Where is hot in Europe in October? 13 sizzling destinations
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As autumn edges closer and the leaves begin to fall, we often find ourselves asking, “Where is hot in Europe in October?”. Bank accounts are still recovering from a summer of festivals and peak-season trips, but the desire to extend the season and top up vitamin D without the long-haul flight time is strong. After all, October is the clever traveller's favourite time to go on holiday. The high-summer crowds have melted away and the kids are back in school – bar the October half-term – but much of southern Europe continues to sizzle. Best of all, prices are often much more affordable in this shoulder season as hotels, resorts, and restaurants start to pack down and fill rooms before closing for the winter. From dreamy Italian hideouts to Greek isle idylls and the sandy shores of Turkey’s southern coast, these are our favourite hot places in Europe in October.
For more general inspiration across the globe, guaranteed sun aside, see our guide to where to go on holiday in October.
Where is the hottest place in Europe in October?
The paradisical island of Cyprus is often considered the hottest place in Europe in October. The ‘season’ lasts so long here that many seasonal resorts remain open well into November, while those in nearby Turkey and Greece close their doors in October. According to the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), the average daily high in Larnaca is 28°C.
Is Greece warm in October?
While temperatures in the northernmost regions of Greece plummet towards the end of October, the south coast of the mainland and the Greek islands below retain warm temperatures late into the month. The average daily high in Chania – Crete’s second city – is 24°C, making it a great shoulder season destination with its abundance of history and culture.
Is it hot in Italy in October?
Similarly to Greece, we’re big fans of Italy in October. The summer crowds are easing off and, while it’s still hot in October, it’s not too hot to embark on day trips, hike through national parks and lounge on the beaches. If in doubt, head for the islands – the average daily temperatures of between 19°C and 24°C on Sicily’s beautiful beach are *chef’s kiss*.
Getty Images1. Cyprus
Average October high: 27°C
Summer lingers longer in Cyprus than anywhere else in the Mediterranean, making it one of the best destinations in October for committed beach lovers. Down in Europe’s southeastern corner, this all-year-round island is on a latitude with Morocco and Iran and consequently, October days are properly hot and sunny – around the high 20s even at the end of the month and into November. Airlines also fly direct from the UK year-round, so it’s a brilliantly easy and affordable option for a beach holiday during the October half term when prices for its increasingly smart seaside resorts plummet. Lounge on the pristine shores and splash around in the turquoise waters – while folks back home start dusting off their winterwear.
Where to stay: On a shore outside Paphos, the Almyra is the chic younger sister to the island’s original five-star Anassa. Its whitewashed terraces overlook the sea, there’s an extensive spa, and the concierge team can arrange immersive experiences revealing the real Cyprus.
Getty Images2. Sicily
Average October high: 22°C
On autumn days when the Sirocco blows across from the Sahara, hot and dry, Sicily swelters. Residents of its towns and cities leave the sultry Baroque streets and head to the nearest sandy shore to swim. Those days aside, temperatures still average 24ºC by day, and nights rarely get cold. The lidos are quieter in autumn if you favour drinks delivered to your sunbed. As for those wild white stretches of sand and the protected coastal parks – Selinunte and Vendicari, for example – you may find yourself alone on them. On an island where food and drink are exalted, autumn is just about the most important time of the year. As well as various local harvest festivals, the big shebang is La Vendemmia: grape harvest. The flavours of October: light fresh whites, musky just-dug truffles and porcini with linguine, Mount Etna honey drizzled over local cheese.
Where to stay: For wine, food and beaches, La Foresteria on the Planeta wine estate in the southwest is a superb place to stay. Vineyards stretch away from your lavender-scented terrace and towards the sea, and Selinunte is a 15-minute drive. For something closer to the action, we recommend Villa Igiea, a Rocco Forte Hotel, one of the grandest hotels in Palermo.
Getty Images3. Crete
Average October high: 24°C
The birthplace of Zeus, Aphrodite, Apollo, and all Western civilisation, Crete is a myth made real. Greece’s biggest island has heavenly beaches, bays of electric blue, fertile slopes, and a summer season long enough for a beach holiday in October. Wise the traveller who comes in autumn, when days are still mainly sunny and warm, and the sea temperatures high enough for swimming. You can wander the ancient temples and the Palace of Knossos crowd-free and do as locals do, eating at family-run restaurants in the hillside villages – the island’s food scene is starting to be talked about.
Where to stay: Mirabello Bay and the spiffed-up fishing village of Elounda are where you’ll find Crete’s numerous smart five-star resorts, among which Daios Cove guarantees good times for couples and families alike. Alternatively, settle into Elounda Mare Hotel, part of the Relais & Chateaux group, on the north coast, for breathtaking sea views and an elegant, laid-back atmosphere.
Getty Images4. Calabria
Average October high: 23°C
While autumn paints the hills of Tuscany gold and brings rain to Milan, down in the toe of Italy, the little-visited region of Calabria is still basking in sunshine for most of October, with temperatures bobbing around 23ºC. Calabria also has some of the best beaches in all of Italy: silvery sandy shores and clear blue waters of the Ionian and Tyrrhenian seas. They say the further south you go in this country, the friendlier the people, and its seaside villages and hilltop towns offer a warm welcome and a laidback vibe that’s like an Italy of long ago.
Where to stay: Set in gardens of palms and Mediterranean pines, Villa Paola is the prettiest shell-pink and white villa on the edge of the seaside village of Tropea.
Getty Images5. Malta
Average October high: 25°C
This curiously British outpost in the Mediterranean has long been popular for bucket-and-spade breaks – it’s hot, it’s got beaches, they serve chips and speak English, for goodness’ sake. History lovers have always known that Malta is a lot more than that, with its fascinatingly complicated history – it’s been taken over by Arabic, Italian and British occupations over the years, each civilisation leaving its own traces behind. In recent years Malta has started to garner attention for its culture and food scenes. The capital, Valletta, has one of the most beautiful harbours anywhere in the world and is home to ION Harbour by Simon Rogan, Malta’s only two-Michelin-starred restaurant. For culture vultures, there’s the recently-opened MICAS (Malta International Contemporary Arts Space), which houses exhibitions sure to elevate Malta on the global arts stage.
Where to stay: Iniala Harbour House is Malta’s swishest hotel. Its fine-dining restaurant Ion was recently awarded its second Michelin star for its inventive dishes served on a rooftop terrace with knockout views over Valletta’s Grand Harbour.
Getty Images6. Ibiza
Average October high: 23°C
Something curious happens to Ibiza in October. Following an unsettled September, when sweltering days roll suddenly dark with thunderstorms, and despite its location in the northwest of the Mediterranean, October invariably settles into an Indian summer on the island, which has become a year-round destination for anyone seeking wellness, walking, beach time and good food, rather than parties. “Half term is always heavenly on the island – it’s around 26-28 degrees,” says Ibiza fixer Serena Cook of Deliciously Sorted, who lives here year-round. “October is one of my favourite months. The longer season is much more pastoral and intimate and soulful.”
Where to stay: The superlative new Six Senses Ibiza offers an elegant base on the more chilled-out north of the island – perfect for all things wellness and rejuvenation. Closer to the action are the side-by-side complexes of Mondrian Ibiza and HYDE; ideal choices for both families and partygoers in search of a final hurrah.
Getty Images7. Bodrum Peninsula
Average October high: 26°C
Locals will tell you that October is their favourite time on the Bodrum Peninsula, where the golden sunlight glitters on waters glassy-flat around inlets and islands. The Aegean is like a bath, warmed all summer. The days are hot and ripe for exploring Turkey’s forested coast by boat or by jeep. The food, which has always focused on the local and seasonal, is exceptional in autumn when the bounty of harvest combines with the freshest fish and seafood. And though it’s quiet, you can always find a sunset buzz. Recent summers have seen Bodrum gain international attention, with a flurry of new openings such as Scorpios Bodrum (the first all-villa property from the team behind the Myconian beach club) and the adjacent Maxx Royal leading to a glitzy “Bodrum Boom”.
Where to stay: Macakizi is widely regarded as the OG uber-luxe hotel on these shores. Check-in for a stay or dine in one of the sleek restaurants, and you’ll undoubtedly be among the stars of Turkish – and international – stage, screen and song.
Getty Images8. Rhodes
Average October high: 24°C
Deep down south in the Dodecanese, Rhodes is still hot in October, and airlines still fly direct to the Greek Island holiday favourite. Days are mainly dry, hot and sunny, with temperatures around 26ºC right through to November, with cooler evenings, though the sea remains invitingly warm. Too often dismissed as a package holiday destination, Rhodes still has pockets of charm – enough for Jackie O and Aristotle to swing by on their honeymoon and dine beneath the grapevines at Mavrikos, in the mosaic-stone lanes of old Lindos. Besides beach days, there’s lots to do here in the way of history and culture, so October is the perfect time to visit to avoid sweat impairing your views of ancient architecture.
Where to stay: The Ixian Grand & All Suites is an adults-only hotel towards the island’s northernmost tip. Sun-soaked days can easily transition into orange-sky evenings on the beach before Mediterranean and Japanese-Peruvian fusion feasts in the chic restaurants.
Getty Images9. Cadiz and the Coast of Light
Average October high: 23°C
On Andalucia’s Costa de la Luz – Coast of Light – the creamy-white harbour city of Cadiz dazzles. It has fire and passion in its soul, cooking and flamenco dancing. While tourists tread furrows to neighbouring Seville and Granada, the sherry bars of Cadiz remain overlooked, but its authentic spirit makes it an appealing alternative for Hispanophiles wanting to dig a little deeper. It’s also in a plum position for heading to the Costa’s white-sand beaches stretching down to Tarifa and exploring the region’s pueblas blancas. Of these, Vejer de la Frontera is an absolute gem, with its artisan boutiques, a cutting-edge food scene with influences from Morocco across the strait, and a burgeoning collection of gorgeous little places to stay.
Where to stay: The beautifully designed Plaza 18 in Vejer de la Frontera is one of Spain’s loveliest hotels; while its sister Hotel Madreselva is on the coast looking out towards Africa.
Getty Images10. Lanzarote
Average October high: 26°C
For many, Lanzarote is the loveliest of the Canary Islands, where you can find sheltered sandy bays out of the wind or great stretches of beach for surfing and windsurfing. There are dramatic volcanic interiors for walking and art and architecture in the legacy of island son Cesar Manrique, including the incredible cactus garden at Guatiza. October is still summertime on the year-round island of Lanzarote, where temperatures hover around 27º to 28ºC, and there are more than 300 days of sunshine a year.
Where to stay: Eco-friendly Finca Malvasia, with its one villa, three apartments and two suites set around a central pool, is set among the vineyards and volcanic hills of the central wine region of La Geria. Famara Beach is only a 10-minute drive away.
Getty Images11. The Algarve
Average October high: 23°C
Despite being on many travellers' radars for some years now, the Algarve – tucked into the south of Portugal – has held onto much of its untouched magic. Of course, there are mega-resorts and beach clubs, but much of this region still feels off the beaten track. In October, temperatures skim an average high of 23ºC, which makes for perfect beach days and tolerable sea swimming. Take it slow in tiny Portuguese villages (don't miss Cacela Velha) or head to lively beach restaurants – we love beach shack Vila Joya Sea.
Where to stay: Casa Mae is a cute, pastel-hued guesthouse with a gorgeous pool, sea-view rooms and beautifully designed interiors.
Getty Images12. Antalya, Turkey
Average October high: 25°C
Having long favoured the shores of Bodrum, Kalkan and Marmaris, Brits are increasingly familiarising themselves with all Antalya has to offer. The wider region, which branches out in either direction from the heart of the city, has long been a favourite among Russian-speaking travellers. However, the appeal of these resorts is universal as they continue to up their game. There are stunning natural sites that the balmier October temperatures (July and August are scorching) make more bearable, such as Kurşunlu Waterfall and Beydağları Coastal National Park.
Where to stay: All-inclusives don’t come much glitzier than Maxx Royal Kemer. Villas are akin to London townhouses, except with direct access to sprawling swimming pools, while anything you could possibly wish to consume is just a short walk – or a phone call – away.
Getty Images13. Kos, Greece
Average October high: 23°C
The third-largest Dodecanese island comes alive at the end of March, and things tend to stay pretty lively until the early autumn, when restaurant owners in seasonal towns shut up for a well-deserved four-month break. It’s as well-known for it’s ancient Roman and Greek landmarks as it is for its stunning beaches and crystal-clear waters, so it’s a great place for intergenerational escapes where those with itchy feet team up with committed beach bums.
Where to stay: OKU Kos is undoubtedly one of the island’s sleekest properties. Join the aesthetes and check in for lazy poolside days and hammock lounging.