Autumn Holiday Destinations in Europe: September & October Trips

Autumn is a pretty time of the year to visit many places in Europe. The changing colours and less tourism can make for a fantastic getaway. I have visited these places during the autumn months. This includes city breaks and countryside holiday destinations. I’ve visited these destinations from late September until the end of November.

When is Autumn?

Astrological autumn in Europe typically starts in the late 20s of September and ends on 21^st December each year. However, Meteorological autumn includes September, October and November.

What’s Special about Autumn in Europe?

For me, the special aspects of autumn in Europe are the shorter days; thus, it is much less effort to get up for a sunrise or stay out late to catch a sunset.

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The leaves changing colours are also special, especially in areas with lots of trees. Forests and open countryside are beautiful this time of year. The leaf-covered floors are rather pleasant to walk through. Watching animals prepare to hibernate is also fascinating. In many parks and woodlands, you can see squirrels and other animals stockpiling for the cold winter.

Shorter days mean it gets colder, so hearty foods such as soups, stews, and goulash become a regular feature on the dinner table.

Autumn Holiday Destinations & City Breaks Europe

Some of my favourite travel destinations in Europe include city breaks that I’ve enjoyed during the autumn months. I also have a guide to places to visit in the UK during autumn.

Lake Bled: A Great Holiday Destination in Slovenia

Lake Bled is beautiful and one of Slovenia’s top attractions. It is a fantastic place to visit in autumn to see the changing foliage. Lake Bled is great for hiking in the nearby countryside, and the surrounding forest gets really colourful. As a bonus, the lake is less busy during these months, making it quieter to enjoy.

There are bars and cafes overlooking the lake where you can enjoy food, coffee, or a beer while taking in the views. You can also hire a paddleboat or enjoy a boat trip to see the sights. Another highlight was the hike through Vintgar Gorge. You can get to Lake Bled from the capital using public transport. This includes the train to Bled Jezero train station, which is a brilliant spot to start your adventure.

Sighisoara: A Medieval City in Romania

Sighisoara is a popular travel destination in Romania, Eastern Europe, because its citadel is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The citadel has medieval fortifications and is pretty, with its changing colours. The highlight is seeing all the medieval towers and colourful buildings throughout the city.

As such, it’s much quieter than in summer. The iconic clock tower is a must-see attraction in Sighișoara, as is the church on the hill, which has fabulous views of the nearby countryside. The town’s Romanian restaurants offer delicious, hearty traditional food.

Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic

Cesky Krumlov is a popular tourist destination in the Czech Republic and is one of my favourite places to visit in the autumn. Much of the town, including the castle, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is gorgeous whatever the season.

The autumnal colours in the parks and along the river certainly enhance the mood. The hearty Czech cuisine in local restaurants is also very enjoyable when visiting in the colder months. This includes soups, goulash and hearty meat platters. Dog walks and hikes in the nearby countryside were fantastic.

Munich For A City Break

Munich is a big, beautiful city in Germany and a fantastic place to visit in autumn. One of the best times to visit the city is during Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest is the world’s largest Volksfest. The event includes a beer festival and a travelling carnival. It is held each year in Munich. The event runs from mid-September to mid-October. Hofbräuhaus is a good place to visit and enjoy the Bavarian vibe. They even brew their own Oktoberfest beer.

Beyond the beer, Munich has many attractions in its beautiful city centre. These include grand buildings, interesting churches, and museums. There are also plenty of parks to visit, many of which are great to see the seasonal foliage. As a bonus, the city is pretty easy to reach from the rest of Europe.

Brasov, A City in the Romanian Mountains

I’ve spent a lot of time in Brasov, including in the autumn. It is a special time to visit the city and the nearby mountains. Mount Tampa and Solomon’s Rocks are very easy to reach from the city and have some colourful trees this time of year. Towards the top of the higher peaks, like Postavarul, you might get to see some early snowfall.

The city is rather nice; the mountain forest is the backdrop, and the reds and oranges are never far from view. Traditional Transylvanian soups and stews are served in the restaurants in Brașov. These are fantastic warmers after a hike in the mountains. Overall, Brașov is a fantastic city for sightseeing, whatever the season.

Colmar: A Fairytale-Like Destination in France

Colmar is a beautiful, fairytale-like town in the Alsace region of France. It is a wonderful city to visit, and we enjoyed our late September break here. The city has many colourful and historic buildings to see, including many in the Petite Venise Area. It’s a lovely city to visit any time of year, but late September was great.

In addition to the beautiful buildings and interesting attractions, there are many restaurants to dine out. Colmar has many excellent restaurants serving regional and French cuisine. For those who like to be active on a getaway, the nearby countryside and vineyards are wonderful for a walk.

Budapest: an Engaging City Break in Hungary

Budapest is Hungary’s capital, and we spent a few weeks there in autumn. The city has a great vibe, and the attractions seemed less busy. City Park and the castle are both fantastic areas to see the changing colours while in the city. Szechenyi Thermal Baths are lovely; the temperature gradients certainly enhance the experience.

Both the castle district and the Hungarian Parliament are fantastic in autumn. They have lots of trees in various stages of colour change, and the views from the Fisherman’s Bastion are top-drawer as usual. A warming goulash or Hungarian fish soup is excellent on cold autumnal days. Budapest is a stunning city to visit, whatever time of the year you choose.

Prague in the Czech Republic

Prague in the Czech Republic is one of Europe’s great cities and a fantastic place to visit. The city can get very busy; however, after the summer rush and before the Christmas markets, it is quieter. The sunsets are striking and light up some of the city’s notable buildings.

Most top tourist attractions, including Prague Castle, are open throughout autumn. Many have beautiful gardens that look great when the leaves change colour. The river, especially Shooters Island, is lovely when the leaves turn yellow. Prague’s hearty food is also satisfying at this time of year. This includes some meaty goulash, game and pork knuckles. If the weather is on your side, it is one of the best times to visit.

Rouen: A Lovely City Break in France

Rouen is an interesting city in the Normandy Region of France and a perfect destination for those who enjoy history and food. The city is beautiful, with many timber-framed historic buildings to see. The cathedral is stunning and has a rich history. Monet, the famous artist, painted this many times.

The city has lots of Joan of Arc-related attractions, including an interesting museum and a church dedicated to her. You can even visit the square where she was burned at the stake. Rouen also has lots of pleasant restaurants that serve regional and French cuisine, which is a real treat on a getaway. We really enjoyed our September visit to Rouen and would love to return.

Mali Lošinj in Croatia

Known as the Island of Vitality, Mali Lošinj in Croatia is a top place to spend early autumn. The island has forests and lots of hiking routes to explore and see the foliage changing colour. Mali Lošinj is a popular holiday destination. When we visited after the main summer season, it was noticeably quieter, and we found lower prices. October is still warm on the island, and the sea temperature averages 19°C for the month, so it’s still suitable for swimming and water sports.

The island is rather special for sunrise and sunset during October, too, and as a bonus, you don’t need to get up so early to watch them. However, you occasionally get a storm, which I like to watch from the island’s coastal paths. If you like pretty scenery and relaxation, Mali Losinj is a fantastic destination for some pre-winter vitality.

Kaysersberg in France

Kaysersberg is a pretty town in the Alsace region of Eastern France, and we visited during early autumn. Some trees and grapevines in the vineyards had started to change colour. Kaysersberg has lots of countryside nearby for hiking. However, the town centre’s timber-framed buildings are delightful to see.

The food and wine in Kaysersberg are delicious, and it’s worth visiting year-round. The cooler weather makes it easier to hike and possibly visit other nearby wine-producing villages.

Celje in Slovenia

Celje is a lovely small city in Slovenia and is ideal for a quiet break in Europe. It is a scenic place for a walk in the autumnal foliage and has hiking routes from the city centre. These include marked routes to hilltop churches, a treehouse, and the iconic Celje Castle, which overlooks the city.

The castle is a must-visit attraction and is rather quiet outside of peak season. The walk through the forest to reach it is very nice, and the views from the towers of the medieval fortress are spectacular when the leaves are changing.

Lake Balaton in Hungary

Despite being out of the main holiday season, the towns and villages of Lake Balaton are great to visit during the autumn months. We visited delightful places like Keszthely, Heviz and Szigliget in October. When we visited in October, many of the tourist-focused shops and eateries were closed, while local places remained open. It’s rather quiet, and the big attractions are still open, like the Festetics Palace.

The countryside is beautiful and gets quite colourful. The morning mist from the lakes can be eerie and great for photographs from the hills. As a bonus, the warming stews and soups, including goulash, are lovely on or after a walk.

Cluj-Napoca in Romania

Cluj-Napoca is a lovely place for an autumn city break in Romania’s Transylvania region. Cluj has lots of trees that show off the autumnal colours throughout. The weather can also be rather nice and suitable for alfresco drinks.

The botanical gardens and the city park are both rather special when the trees change colour. Another spot to see the foliage is the village museum, set in the nearby countryside.

Heviz: A Health Spa Destination

If you are looking for a relaxing destination with spas, Hévíz in Hungary is a good choice. Hévíz has lots of hotels with relaxing health spas, and the prices are quite good.

The town’s main attraction is the thermal lake of Hévíz. It is a lovely place to visit, with a warm lake that I found relaxing and scenic.

What’s Your Favourite Autumn Travel Destination in Europe?