Best Places to Travel in the Month of October
By the time October rolls around, the air is just cool enough to tempt a suitcase out of storage. Many places even clear up for the final stretch of the year. That sweet spot—right before winter sets in but after summer’s rush—is when places across the world hit their stride. These destinations make the most of it.
Kyoto, Japan
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October signals the first blush of fall in Kyoto. It’s also a lively time for festivals, including Jidai Matsuri, a historical parade that highlights over a thousand years of imperial style.
New South Wales, Australia
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It’s early spring in this part of the Southern Hemisphere, and wildflowers steal the spotlight along bushwalking trails. The Blue Mountains bloom back to life, and inland national parks stay comfortably warm. Whale-watching ramps up along the coast, too.
Fez, Morocco
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October still offers a sensory overload in Morocco with bright spices, hammered brass, and calls to prayer, but with less heat pressing down. Architecture buffs have centuries to scan, from the Al-Attarine Madrasa to the Bou Inania’s woodwork. Even the tanneries, while pungent as ever, feel less intense under cooler skies.
New Mexico, USA
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Albuquerque’s sky looks like a painter went rogue with a box of crayons—hundreds of hot-air balloons launch during the annual Balloon Fiesta. Farther north, Taos and Santa Fe trade bright light for softer shadows, and adobe towns glow warmly in the early sunset.
Le Marche, Italy
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October is truffle season in Le Marche, and towns like Urbino and Ascoli Piceno hold food fairs to celebrate it. Vineyards are active with harvest, and the Monti Sibillini trails are calm and clear for hiking. The region is quieter than Tuscany, so it’s easier to enjoy meals and local markets without heavy tourist traffic.
Seoul, South Korea
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Cool weather and autumn colors make Gyeongbokgung Palace and other landmarks especially striking during this time of the year. Street vendors sell seasonal snacks like roasted chestnuts, and cafés shift to warm drinks. For day trips, Nami Island offers bright foliage, and Bukhansan National Park provides some of the best hiking near the city.
Montenegro
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Summer on the Adriatic is packed and pricey, but by fall the coast is calmer while still warm enough for outdoor cafés and seaside walks. Inland, the mountains cool down into comfortable hiking weather, and Durmitor National Park shows off its ridges and glacial lakes without the crowds.
Toronto, Canada
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Forests around the city, including trails at Dundas Peak, turn bright red and gold during fall. The weather stays cool but comfortable, and neighborhoods like Kensington Market and Queen West remain busy with shops, cafés, and cultural events.
Tōhoku, Japan
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While Kyoto and Tokyo get most of the international spotlight, Tōhoku in northern Japan has one of the best fall landscapes. Naruko Gorge bursts into color mid-month, and onsen villages like Nyuto become a warm retreat against crisp mountain air. Seafood is at its best, especially mackerel and squid.
Oaxaca City, Mexico
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This highland city in southern Mexico starts preparing for Día de los Muertos by late October, but even earlier weeks are full of activity. Markets are full to the brim with marigolds, papel picado, and sugar skulls. Daytime temperatures stay pleasant, and the food scene is as vibrant as ever with mole, tlayudas, and mezcal.
Paris, France
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Cafés have seats again, and museums become easier to wander without lines. October is also a good time to explore the city’s gardens, like Jardin du Palais Royal.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Gloomy skies don’t bother Amsterdam. Cooler air and shorter days mean plenty of excuses to linger inside brown cafés or museums. Fall colors line the canals, and the Nine Streets shopping area stays lively.
Antwerp, Belgium
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Antwerp’s Gothic skyline and cobbled lanes take on a moody color in October, especially as clouds drift over the cathedral spires. Chocolate shops are refuges against the chill, and cafés serve hot drinks. It’s the shoulder season, which makes hotel stays more reasonable.
Barcelona, Spain
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Even as the beach crowd thins, Barcelona doesn’t slow down. The mild weather suits city wandering and plaza lounging. You can stroll the waterfront without elbowing through people or duck into a tapas bar for hot churros dipped in thick chocolate.
Seychelles
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Whale sharks migrate through the area around this time, which draws underwater photographers and marine life watchers. Temperatures stay warm but not punishing, and accommodations cost less than in high season. With fewer crowds, the white sand beaches actually feel wide open, which is a rarity for anywhere this beautiful.
Southwest England
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October suits this part of England. Long drives through Dartmoor and Cornwall bring rolling hills and pub lunches by a fireplace. Historic sites like Avebury and Montacute are still open but mostly tourist-free. The South West Coast Path offers scenic hikes without summer’s heat.
Kazakhstan
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Almaty and its surrounding mountains have become a photographer’s dream in October. The Tian Shan range lights up with color, and Big Almaty Lake mirrors the peaks in icy blue. There’s little tourist traffic this time of year, so it’s a chance to explore Silk Road sites.
Greece
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Santorini and Athens are quieter than in summer, but ferries continue to run and tavernas remain open. The sea is still warm for swimming, and inland hikes through olive groves are easier in cooler weather.
Portugal
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Lisbon’s trams keep climbing and rattling along, but the city is easier to explore without rushing. Parks like Jardim da Estrela or the hills of Alfama come alive with leaf color and early sunsets. It’s also grape harvest time in the Douro Valley.
Uzbekistan
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Heat fades across Uzbekistan’s Silk Road cities, and October brings dry, clear days for walking through centuries of tilework. Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva show off their turquoise domes and quiet courtyards.