May holidays 2026 are the perfect time to arrange an unscheduled rehearsal for summer. When nature finally awakens outside, staying home feels like a crime. But if standard routes like walks along the embankments of Sochi or Kazan have become tiresome, it's time to look towards destinations with character.

To ensure your trip doesn't turn into endless queues at attractions, we've compiled itineraries for those who value peace, authenticity, and unique experiences. It's high time to buy tickets to Abakan on Kupi.com or find affordable tickets to Baku while the best seats on planes are still available.

Travels in Russia

Khakassia (Abakan)

Khakassia in May is a revelation. The region is often called “Siberian Italy” for its mild climate and “Valley of Kings” for its incredible number of ancient monuments. Here, steppes meet the Sayan Mountains, and the air at this time of year is filled with the scent of blooming wild rosemary and steppe grasses.

• How to get there:A direct flight takes about 4.5 hours. , it's more convenient to fly with a short layover in Moscow or Novosibirsk.

• What to see: Be sure to reach the Great Salbyk Kurgan – these are huge stone slabs weighing tens of tons, whose origin still causes debate among scientists. Walk along the “Ancestors' Trail” in Efremkino: it's a rock massif above the Bely Iyus River with grottoes where people lived thousands of years ago. And, of course, the Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP – the scale of this structure makes you feel like a grain of sand.

• Why go in May: At this time, the sleep-grass (fluffy purple snowdrops) blooms in the steppe, and the mountains are still covered with snow caps, creating a fantastic contrast with the bright green valleys.

Arkhangelsk Oblast (Kargopol)

This is a journey deep into centuries, into the very essence of the Russian North. Kargopol is one of the few cities where the 18th-century layout has been preserved, along with an astonishing concentration of white-stone churches per square meter. There's no hustle here, but there is a sense of eternity and very delicious northern kalitki pies.

• How to get there: By plane to Arkhangelsk, then by train or rented car. The journey isn't the shortest, but the views are worth it.

• What to see: Cathedral Square with its ensemble of churches, old merchant houses, and a mandatory trip to Oshevensk – one of Russia's most beautiful villages with an active monastery and holy stones. If you have time, visit Kenozersky National Park, where the sky reflects in the lakes, and unique wooden “triple” churches stand in the villages.

• Why go in May: In the north, this is the time of “transparent forest” and the first, most delicate greenery. Mosquitoes and midges are not yet present, and the daylight hours are already stretching towards infinity.

Primorsky Krai (Vladivostok)

May in the Far East is when the ocean begins to breathe warmth, and the hills are covered in a pink haze of blooming rhododendron. Vladivostok during this period is a city of contrasts: fogs, bridges, Japanese cars, and the freshest seafood.

• How to get there:Direct flights (about 8-9 hours), usually with a layover in the capital.

• What to see: Cape Tobizina on Russky Island with its sheer cliffs, Egersheld Lighthouse, and the famous cable-stayed bridges. Be sure to visit Millionka – the old Chinese quarter with its intricate courtyards and graffiti.

• Why go in May: The blooming of rhododendron (wild rosemary) turns the surrounding hills into a pink sea – this spectacle is no less impressive than Japanese sakura, but there are significantly fewer tourists here.

Bykovo Estate and Borovsk (one day )

If you live in the capital and want to escape for a day, forget about the tourist-packed Sergiev Posad. Head to Bykovo – there you'll find the Vladimir Church, built in the rarest Russian Gothic style. It resembles Notre Dame cathedrals more than the churches we are used to. Then, visit Borovsk – a city where the history of Old Believers is intertwined with modern street art.

• How to get there: By car along Ryazan Highway to Bykovo, then along Kiev Highway to Borovsk. The entire journey will take about 2 hours one way.

• What to see: In Bykovo – the estate house and the Gothic church itself with its park. In Borovsk – hundreds of paintings on house walls, created by local artist Vladimir Ovchinnikov, and the majestic Pafnutyevo-Borovsky Monastery.

• Why go in May: In the estate parks, old apple trees and lilacs bloom, and a walk through Borovsk turns into a quest to find new wall frescoes in the rays of the spring sun.

Lampovo Village (one day )

For residents of St. Petersburg, a trip to Lampovo will be an excellent option. This is not just a village, but a unique reserve of Old Believer wooden architecture. Here stand houses that are 150 years old, adorned with such skillful carving that you can admire them for hours.

• How to get there: By electric train from Baltiysky railway station to Lampovo station (just over an hour's journey).

• What to see: Preserved izbas with carved platbands and balconies that look like fairy-tale towers. Also here is the wooden Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, built in the early 20th century.

• Why go in May: This is an opportunity to see rural idyll without crowds of tourists. In May, the gardens in Lampovo are awash with blossoms, creating a perfect contrast with the dark old wood of the buildings.

Where to fly from Russia

Morocco (Marrakech and Essaouira)

May is arguably the best month to visit Morocco. It's already summer-hot, but the Atlantic breeze makes walks comfortable. This is a country of spices, endless medina labyrinths, and rose gardens.

• How to get there: With a layover in Casablanca (Royal Air Maroc) or via Istanbul (Turkish Airlines). A visa is not required for Russian citizens.

• What to see: Djemaa el-Fna square in Marrakech, where the Middle Ages come alive in the evenings, and blue-and-white Essaouira on the Atlantic coast. Be sure to visit the Majorelle Garden – a creation of Yves Saint Laurent.

• Why go in May: In the M'Goun Valley, rose harvesting begins, and the greenery in the Atlas Mountains has not yet faded. This is when Morocco looks its freshest and brightest.

Vietnam (Da Lat and Central Coast)

Instead of bustling Nha Trang, choose Da Lat – the city of “eternal spring” in the mountains. Here, French architecture coexists with coffee plantations, and waterfalls roar amidst pine forests.

• How to get there: With a layover in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, or via China.

• What to see: The “Crazy House” by architect Dang Viet Nga, coffee farms where “luwak” coffee is grown, and Linh Phuoc Pagoda made of broken ceramics.

• Why go in May: While rains begin in northern and southern Vietnam, the central part and mountains enjoy ideal dry weather. In May, fruits and coffee are harvested here.

Uzbekistan (Khiva)

Khiva is a fairy-tale city from “One Thousand and One Nights”. Unlike Samarkand, its old city (Itchan Kala) has been preserved as a single architectural ensemble within powerful fortress walls. Here, it feels like a caravan of camels might appear around the corner at any moment.

• How to get there: By direct flight to Urgench, from there it's just a 30-minute taxi ride to the gates of the old city.

• What to see: The Kalta Minor minaret (the famous unfinished turquoise one), Tash Hauli Palace, and Juma Mosque with its 213 carved wooden columns, no two of which are alike.

• Why go in May: This is the last month when it's still comfortable in the desert. In June, “chilla” – a forty-day exhausting heat – will begin here, but in May, you can calmly walk on ancient rooftops and watch the sunset.

South Africa (Cape Town)

For those ready for a grand adventure. Cape Town is a place where two oceans meet, and penguins live on city beaches. In May, “golden autumn” begins here: the vineyards of Stellenbosch turn crimson, and tourist crowds thin out.

• How to get there: With a layover in Istanbul. A visa is not required for Russian citizens, which makes this destination even more attractive.

• What to see: Table Mountain, which you can ascend by cable car, Cape of Good Hope, and Boulders Beach with its colony of African penguins. Be sure to dedicate a day to driving along the “Garden Route” – one of the most beautiful roads in the world.

• Why go in May: Whale watching season begins, and the weather is ideal for hiking – no longer hot, but still sunny.

Azerbaijan (Gabala)

Gabala is an alternative to Baku for those who love mountains, lakes, and tranquility. The city is surrounded by dense forests and the peaks of the Greater Caucasus, and the service level in local hotels often surpasses European standards.

• How to get there: Direct flight to Baku, and from there – by modern high-speed train or comfortable car (about 3 hours).

• What to see: Nohur mountain lake, “Seven Beauties” waterfall, and Tufandag ski resort, which turns into an excellent observation deck in summer. In the neighboring village of Nij, you can get acquainted with the culture of the Udis – direct descendants of ancient Albanians.

• Why go in May: The mountains in Azerbaijan in May become incredibly vibrant, and the air in Gabala's forests is so clean that after a metropolis, it feels intoxicating.