Already thinking of an October trip, but have no idea where you’re going yet? You’re in exactly the right place. This October travel guide rounds up the best places to travel, whatever kind of trip you’re looking for, so you can get inspired for your October trip.

October, IMO, is one of the best months for travel. The summer crowds have thinned out, prices have dropped across half the Northern Hemisphere, and the weather is still mild (with the start of Autumnal colours) before European cosy jumper season is upon us.In the Mediterranean, the sea is still warm from summer, with the sun being less intense, so you get long, chilled beach days without the sunburn or the queues. Southeast Asia’s rainy season is winding down, leaving nature lush and green (stunning!), and at a fraction of the price it’ll be in December.

In the southern hemisphere, spring is properly in swing: Australia‘s wildflowers are out, and the whales are migrating. Meanwhile, up north, October marks the start of aurora season in places like Iceland, and it’s peak trekking season in the Himalayas. Seems almost perfect for any destination you’d like to travel to.

Below, I’ve broken down the best places to travel in October by trip type, so whether you’re after a beach, a mountain, a road trip or a proper party, there’s something for everyone. Let’s get into it.

Best Places to Travel in October

Southeast Asia: Green Season, Empty Beaches

If you’re chasing warmth, jungle and an affordable trip, Southeast Asia in October is high up on the podium. The rainy season is dying down across Thailand, Vietnam and Bali, which means everything is lush and green, waterfalls are at full flow, and rice paddies are practically glowing. Expect warm, humid days in the high 20s to low 30s°C, with the odd short downpour that, an hour later, you won’t have noticed as you are greeted with glorious sunshine. This is genuinely one of the best times of year for it: the crowds aren’t in full swing yet, flights and accommodation are much cheaper, and, as someone who doesn’t like to plan ahead, there’s still space at the last minute.

It’s also one of the best places to travel in October if you’re travelling solo, thanks to a popular backpacker route and a big community of travellers doing exactly what you’re doing. If you are looking for inspiration for the perfect place to travel in Asia, you’ll find it in our 15 best places to travel in Asia guide here.

Greece: The Islands Without the Crowds

Travel to Greece in October is perfect as either a long weekend or a week-long trip. My best advice is to choose the islands without airports. They are slightly trickier to reach by boat, but well worth it, as you’ll come across fewer tourists, meaning more stretches of beach to yourself.

Also, who doesn’t love a more authentic local island experience? The Aegean holds onto its summer warmth well into autumn, so you can still swim comfortably while everyone back home is settling into jumper season. Daytime temperatures sit around 22–25°C, and the islands are seeing less of the tourists compared to the summer season, so you actually get a sun lounger without the 7 am towel-on-the-sun-lounger scramble.

Santorini, Crete and Naxos are all brilliant picks, and prices for flights from the UK, ferries and tavernas drop noticeably once September ends. Best to pair a few island days if you want the full island-hopping experience, flying into Athens, which finally has bearable temperatures.

Portugal: The Ultimate Road Trip Month

A road trip to Portugal in October is everything you’d crave, especially if you want to experience the grape harvest season in the Douro Valley. A Portugal road trip in October doubles as a wine tour, with vineyards hosting tastings and harvest festivals up and down the valley.

Start in Lisbon, wind down through the Alentejo’s cork forests and beautiful villages, and finish on the Algarve coast, where the beaches are still warm enough for a swim but blissfully empty. Year after year, unsurprisingly, it’s ranked among the best places to travel in October for combining culture, food, wine, and coastline into one loop, and it’s great for a mid-range budget, too. The Algarve’s cliffside beaches, like Praia da Marinha, are dramatically quieter once the summer holidays end.

If you are looking to plan a particular route or want all the insider tips, check out our Best things to do on the West Coast of Portugal guide.

Italy: Harvest Season on the Amalfi Coast

If Italy‘s summer crowds have always put you off, October is a perfect window. The Amalfi Coast and Tuscany both shift into harvest mode, with grape and olive picking across the hillsides, and the light turns golden. Temperatures fluctuate around 20–24°C, warm enough for coastal walks and relaxed lunches, cool enough that you won’t be melting into the cobblestones.

This is genuinely one of the best things to do in Italy if food and wine are your thing (definitely mine), since October brings truffle season in Piedmont alongside the grape harvests further south.

Fewer tourists also mean that restaurant bookings, boat trips, and Airbnb prices are lower, so you get more bang for your buck. Truffle hunting tours pick up properly in October, right as the autumn truffle season begins in northern Italy.

Australia: Spring Is Waking Up

While the northern hemisphere cools down, Australia is heading into spring, and October is one of the best times to catch it mid-bloom. Western Australia‘s wildflower season is in full swing, whale migration is still visible along the east coast, and temperatures across most of the country sit in a very pleasant range, not yet the brutal summer heat of December. It’s a great option for anyone who wants to chase the summer season year-round.

Sydney, Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road are all popular hotspots, with long days and manageable crowds before school holidays hit. Travel in Australia in October also tends to be cheaper than the December to February peak, which matters when flights take up a big chunk of the budget.

Nepal: Peak Trekking Season

For hikers, October is genuinely the best month to be in Nepal. The monsoon has cleared, skies are famously sharp and clear, and the Himalayas are beautifully visible differently from the rest of the year.

Daytime trekking temperatures are comfortable, nights get properly cold at altitude, so pack layers. This window also lines up with Dashain and Tihar, two of Nepal’s biggest festivals, giving trekkers a rare chance to experience local celebrations alongside classic routes like the Annapurna Circuit or Everest Base Camp.

It’s one of the best places to travel to in October for an outdoor adventure lover, with the affordability of staying in a teahouse while trekking, it’s still one of the cheapest ways to see the most picturesque Himalayan mountain scenery. A magical country I highly recommend as one of my top 3, and somewhere everyone who loves the outdoors should visit at least once in their life. Nepalese people are among the friendliest and most hospitable, so you’re guaranteed to come out of the trip with friends for life.

Egypt: Red Sea Diving Without the Summer Heat

If diving is the whole point of your trip, October in Egypt is a pretty great spot. The very hot summer heat has eased off, water temperatures in the Red Sea stay warm at around 26–28°C, and visibility is excellent, often 20 metres or more. Hurghada, Dahab, and the liveaboard routes around the Ras Mohammed reefs are all full of reef sharks, dolphins, and huge coral walls, without the busy summer crowds.

It’s also noticeably cheaper than the winter high season, when European divers flock south to escape the cold. This is one of the best things to do in Egypt if you want some great diving without paying sky-high prices. The Red Sea’s coral reefs are some of the most resilient in the world, untouched by the bleaching events affecting reefs elsewhere.

Ibiza: Closing Party Season

Ibiza in October is a different island entirely, and honestly, many who love it say it’s the best time to visit. The peak-season craziness dies down, prices on villas and flights drop, and the island’s biggest clubs go out with a bang through their famous closing parties.

Days are still warm enough for beach time, around 22–24°C, just about hot enough to still swim. It’s a great pick for anyone who wants the party reputation without the July price tag or the queues.

• The Best Things to Do in Ibiza, Spain

USA National Parks: Fall Foliage Road Trip

For a proper USA road trip adventure, the USA’s national parks in October are hard to top. A real bucket-list thing to do, especially if you get to experience the fall foliage peaks across much of the country this month, turning parks like the Great Smoky Mountains, Acadia, and Shenandoah into a beautiful array of oranges and reds.

Temperatures are crisp but ideal for hiking, usually between 10–18°C depending on altitude, and the summer crowds are ending, meaning you have more of the trails to yourself (perfect!). This is one of the best places to travel in October if you want a self-drive trip with really varied scenery, from New England’s forests to the desert canyons of Utah, which are finally cool enough to hike properly.

Check out our guide for top tips for a USA coast-to-coast road trip, as well as the top 15 USA National Parks you must visit to get planning your dream USA National Parks trip.

Iceland: The Start of Northern Lights Season

If you love winter travel, Iceland in October is guaranteed to be the perfect spot for you. This is the first month when the nights are dark enough for a real chance to see the Northern Lights and the island’s unique landscapes, waterfalls, black-sand beaches, and glaciers.

Temperatures sit around 5–10°C, cold but manageable with proper layers (time to get the beanie out, yay!), and the summer tourist rush has fully died down, so the Ring Road feels a little less crowded than usual. It’s one of the best things to do in Iceland for travellers who want a taste of what the country has to offer without committing to a proper Icelandic winter. I speak from experience after visiting in early February and facing challenging driving conditions (think blowing snow and near-zero visibility).

Pair a few nights spent trying to catch the northern lights with a warm-up in one of the country’s many geothermal spots for the full Icelandic experience. Aurora visibility typically starts improving from late August, but October is when nights are consistently dark enough for a strong, reliable chance of seeing them (Finger crossed!).

• Check out our 5-day Iceland Road Trip Itinerary for the perfect trip.

Germany: Oktoberfest and Mountains

Munich in October is loud, golden and exactly as fun as you’d hope. You can still catch Oktoberfest in the first week of the month, meaning you’ll catch the tail end. Think all things beer: tents, bands, and litre steins, included, before the city wraps up Oktoberfest until next year.

Temperatures sit around 10–16°C, crisp autumn weather that’s perfect for wandering through Munich’s old town or taking a day trip to the Bavarian Alps, which are already dusted in snow at higher altitudes. Beyond the festival, this is one of the best things to do in Germany for a budget-friendly city break, with hostels, beer halls, and regional trains all keeping costs down compared to much of Western Europe. It’s an easy one to combine as part of a wider Europe trip too, with fast train links to Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. Some of the most scenic train routes and a very easy way to connect you from city to city.

Japan: Autumnal Colours

Japan in October is where the country’s autumn colours, known as koyo, really start to show, and it’s one of the most beautiful times of year to visit. The heat and humidity of summer have died down, meaning very comfortable days around 15–22°C, ideal for long days walking temple grounds, hiking trails or wandering through cities like Kyoto and Tokyo. That weird in-between bit where you’re not sure if it’s an iced matcha day or a hot matcha day.

Northern regions like Hokkaido see the colours turn first, with the reds and golds making their way south throughout the month, so timing your route north to south can stretch the season out. Usually, you’ll find lots of Japanese autumn trackers online that announce which cities or towns have started to show vibrant colours.

This is one of the best places to travel in October for culture and hiking in a single trip, from the mountain trails around Nikko to the temple gardens of Kyoto, lit up in autumn colour. If you’re planning a longer Japan itinerary, October is a great sweet spot: fewer crowds than the cherry blossom season and noticeably better weather than the summer humidity.

So, which destination pulled you in the most?

That’s our full selection of the best places to travel in October, beaches, mountains, road trips, diving and a couple of good parties in the mix. Whatever kind of traveller you are, there’s a version of October waiting for you somewhere on this list.

Where have you been in October?

Where are the best places to go in October? Anything you’d add to this October destination bucket list?

Charlotte Storey