But the UK border with Ireland remains an outstanding issue.
The PM will meet European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels, with Downing Street saying "plenty of discussions" lie ahead.
BBC Europe editor Katya Adler said there was an "upbeat mood" of "cautious optimism".
The timings of Mrs May's visit marks a deadline set by Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, for her to come forward with an improved offer on the terms of the UK's withdrawal from the EU.
The UK is hoping to start talks about a free trade agreement but the EU says it will only recommend this can take place when it deems "sufficient progress" has been made on the other issues.
The UK voted for Brexit last year and is due to leave in March 2019, but negotiations between the EU and the UK have not yet reached a breakthrough.
Mrs May will be accompanied by the Brexit Secretary David Davis for the discussions with Mr Juncker and Mr Tusk.
Downing Street has described the meeting as an "important staging post" on the route to the "crucial" summit with the other 27 leaders in the middle of the month when it hopes trade talks can begin.
However, Mr Tusk has stated Dublin must be satisfied there will be no return to a "hard border" between Northern Ireland and the Republic after Brexit, before the EU moves on to the next stage of negotiations.
On Sunday, there were warnings from Tory Brexiteers not to give any more ground to Brussels.
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