October can be a depressing month in northern Europe, with the days shortening and summer beginning to feel like a distant memory. However, that’s not the case in some of the Continent’s southernmost spots, which remain marvellously mild, as do the Atlantic’s whale-watching Azores archipelago and surf-lovers’ dream Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. Across the Pond, Orlando pairs hot weather with Halloween high jinks; further afield, Guyana, Namibia and Madagascar are hotspots for wildlife enthusiasts. For tropical wonderment you’ll be wanting the Philippines, while Chile and South Korea are all-rounders promising cool cities, terrific food and outstanding natural beauty. Here are the best destinations to soak up October sunshine.
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1. The Philippines
Average temperature 29C
Making the British Isles look positively pathetic, some 7,641 islands comprise the Philippines, on the fringes of southeast Asia. Most holidays begin on the main island of Luzon, trying street food in Manila before heading out to see rumbling volcanoes, emerald crater lakes and enormous rice terraces. Only a short flight away is Palawan, home to the steep, textured El Nido rock formations, and from there it’s not much further to the Visayas archipelago (Boracay, Cebu and co), where resorts line bone-white sand and snorkellers ogle coral reefs. The rainy season is coming to an end in October, so the scenery will be perfectly lush and hotels cheaper and quieter than in subsequent months.
• Best beaches in the Philippines
2. Guyana
Average temperature 29C
Unique in South America, dinky Guyana — served by British Airways flights from London via Aruba — is an English-speaking former British colony where cricket is the national sport. Truly a melting pot, you’ll find jerk-chicken vendors, Hindu temples and Amerindian traditions side by side in Georgetown, the capital. From there a coastal road snakes south through beaches and mangroves, while inland vast untouched expanses of rainforest, savannah and tablelands stretch away. Getting around — be it to ecolodges in jaguar country or the jaw-dropping Kaieteur Falls, the largest single-drop waterfall — isn’t easy, but it being the second dry season of the year (July to November) enables much easier access.
3. Palermo, Sicily
Average temperature 21C
Sirocco desert winds from Africa keep Sicily hot into autumn. That includes the capital, Palermo, whose eternal brouhaha reduces in intensity come October — although taxi drivers remain as reckless as ever. Led by La Vucciria, the city’s sprawling open-air markets are especially bountiful in autumn, offering produce such as prickly pears and porcini, alongside street-food stalls selling arancini and ricotta-filled cannoli. Cafés still sprawl on grand palazzo courtyards and quality opera shows continue at the Teatro Massimo. Leave time to admire Norman-inspired cathedrals and taste some of the southern Italian island’s newest tipples at the Bottega Monteleone wine bar. Those visiting over Halloween must also not neglect the Capuchin Catacombs, where mummified monks and friars are on ghoulish display.
• Best hotels in Palermo
• Best things to do in Sicily
4. Namibia
Average temperature 29C
In Etosha National Park, parched elephants plod in single file towards one of the few remaining rivers. Also approaching are herds of zebras, as lions lurk nearby. It’s October, the finale of the dry season in Namibia, and the scarcity of water makes wildlife wonderfully easy to spot. It also makes game drives somewhat dusty, but the regularity of sightings renders such slight suffering worthwhile. Other perks at this time of year include clear night skies perfect for stargazing and fewer mosquitoes. Beyond safari activities you might also go quad-biking amid the enormous crimson dunes of the Namib Desert, spot Cape fur seals and dolphins during cruises or admire the desert-adapted elephants of remote Damaraland in the company of indigenous guides.
5. Seville, Spain
Average temperature 20C
Avoid October half-term and you’ll experience Seville at its romantic best. Scented by orange trees and scrutinised by a giant gothic cathedral, the maze-like historic centre of the Andalusian city will be less crowded and sultry than in earlier months of the year. Across the Rio Guadalquivir, intense flamenco shows in old taverns become easier to book. Circuits of the Alcazar’s bejewelled, Mudejar-style palace and formal, fruitful gardens will hardly be secluded, but you’ll be competing with fewer fellow visitors and ducking fewer selfie sticks; the crisper mornings are the best time to go. Seven daily hours of sunshine leave afternoons warm enough for lounging around a pool, while balmy evenings bring sun-tanned Sevillanos onto the pavement terraces of tapas-serving gastrobars before rainier November comes around.
• Best things to do in Seville
6. Madagascar
Average temperature 25C
Ahead of soggy summers, October is the perfect month for a Madagascan group tour. In the southern Indian Ocean, 250 miles east of Mozambique on the African mainland, Madagascar has a riot of endemic species that makes the world’s fourth-largest island one of the greatest wildlife destinations, whatever the time of year. Amid the warm climes of this spring month, however, comes the additional thrill of new life — ring-tailed lemurs, one of 100 lemur species found only here, have given birth and teeny pups cling to their scampering mother’s backs inside ancient broadleaf forests; on the tropical country’s underrated shores, sea turtles are excavating white-sand holes and depositing eggs, a moving spectacle to watch. The calm, turquoise seas lapping those idyllic beaches also average 25C — ideal for swimming or snorkelling.
7. The Azores, Portugal
Average temperature 21C
About 900 miles west of Lisbon, the nine Azores are gloriously unlike anywhere else in Portugal. With blue-green crater lakes, hot springs, lush calderas and waterfalls galore, they’re more akin to a subtropical Iceland, with lots of volcanic fire but no ice. Tea plantations and conical hills add to the charm on Sao Miguel, the largest of the Azores, as do pirate-repelling 16th-century forts and occasional long beaches. Especially in luck are horse riders, birdwatchers, surfers and whale-watchers — the latter can come year-round, but October is peak time for humpback sightings. Out on rural Faial, as farmers ride clattering carts, the first weeks of the enduringly warm month usually mean battalions of blue hydrangeas remaining in resplendent bloom. Factor in the decreasing hotel prices and what’s not to like?
• Best things to do in the Azores
• Best hotels in the Azores
8. Orlando, US
Average temperature 25C
Orlando is a smart move for families in October. Compared to summer months much-reduced queues in theme parks mean that you can fit in three or four times more fun. Humidity levels shrink too, as sunshine beams down reliably on the white sand at Clearwater beach and hotel prices are generally low. The Disney waterpark Typhoon Lagoon remains open until the end of the month. Before then begin two excellently spooky recurring events: Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World involves daily parades and fireworks shows; Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights — more suited to teens — provide scare zones with haunted houses and memorable characters from big-name films, such as Freddy Krueger.
• Best family hotels in Orlando
• Best things to do in the US
9. Paphos, Cyprus
Average temperature 22C
The eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus stays hot throughout much of winter and is certainly a safe sunshine bet during October. Paphos is its most endearing resort. The southwest coastal town is packed with history, its old town — where the well-preserved remains of Roman villas contain elaborate mosaics depicting mythical scenes — right next to the modern, cosmopolitan harbour. Everyone here speaks English and good-value hotels have plush pools and spas. There are sandy beaches in either direction — including one with a boulder from which Aphrodite, the goddess of love, supposedly emerged — and the shores of Blue Lagoon can be reached via regular boat tours. Inland, as one climbs into the fertile Troodos Mountains, there are halloumi-making farms and commandaria-producing vineyards to tour.
• Best things to do in Paphos
• Best all-inclusive hotels in Cyprus
10. Chile
Average temperature 17C
Picking a time of year to visit Chile is mightily difficult — in stretching 2,653 miles north to south, this beanpole of a country encompasses landscapes from arid, sun-scorched scrub to glacier-ridden ice fields. The best bet for a roaming group tour, however, is October, when the Atacama Desert, up north, will be fairly temperate as you explore its fire-red canyons, gushing geysers and epic salt flats — as well as reasonably crowd-free. Further south, the cool capital, Santiago, provides more for your money at this time of year and will be toasty enough for alfresco eats. Down in Patagonia it’ll still be chilly, but not so cold as to preclude hiking adventures or conservation safaris in search of pumas.
• Patagonia travel: seven great things to do on your trip
11. South Korea
Average temperature 20C
The culture of South Korea blends traditional values and customs with cutting-edge tech, cat cafés and modern architecture. That’s particularly evident in the capital, Seoul, where pagoda-filled parks and 14th-century palaces are as relevant as Gangnam bars, the Robot Science Museum or stalls selling makgeolli (sweet rice wine) at Gwangjang food market. Just north is the demilitarised border zone shared with North Korea — a visit to this fascinating area will help you to understand the complex politics at work here. Stretching away south are a series of altitudinous national parks — such as Songnisan and Seoraksan — whose flanks start to display amazing autumnal shades of orange and red pepper in October. However, on the beaches of Busan and in the bonsai-hemmed resorts on the volcanic island of Jeju, across the Yellow Sea, it’s still T-shirt weather.
• Best things to do in South Korea
• Best hotels in South Korea
12. Fuerteventura, Canary Islands
Average temperature 23C
As the closest of the Canary Islands to Africa, little-developed Fuerteventura is often the warmest. October is peak season here, with sun-drenched days and the surfing and sunbathing in full sway. Boarders and kiters flock to the east-coast bays of Playa del Moro or Glass beach — both world-renowned. Talking of beaches, La Concha on Isla Lobos appeals most to fly-and-floppers thanks to its idyllic islet setting near an old lighthouse. Elsewhere, the cacti, coves and protected sand dunes of the Corralejo and Cofete natural parks can be explored on bone-shaking buggy or jeep tours; the Mirador Astronomico de Sicasumbre affords superb views; and tiny white windmills offer a hint of Greece.
• Best things to do in Fuerteventura
• Best all-inclusive hotels in Fuerteventura
13. Marrakesh, Morocco
Average temperature 25C
Thanks to the dazzling Arabic architecture at Bahia Palace and Ibn Youssef School and the bustling souks of Djemaa el-Fna, a trip to Marrakesh is one that will invigorate the senses. And October is ideal for sightseeing here — temperatures will have cooled from their summer highs while still providing enough warmth for a dip in the pool afterwards. At night head out to one of the city’s many edgy cocktail bars where drinks are served in every imaginable way. The trick to making the most of your visit is to book a quiet riad — that way, if it all gets too much you’ll have a peaceful spot with gardens and fountains to which to retreat.
• Best riads in Marrakesh
• Best affordable hotels in Marrakesh
14. Tunisia
Average temperature 25C
Although its southerly Saharan expanses tempt, the majority of visitors to Tunisia stick to its north for sunbathing and sightseeing. Historical sites line the easternmost coast, including Carthage’s scattered Punic and Roman remains. Most impressive, however, is the monumental, largely intact amphitheatre at El Djem. Tours often begin in the capital, Tunis, whose Bardo museum houses one of the world’s greatest mosaic collections, then head south via El Djem to Sidi Bou Said — a clifftop village of whitewashed alleys and blue-doored houses — and the elegant mosques, madrassas and oh-so-Arabic alleys of holy Kairouan. Their eventual destination is the island of Djerba, Tunisia’s premier beach-holiday spot, where you’ll find a thousand date palm trees lining powdery white sands, as well as superb seafood.
• Best places for a beach holiday in October
• Best places to visit in October
Additional reporting by Qin Xie
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