Where to travel in October
Don’t put away your sunglasses just yet. There are plenty of flip-flop-friendly beach retreats and buzzing cities out there still sunning themselves in autumn . Get away from your everyday this October and treat yourself to culture, sunshine, foliage-filled views and perhaps a local delicacy or two.
Author:Amber-Louise Large
The City
The lowdown
A sense of the fantastical fills the air in Barcelona. Gaudi’s neo-Gothic La Sagrada Familia climbs towards the sun, its gargoyles peering out at the city’s art museums and tapas restaurants. Stare at Picassos and pick at small plates – in October, anything with wild mushrooms is exquisitely in season. With highs of around 21C , this month also brings comfortable weather for strolling beachside and mountainside. Barceloneta, the city’s seaside neighbourhood, promises golden sand. Further out, Montserrat promises orange-tinged trees, the scent of fresh pine and a monastery beneath towering outcrops.
Stay
Surrounded by slender medieval streets and hole-in-the-wall restaurants, Kimpton Vividora sits in the Gothic Quarter right next to Las Ramblas. The five-star hotel’s rooftop terrace is its crowning glory, with an outdoor pool and bar overlooking the spires of Barcelona Cathedral.
The beach
The lowdown
Spend October stocking up on sun rays and sweet honey in Crete, Greece’s largest island. The weather is mild, reaching highs of around 22C, and so is the sea that laps Crete’s shores. Beaches like pink-sand Elafonisi are quieter, too, so you’ll have plenty of room to spread out your picnic blanket. Make the most of lingering sunlight hours by chasing views of white mountains in the Samaria Gorge or, if you want to stay closer to the tavernas, watching boats bob on the Old Venetian Harbour of Chania. October’s also harvesting season, making it a great time to taste Crete’s wine in rolling vineyards.
Stay
Minos Palace Hotel & Suites is an adult-only, beach lovers-only retreat. Wade in the freshwater infinity pool with panoramic views of Mirabello Bay before walking along the Blue Flag beach. Watch the sun set behind the sea and mountains from a dinner table in Amar Restaurant. Peaceful moments and palm-framed views await.
The family trip
The lowdown
With its mythical connections to Aphrodite, Larnaca’s a true beauty. This Cypriot city is awash with sand-dusted beaches and sea-view meze tables. Temperatures tend to stay in the twenties in October, reaching highs of around 28C, and sweeps of beach tend to be quieter since the summer holiday crowds have gone home. For views of golden sand and towering palms, put your feet up on a sun bed on Finikoudes Beach or take a seat in a promenade cafe. For culture and crumbling ruins, look up at the 12th Century castle, the UNESCO-listed Neolithic complex or the ancient city of Kition with its temple to the Greek goddess of loveliness.
Stay
After days in the city, retreat to all-inclusive Mare Ayia Napa This five-star resort is made for lazing on floating pool loungers and strolling the pearly sands of Limnara Beach. Cypriot style reigns supreme here, with Mediterranean gardens overlooking the lapping sea and private balconies or terraces in every room.
The cultural break
The lowdown
Switzerland’s biggest city is reliably pretty. Come October, the trees lining Lake Zurich and spreading their branches over Uetliberg mountain glow red and gold. Breathe in crisp autumnal air as you admire the old town, Limmat River and Alps from Lindenhof Hill – perhaps with a cheese and bread picnic in tow. Pack snug jumpers and light jackets for weather that maxes out at around 15C and spend sun-shy days dipping in and out of museums. Of course, you’ll also want to save room in your suitcase for Swiss chocolate: seasonal truffles from Max Chocolatier are a must.
Stay
Located between Zurich Airport and the city centre, Kameha Grand Zurich doesn’t do understated. Design details are bold and playful, featuring brown walls that look like chocolate bars and giant Swiss cow bells that hang from the lobby ceiling. When you’re ready to explore, there’s a tram stop just down the street.
Just the two of us
The lowdown
Moroccan sun and a minaret-dominated skyline make Marrakesh an alluring option for an October holiday. Expect an average high of around 28C, with ample hours of sunlight for bargaining in the medina souks and following the sounds of lutes and storytellers to Djemaa El Fna. Make sure to bite into a caramelly date harvested during early autumn for a real taste of the place. With relatively low humidity and wind speeds, October’s also a good time to tour the burnt-orange sands of the Sahara Desert.
Stay
Four Seasons Resort Marrakech s a garden retreat in the Red City. Forty acres of lush gardens shaded by palm trees and flower stems surround the five-star hotel. While away quiet moments in private cabanas flanking the adult-only pool and unwind together in the Moroccan spa’s couples’ suite featuring an al fresco bathtub in a hidden garden.
The wild card
The lowdown
Feel the heat in Sharm El Sheikh, an Egyptian city strung along the Red Sea. Temperatures reach highs of 32C in October, making the glittering pools that grace the area’s luxurious resorts ever so tempting. The crystalline sea also calls to swimmers and paddlers – its temperature averaging around 27C – who dry off on sandy beaches. See bursts of colour in Ras Mohammed National Park’s coral reefs and the aptly named Coloured Canyon known for its maze of rocks tinted red, purple and gold.
Stay
Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh is the epitome of chic with its hibiscus-filled gardens bursting with 60 fountains and 3,000 palm trees. This five-star resort promises plenty of opportunities to sit poolside, beachside and outside on your private terrace or balcony.
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