10 Oct 5 Best holiday destinations for October
October is a time of change, the first full month when hours of sunshine in the southern hemisphere overtake the north once more. In much of Europe, North America and temperate Asia, it’s the classic autumn month, although you may still be too early or late for the best leaf-peeping, depending on the location. Short-haul travellers from the UK can catch the last rays of the Med season free of the summer crowds, while it’s also a great time for hiking and convening with nature before the winter shutters come down — or for spoiling the nippers during half-term. Read on to discover the best holiday destinations for October.
1. Bruges, Belgium
Autumn sees a lull on the cobbled streets of Bruges, bypassed by much of history after its medieval golden age. Summer city-breakers have gone, and Christmas market hordes have not yet arrived. This more reflective time of year brings a new beauty to canal-boat trips, and makes a good case for hot chocolate stops. If it rains, you can still take in a wealth of art in galleries such as the Groeningemuseum. With less footfall in old-town streets, why not stay at the heart of it all? Save the historical details for trips outside when you stay at Sablon Hotel, which has a pared-back contemporary style within a 16th-century townhouse.
2. Canary Islands, Spain
It takes a little while for sea temperatures to catch up with the sun, which means that October sees the warmest waters off the beaches of the Canary Islands, while otherwise the weather is still balmy, down only slightly from July and August highs. Half-term holidays aside, visitor numbers will also be lower than in the summer peak. Gran Canaria is the most central of the seven main islands, with its own range of microclimates, from high-up pine forests to the sand dunes of Maspalomas. Seaside Palm Beach is a big resort set between Maspalomas beach and a palm-fringed lagoon-style pool, with retro 1970s design and lots of family activities.
3. The Berkshires, Massachusetts
New England is the unofficial capital of all things autumn (sorry, “fall”), and if you’ve missed the boat in the mountain areas of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, where peak leaf-peeping season can come in late September, the western reaches of Massachusetts will pick up the red-and-orange baton from early to mid-October. In the rolling hills of the Berkshires, you’ll find a great variety of colour, as well as self-serve apple orchards, farm-to-table dining, Shaker heritage and increasingly elaborate Halloween decorations as the 31st approaches. In the north of the Berkshires, Tourists is laid out like a classic motel, but with a style that mixes backwoods cabin with clean-lined design pad.
4. Dalmatian Coast, Croatia
During summer, Croatia’s ancient walled towns often resemble the battle scenes from Game of Thrones, and not just the ones filmed locally. With average temperatures staying in the high teens through October in the coastal south of Croatia, you should still get a sunny greeting if you hold off until the school holidays are well behind you. Dubrovnik could be the start of a trip along the Adriatic shore to fellow historical magnet Split, or the focus of a smaller break taking in nearby islands too. Five-star Villa Dubrovnik has the best of both worlds: the classic view of Dubrovnik’s old town across the water, but also a more private seaside perch.
5. Siem Reap, Cambodia
The six-month rainy season in Cambodia’s heartland comes to an end in October, and if you arrive in the latter part of the month, then with some luck you’ll see the countryside in full emerald brilliance while also benefiting from lower hotel rates, before the beginning of the high season in November. The city of Siem Reap is the gateway to exploring the temples of Angkor, and also the floating villages on the vast lake of Tonle Sap, now at its fullest after the rains. Templation is an oasis midway between central Siem Reap and Angkor Wat, with suites and villas set around a generously sized pool.