October holidays

Where to go in October: sun, cities or a bit of both

Where should you go this October?

October pulls Europe in two directions at once. The south is still warm enough to burn your shoulders on a beach towel, while further north the light turns amber, the cafes fill up indoors, and a coat finally earns its place in your suitcase. Working out where to go usually comes down to which of those two pulls harder.

Chasing the sun, or embracing the chill?

Whichever way you lean, October rewards you. The summer crowds have gone home, flights and hotels cost noticeably less than they did in August, and you can actually get near the front of the queue at the sights everyone else photographs in July. From here, deciding where to go in October is mostly a question of what kind of trip you're picturing: one more week of sun, or the first proper taste of autumn.

The best places to travel in October, whatever mood you're in

One last taste of summer

These three still have summer in their bones. Pack for heat, not layers, because the beach is still very much on the table.

Seville

Seville barely notices autumn's arrived: daytime highs are still around 27°C, so pack sunglasses, not a jumper. The Alcázar's tiled courtyards and the cathedral's bell tower draw the crowds back the moment the worst of the August heat lifts, so book tickets ahead.

Flights to Seville Hotels in Seville

Valencia

The sea is still warm enough to swim in early October, with highs around 23°C and just enough breeze to make the promenade bearable at midday. The City of Arts and Sciences looks sharper against a clear autumn sky, though the beachfront still fills up fast on a sunny weekend.

Flights to Valencia Hotels in Valencia

Barcelona

Barcelona barely dips below 20°C in October, so a morning on the beach and an afternoon wandering Gaudí's rooftops both stay on the table. It's busier than the other two here, since this city never really slows down, even off season.

Flights to Barcelona Hotels in Barcelona

The sweet spot for a city break

Warm enough to eat outside at lunch, cool enough to spend all afternoon on your feet without wilting. This is October weather doing exactly what it does best.

Rome

At 23°C by day, October is one of the kindest months to stand in line for the Colosseum or wander St Peter's Square without wilting. Evenings drop to about 15°C, cool enough that the piazzas empty out and dinner outside needs a jacket.

Flights to Rome Hotels in Rome

Madrid

Madrid swaps summer's brutal 35°C for a far gentler 20°C in October, the kind of weather that makes the Prado and Retiro Park worth lingering in rather than rushing through. Evenings turn sharply cold, so don't leave the hotel without something warm.

Flights to Madrid Hotels in Madrid

Milan

Milan settles to a comfortable 19°C in October, easy walking weather for a day around the Duomo and the Galleria without July's crowds or heat. Fashion week lands in some Octobers, which can push hotel prices up overnight, so check the dates first.

Flights to Milan Hotels in Milan

Cooler days, better light

Rain is part of the deal here, but so is that particular low, amber light that only shows up once summer's properly over, plus shorter queues and warmer interiors to duck into.

London

London in October is all about the light: low, golden and gone by early evening. The parks turn every shade of amber, the rain arrives without warning at around 15°C, and the museums and West End shows give you somewhere dry and warm to disappear into.

Flights to London Hotels in London

Paris

Paris cools to about 16°C by day and 12°C by night, with rain a near-daily companion. In return you get the Seine and the Tuileries under a blaze of autumn colour, and a queue at the Louvre that's finally short enough to bother joining.

Flights to Paris Hotels in Paris

Amsterdam

Amsterdam's canals look their absolute best framed by turning leaves, though October also brings out the city's damp, grey side, with highs closer to 14°C. The Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum are the obvious places to wait out a shower.

Flights to Amsterdam Hotels in Amsterdam

Big cities, small crowds

This is the month these cities get quietly, properly cheap. Fewer visitors, lower hotel rates, and enough breathing room to actually enjoy them.

Prague

Prague turns cold fast in October, down to highs around 13°C, with the first frost sometimes arriving before the month is out. What you get back is Charles Bridge and the Old Town Square without the summer crush, and hotel rates that drop to match.

Flights to Prague Hotels in Prague

Budapest

At around 17°C, Budapest's October air is exactly cool enough to make its thermal baths feel like a genuine escape rather than a novelty photo stop. Buda Castle and the Parliament building are easier to take in properly once the tour groups thin out.

Flights to Budapest Hotels in Budapest

Bucharest

Bucharest's October weather, a comfortable 19°C, suits its wide boulevards and green parks well. It's still far enough off most people's radar that hotel prices stay noticeably lower for a similar standard of city.

Flights to Bucharest Hotels in Bucharest

Somewhere a little different

Not the first names on anyone's list, but each of these has a genuinely good reason to visit specifically in October.

Istanbul

Istanbul holds onto more heat than almost anywhere else on this list, with highs around 20°C, warm enough for a Bosphorus cruise at sunset or a few unhurried hours lost in the Grand Bazaar. Keep the sunscreen in your bag, not your suitcase.

Flights to Istanbul Hotels in Istanbul

Vienna

Vienna cools to about 18°C by day and 11°C by night, precisely the kind of weather that makes wandering Schönbrunn Palace's gardens, then retreating to a coffee house for something warm, feel like the whole point of the trip.

Flights to Vienna Hotels in Vienna

Brussels

Brussels tends to be grey and mild, rarely climbing above 12°C in October, and that's honestly part of its charm. It's the perfect excuse to spend a slow afternoon indoors over melted chocolate and warm waffles instead of racing between sights.

Flights to Brussels Hotels in Brussels

How to bag a cheap October holiday

Pick your mood before you pick a place

Once you know whether you want lingering summer heat or a cooler city break, you can narrow the list fast instead of comparing flights to everywhere at once.

Book before half-term hits

If your dates fall in the October half-term week, book earlier than you think you need to. Prices for flights and hotels climb fast once schools break up.

Dodge half-term by a day or two

Travelling just outside half-term, even by a couple of days, tends to bring prices down noticeably.

Bundle your flight and hotel

Booking your flight and hotel together with eDreams usually costs less than booking each separately.

Still deciding? Set a price alert

If you haven't settled on one destination yet, set price alerts on a shortlist of two or three with eDreams. We'll tell you when one of them drops.

Let eDreams handle the boring bits

We're not going to pretend the whole trip plans itself, but choosing a destination shouldn't be the hard part. Here's what makes it easier.

All-in-one platform

Flights, hotels, holiday packages and hire cars, side by side, so you can compare across all four before you book.

Exclusive deals with eDreams Prime

An eDreams Prime subscription unlocks extra savings on the flights and hotels you were going to book anyway.

24/7 support

If something changes after you've booked, our support team is reachable at any hour.

Flexible options

Choose flexible fares and bookings when your October dates aren't fully locked in yet.

Ready to book your October getaway?

Compare flights and hotels across the best places to travel in October, all in one search.

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FAQs

Where should I go in October?

It depends on what you want from the trip. For guaranteed sun, stick to southern Spain, Sicily or Turkey. For a cooler city break with fewer crowds, cities like Prague, Vienna or London are at their best this time of year.

Where's still warm enough for a beach holiday in October?

Southern Spain, the Canary Islands, Cyprus and Malta all still reach the mid-20s in October, so a beach holiday is still realistic if you pick the right spot.

Is October a good time to travel?

Yes. Prices drop once the summer peak ends, the worst of the crowds thin out, and most of Europe still has decent weather for sightseeing.

Is it cheaper to travel in October than in summer?

Generally yes. October falls outside the main summer season, so flights, hotels and package holidays are usually more competitively priced.

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