Fall Travel Destinations: Where to Travel in Fall? Our 12 Best Tips

Our 12 Fall Travel Destinations at a Glance

We’ll kick things off with a table. We’ve packed all our favorite fall travel destinations in there, along with notes on how warm each one is. That way you can pick a destination and jump straight into planning your trip.

After that, we’ll take a closer look at each destination.

Sicily

• Average temperature in fall: 64–77°F (18–25°C)
• Type of trip: Road trip, nature and active vacation
• Why in fall? The sea is still warm enough for swimming, and you’ll have pleasant temperatures to explore cities like Palermo or Catania.

Fall is a seriously beautiful time to visit Sicily. The sea is still pleasantly warm and the tourist crowds are gone — it doesn’t get much better than that. Especially in September and October, the warm weather is still perfect for a relaxed sunset with pizza.

During the day, you can explore the towns of the Val di Noto or stroll along the cliffs in Lo Zingaro. In fall, you’ll also often get clear, cloud-free views of Mount Etna and ideal conditions for a short hike on the volcano.

South Tyrol

• Average temperature in fall: 57–64°F (14–18°C)
• Type of trip: Active and culinary vacation
• Why in fall? Nature is ablaze with color, you can try young wine, and eat roasted chestnuts.

If you want to burn off some energy in fall or simply soak in stunning views, South Tyrol is the place to be. In September and October, South Tyrol comes alive with color. The mountains glow golden, the forests are painted in brilliant hues, and the vineyards are heavy with grapes. The air is also incredibly crisp and clear.

And what makes it even better? Törggele season. You settle into cozy taverns and work your way through local specialties like Schlutzkrapfen, roasted chestnuts, and young wine. Absolutely delicious!

In November, the first snow usually falls — especially at higher elevations.

Canary Islands

• Average temperature in fall: 72–79°F (22–26°C)
• Type of trip: Beach and active vacation
• Why in fall? The Canary Islands still have summer-like temperatures, perfect for swimming and sunbathing.

The Canary Islands are a great way to soak up some sun before winter sets in. When it comes to sunshine hours, the Canaries are hard to beat. Whether it’s Tenerife, Gran Canaria, or Fuerteventura — you can still count on temperatures above 68°F (20°C) and plenty of sunshine even in October and November.

The ocean is still pleasantly warm, the beaches are no longer packed, and trips into the interior are a real treat in this kind of weather.

By the way, you could even stay on the Canary Islands through winter. The islands are also one of our top destinations for the cold season, with pleasant weather year-round.

Lisbon

• Average temperature in fall: 61–75°F (16–24°C)
• Type of trip: City trip
• Why in fall? The weather is mild and sunny, and there are far fewer tourists around.

Looking to plan a city trip for your fall vacation? Awesome! Then we can highly recommend Lisbon.

We’re definitely not the only ones who love this city — which is exactly why Lisbon gets really crowded in summer. In fall, the tourist masses thin out. The city feels more relaxed and you can finally enjoy it at your own pace.

Especially lovely is a coffee with a pastel de nata in the evening sun by the Tagus, or a side trip to Belém. And if you’re still drawn to the ocean: the beaches around Cascais are perfect for a spontaneous fall day on the Atlantic.

Moselle

• Average temperature in fall: 43–61°F (6–16°C)
• Type of trip: Active, nature, and cultural vacation
• Why in fall? The vineyards along the Moselle blaze with the most beautiful colors.

If you don’t want to travel too far in fall, the Moselle Valley is well worth considering. A beach vacation in fall isn’t always the answer, right? The Moselle more than makes up for it with stunning panoramic views over the colorful valley, charming half-timbered towns, and a relaxed cycling path.

In fall, morning mist rolls over the river, the vineyards glow gold and red, and the winemaking villages smell of Federweißer (young wine). That’s a genuinely enjoyable way to experience fall in Germany. Especially if you plan it as a September destination — it’s still pleasantly warm then.

Crete

• Average temperature in fall: 63–75°F (17–24°C)
• Type of trip: Beach, cultural, and active vacation
• Why in fall? Crete is one of the warmest Greek islands in fall.

Crete lets you stretch summer out just a little longer. In September and even well into October, you can still jump into the sea at over 77°F (25°C) without a cold shock and pick up a bit of color before winter.

The weather is perfect for strolling through the old town of Chania, hiking through the Samaria Gorge, and enjoying fresh fish, olives, and moussaka with a view of the sea.

Rome

• Average temperature in fall: 61–72°F (16–22°C)
• Type of trip: City trip
• Why in fall? You’ll have perfect temperatures for a city trip to Rome.

Temperatures that let you comfortably spend the entire day outdoors — now that’s a dream for a city trip to Rome, isn’t it? Even in November it’s often still mild. That makes visiting the Colosseum, the Vatican, and the Spanish Steps a genuinely relaxed experience.

You won’t be able to avoid long lines in fall either, but you can sit down with a glass of vino on a small piazza and enjoy the Roman autumn. Maybe even with a slice of tiramisu. Sounds like a great plan for your fall vacation!

Azores

• Average temperature in fall: 63–72°F (17–22°C)
• Type of trip: Nature and active vacation
• Why in fall? It’s still beautifully green, but with far fewer tourists.

The Azores are perfect if you want to lose yourself in lush green nature during the colorful fall season. In September and October, temperatures usually sit between 68 and 73°F (20–23°C). You can hike through the greenery to crater lakes and along coastal trails with ease.

In November it gets a bit cooler, but you’ll encounter even fewer tourists, and the mist drifting over the landscape gives nature a truly mystical feel.

Iceland

• Average temperature in fall: 36–48°F (2–9°C)
• Type of trip: Nature and active vacation, road trip
• Why in fall? It’s colder, but you have a good chance of seeing the northern lights.

Okay, Iceland isn’t exactly the destination for escaping cold fall weather. It’s even colder there — but fall in Iceland offers something truly special: northern lights!

On September 23rd — the autumnal equinox — the sun sits directly above the equator. The chances of seeing and photographing the northern lights are slightly higher than at other times of year. Jackpot!

On top of that, the waterfalls are roaring at full force, the landscape glows in fall colors, and the days are still long enough to explore the island. So we can genuinely recommend Iceland as one of the top fall vacation ideas for anyone who loves dramatic nature.

New York

• Average temperature in fall: 54–68°F (12–20°C)
• Type of trip: City trip
• Why in fall? It’s trick-or-treating season in America.

In fall, you have the chance to experience one of the most popular holidays in the US. You definitely don’t want to miss it! New York goes all out for Halloween. Houses get decorated, parties are thrown, and the famous Halloween Parade takes place.

If that’s not really your thing, New York in fall still has so much to offer: pumpkin spice lattes, a fall-foliage Central Park, and Thanksgiving vibes.

Canada

• Average temperature in fall: 43–63°F (6–17°C), but can vary significantly
• Type of trip: Road trip, nature and active vacation
• Why in fall? You can experience Indian Summer.

If there’s one country made for fall, it’s Canada. In September and October, the forests in Québec, Ontario, and along the Rocky Mountains turn red, orange, and gold. You simply can’t get enough of it — no matter how much you take in on your road trip.

During the day it’s usually mild. In the evenings, winter slowly starts to announce itself — perfect for campfires, sweaters, and hot chocolate with a view.

Yucatán Peninsula

• Average temperature in fall: 79–82°F (26–28°C)
• Type of trip: Beach vacation and culture
• Why in fall? After hurricane season, the weather stabilizes again and is perfect for swimming and exploring.

Last but not least, we have one more blissfully warm fall destination for you: the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. With temperatures between 77 and 86°F (25–30°C), you can kick back, hit the beach, and soak up the turquoise sea. November especially is fantastic for that. But October is also a great time to visit.

In fall, the Yucatán Peninsula is not yet in high season. You can explore places like Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and Chichén Itzá in relative peace compared to winter, and you’ll pay less for hotels.