When the season change, the temperatures start to lower and trees turn from green to orange, most of us are looking for an escape from our daily routine. That might either be to experience the full color spectrum of fall foliage at a special destination or to let the last summer days slowly fade out. In this post I will introduce you to my favorite vacation destinations for fall and I guarantee you that you will find a beautiful fall destination for your autumn trip.

12 Vacation destinations for fall

The best places to visit in fall to see the colorful foliage

These destinations are perfect for: Nature lovers, hikers and lovers of South Tyrol

South Tyrol

One of my favorite destinations in Europe is especially beautiful during fall: The mountain regions of northern Italy. In between the end of august until mid-November you will experience perfect weather for hiking. The often sunny days will not cause you to break out in sweat but allow for a perfect day out. The beautiful mountain scenery transforms into a colorful landscape straight out of a painting. And the best part: You can enjoy this scenery without any signs of mass tourism.  

  → This way to find my list with the most stunning places in the Dolomites that you should not miss during your visit

Germany

A particularly beautiful scenery, in combination with the brightly colored trees, are the many castles in Germany which allow for many fall vacation ideas. Popular examples are “Neuschwanstein Castle” in Bavaria or “Eltz Castle” in the West of the country. But my home country of Saxony also has many places to offer that are ideal for a short trip during fall: The Saxony Switzerland National Park, with its unique sandstone formations, Moritzburg Castle, which has often been the backdrop for fairytale films, or the Rakotz Bridge, which thanks to its reflection in the water, is a popular motif for photographers, especially in autumn.

Hallstatt, Austria

Yes, it is likely the most famous location in all of Austria – and justifiably so: Located at the Hallstätter Lake and surrounded by a beautiful mountain range one can find the fairytale like city of Hallstatt. During Autumn the magic of this beautiful town changes yet again and makes it ideal for daytrips during a hiking vacation in Austria.    

South Tyrol – Germany – Austria

Amazing destinations during autumn in Europe

These destinations are ideal for: Explorers, Culture vultures & Romantics

The autumn months are the ideal travel time for popular destinations in Europe, which are overcrowded during the summer months. However, there is one drawback: From middle / end of October onwards, the season is already over in many towns and restaurant operators and Co. go on winter break. In September and the beginning of October, however, this problem usually does not yet exist.
These three holiday destinations in Europe are ideal choices during the autumn months:

Cinque Terre

Following the North-West coast along the Italian Rivera, one can find five picturesquely beautiful towns. These towns, definitely among the most beautiful destinations in Italy and hopelessly overrun during the summer months, are connected by train and hiking trails. But during fall the region still holds its magic and is an ideal stop during a tour through Italy. Cinque Terre can be explored in 2 days and should be considered as a stop over while exploring other destinations in northern Italy. Especially Portofino, Florence, Milan, Verona and also Venice are particularly suitable, which leads me directly to my next top holiday destination in Europe for autumn…

Venice

In my opinion, the most romantic city in Europe is always worth a trip, especially in autumn: Venice! Pleasant climate, fewer tourists than in the summer season and low season prices! I would absolutely avoid Venice during the summer, but in autumn it’s a great destination for a short city break (or in combination with a trip to the Dolomites).

→ Are you looking for more inspiration for your trip to Venice? Click here to find my article with the most unique locations in the city and the most beautiful photo spots.

Amalfi Coast

One of my favorite trips we took in fall has been our trip to the Amalfi Coast. Summer can be extended by a few weeks on this beautiful coastline. You can usually enjoy pleasant beach weather well into October and the weather is also ideal for exploring the picturesque towns. The best part: You will find far fewer tourists. The easiest way to reach the Amalfi Coast is from Naples by train or car and can be ideally combined with the nearby island of Capri.

→ Find travel tips and the Must Sees for the Amalfi Coast here!

Cinque Terre – Venice – Amalfi Coast

Following the Sun – Going South with sunshine guarantee

These destinations are the perfect choice for: Sunbathers, those looking to relax & snorkeling fans

Maldives

Endless white sandy beaches, clear-turquoise water and hotels that invite you to relax – these are the Maldives. While the peak season for this island paradise is November to April, the best time for snorkeling fans however is June to October. At this time of year, thousands of manta rays swim through the UNESCO-protected Hanifaru Bay. The gentle giants are attracted by the abundance of plankton in the water and slowly float through the blue waters as they feed. With a bit of luck you might also encounter whale sharks.

By the way, you can also have fabulous weather in the Maldives outside of the high season – especially during the swell season in autumn. We ourselves have almost always been to the Maldives outside of the high season, because another advantage is the lower hotel costs – which begin to skyrocket towards end November.

→ In this post you can find my favorite Resorts in the Maldives. Here is something for everyone and every budget. 

French Polynesia

August to October is also the ideal travel time for French Polynesia. Whether relaxation on Bora Bora or adventure on Moorea: French Polynesia, as a holiday destination, is the epitome of a tropical paradise. Especially in terms of nature, snorkeling and adventure, it has a lot more to offer than the Maldives. On the other hand you have the better hotels in the Maldives. So if you can’t decide between the Maldives and French Polynesia, you have to ask yourself the following question: do you prefer relaxed luxury or tropical adventures?

Egypt

During summer it is almost too hot to go outside in Egypt! But during autumn there is ideal weather for relaxing or exploring: Egypt is for me an ideal holiday destination for the autumn months as it offers great price to value. Hotels are inexpensive to book and the country has a lot to offer. It doesn’t matter whether you long for a beach holiday to go snorkeling in the Red Sea or for discovering the pyramids and temples of times long past – in Egypt you will find the ideal mix of both worlds. At the same time, you can expect summery temperatures until the end of autumn.

 → Abu Simbel in the South of Egypt should not be left off anyone’s bucket list. Here you can find my tips for your visit!

Maldives – French Polynesia – Egypt

Adventurous Autumn destinations 

These destinations are ideal for: Explorer, Adventurer and everyone in the mood to see something different

Hawaii 

The perfect all-year destination: Hawaii! Especially during early fall you will find very little rain (this however might depend a little on which Island you reside). Even though the rainy season officially begins November, the rain showers are often of short duration while temperatures remain warm. Adventure seekers will especially enjoy the Islands of Kauai and Big Island (Hawai’i). Every Island has its own charm which makes Hawaii for me one of the most worthwhile travel destinations among all.  

Tip: Hawaii is too far away for you, but the landscape appeals to you? Then Madeira could be the ideal autumn destination for you! The green mountain landscapes of volcanic origin, are strongly reminiscent of those in Hawaii. At the beginning of autumn you will still experience pleasant temperatures in Madeira, while there are fewer tourists on the island.

Jordan

The insider tip for adventure travelers looking for a sunny destination: Jordan! The country has really impressed me with its culture, history and landscape – and I’m not just talking about the ancient world heritage site of Petra. The capital Amman, Jerash, the Wadi Rum desert and the Dead Sea are each worth a trip to Jordan.

Autumn is the best time to travel to Jordan as summer is simply too hot and winter, especially in the northern regions, can be chilly and stormy. We had planned our trip to Jordan a few years ago in November and were super happy with the weather there.

→ I shared our Travel itinerary for one week in Jordan, including all the must sees here!

Cappadocia

A place straight out of a fairytale and one of the few travel destinations that is even more dreamy in reality than in photos: Cappadocia!

While the hotels in this region, in the heart of Turkey, are often fully booked or very expensive during the summer holidays, in autumn you might get lucky and be able to book even the most beautiful rooms with a view of the rising balloons at a good price. However, the deeper into autumn your trip goes, the chillier the weather in Cappadocia will become – especially in the early morning. But from the end of August to mid-October the region still offers pleasant temperatures and putting it among my favorites in my list of best places to visit during fall.

→ Of course I created a travel guide for fall destinations if Cappadocia. Here you can find many Tips and insights for your trip.

Hawaii – Jordan – Cappadocia

I hope this article about the most beautiful fall destinations could inspire you to plan your own autumn trip. Do you have any questions about a destination? Then please feel free to sent me a message on Instagram or simply post a comment on this article. 

P.S. For your next visit make sure to check out my hotel collection. Maybe you will find your dream hotel among the list:

→ Click here to sign up for my Hotel Collection and book your next stay!

If you book any hotel in Budapest which is part of my hotel collection with A Small World, you will get extraordinary benefits like free breakfast, an upgrade, 100 USD stay credit and more! Additionally you will find the best available rate for each hotel. The sign up to my collection is completely free and the best about it: You can use it for any other hotel booking in the future to ALWAYS enjoy the free benefits!