
25 May 2024
Berlin to Budapest
8 26895
24206
25 May 2024
Berlin to Venice
15 52140
46926
25 May 2024
Croatian Coastal Cruising: Dubrovnik to Split (Aurora)
8 52755
25 May 2024
Sail Italy: Procida to Amalfi
4 22070
25 May 2024
Explore Spain & Portugal
15 86465
25 May 2024
Madrid to Marrakech
15 59195
50316
25 May 2024
Real Turkey
Ages 18 to 35
15 29625
25 May 2024
Essential Turkey
Ages 18 to 35
10 19100
17190
25 May 2024
Classic Greece
8 49190
44271
25 May 2024
Highlights of Italy
8 32995
29696
25 May 2024
Amalfi Coast Sailing Adventure
8 48069
25 May 2024
Best of Greece
15 96295
25 May 2024
Premium Spain in Depth
20 217640
184994
25 May 2024
Premium Belgrade to Bucharest
11 76905
65370
25 May 2024
Slovenia & Croatia Real Food Adventure
13 93955
84560
25 May 2024
Ljubljana to Split Real Food Adventure
8 54670
49203
25 May 2024
Journey through Central Europe & Romania
24 102505
92255
25 May 2024
Best of Central Europe
15 66525
56547
25 May 2024
Dubrovnik to Santorini
22 124475
112028
25 May 2024
Dubrovnik to Athens
15 69260
62334
25 May 2024
Mainland Greece Discovery
8 40125
38119
25 May 2024
Scandinavia Explorer
15 112595
101336
25 May 2024
Spain, Portugal & Morocco
24 75685
64333
25 May 2024
Best of Spain
15 71610
68030
25 May 2024
Classic Spain & Portugal
22 134390
120951
25 May 2024
North Spain Discovery
8 42010
37809
25 May 2024
Taste of Istanbul
3 9705
25 May 2024
Cappadocia Short Break
4 9335
25 May 2024
Berlin to Rome
22 85800
25 May 2024
Barcelona to Venice
29 134240
25 May 2024
Europe Explorer
36 165715
25 May 2024
Northern Norway Explorer
9 74505
67055
25 May 2024
Slovenia to Macedonia Real Food Adventure
21 142180
25 May 2024
Croatia & Slovenia
8 41770
37593

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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