Where to go in October

We’ve welcomed the return of autumn with open arms but there is a distinct chill in the mornings and the evenings are certainly becoming darker. What better time to think about a winter break! Here are our top ten suggestions for where to go in October. As with any holiday, research your trip before you book to ensure you get the most out of it. Some attractions may close earlier so plan your itinerary before you travel.

With its lagoons, beaches and coral reefs, the volcanic island of Mauritius offers lots to do from the Safari and Bird Park, the Giant Tortoise Park and Vallée des Couleurs to the Kids Adventure Park, Ile Aux Aigrettes Island and Château de Labourdonnais. Like many of the tropical islands, it has good weather all year round too with temperatures in October an average of 25°C.

The Canary Islands are always popular in the winter months. Tenerife is the largest of the islands offering dramatic landscapes and a sub-tropical climate. As well as resorts such as Playa las Américas (which I visited in my late twenties) and Los Cristianos with its sandy beaches, there’s also the must-see coastal town of Los Gigantes where huge cliffs plunge into the Atlantic Ocean. Temperatures are usually upward of 20°C in the winter.

Lanzarote is the most easterly of the Canary Islands. With its mild temperatures in line with Tenerife, many parts of the island are described as ‘lunar’ or ‘Martian’ due to the climate. It’s home to many beautiful beaches including Playa Blanca, Papagayo and Caleton Blanco. World-class sports facilities are available at La Santa – we stayed for a week one December and played tennis in the sunshine every day! There’s also surfing available at Famara and windsurfing at Costa Teguise.

Seville is the capital and largest city of Andalusia and situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir – the second longest river in Spain. Its beautiful old town includes three World Heritage sites – the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See, the royal Alcázar palace and the General Archive of the Indies. It’s the hottest major metropolitan area in Europe with temperatures in October around 20°C.

Marrakech is a busy energetic city which is bursting with intrigue, culture and interesting aromas. You can expect to lose all sense of direction (as we did!) in the winding streets in the old Medina district but also discover an abundance of souks, street vendors and snake charmers. A stark contrast to the beautiful riad we stayed in which was quiet except for the call to prayer from the iconic Koutoubia. While the temperatures remain high in October (up to 28°C), they drop significantly in the evening (to 16°C).

October is a great time of year to visit Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt as the weather is reliably sunny. During the day temperatures can rise up to 30°C although evenings are cooler. The sea is at its warmest too which makes diving and other underwater activities particularly attractive. Located south west of Sharma el-Sheikh is the beach resort of Ras um Sid with diving and snorkelling on offer at The Temple.

With the crowds fading, you can still take a beach holiday on the Mediterranean side of Turkey in October. There’s an average of 9 hours sunshine with temperatures in Bodrum on the turquoise coast around 20°C. There you can visit the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, Castle of St Peter and Mausoleum as well as the theatre, old town and marina. In Dalyan you can see the turtle beach, Lycian Rock Tombs and mud baths.

Crete is the largest and most mountainous of the Greek islands with temperatures ranging from 20°C to 25°C in October. The south coast is normally warmer than the north with the south east usually the driest. Crete’s most historic ruin is the Palace of Knossos with other notable places to visit including the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, Dikteon Cave and Hania’s old town.

Set in the far south of the Mediterranean, Paphos in Cyprus provides temperatures of 27°C with lows of 16°C at night in early October. Bijou beach is right in the town centre and there’s the also the must-see Tomb of the Kings, House of Dionysos and Temple of Aphrodite. Autumn is also a good time of year to go hiking in the mountains.

Located off Greece’s northwest coast in the Ionian Sea is Corfu. Beaches range from fine sand and shallow waters in Ayios Georgios to water sports in Cavos. Corfu Town provides temperatures of 19°C to 23°C at this time of year. On offer is exploring, hiking, riding plus there are museums, old castles and watersports.

Malta, Gozo and Comino are especially good for families with average temperatures around 23°C down to 19°C in October. Fresher but still sunny! There are also prehistoric temples, roman ruins and medieval castles to explore along with forts, churches and walled cities.

Photographs courtesy of iStock.