Best Countries To Visit In October & November

Planning A Trip In October, November? Here’s our list of best countries to visit in October

The month of Halloween or Samhain Eve (summer’s end), Oktoberfest and mostly red autumn leaves, October is a brilliant blast of colours in most Northern Hemisphere countries. Known for the transitional season of autumn, the one where rains recede, air dries and trees shed their leaves to prepare for a long, lazy winter. Some of the best countries to visit during the month of October are Turkey, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Mauritius, Bhutan and France among others. Iceland is a very special place in this month as Northern Lights are easily visible, and also for longer durations; while Scotland is home to such magical Celtic rituals on Samhain Eve (Halloween) that make your head turn. Have a glance through the list we have compiled below and choose for yourself which country and which culture will make your autumn holiday memorable this year.

You’re sure to find more than a few!

Croatia

Croatia is a precious part of Eastern Europe, located on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It is home to almost a thousand islands and makes for one of the most coveted tourist attractions for its Dynamic Alps, the medieval charisma of its capital city Zagreb, the stone-walled city by Adriatic- that is Dubrovnik, a whole lot of museums and the breath-taking Gothic architecture with a renaissance touch on its coastal cities. October becomes a good time to visit Croatia for the smooth sailing weather that the country sees in this month. Humidity remains low and rain only picks up as the month goes by. 11 rainy days and 11 hours of daylight in Dubrovnik, isn’t that the perfect combination?

Things to Do:

Start your trip by taking a tour of the Plitvice Lakes National Park, known for its natural wonders that are the chain of 16 terraced lakes, majestic waterfalls and the huge limestone canyon. You can also set aside a weekend for the islands and go to Hvar island in the Adriatic Sea for a relaxed time, to explore its 13th-century walls, fortresses and the quaint Renaissance architecture. You can also visit beaches like Dubovica. There is also the island of Vis, Brac, Korkula, Krk, Rab, Cres etc. And the history buffs could visit Diocletian’s Palace, Euphrasian Basilica, Cathedral of St. Domnius and St. James Cathedral.

Portugal

The home of ‘Port’ or Porto Wine, Europe’s oldest country, Portugal is a marvel of Europe, situated at its south-eastern side. A trip to this country is bound to be an eclectic mix of ancient history, architecture that has survived time, beaches that make you go swooning, churches with bells and towers and of course, FOOTBALL. October holidays are generally very pleasing in Portugal, with an average day high of 23ºC, while temperatures fall to 15ºC at night. It is autumn but mild rain can be expected, not enough to distort your plans though.

Things to Do:

There are quite a few great places in Portugal worth your time, starting from the medieval haunts to the ones that have adapted to the modern era. Explore Lisbon, the capital city, take heritage walks in Baixa district and the city centre. In Porto, visit the Douro river, traipse down the seaside suburbs which feel right out of a renaissance dream, and hop across the swelling collection of contemporary cafes, chic restaurants and bars. Spend a weekend at Madeira Island, visit the Estádio Municipal de Braga and listen to music in Fado Bars. For Harry Potter fans, visit Livraria Lello bookstore, inspired by Hogwarts.

Italy

The home of Pizzas, Pastas and Rome, Italy is one of the most famous European holiday destinations in the world. With the bounty bestowed upon it by nature as well as a trail of ancient historic heritage it holds in its buildings, monuments and statues, Italy is really a feast for the senses. October becomes a beautiful month to explore the wonders of Italy, with summer trailing into a cool autumn. With 7-18°C temperature range and mild rainfall, this makes for some pretty stunning weather.

Things to Do:

Explore the city of Rome, which undoubtedly wasn’t built in a day! Visit the Colosseum and Trevi fountain, Roman Forum, St. Peter’s Basilica; lunch at chic cute cafes, enjoy thick gelato walking down the cobbled streets of Rome and make sure to visit the Vatican City. Florence is another beautiful destination for history and renaissance, the city of Da Vinci and the wealthy banker rulers – Medici (15th Century). This city is filled with David’s famous sculptures, the Duomo and the Uffizi Gallery. Venice is another marvel, the city of canals that boasts of Gondola rides, while Milan is the fashion capital of Italy. Also check out the Leaning Tower of Pisa, spend some leisure time at the ‘Isle of Capri’ and Lake Como and finally, explore the ruins of the ancient city of Pompeii. Sicily is another great island to visit, as is the Amalfi coast.

Scotland

Scotland has been an integral part of the United Kingdom ever since the bloody battle of Culloden fought between the British and the Scottish Jacobites in 1746. The lyrical green glens and rocky cold highlands filled with mud and rains, streams and stories are what weave together a Scotland that is as stuck in the warp of time as it has evolved in the 21st Century. In the month of October, Scotland sees its summer season trail quietly into autumn and temperatures drop from a cheery 20°C to a chilly 9°C by the end of the month. In October the crowd starts thinning and hence makes for some open, empty tourist spots and discounted rates wherever you go.

31st October marks the eve of Samhain festival (Halloween) and has ancient roots in Celtic traditions. All houses in Scotland light up huge bonfires in front of their homes to ward off the ghosts of the dead, turnips are scooped to lit lanterns (the older version of American pumpkin) and the season of summer and harvest is said to end, to give way to the season of cold, dark winter.

Things to Do:

Visit the Cairngorms and Northwest Highlands, sit by the Loch Ness (lake) and listen to the story of the Loch Ness monster. Loch Lomond is another great lake. Do also explore the spellbinding Isle of Skye. To witness the horror of the battle of Culloden, visit the Culloden moor, the place where British Redcoats slaughtered the highlanders. The museum there is a reminder of Scottish valour. Tour the cities of Inverness and Glasgow and enjoy some amazing Whiskey. There is also the Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh castle and Princess Street in Edinburgh. Also, don’t miss the specially arranged Outlander Tours, showing you through the many locations of the renowned Netflix show Outlander. To know the Scots better, head to local pubs or bars and chat up with the locals for stories of faeries, changelings and elves.

Turkey

Turkey is a delightful mix of eastern and western ways of life, with an ages-old culture that was influenced by Islam as well as Christianity; Turks, Assyrians as well as Romans. Turkey today is what once was the ‘Ottoman Empire,’ with its modern capital Ankara and the ancient capital Istanbul. October in Turkey marks an average of 16ºC, hence a summery autumn. Evenings get chilly while rain is infrequent (10 days), with 6 hours of sunshine.

Things to Do:

Visit the 17th century blue mosque called Hagia Sophia. Once a Greek orthodox Basilica, it later fell in the hands of the Ottoman Empire and became a mosque. Today it is a museum. Also worth exploring is the Topkapı Palace, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Grand bazaars in the old market and Spice bazar selling exotic spices, dried fruits, nuts, ethnic jewellery, souvenirs and the famous Turkish coffee. Other attractions include Ankara Castle, Pamukkale town and Hierapolis (an ancient Roman spa city). Head to Cappadocia in central Anatolia for beauty that is unparalleled and Mardin for clear cobalt skies and mustard coloured mountains.

France

The synonym to Louis Vuitton, Ives Saint Laurent, Eiffel Tower and wine, France is a country that truly leaves its guests smitten. Touted as the fashion capital of the world, this country is known for its sexy language and passionate people. October becomes the peak of fall/autumn in France, a very cool time with average temperature of 14°C, that gradually drops to about 9 by the month end. This time of the season is also known for harvest of grapes and hence there is an abundance of wine harvest and food festivals.

Things to Do:

Go sightseeing in the capital of France – Paris; from the Eiffel Tower and Louvre Museum to Notre Dame and the Palace of Versailles, there is just too much history and heritage from centuries to reap here. Take a walk down the many streets and high fashion shops of Paris. In this month of harvest, go for wine tasting in the French Alps or cheese tasting in Burgundy. Explore Lyon’s Roman theatre, ancient drawings of Lascaux and lots more. Nice is another great city for its stretches of pebbled beaches and great French cuisine. The French Riviera must also be on your list, as well as Moulin Rouge. Disneyland in Paris is also highly coveted by one and sundry.

And for those who have been fans of the Tin Tin comics, Corsica is another must-visit town in France.

Mauritius

Mauritius is a gorgeous beach paradise, a small island nation perched in the Indian Ocean, renowned world over for its pristine sands, cobalt blue waters and luxury beach resorts. The month of October in Mauritius is characterised by gradual rising of day temperature, daily highs of 25°C and lows of 20°C. This is also one of the driest months of the year and the quiet transition from winter to summer. Beach hopping, shopping, foodgasm, spas, water sports; all of it is exceptionally experienced in this month when the temperatures are neither too hot, nor too cold.

Things to Do:

Beaches are not even a tenth of all the fun activities that Mauritius has in store for you. You should visit the Bois Cheri Tea Plantations, explore its soft, fresh scents of tea and mud, taste some tea and pick up small packs as souvenirs. Take yourself scuba diving and kite surfing in Belle Mare, go snorkelling in the Blue Bay Marine Park and cave sea kayaking in Albion Caves. There are also some great opportunities for horse riding at Riambel Beach and luxury cruises. There is Mauritius National Botanical Garden, Chamarel Village, EarthTamarin Bay and underwater sea walk at Grand Bay. You can take seaplane rides that take off from Albatross and give you a stunning bird’s eye tour of the many beautiful wonders of Mauritius.

Iceland

Iceland is the origin of the Norse myths, as well as the fabled vikings. It is the land of lots of ice and volcanic fires, a real paradox of sorts. The landscape is utterly gorgeous, giving you Game of Thrones vibes, leaving you speechless at its sheer natural opulence. The country has a string of geysers, hot springs and Lava fields, not to mention frozen rivers in this season. In the month of October, summer comes to an end here, and winter spreads its icy fangs. The average temperature touches 4°C and average precipitation is 77mm. But what redeems this fact is the brilliant shower of Northern Lights that you can see in the skies at this time, quite easily, we must add.

Things to Do:

Visit the Snæfellsjökull and Vatnajökull National Park, which are two protected areas for glaciers. You might even feel you are standing on the night’s watch somewhere near the Great Wall in Game of Thrones. You also get to visit Thingvellir, the actual filming location of HBO’s Game of Thrones.

Now comes the legendary Northern lights or Aurora Borealis. You can spot them in the skies of Reykjavik, although a better and more sure shot way would be to travel to a place with less pollution and no lights, like Seltjarnarnes or Faxafloi Bay. Visit Puffin Island (Akurey and Lundey), only half a mile away from Reykjavik for a colony of cuddly Puffins. Other tourist attractions are Dynjandi Waterfall, Hornstrandir Nature Reserve and Valley of Thor for hiking. The Peace Tower makes for great sightseeing. The beginning of October also means that most migratory animals are on their way to Iceland, hence you can head to Faxaflói Bay to spot some gorgeous humpbacks, whales and dolphins.

Bhutan

Bhutan is the kind of country that measures it growth not by GDP but by GNH (Gross National Happiness). A hilly landscape that was once torn by battle and blood so thick that made this place inhabitable, Bhutan was later chosen by Buddhist monks to settle and meditate. Over centuries, the land was sanctified and peaceful vibes prevailed again. Today it is just as beautiful, tranquil and reflective. October is one of the best months to visit Bhutan, especially because the weather is so good. 25°C and long sunny days make Bhutan ideal for trekking, sightseeing and the major festival of Thimphu Tshechu.

Things to Do:

Take a tour of the famous Paro Taktsang monastery (Tiger’s Nest) and the Paro valley. There are many other trekking opportunities as this land is known for that sport, namely, Druk Path Trek, Snowman Trek, Nabji Korphu Trek, Jomolhari Trek etc. You can also try kayaking at Paro Valley, Trongsa and Punakha Valley. River rafting is popular in Po Chu River, while rock climbing in Thimphu. The country is also home to a string of hot springs, like Gasa Tshachus, Duenmang Tshachu and Gelephu Tshachu. You can also go bird watching, ideally to Phobjikha Valley, Bumthang, Bomdeling, Trongsa, Tingtibi and Punakha.

For those who are looking forward to some tranquil, reflective time for yourself in Bhutan, almost most hotels, monasteries and temples offer yoga and meditation with guided sessions.

Seychelles

Seychelles is an archipelago (collection) of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, just off East Africa. The country is home to many beaches, coral reefs and natural reserves, including rare animals like the giant Aldabra tortoises. Seychelles also boasts of mountain rainforests and the Seychellois National Park. October is a very pleasant month in Seychelles, travel-wise. But it is very wet, one of the wettest in fact, and hence rains can disturb some of your plans. However, with a temperature range of 24-30°C, this place is still great for touristy things.

Things to Do:

Some of the best islands in Seychelles are those that have the least infrastructure. Like the La Digue island, almost like a dragonfly caught in amber, preserved in time. It barely has any vehicles or paved roads or infrastructure. But the untouched, pristine beaches take your breath away. You must also try Curieuse Island for its giant tortoises, as well as Praslin Island, which is home to Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve (a nature park and UNESCO World Heritage Site). Other islands popular here are North Island, Frégate Island and Félicité. Seychelles National Botanical Gardens on Mahé is also a great bet.