Where to Travel in Autumn: 5 Great Destinations

6 October 2026

7 minutes to read

Where to Travel in Autumn: 5 Destinations Without the Summer Rush

Autumn is not just the pause between summer holidays and the winter season. For many destinations, it is one of the most enjoyable times of the year: the heat softens, cities become calmer, wine and food seasons begin, and in southern Europe the sea does not necessarily say goodbye to summer just yet. The Travellizy team has selected five countries that are especially rewarding in autumn.

There is one important detail: autumn in September and autumn in November are two very different trips. In September, Türkiye or Portugal may still feel almost summery. By November, Italy and Spain are often more about cities, gastronomy, wine regions and slower itineraries.

So instead of simply listing five countries, we looked at when to visit each one and what kind of autumn trip it works best for.

Quick choice:

Food, wine and beautiful cities → Italy.
Ocean and a relaxed city break → Portugal.
One more taste of summer → Türkiye.
Wine, mountains and character → Georgia.
Architecture, tapas and several travel styles in one country → Spain.

1. Italy — Autumn Is Best Enjoyed Slowly

In summer, Italy can feel intense: popular cities, coastal crowds, heat, busy restaurants and long lines around major landmarks. Autumn changes the rhythm.

Italy’s official tourism portal highlights autumn as a season for villages, vineyards, parks and gastronomic regions. This makes it a particularly good time to build a trip around food, wine and smaller towns.

For a first autumn trip, three directions work especially well. Tuscany for rolling hills, vineyards, Florence and small towns. Piedmont for Turin, wine and gastronomy. And Rome if you want a classic city break without the full summer experience of walking from the Colosseum to the Vatican under intense heat.

When to go: September and October are the most versatile months. November works better for cities, food and slower routes than for beach travel.

Italy in autumn works especially well with the principle “fewer places, deeper experience”. Instead of five cities in seven days, think Florence + Tuscany. Or Turin + Piedmont. Or Rome with enough free time to actually enjoy it.

Seasonal inspiration is available on the official Italia.it website.

2. Portugal — The Atlantic Without Mandatory Summer Heat

Portugal is one of those destinations that still makes perfect sense after August. According to Visit Portugal, autumn often brings sunny days and mild temperatures, while the Atlantic atmosphere creates a very different travel experience from a classic Mediterranean holiday.

For a first autumn trip, Lisbon + Sintra + the coast is a strong combination. If you want something more intimate, look at Porto + the Douro Valley. At the beginning of autumn, the Algarve can also be a good option for travelers who still want sea and sun.

One of Portugal’s biggest autumn advantages is that the whole trip does not have to revolve around the beach. You can walk through Lisbon in the morning, head to the Atlantic in the afternoon and return to the city for dinner in the evening.

When to go: September for the strongest late-summer feeling. October for a good balance of city, ocean and walking. In November, plan with more flexibility for changeable weather.

Current regions and seasonal ideas can be found on Visit Portugal.

3. Türkiye — When You Want to Extend Summer a Little Longer

If your main goal is to avoid autumn completely and keep the warm season going, Türkiye remains one of the most obvious choices.

GoTürkiye notes that September is generally warm, while the southern and western coasts can still offer a beach-season atmosphere. For a classic “one more week of summer”, look at Antalya, Kaş, Fethiye, Bodrum and other resorts along the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts.

But autumn in Türkiye is not only about all-inclusive resorts. Once the heat eases, it becomes much more comfortable to explore Cappadocia, ancient sites, the Lycian Way or spend several days in Istanbul.

When to go: September and early October are the strongest choices for combining sea and sightseeing. Closer to November, shift the focus from beaches toward Istanbul, Cappadocia and cultural routes.

Seasonal travel ideas are available on GoTürkiye.

4. Georgia — Autumn with the Scent of Grapes

If there is a country where autumn is not just weather but part of the travel experience itself, Georgia definitely belongs on the list.

Georgia Travel highlights the season for warm days in Tbilisi, golden Caucasus landscapes, seasonal fruit and, most importantly, Rtveli — the traditional grape harvest. It is especially associated with Kakheti, the country’s main wine region.

A very varied trip is easy to build here: several days in Tbilisi, wineries in Kakheti, Sighnaghi and, if conditions allow, a trip toward mountain regions. September and October can also still bring plenty of sunny days on the Black Sea coast.

Georgia in autumn is exactly the kind of destination where gastronomy is not an “extra activity”. It becomes part of the route itself.

When to go: September–October is the most interesting period for combining Tbilisi, wine and regional travel. For mountain areas, always check current road and weather conditions.

More seasonal ideas can be found on Georgia Travel.

5. Spain — One Country, Several Different Autumn Trips

Spain is convenient because it is almost impossible to reduce it to one travel format. In autumn, you can plan a city break in Madrid, walk through Barcelona, explore Andalusia, travel through wine regions or still catch sunshine along the Mediterranean coast.

Spain’s official tourism portal highlights autumn for wine festivals, mushrooms, chestnuts, rural routes and natural landscapes. In other words, this is not “Spain after beach season”. It is simply another version of Spain.

For September and early October, consider Valencia, Barcelona or Andalusia. For later autumn, Madrid, Seville, Córdoba and gastronomic routes become especially attractive.

When to go: Spain works throughout autumn, but the region matters more than the country name itself. A November itinerary for Seville and one for northern Spain require very different packing lists.

Seasonal routes and events are available on Spain.info.

Which Destination Is Right for You?

Destination	Best for	Best period
🇮🇹 Italy	Food, cities, wine, road trips	September–October
🇵🇹 Portugal	Ocean, city breaks, walking	September–October
🇹🇷 Türkiye	Sea, resorts, Istanbul, Cappadocia	September–early October for the sea
🇬🇪 Georgia	Wine, food, mountains, atmosphere	September–October
🇪🇸 Spain	Cities, food, architecture, southern sunshine	September–November depending on region

What If You Are Traveling Specifically in November?

In November, priorities should shift slightly. It is no longer a good idea to choose a destination purely because someone promised “almost summer weather”. Instead, choose a place that still works beautifully on a cloudy day.

Rome, Lisbon, Madrid, Seville, Istanbul and Tbilisi all offer enough city life, gastronomy, museums and architecture for the trip not to depend on beach weather.

If the goal is specifically sea and swimming, early autumn is generally a much more predictable choice than late autumn.

Autumn Travel Is Not Just “Summer, but Cheaper”

The most interesting thing about autumn is not simply the possibility of calmer popular destinations. It is the chance to travel differently.

Instead of a beach — a vineyard. Instead of midday heat — a long walk through the city. Instead of rushing through ten landmarks — a restaurant, a small town, a coastal road or an evening with a glass of local wine.

That is why a good autumn destination is not necessarily a country where “it is still warm”. It is a place where autumn becomes part of the experience itself.

On Travellizy, you can compare flights and find the right route for your next autumn trip — whether you want a short city break or one more attempt to extend summer.

Information is accurate at the time of publication. Autumn weather can vary significantly even within the same country, so always check the forecast for the specific region, seasonal transport schedules and current entry requirements before booking.