Discover the best places to visit in fall, a season that offers a fresh look on vacation favorites. With the heat of summer fading, destinations that are normally honeypots for tourism can be much more approachable. Temperatures tend to be lower and iconic places less crowded.
Fall brings with it a change in the natural world too. While the season is normally considered to be the end of a life cycle, that change can be quite beautiful: leaves turn through all manner of colors, waters can become more clear and sparkling, and phenomena like the Northern Lights can streak across the sky with the shorter days.
So where to head then at this time of incredible change? Here are the 15 best places to visit in fall to inspire you.
Thessaloniki, Greece
Thessaloniki, Greece
If you’re looking for fall vacation ideas, Thessaloniki, Greece’s second city, is a great place to start.
The capital of the north is known for its mix of Byzantine heritage, vibrant foodie scene, lively waterfront, and modern, hipster vibe. It’s a great Greek city to visit at any time of year, but fall means milder weather and fewer visitors than the height of summer season, allowing you to get under the city’s skin.
Old Town Thessaloniki, Greece
Start with a visit to the magnificent Old Town. Overlooking the port area from a hill and guarded by the former city walls, its narrow streets are perfect for exploring. Head then to Modiano Market, the bustling heart of downtown’s foodie community.
A walk along the seafront, taking in the iconic White Tower, is great for working up an appetite before settling into a café or bar along central Aristotelous Square. This is a great spot where you can combine top-class food with the local sport of people watching.
Halong Bay, Vietnam
Halong Bay, Vietnam
One of the best places to visit in fall has to be Vietnam’s Halong Bay, for the shoulder seasons see this Unesco World Heritage Site of towering limestone islands at their best.
Not only is the weather dry and mild with less humidity, but the warm colors of the waning sun and low-lying mists can add a touch of ethereal beauty to your sightseeing.
Sung Sot Cave, Vietnam
Cruising around the islands on a traditional wooden sampan is the best way to get around and see as many sights as possible. These include Sung Sot Cave, one of the best caves in the world, with its impressive stalactites and stalagmites, and floating villages bustling with activity.
Fall is also a great time for bird watching, with local experts calling it the “golden time” thanks to the amount of migratory birds passing through.
Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon, Portugal
The Portuguese capital is one of Europe’s most beautiful and most underrated cities—and it gets even better in fall. With the heat of summer over, the atmosphere in Lisbon is more relaxed, making fall the ideal time for long, leisurely strolls along the banks of the Tagus estuary.
Lose yourself, too, in historic neighborhoods such as Alfama and the Bairro Alto, with their elegant buildings and walls lined with iconic “azulejos” tiles.
Fall is also a great time to explore the local foodie scene at markets such as Time Out, as wines, olive oils, and chestnuts all come into season. Look out for the latter if visiting in November. Street vendors do a roaring trade roasting them on charcoal for the national All Saints’ Day holiday.
Read: Best Things to Do in Lisbon
Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik, Iceland
Set among the lunar landscapes of this geothermically charged country, Reykjavik has the air of a frontier town, low-lying, brightly painted buildings contrasting with the muted backdrop of the dark land, crashing sea, and brooding skies.
Shorter days in fall as winter approaches may darken the vibe a little further, but it also increases the chances of spotting an amazing Northern Lights display. Visitors can jump in a jeep to chase the lights around the peninsula, or sink into the warm, milky waters of the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa outside of town, to chance their luck in a more relaxing environment.
Back in the city itself there are quirky sights such as the iconic Hallgrímskirkja church, the futuristic Perlan restaurant, and the Phallological Museum, married with a laid-back vibe and a top-class café culture.
Read: Best Things to Do in Reykjavik
Maine, USA
Maine, USA
For a more traditional leaf-peeping experience, one the best places to visit in fall has to be Maine, the USA’s most northeastern state.
Maine is known for its rugged coastline, maritime history, and seafood, but it’s also a great spot for country drives as the leaves begin their cycle through myriad earthy colors.
Take a spin around Mount Battie, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, or Bradbury Mountain State Park for incredible natural scenes before relaxing in great cities such as Portland or Rockport. The former is home to the historic Old Port District, Portland Museum of Art, and lovely Deering Oaks Park.
In Rockport, there’s the Rockport Opera House, the quirky Andre the Seal Statue, and Merryspring Nature Center with its trails and gardens.
Provence, France
Aix-en-Provence, France
Provence is famed as being home to the glamor of the French Riviera with its high-end resort towns and cities such as Nice, St. Tropez, and Cannes.
In fall though, it’s the surrounding countryside that takes star billing as the rugged hills, orchards, and rolling vineyards come to the fore for some incredible local produce in Provence.
Explore the markets of the aforementioned towns to pick up regional specialties—figs, pumpkins, truffles, and chestnuts—at the local markets, or head inland on a tour to a local winery to sample Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Côtes du Rhône.
Or try smoky, cold-pressed olive oil at an olive plantation. Fall is also a great time for hiking around the famed Luberon Villages or the Gorges du Verdon.
Kyoto, Japan
Kyoto, Japan
Kyoto’s fall foliage sees the former capital of Japan take part in a spectacular transformation between October and December. Throughout the city’s parks and in the surrounding countryside, maple, gingko, cherry, and Japanese zelkova all turn in a fabulous change from green to dark russets, deep browns, and vibrant yellows.
Tofuku-ji Temple, a 13th-century Zen temple in southeastern Kyoto, is one of the most famous spots around the city for fall foliage. Hundreds flock here daily to see the iconic Tsutenkyo Bridge against a backdrop of dazzling maples.
Other great leaf-peeping spots include Arashiyama, Eikando Temple, and Philosopher’s Path—a scenic walking path along a canal lined with cherry trees.
Vancouver, Canada
Vancouver, Canada
This hip and happening city lies between the ocean and mountains on Canada’s west coast and with a range of both urban and natural attractions, it’s easily one of the best places to visit in fall.
Start your trip in the heart of the city itself where you can pick up seasonal brews at local microbreweries such as Brassneck Brewery and Parallel 49 Brewing.
Known as the “Hollywood of the north,” Vancouver is a prime location for filming movies, as well as home to the Vancouver International Film Festival that takes place in late September and early October. If it’s too late for the festival itself, a number of companies offer location tours around the city.
You don’t have to travel far outside the city limits to experience Vancouver’s nature, either. Locations such as Grouse Mountain and VanDusen Botanical Garden offer great spots for fall colors, while the Capilano River Hatchery is a prime hotspot to view the salmon run. Here, thousands of salmon swim upstream to spawn from mid-September to late October.
Florence, Italy
Florence, Italy
Cradle of the Renaissance, Florence is known for its culture, architecture, art, and natural beauty, as well as incredible food and wine. Little wonder, then, that it’s one of the best places to visit in fall.
With summer over, autumn is an ideal time to visit Florence. The weather’s cooler and the city’s iconic sites such as the Duomo, Boboli Gardens, and Ponte Vecchio are much less crowded.
Chianti wine region, Italy
Fall is also a great time for food in Florence. As the surrounding Tuscan countryside begins to shed the hues of summer, tartufo bianco, or white truffles, come into season. This is a great time to go “hunting” for these on an organized foraging trip or in one of the local restaurants that theme whole menus around the delicacy.
Harvest in the nearby Chianti wine region adds another flavor to a visit, and the new season brings harvest festivals and wine tastings galore.
Galapagos Islands
Galapagos tortoise
For nature lovers, the Galapagos Islands have to be one of the best fall vacation ideas. This volcanic archipelago in the Pacific is one of the most biodiverse locations on Earth; a living museum of evolutionary change where giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and blue-footed boobies fueled the research of legendary biologist Charles Darwin.
A visit in fall is greeted not only by cooler weather but also the arrival of the Humboldt Current, nutrient-rich waters that support a wildly diverse ecosystem and offer greater clarity for those looking to dive or snorkel in the Galapagos.
Sea lion in the Galapagos
It’s also a great time for birdwatching with many species nesting, and a particularly active time for sea lions, with the period between October and November being the most likely time to see pups playing on Galapagos beaches.
St. Lucia
St. Lucia
When it comes to the Caribbean, St. Lucia is one of the best places to visit in fall. While it’s the tail end of the hurricane season, heavy storms on the island are infrequent.
Fall is also the season of some of the island’s most vibrant cultural festivals and events. The fun kicks off as early as September with the St. Lucia Dive Fest, while La Marguerite Flower Festival is held every October.
October is also home to Creole Heritage Month, meaning the local swing is at its fullest in a rowdy celebration of music and dance. Fall also means that the island’s rainforests and landmarks such as the Pitons mountains are at their absolute greenest after being fed by the summer rains.
Read: Things to Do in St. Lucia
Sonoma Valley, California, USA
Sonoma Valley in California, USA
While Napa Valley may gain most of the plaudits, neighboring Sonoma is one of the best places for a fall vacation. It’s home to rolling vineyards, charming towns, and world-class wineries that California is known for.
The change of season brings with it “crush”—the harvest season from September to November when the wine region is alive with activity as the grapes are harvested and wine production is in full swing. With more than 400 wineries to visit, there are tastings and tours, vineyard walks and picnics to enjoy.
Not a fan of wine? Fall sees spectacular foliage here with a dazzling array of colors in locations such as Jack London State Historic Park and Quarryhill Botanical Garden.
For an alternative view, take a look at the valley from the air, thanks to a number of companies that offer hot air balloon rides.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik, with its medieval architecture, imposing city walls, and lovely surrounding coastlines has become one of Europe’s most popular destinations.
This does mean it is busy in summer. Thankfully, as soon as September arrives and the mercury begins to fall, it’s a much more approachable city. This is the chance to explore the limestone streets and baroque buildings of the UNESCO-listed Old Town in relative peace.
Fall also brings with it several fun festivals, including October’s Good Food Festival, and the Kinookus Food and Wine Festival, held every September in nearby Ston, famed for its oyster cultivation.
Alaska, USA
Denali National Park in Alaska, USA
If you’re looking for an ideal time to visit Alaska, fall may well be it—a sweet spot where you can still enjoy summer activities, get the chance to spot the Northern Lights and not get overwhelmed by the chill of winter and shorter days.
As the leaves start to turn deep burgundy, orange, and fiery red, the first snows start to dust surrounding mountains, making for great images. Denali National Park and the Tongass National Forest offer great hiking amongst the foliage, while there’s incredible animal spotting, too. Bears, moose, and caribou may all be seen ahead of the harsh winter.
Back in the cities, it’s time to explore Alaska’s relaxed restaurant scene with specialties such as freshly caught salmon, king crab, or reindeer sausage.
Read: Fall in Alaska
Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul, Turkey
While most cities start to hunker down for winter as fall approaches, Istanbul is a little different. It’s hot here in summer with less focus on sightseeing and more on boat trips and beaches. In fall, the neighborhoods of Istanbul seem to have a renewed energy.
Fall is a great time, then, to visit some of the best places to visit in Istanbul, such as the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and the Grand Bazaar. Or, stroll around the city’s many gardens or amongst the trees in neighboring Belgrad Forest.
Make time, too, for seafood. Fall is fish season in Istanbul, with swordfish, sea bream, and mackerel all coming to the fore in the city’s restaurants.
Denali National Park in Alaska, USA
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