Where to go for the May holidays if you come to your senses at the last moment

1. Istanbul, Turkey

Duration of direct flight from Moscow: 3 hours 45 minutes.
Airfare from Moscow and back: from 29,104 rubles.
Cost of living: from 431 rubles per night in a hostel.

You shouldn't go to Istanbul for a beach holiday in May. It is unlikely that you will be able to swim: the water has not yet had time to warm up.

At this time, the city is more suitable for leisurely walks through the winding streets and sightseeing. Among the most famous is the Hagia Sophia Museum. Here, Orthodox and Muslim cultures merge together.

Another visiting card of Istanbul is the Blue Mosque. Admission is free, but not all halls. Before visiting, wear closed clothes or buy a special cape right there.

Other attractions include the Topkapi Sultans' Palace and the Basilica Cistern, which appeared in the film "Inferno" based on the book of the same name by Dan Brown.

2. Tbilisi, Georgia

Duration of direct flight from Moscow: 2 hours 45 minutes.
Airfare from Moscow and back: from 44 534 rubles.
Cost of living: from 189 rubles per night in a hostel.

It is simply impossible to visit Tbilisi and not try real khachapuri and khinkali. Get ready for the fact that any excursion will smoothly turn into a gastronomic one. And don't take a lot of things with you: the space in your suitcase will come in handy for the Georgian wines that you buy home.

Well, to whet your appetite, go to Mtatsminda Park, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Narikala Fortress or the old town of Kala with ancient monuments and winding narrow streets.

Do not forget about the glass Peace Bridge that connects the Old and New Towns. It offers a stunning view.

3. Baku, Azerbaijan

Duration of direct flight from Moscow: 3 hours 5 minutes.
Airfare from Moscow and back: from 24 457 rubles.
Cost of living: from 188 rubles per night in a hostel.

Baku combines the architecture of the ancient city with modern skyscrapers, mosques and Orthodox churches, wide busy avenues and green parks for walking. Rest here will definitely be varied and memorable.

If you go to the capital of Azerbaijan, be sure to check out the Carpet Museum. It houses about 10 thousand exhibits - a unique national treasure of the country. The Heydar Aliyev Center, the Maiden Tower, the Shirvanshahs' palace are also worthy of being on the list of must-see places.

In the evening, walk to the Flame Towers. The zest of the city looks especially luxurious after sunset, when the lights turn on.

4. Tel Aviv, Israel

Duration of direct flight from Moscow: 4 hours 10 minutes.
Airfare from Moscow and back: from 30 915 rubles.
Cost of living: from 924 rubles per night in a hostel.

You should start your acquaintance with this mysterious city by the Mediterranean Sea from Jaffa. This oldest part of Tel Aviv seems to send tourists to the past: a labyrinth of narrow streets, stone walls, antique shops. Do not bypass them if you want to feel the local flavor.

Also worth seeing are the Tel Aviv Museum of Fine Arts, the Bialik House Museum and the Neve Tzedek District. This is also a kind of open-air museum. Try the most delicious ice cream in the city here, walk to the square and the theater. Do not forget about the waterfront, which offers stunning views of the city.

5. Yerevan, Armenia

Duration of direct flight from Moscow: 2 hours 50 minutes.
Airfare from Moscow and back: from 23 692 rubles.
Cost of living: from 262 rubles per night in a hostel.

One of the oldest cities in the world was founded in 782 BC. However, for many tourists it is primarily associated not with the great heritage and the oldest monuments of architecture, but with high-quality cognac and the hospitality of local residents.

Fans of antiques and rare things should go to Matenadaran, where ancient manuscripts are collected. Many of the exhibits exist in a single copy. Better to take a guided tour. He will talk about the history of the collections and the techniques for restoring ancient manuscripts. Without a guide, you can only admire rare books.

If you want not only to look at something valuable, but also to buy something like that at home, go to the Vernissage flea market. Here you will find everything - from rare books to works of Armenian art. Bargaining and communication is a must.

6. Nur-Sultan (Astana), Kazakhstan

where to go for the May holidays: Astana

Duration of direct flight from Moscow: 3 hours 25 minutes.
Airfare from Moscow and back: from 22 236 rubles.
Cost of living: from 337 rubles per night in a hostel.

Back in the early 90s, on the site of Nur-Sultan, there was a small village in the middle of the steppe. But then the capital was moved here from Alma-Ata. Since then, the city has been actively developing, being built up with modern skyscrapers and large shopping centers.

You can start your acquaintance with the place from the Baiterek tower - a kind of symbol of the young capital. Here you can have a snack in a cafe, go to the gallery or admire the fish in the aquariums. It is interesting that all this is located on the lower floors. And they go underground about four meters.

It is also worth taking a walk along the three-level bridge on Vodno-Green Boulevard to see a colorful show of singing fountains. Add to the travel plan the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, the Khazret Sultan Mosque and the ethno-memorial complex “Map of Kazakhstan“Atameken” to get acquainted with the culture of the Kazakh people.

7. Tivat, Montenegro

Duration of direct flight from Moscow: 3 hours 15 minutes.
Airfare from Moscow and back: from 31 572 rubles.
Cost of living: from 647 rubles per night in a hostel.

Tivat is a picturesque town on the shores of the Bay of Kotor. In May, it is already warm and sunny here, but still cool for a beach holiday. Therefore, if you are planning a trip to Tivat for the May holidays, take a warm jacket with you and tune in only for walks.

Lovers of medieval architecture will love the Bucha Palace in the very center of the city. Inside there is the Tivat Gallery, an ethnographic museum with free admission, and in the garden there is a summer stage.

If you want to walk in the shade of trees and see exotic plants, head to the city park with the largest botanical garden in the southern Adriatic. And on the way from the park, look into the temple of St. Sava.

You can also walk to the Porto Montenegro marina. A fashionable embankment, yachts, restaurants, shops - there is everything here to escape from the daily hustle and bustle and plunge into a luxurious fairy tale.