Our guide to the best holiday destinations for autumn, from Croatia’s Dalmatian coast to city breaks in Bruges or Vienna
Europe might be starting to look a little gloomy in October, but in other parts of the world it’s the most colourful time of the year. Yes, there’s the obvious like the autumnal foliage in Massachusetts, but you’ll also find the Western Cape bursting into spring and the mesmerising glow of the northern lights in Finnish Lapland. Elsewhere, in Queensland, it’s just the right time to spot humpbacks, or perhaps you’d prefer somewhere closer to home, like rural Alentejo in Portugal, which is perfect for exploring on horseback. Whatever you’re looking for, here’s our guide to the best places to visit in October.
1. Cape Town, South Africa
Spring is in full swing in South Africa during the month of October, with sporadic rains and warming days triggering a flourishing of fynbos, the flowering shrubs only found in the Western and Eastern Cape. A great time, then, for budding botanists to come to this part of the world. Cape Town makes a natural gateway to the region, and you only have to drive for an hour or so down to the Cape peninsula for brilliant hikes in Table Mountain National Park. October is also a great month for safari, and there are plenty of private game reserves within easy reach. Base yourself at Radisson Red Cape Town V&A Waterfront, a great-value stay in this smart district.
2. Dubai, UAE
Even in October, Dubai can be relied upon for temperatures in the low 30s, with long, sunny days and clear, cloudless skies. Save for the weeks of October half-term, you’ll still be paying shoulder-season prices before the winter sun crowd arrives. Pack your calendar with activities ranging from desert safaris and dune bashing to kitesurfing and sea kayaking. It’s cooler during the day if you want to go sightseeing in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood or haggle for souvenirs in the traditional souks, though air-conditioned malls are around every corner if you need a bit of respite from the heat. The seafront Jumeirah Beach Hotel is ideal if you plan to spend a decent amount of time topping up your tan.
3. Bruges, Belgium
Bruges, Belgium Autumn sees a lull on the cobbled streets of Bruges, bypassed by much of history after its medieval golden age. Summer city-breakers have gone, and Christmas market hordes have not yet arrived. This more reflective time of year brings a new beauty to canal-boat trips, and makes a good case for hot chocolate stops. If it rains, you can still take in a wealth of art in galleries such as the Groeningemuseum. With less footfall in old-town streets, why not stay at the heart of it all? Save the historical details for trips outside when you stay at Sablon Hotel, which has a pared-back, contemporary style within a 16th-century townhouse.
4.Gran Canaria
It takes a little while for sea temperatures to catch up with the sun, which means that October sees the warmest waters off the beaches of the Canary Islands, while the weather is still balmy, down only slightly from July and August highs. Half-term holidays aside, visitor numbers will also be lower than in the summer peak. Gran Canaria is the most central of the main islands, with its own range of microclimates, from high-up pine forests to the sand dunes of Maspalomas. Seaside Palm Beach is a big resort between Maspalomas beach and a palm-fringed lagoon-style pool, with retro 1970s design and lots of family activities.
5. The Berkshires, Massachusetts
New England is the unofficial capital of all things autumn (sorry, “fall”), and if you’ve missed the boat in the mountain areas of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, where peak leaf-peeping season can come in late September, Massachusetts will pick up the red-and-orange baton from early to mid-October. In the rolling hills of the Berkshires, you’ll find a great variety of colour, as well as self-serve apple orchards, farm-to-table dining, Shaker heritage and increasingly elaborate Halloween decorations as October 31 approaches. In the north of the Berkshires, Tourists is laid out like a classic motel, but with a style that mixes backwoods cabin with clean-lined design pad.
6. Dalmatian coast, Croatia
During summer, Croatia’s ancient walled towns often resemble the battle scenes from Game of Thrones, and not just the ones filmed locally. With average temperatures staying in the high teens through October in the coastal south of Croatia, you should still get a sunny greeting before the half-term holidays. Dubrovnik could be the start of a trip along the Adriatic shore to fellow historical magnet Split, or the focus of a smaller break taking in nearby islands too. Five-star Rixos Premium Dubrovnik sprawls adjacent to the turquoise waters, but is just 15-20 minutes on foot to the old town.
7. Siem Reap, Cambodia
The six-month rainy season in Cambodia’s heartland comes to an end in October. If you arrive in the latter part of the month, then with some luck you’ll see the countryside in full emerald brilliance while also benefiting from lower hotel rates, before the beginning of the high season in November. The city of Siem Reap is the gateway to exploring the temples of Angkor, and also the floating villages on the vast lake of Tonle Sap, now at its fullest after the rains. Templation is an oasis midway between central Siem Reap and Angkor Wat, with suites and villas set around a generously sized pool.
8. Inari, Finland
One of the many myths that surround the northern lights is that it must be as cold as possible to get the best display. Really, all that’s needed is darkness and clear skies, plus luck. So if you don’t fancy spending hours outside at about minus 15C, visit in October when temperatures in Finnish Lapland (drier than many other aurora locations) hover just above zero. There may be some early snowfalls, but the lakes won’t be frozen over yet, making for dazzling reflections should the lights appear. Wilderness Hotel Inari looks out on to the island-dotted expanse of Lake Inari, with log cabins and glass-roofed alternatives for possible aurora sightings from your bed.
9. Vienna, Austria
One of the most beloved events of the Viennese calendar falls on the first Saturday in October, when museums across the Austrian capital open through to the small hours during the Lange Nacht der Museen (Long Night of Museums). A single ticket means you can dip in and out as frenetically or as mindfully as you like, with Vienna’s famous coffee houses on standby to provide a starting boost/next-day redemption. For peak efficiency, stay near the museum-rich western part of the Ringstrasse. 25hours Hotel Vienna at MuseumsQuartier is packed full of colourful and eccentric design, only two streets away from the city’s biggest concentration of museums.
10. Gauja and Kemeri National Parks, Latvia
Latvia is off the beaten track for most fans of autumn colour, and up there in the Baltic states the season is usually at its peak in mid-October, if not earlier. While the capital Riga is centrally located for excursions, you can make more of the day by staying close to either of two scenic attractions: Gauja National Park for kayak trips past forested riverbanks and rust-coloured cliffs, or Kemeri National Park for boardwalks or “bog-shoeing” in a strange realm of not-quite-land, dotted with cranberries. Glimpse aristocratic grandeur of two centuries ago at Birinu Pils, a castle hotel in parkland near the western end of Gauja National Park.
11. Albuquerque, New Mexico
In early October, the desert climate of New Mexico’s largest city begins to cool, and creates ideal conditions for the world’s largest balloon festival. Over nine days, more than 500 hot-air balloons rise into the vivid skies of the American southwest at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The spectacle draws crowds, so it’s worth booking well ahead for hotels close to the action, given the dawn starts. Elsewhere, it’s also a pleasant time to visit the state’s art and heritage centres, including Santa Fe and Taos. Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm is a dreamy 1930s-era working ranch in Albuquerque’s north, with 25 acres of lavender fields (peaking in July).
12. Mahé, Seychelles
Monthly temperatures in the Seychelles don’t vary that much, given these Indian Ocean islands’ location near the Equator. However, October usually marks the changeover between the southeast and northwest trade winds, and in the lull it matters less which side of the islands you stay on. While the white sands on Praslin and La Digue get the most camera love, you’ll be flying in to the main island of Mahé in any case, where you’ll find many fine beaches, and forests home to rare species. Story Seychelles is a graceful beach resort in Mahé’s northwest, with the mountainous green backdrop of Morne Seychellois National Park.
13. Somerset and Devon, England
After the bounty of Somerset’s apple orchards is spent, the deeper, darker phase of autumn draws in, with Exmoor National Park the best place to experience it. It’s not just about the changed colours of the landscape; the Exmoor Dark Skies Festival is held over 17 days towards the end of October, with a wide variety of stargazing events taking advantage of this protected area of low light pollution. As well as introductions to astronomy, evenings are devoted to night walks, meeting Exmoor ponies and farm feasts. Dunkery Beacon Country House is an elegant eight-room retreat inland from Minehead, with views over the rolling Exmoor landscape.
14. Petra, Jordan
The ancient Nabataeans, who carved the city of Petra out of rock, were experts at mastering their desert environment. For visitors to Jordan less used to its extremes, October makes the perfect time to visit; no longer as fiery as the summer months, but not yet with the evening chills of winter. The odd rain shower may also bring bursts of greenery. The great majority of visitors stay in the gateway town of Wadi Musa, and enter by the twisting Siq canyon for the big reveal at the end. Petra Guest House Hotel has above-average character (including a bar in an original Nabataean tomb), but the prime advantage is its location as close as possible to the start of the Siq.
15. Rajasthan, India
The main (southwest) monsoon retreats from northern India in October, leaving a land refreshed. In Rajasthan, which has comparatively little rain anyway, temperatures have cooled slightly, and the end of the month brings festivals, overlapping into November depending on the Hindu calendar. As well as the nationwide celebration of Diwali, the Camel fair is one of the biggest events in the region, bringing a cavalcade of colour to a livestock market in an otherwise sleepy town. In the Rajasthani capital Jaipur, the ornate Royal Heritage Haveli is set in an 18th-century former hunting lodge.
16. Alentejo, Portugal
The inland south of Portugal is parched in summer, but its rustic beauty and traditional rhythms come alive in the more forgiving temperatures of autumn. The region’s famous cork oaks have had their renewable bark stripped, to leave deep-red living sculptures. While wine estates are busy, olive growers are preparing for their own harvest at the end of the month. The region might feel remote in parts, but there’s a good selection of imaginative rural hotels, often in historic quintas (estates), to offer a true taste of Alentejo. Sao Lourenco do Barrocal is a family estate dating back 200 years, now equipped with a spa and offering an incredible number of activities.
17. Hervey Bay, Australia
Between July and November each year, Hervey Bay in Queensland becomes a nursery ground for humpbacks that stop here on their annual migration. October is really the end of the season for whale-watching, as most tours stop at the end of the month. But for Brits flying over to Australia, this time of the year benefits from the slightly cheaper airfare of the shoulder season, while temperatures are still manageable before the tropical summer highs. Couple your visit with a trip to nearby K’gari for more wild adventures including camping, hiking and mountain biking. Stay at Ramada by Wyndham Hervey Bay, which mixes resort facilities such as an outdoor pool and restaurant with self-catering apartments.
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