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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 island getaway
Canary Islands
The lowdown
October is a great time to visit the Canary Islands, known for their ‘eternal spring’ skies and sweeping beaches. The sun sticks around after peak summer season has passed, with daytime highs reaching around 26C and sea temperatures lingering in the 20s. Gorgeous sunsets also take place earlier as the year goes on, making sundowners easy to enjoy before dinner. Leave time to explore beyond the beaches, whether you’re savouring a long lunch in one of Tenerife’s volcanic wine regions, driving into Gran Canaria’s mountains for dramatic scenery or admiring the volcanic architecture in Lanzarote’s LagOmar Museum.
Stay
Northern Tenerife is bursting with greenery and packed with beautiful spots like coastal city Puerto de la Cruz in the Orotava Valley. Gran Hotel Taoro overlooks the historic streets of this city, its imposing facade surrounded by lush palm trees. Elegant rooms look out onto gardens, mountains or the swishing Atlantic. When you deem it time to take in views from the shore, the black sand of nearby Playa San Telmo beckons for a beach visit with a difference. Look out for deals offering discounts at this time of year.
The beach
The lowdown
Sri Lanka is packed with knotted emerald rainforests, elephant-walked plains and beaches backed by swooping palm trees. Visit in October to get ahead of the busy winter season and see the countryside awash with lush greenery. This is a transitional month on the island, sitting in between two monsoon seasons, so the scenery is especially vibrant and waterfalls are likely to thunder with more force. Temperatures can reach up to 30C, while you can expect some tropical rain showers. Make the most of bright mornings around the Cultural Triangle and chances to see moody mists moving through tea plantations in the Hill Country.
Stay
You’ll find Taj Bentota Resort & Spa on the south-west coast, atop a headland stood between two gold sand beaches. Lap up views of the Indian Ocean from the elevated infinity pool and stroll through palm-filled gardens. You can also upgrade to a Superior Ocean View if you really want to make the most of the hotel views. A tropical rain shower is a good excuse to set up in the spa, J Wellness Circle, for a while. Traditional Ayurvedic treatments are a suitably serene distraction.
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 is 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
Tennessee
The lowdown
Tennessee refuses to stick to one genre. Follow blues and rock 'n' roll rhythms to Memphis, stomp your boots to Nashville’s twanging notes or seek out bluegrass sounds in the Appalachian Mountains. In October, 'fall' gets into full swing as autumn colour spreads across the state in reds, oranges and yellows. Days tend to be mild, with highs sitting in the low 20Cs. National parks like the Great Smoky Mountains are washed in a golden glow and events like Dollywood’s Harvest Festival bring plenty of pumpkin spice to the table. Dolly Parton fans will also want to head to the new Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum opening in Nashville in Autumn 2026.
Stay
Dream Nashville puts you in an ideal location, less than half a mile’s walk from Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum and the Ryman Auditorium. This boutique hotel right next to Printer’s Alley won’t let you forget you’re in Music City. On-site restaurant Stateside Kitchen hosts Stateside Sessions – featuring line dancing lessons – on Fridays and Saturdays, as well as brunches with DJs on weekend mornings. The Parlour also mixes chilled martinis with low lighting and live performances every third Thursday AKA Burlesque Night.
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