Autumn is an amazing time of year to travel. Leaves colour the ground in an array of oranges, yellows and reds and the crowds of the summer have since passed. Plus, in most places the temperature is comfortable enough to enjoy without overheating or freezing! Lots of places have special Autumn festivals or particular events, making them an ideal destination for your September or October post-summer break.
Nara, Japan
Nara is Kyoto’s slightly less touristy neighbour, meaning you can get off the beaten track and enjoy Japanese culture. In the Autumn, the temperature has dropped considerably, making it warm in the day and cooler at night. Famous for its deer, no trip outside of your hotel should be complete without feeding a little Bambi. You should take a visit to the Yorkshikien & Isuien Japanese Gardens- there are three gardens, a pond garden, a moss garden and a tea garden and they will be especially picturesque when the red leaves litter the ground. Plus, at certain times you may encounter a Japanese Autumn festival which will take you completely by surprise. Nara Park is also home to various national treasures.
Getting there: The best way to get to Nara is to fly to Osaka. KLM flies here from London with a stopover in Amsterdam.
Bruges, Belgium
Bruges is a beautiful medieval town in Belgium with plenty to do in the Autumn. Wander around the town sipping a cup of Belgian hot chocolate whilst devouring a Belgian waffle. If your legs get tired, why not take a ride on a horse drawn carriage with your loved one. If music’s your bag, visit the Sound Factory and record your own symphony. Another great reason to visit Bruges at this time of year is the range of beautiful outdoor markets, available from the 20th November to the 3rd January.
Getting there: British Airways offers flights to Brussels, where you can travel onwards to Bruges.
Oslo, Norway
Beautiful Oslo has lots to do in Autumn that can help you be at one with nature. Take a boat around the Oslo Fjords and see the different islands, visit Frogner Park with it’s beautiful manor house or walk in the Nordmarka forest. If the indoors is more your thing, why not visit one of the city’s many museums which pay ode to its Viking heritage?
Getting there: You can get a direct flight from London, or from Manchester with a stopover (provided by Air France)
Bavaria, Germany
The Bavaria state is home to many of Germany’s most popular areas, such as Munich, which is itself home of the Oktoberfest beer festival. However, if you’re looking for an alternative to visiting at this incredibly busy time, why not go in late November and visit the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt, an annual Christmas market which is the biggest in Germany. You could also go for a bracing hike in the Bavarian Alps or visit Bavarian Castles, such as Castle Neuschwanstein, which is said to be the inspiration for the famous Disneyworld castle. Bavaria is also the home of the oldest national park in Germany, the Bavarian Forest.
Getting there: Several airlines fly to Nuremberg and Munich, such as KLM, Air France and Swiss Airways.
The Cotswolds, England
We’re sticking to the UK for this next recommendation- The Cotswolds. It doesn’t really matter which part you go to, you’re bound to see stunning leaf displays, especially at the Westonbirt Arboretum, a trail covered Victorian landscape. There are also plenty of shopping towns such as Cheltenham, with designer boutiques and bargains to be had. You could also explore Chipping Campden, one of England’s most stunning towns.
Getting there: Due to the sheer scale of the Cotswolds, car hire, such as the one provided by Avis, is recommended.
Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm really comes to life in the Autumn. Take a walking tour around Gamla stan, one of the best preserved medieval city centres in Europe. A Swedish tradition is Fika, where you sit down in a coffee shop and enjoy a coffee, pie and catch up with your friends, so make plenty of time for this during your stay. In November, there’s the 10 day Stockholm Film Festival which attracts indie filmmakers from all over the world. A traditional winter drink is Glogg, the Swedish alternative to mulled wine, so expect to consume lots of this if you travel in the later months of the year.
Getting there: Flights to Stockholm often come with an overnight layover in Brussels, so make sure you book a hotel, using LateRooms.com.
Boston, USA
New England is essentially synonymous with Autumn, or as the Americans call it, ‘fall’. Grab a steaming hot cup of cocoa and wander around the Haymarket farmers market. In late November, you can take part in free stargazing nights at the Boston University observatory. If sport is something you enjoy, you can take a guided tour around Fenway Park. Boston is also famous for it’s corn mazes which are fun for all the family.
Getting there: Take a transatlantic flight to Boston via Virgin Atlantic or Delta Airlines.
Montreal, Canada
No Autumn destination list could be complete without Canada. For outdoor activities, walk on Mount Royal, a slightly volcanic mountain! If you’re in town between the 11th-21st November, you may want to attend the Documentary Film Festival. Alternatively, you could also go to the Gardens of Light festival and let off a Chinese lantern- this occurs between September 11th and November 1st. Montreal Fashion Week also takes place during October 13th-15th, and unlike the other fashion weeks, members of the general public can attend. Depending on the time you go, you might want to go apple picking one on of the many farms and have a picnic in the orchard.
Getting there: There are several domestic airlines which fly to Montreal, such as British Airways.
Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul may not seem like a typical Autumn destination, but the severe heat of the summer has cooled and the sun seeking crowds have dispersed, making it ideal. The Autumn is a festival of colour, particularly in Gulhane Park where the amber trees pave the way. After a walk, warm up with a cup of steaming Turkish tea and a piece of yummy Baklava. If you like jazz music, the perfect time to visit is October 21st, when the Akbank Jazz Festival takes place until November 1st. If you fancy venturing onto the seas, why not enjoy a sightseeing cruise up the Bosphorus Straight.
Getting there: Turkish Airlines is often the cheapest way to get from the UK to Istanbul.
Transylvania, Romania
Transylvania is famous as the home of Dracula, despite the inspiration behind the story, Vlad the Impaler, never visiting there. Instead, you’ll find fairytale villages and tall castles. Most famous is Bran Castle, also known as Dracula’s Castle, and it is well worth a visit. If you like wildlife, you should also visit the Retezat National Park, where you can find 50 species of mammal such as a brown bear or wolves. If you like racing, the Transfagarasan Highway is one of the most famous roads in the world, but it does shut before the weather gets bad. Lastly. a trip to the Rasnov Fortress is well worth it if you want to step into a medieval fantasy and imagine yourself as a knight looking over his town.
Getting there: To get to Transylvania, you’ll have to fly to nearby Bucharest, with the likes of British Airways and then hire a car from Europcar.
