CNN
—
It was summer when everyone went to Europe. And now it’s autumn, when the continent comes into its own as the leaves – and visitor numbers – begin to dwindle.
A recent report from the luxury travel network Virtuoso named Paris, London and Florence as the most booked cities for fall travel. But others destinations often overlooked by Americans during the autumn months they offer the opportunity to escape the crowds and experience something seasonal and exceptional.
“Fall is one of the best times to visit Europe because of the wide variety of interests (the season) can accommodate,” says Mina Agnos, president of a luxury travel company. Traveler.
Beaches and temperatures remain warm for travelers looking for beach time in classic destinations in Spain, Portugal and Turkey, she says. And foodies get their fill of the intersection of fall festivals and harvest time across Europe – from truffle hunting in Croatia to olive harvesting in Greece to vineyard festivals in Sicily . Autumn is also ideal for more active travel, says Agnos, whether it’s hiking in Spain and harvesting chestnuts in Slovenia, or watching raptor and stork migrations around the Strait of Gibraltar.
Also consider island getaways. Places like Tenerife, Ibiza and Mallorca are crowded in summer but relax in autumn.
“The Canary Islands have always been great from mid-September to mid-December, when there are good flight options and fewer crowds, making for a more relaxed travel experience,” says Brian Young, Director general EMEA at G Adventures. Consider relaxing on the golden beaches of Gran Canaria or trying something more active like a hiking and wine tasting to Tenerife for an ideal trip in October.
If you’re ready to experience Europe differently this fall, we have ideas.
The Douro Valley, known for port production, is the obvious choice for fall in Portugal. But head instead to the Alentejo region, the rural heart of Portugal. Here you can see Roman remains in its UNESCO-protected capital Évora, take a road trip through peaceful countryside planted with cork oaks and olive trees, and enjoy the wild coastline.
“The unspoiled Atlantic coastline offers miles of unspoiled beaches and is popular for surfing, with the best waves from fall to spring,” says Sérgio Duarte, general manager of Octant Évoraa hotel located on 30 acres just outside of town that offers fall activities like hot air balloon rides, stargazing, and picnics on the plains.
“What I personally enjoy about fall is the way the golden light reflects off the cornfields, inviting you to gaze and rest after a busy summer season,” he says.
coberschneider/RooM RF/Getty Images
The typical pink glow of the Dolomites added autumnal colors.
In autumn, in the Dolomites mountains of northern Italy, the changing leaves compete with the enrosadira – the alpenglow – as the setting sun hits the mountains at just the right angle, making them glow pink.
It’s a feast for the senses in Val Gardena, whether you’re hiking mountain trails in the UNESCO-listed landscapes of Puez-Odle National Park or sampling South Tyrolean dishes and local Ladin cuisine during a three-week meal. festival, Culinarium Urtijeiin the village of Ortisei.
Surrounded by a park in Ortisei, a stay in ADLER Spa Resort Dolomites lets you explore the area on e-bikes and enjoy the resort’s wellness offerings – saunas, salt caves and an outdoor pool – in the fresh autumn air.
Spend Halloween at “Dracula’s Castle” is just one reason to consider visiting Romania in the fall, says Christopher Hill of Hands raised for the holidayswhich offers volunteer trips that could allow you to contribute to conservation efforts for rescued bears in Brasov or dance alongside local shepherds at a Transylvanian dairy festival.
In addition to the changing leaves of fall, the season hosts all kinds of foodie events. “Fresh produce is in abundance and many villages preserve the tradition of celebrating the harvest with local festivals to recognize the locals and what they have produced – mainly apples, pears, pumpkins and grapes,” says Hill .
He cites the Chestnut Festival in October in Baia Mare and the Cabbage Festival in the Saxon village of Moșna among the autumn gastronomic events in Romania for planning a trip.
Holger Leue/The previously unpublished image bank/Getty Images
Autumn is the ideal time for cycling in Mallorca.
Mallorcan locals will tell you that the Balearic island is best enjoyed outside of the extremely hot and hectic summer months. In October, temperatures are still in the 70s F (early 20s C), making it idyllic for cycling and walking routes that pass historic castles, lighthouses, and quiet coves.
For an adults-only stay in a 17th century manor house, Can Auli in the village of Pollença, in the north of Mallorca, promises a quiet escape with just 21 rooms. All food served on site comes from a local farmer who delivers organic produce from a nearby farm each morning. When you want to enjoy the nightlife that the island is famous for, try Lío Majorcaa cabaret show and club which has recently expanded from its original location in Ibiza to Palma.
Greece’s second city is located on the Thermaic Gulf, opening onto the Aegean Sea. Famous for its vast culinary offerings, it is also largely bypassed by American tourists who bypass it to travel the islands to places like Mykonos and Santorini.
Jack Ezon EMBARK Beyond This seems like the perfect time to visit the Greek city at the gateway to the Balkans – not for its beaches but for “a great city rich in Jewish history” with one of the best food scenes in southern Europe.
In October and November, venture out of town to admire the changing leaves along the hiking trails near Mount Olympus, 90 minutes southwest of Thessaloniki.
Wojciech-P/iStockphoto/Getty Images
Malta is a diving paradise, with wrecks to explore.
The Mediterranean archipelago of Malta – made up of three inhabited islands, Malta, Gozo and Comino – is another scorching summer region that is much more pleasant to visit once the temperatures drop. Malta is always popular with divers which explore the many WWII shipwrecks offshore, as well as the Blue Hole – a 50-foot-deep tube-shaped rock formation filled by the sea, with an arch and cave at the bottom; and underwater visibility is clearer in fall than in summer, says PADI spokeswoman Samantha Pearson.
Valletta, Malta’s compact capital and UNESCO World Heritage Site, is at its peak in early October. Sleepless night festival. During the nighttime celebrations, the city’s museums and palaces open their doors to host exhibitions and theatrical performances, while the city’s magnificent squares fill with music, dancing and food stalls.
The Portuguese volcanic island located about 400 miles west of Morocco is best known for its fortified wines. But visit Madeira in the fall and you’ll be there in time for harvest season in the many vineyards, lower hotel prices, and an ocean that remains mild enough for pleasant swimming until October.
On the north coast, go hiking along the many levadas (historic irrigation canals) or visit the wine wellness retreat at Terrabonne, where villas and a vineyard are located high in the mountains. It opened in 2023.
In the capital Funchal, Savoy Palace features a pool on the 17th floor with ocean and mountain views. Shopping and nightlife are just a few minutes’ walk away.
Valéry Bareta/Alamy Stock Photo
Baden-Baden is a quiet place in the fall.
Once a German summer retreat for Belle Époque European royals, politicians and writers, Baden-Baden arguably has even more appeal in autumn, with epic views of the Rhine Valley and the Forest. Black surroundings as the leaves begin to burn with color.
Fall temperatures are ideal for soaking your bones after a hike in Baden-Baden’s many thermal springs like those in Caracalla Baths or the Roman-Irish bathing oasis at Friedrichsbadwhich opened its doors in 1877.
Autumn also means grape harvest time in Rebland, a region southwest of Baden-Baden famous for its Riesling. Stop at a winery like Nägels Forest to taste the products, as well as local specialties like Zwiebelkuchen (onion tart).
