13 Best Countries to Visit in October 2026 (Festivals & Fall Foliage)

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October might be the best month to travel and nobody talks about it! Summer crowds vanish, prices drop, the weather holds, and you get that gorgeous golden light that makes every photo look like a postcard. I’ve been chasing that sweet spot for years and October wins almost every time.

I put this guide together to help you figure out where to go this autumn. Everything here is based on what’s actually happening in October 2026, from festivals worth flying for to the practical stuff like weather, costs, and what to book ahead. These are the best countries to visit in October, and exactly why each one earns a spot on the list.

1. 🇩🇪 Germany

• 🍺 Best For: Oktoberfest, autumn foliage, wine harvest festivals, fewer crowds than summer
• 🗓️ Key Dates: Oktoberfest runs September 19 to October 4, 2026
• 🌡️ Weather: 10 to 15°C with crisp, clear days ideal for sightseeing
• 💡 Pro Tip: Visit Oktoberfest on a Tuesday “Family Day” when you can actually find a seat

October is one of the best months to visit Germany. The summer tourists have gone home, autumn colors are spreading across the countryside, and the weather is cool enough for comfortable sightseeing. If you time it right, you can also catch the tail end of Oktoberfest in Munich, which runs until October 4th in 2026.

I’ve been to Oktoberfest twice and would recommend spending time in Munich itself, not just the festival grounds. The English Garden is beautiful in early October and you can grab a beer at the Chinese Tower beer garden without the tent chaos. After the festival ends, the Romantic Road between Würzburg and Füssen becomes one of Europe’s best autumn drives with medieval towns and vineyards turning gold.

One budget tip if you’re visiting during Oktoberfest is to stay in Salzburg, Austria instead of Munich. Hotels in Munich triple their prices during the festival but Salzburg is only 90 minutes away by train. Book in advance on the Deutsche Bahn app and you’ll save hundreds of euros while experiencing two cities.

October is also game season in Bavaria, so restaurant menus feature venison, wild boar, and duck with red cabbage and dumplings. It’s hearty, seasonal food that suits the cooler weather perfectly. Look for restaurants advertising Wildwochen (game weeks) for the best selection.

• Plan your trip: My 2-Week Romantic Road Germany Itinerary
• Love nature? 7 Most Breathtaking Mountains in Germany You Need to See
• Also check out: Bavaria Travel Guide (Fairytale Castles, Beer Gardens & Alps Views)

2. 🇯🇵 Japan

• 🍁 Best For: Autumn foliage, harvest festivals, comfortable hiking weather
• 🗓️ Key Dates: Takayama Autumn Festival (Oct 9-10), Jidai Matsuri (Oct 22)
• 🌡️ Weather: 15 to 22°C with clear skies and low humidity
• 💡 Pro Tip: Hokkaido and Nikko peak in October while Tokyo and Kyoto don’t hit full colour until mid-November, so plan your route accordingly

Everyone talks about cherry blossom season, but October might actually be the better time to visit Japan. The brutal summer humidity is gone, prices are lower than spring, and the country starts transforming into reds, oranges, and golds as koyo (autumn leaf season) begins. You also won’t be fighting quite as many tourists for that perfect temple photo.

The trick with October is understanding that autumn colours move north to south. Hokkaido and the Japanese Alps around Kamikochi are peaking while Tokyo and Kyoto are still mostly green. I visited Nikko in mid-October and caught Kegon Falls at the perfect moment, surrounded by blazing red maples with hardly anyone else around.

If festivals interest you, the Takayama Autumn Festival is on my bucket list. Locals parade 400-year-old floats through tiny streets at night and the atmosphere looks electric. Fair warning though, the town is small and books out fast so plan way ahead.

I got caught out on a few things during my first trip that are worth knowing. Book hotels six months in advance for anywhere popular, and get a Japan Rail Pass if you’re covering long distances. Download offline maps too because English signage basically disappears once you leave the big cities.

• Find your airline: 5 Secret Tips to Find Cheap Flights to Japan (From the USA)
• Read my guide: Why Kansai Needs to Be on Your 2026 Japan Trip 
• Further planning: The Cheapest Airports to Fly Into Japan Right Now (2026 Guide)

3. 🇯🇴 Jordan

• 🏛️ Best For: Ancient wonders, desert camping, floating in the Dead Sea
• 🗓️ Key Dates: Petra by Night runs Sun to Thu at 8:30pm with a new projection show
• 🌡️ Weather: 20 to 28°C with cool desert nights around 13°C
• 💡 Pro Tip: Visit late October when crowds and prices drop but the weather stays perfect

October is prime time for Jordan and there’s a good reason for that. The brutal summer heat has finally broken, which makes it possible to actually enjoy hiking through Petra without melting. Temperatures hover in the mid-twenties during the day with pleasantly cool evenings, and rain is almost unheard of.

Petra deserves at least two full days if you want to see it properly. Most people rush to the Treasury, snap their photos, and leave, but the real magic is in the quieter corners like the Monastery hike or the High Place of Sacrifice trail. I’d also recommend going back at night when they light up the Siq with thousands of candles and project lights onto the Treasury.

Wadi Rum in October is ideal for overnight camping. The temperature drops enough at night to make sleeping under the stars comfortable, and the Bedouin camps serve incredible food cooked in underground sand ovens. I woke up at dawn to watch the light hit the red sandstone cliffs and it remains one of my favourite travel moments.

A few practical things worth knowing. The Jordan Pass saves money if you’re visiting multiple sites and includes your visa fee, so sort that out before you fly. Bring layers because desert nights get cold, and book Petra accommodation early since Wadi Musa has limited options.

• You may also like: 12 Fun & Unique Things to Do in Wadi Rum

4. 🇳🇦 Namibia

• 🦁 Best For: Wildlife at waterholes, desert landscapes, self-drive adventure
• 🗓️ Key Dates: Windhoek Oktoberfest (late October), whale watching season at Walvis Bay
• 🌡️ Weather: 25 to 35°C days, cool nights around 15°C
• 💡 Pro Tip: Book Etosha camps like Okaukuejo months ahead for the floodlit waterhole where rhinos appear after dark

If you want to see African wildlife without the East Africa price tag, Namibia in October is hard to beat. It’s the end of the dry season so water is scarce and animals have no choice but to gather at whatever’s left. Etosha National Park becomes like a nature documentary on loop, with elephants, lions, zebras and giraffes all sharing the same waterholes.

The other reason October works so well is that you can self-drive the whole country. I recommend renting a 4×4 in Windhoek and do the classic loop: south to Sossusvlei for sunrise over the red dunes, west to Swakopmund for oysters and a break from the heat, then north to Etosha for three or four nights of game viewing. The roads are well maintained and you’ll rarely see another car outside the parks.

It gets hot though, properly hot. Plan your Sossusvlei dune climb for 5am when the gates open, do game drives early and late, and hide by the pool during the worst of the afternoon. Carry more water than feels reasonable and fill your tank at every station. The distances between towns will surprise you!

5. 🇦🇷 Argentina

• 🌸 Best For: Spring blooms, whale watching, wine country, shoulder season value
• 🗓️ Key Dates: Villa General Belgrano Oktoberfest, Bariloche a la Carta food festival, Eisteddfod de Chubut (late Oct)
• 🌡️ Weather: Buenos Aires 18 to 22°C, Patagonia still chilly at 8 to 12°C
• 💡 Pro Tip: Book Puerto Madryn hotels 3 weeks out as whale season gets busier each year

October is shoulder season in Argentina, which means fewer crowds, lower prices, and perfect weather. It’s spring in the southern hemisphere so Buenos Aires is warm without the sticky summer humidity, Mendoza’s vineyards are coming alive, and Patagonia is finally accessible after winter. You get the benefits of peak season without paying for it.

The big reason to visit now is Peninsula Valdés, one of the best whale watching spots on the planet. Southern right whales arrive here to give birth and October is when the calves are most active, learning to breach and tail-slap near the surface. Boats leave from Puerto Pirámides daily and sightings are virtually guaranteed. At El Doradillo beach you can watch them from the shore during high tide, sometimes just 20 metres away.

I recommend splitting your trip between Buenos Aires and the south. The capital is perfect for steak, tango, and exploring neighbourhoods like San Telmo without fighting through summer crowds. Then fly to Puerto Madryn for whales, penguins, and elephant seals. Add Mendoza if you want vineyard cycling in pleasant 24°C weather rather than the 35°C that makes January wine tours a slog.

• Plan your itinerary: 12 Most Beautiful Places in Argentina to Visit This Year

6. 🇮🇹 Italy

• 🍂 Best For: Harvest season food, autumn colours, fewer crowds at major sites
• 🗓️ Key Dates: Alba White Truffle Fair (Oct 10 to Dec 6), Barcolana regatta in Trieste (mid-Oct)
• 🌡️ Weather: Rome 15 to 22°C, Northern Italy cooler at 10 to 18°C
• 💡 Pro Tip: Visit the truffle market on weekends and book a hunt with local trifulau for the real experience

Italy in summer can be exhausting. The crowds, the heat, the two hour queues for the Uffizi. October fixes all of that. Temperatures settle into the low twenties, prices drop by about 20%, and you can enjoy places like Rome and Florence without feeling like you’re in a theme park. I visited the Vatican in October and walked straight into the Sistine Chapel with maybe thirty other people.

The real draw this month is the food. Harvest season means sagre pop up everywhere, local festivals celebrating everything from chestnuts to porcini. But the Alba White Truffle Fair in Piedmont is the main event. Hunters bring in truffles they’ve dug up overnight with their dogs and sell them for thousands per kilo. Most restaurants in town shaves fresh white truffle over pasta for around €25. The smell hits you before the plate lands!

Tuscany and Umbria look their best right in October, with vineyards turning gold against the rolling hills you’ve seen in every Italian movie. The grape harvest wraps up in October so wineries are lively and welcoming visitors. Pack layers because northern mornings are crisp, but you’ll still get plenty of warm afternoons for long lunches outside.

• Visit hidden gems: The 10 Most Beautiful Towns in Italy You’ve Never Heard Of
• Read this guide: My 2-Week Tuscany Road Trip Itinerary
• My favorite spots: The 19 Best Places in Italy to Visit in 2026

7. 🇿🇦 South Africa

• 🦁 Best For: Safari, whale watching, wine regions, spring wildflowers
• 🗓️ Key Dates: Rocking the Daisies festival (Oct 2-4), whale season until mid-November
• 🌡️ Weather: Cape Town 15 to 22°C, Kruger 17 to 30°C
• 💡 Pro Tip: Sabi Sands has unfenced borders with Kruger but guides can track leopards off-road

October is one of the few times you can do safari and beach in the same trip without compromising on either. It’s the end of dry season, so animals in Kruger are still clustered around waterholes, whales are breaching off the Western Cape, and the weather is warm enough for sundowners on the beach. Plus the rand makes everything absurdly good value compared to East Africa.

I’d start with safari while conditions are prime. Sabi Sands lodges like Londolozi or MalaMala cost similar to Kruger’s rest camps but the difference is night and day. Guides can drive off-road to follow a leopard rather than watching it disappear into the bush from the road. Three nights is enough to see everything without it feeling rushed.

Then fly to Cape Town and pick up a rental car. Spend a couple of nights in Stellenbosch doing wine tastings with mountain views, then head to Hermanus where whale season runs until mid-November. October catches the calves at their most playful as they learn to breach before the long swim back to Antarctica. The West Coast wildflowers should still be blooming too if you have time for a detour to Namaqua National Park.

• Check this out: My Ultimate Cape Town Guide (2026)
• Also read: 12 Lesser-Known Places in South Africa That Are Pure Magic

8. 🇵🇹 Portugal

• 🍂 Best For: Wine lovers, autumn foliage, shoulder-season city breaks
• 🗓️ Key Dates: Douro harvest through early Oct, Nazaré big wave season starts, Republic Day (Oct 5)
• 🌡️ Weather: Lisbon 15–22°C, Algarve 18–24°C, Douro 12–20°C
• 💡 Pro Tip: Republic Day (Oct 5) creates a long weekend so book Douro hotels early. Lisbon stays half the price of summer at places like Hotel Mundial (€100–150/night).

October is when Portugal feels most like itself. Summer crowds are gone, hotel prices drop by a third, and you can actually get a seat on Lisbon’s famous Tram 28. The weather stays warm enough for Algarve beaches but cool enough to walk Lisbon’s seven hills. I spent an October bouncing between Porto’s wine cellars and the Douro Valley, then down to Lisbon, and the timing felt just right.

The Douro grape harvest runs through early October, and several quintas let you join in. Quinta Nova offers day packages with grape-picking, treading in traditional stone lagares, and a three-course lunch with wine pairings. Book a month ahead because spots fill fast. Even after harvest wraps, the terraced vineyards glow amber and gold, and the river cruises are far quieter than summer.

For a city break, Lisbon in October means shorter queues at São Jorge Castle, easier reservations at Time Out Market, and perfect weather for a day trip to Sintra’s Pena Palace. Take the train from Rossio station and taxi up to the palace first, then walk back down through the forest. If you want drama, October also kicks off big wave season at Nazaré. The WSL competition window opens now, and watching from the São Miguel Arcanjo lighthouse costs just €2.

• Find accommodation: Top 17 Airbnbs in Portugal (Porto, Lisbon + the Algarve)
• Visiting the coast? 15 Things to Do in Lagos, Portugal (My Favorite Algarve Town)

9. 🇭🇷 Croatia

• 🍂 Best For: Truffle hunting, autumn colours at Plitvice, crowd-free Dalmatian coast
• 🗓️ Key Dates: Zigante Truffle Days every weekend in Oct (Livade), Dubrovnik Good Food Festival (Oct 7–20)
• 🌡️ Weather: Coast 15–22°C, Plitvice 8–16°C, Zagreb 10–17°C
• 💡 Pro Tip: Plitvice entrance drops to €20 in October (vs €40 summer) and Upper Lakes close Nov 1, so visit early for full access.

October is when Croatia stops being a cruise-ship destination and starts feeling like a country again. Dubrovnik’s walls are walkable without queuing, Split’s Diocletian Palace empties out, and you can actually get a table in Hvar. The Adriatic stays warm enough for swimming if you’re brave (around 20°C), and hotel prices drop by a third.

But the real draw is Istria and its white truffle season. The Motovun Forest produces some of the best truffles outside Alba, and Zigante Truffle Days in Livade runs every weekend through October. I joined a hunt with a local family near Motovun, watching their dogs sniff out truffles under ancient oaks, then eating fresh shavings over scrambled eggs in their farmhouse. Hunts run €80–100 per person including tastings through operators like Miro Tartufi.

Plitvice Lakes hit peak autumn colour mid-September to mid-October, with beech and maple turning the boardwalks into something unreasonably photogenic. Go early morning to beat day-trippers. If combining coast and interior, fly into Zagreb, drive to Plitvice, head down through Zadar to Split, and finish in Dubrovnik for the Good Food Festival where Stradun becomes one long outdoor restaurant.

• Read next: 12 Scenic Destinations in Dubrovnik You Need to See
• You may also like: Exploring Split, Croatia: Diocletian’s Palace to Hvar Day Trips

10. 🇪🇬 Egypt

• 🏛️ Best For: Ancient temples without summer heat, Nile cruises, the Grand Egyptian Museum
• 🗓️ Key Dates: Abu Simbel Sun Festival Oct 22, Grand Egyptian Museum now fully open
• 🌡️ Weather: Cairo 18–28°C, Luxor 20–35°C, Red Sea 24–30°C
• 💡 Pro Tip: Abu Simbel requires a 3am departure from Aswan to catch the sunrise alignment. Book a tour with breakfast included, or stay overnight in the village.

October is when Egypt stops being punishing. Summer temperatures that hit 45°C in Luxor drop to the low 30s, Nile cruises become pleasant, and you can linger at temples without wilting. It’s shoulder season too, meaning fewer crowds and better rates than the winter peak from November to February.

The big news for 2026 is that the Grand Egyptian Museum near Giza is now fully open, with all 5,400 pieces from Tutankhamun’s tomb displayed together for the first time. The scale is staggering: 100,000 artefacts across purpose-built galleries, with views of the pyramids through floor-to-ceiling windows. Tickets cost around 1,300 EGP (roughly £20) for self-guided entry, and it’s walkable from the Giza plateau. I’d budget half a day minimum.

The real October highlight is the Abu Simbel Sun Festival on October 22, when the rising sun aligns perfectly to illuminate three of the four statues inside Ramses II’s temple. It happens only twice a year (the other is February 22) and draws crowds who arrive before dawn. Combine it with a 3-4 night Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan, stopping at Kom Ombo and Edfu along the way. October water levels are good and the riverbanks are lush after summer.

• Find your flight: Best Airlines to Fly to Egypt This Year

11. 🇬🇷 Greece

• 🏛️ Best For: Island hopping without crowds, ancient ruins in comfortable weather, wine harvest
• 🗓️ Key Dates: Oxi Day Oct 28 (free Acropolis entry, military parades), Athens International Film Festival late Sept-early Oct
• 🌡️ Weather: Athens 11–24°C, islands 17–26°C, sea temperature 23°C
• 💡 Pro Tip: Oxi Day closes Syntagma metro for several hours. Watch the parade from Panepistimiou Street, then grab free entry to the Acropolis and National Archaeological Museum.

October is my favourite time for Greece. The summer crowds have cleared, ferries still run frequently, and the sea stays warm enough for swimming well into the month. Prices drop noticeably on accommodation and you can get a table at tavernas without booking weeks ahead.

The big Greek islands stay fully open. Crete, Rhodes, Santorini, and Corfu all keep their restaurants and hotels running, and the softer autumn light makes Santorini’s caldera magical. Smaller beach islands like Mykonos and Paros get quieter, which is either perfect or too quiet depending on what you want. I’d stick to the larger islands or combine them with Athens.

Oxi Day on October 28 is worth planning around. It’s a national holiday marking Greece’s refusal to surrender to Mussolini in 1940. Athens fills with marching bands and schoolchildren in traditional dress, and there’s local pride in the air. The Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, and National Archaeological Museum all offer free entry. The main parade starts at 11am from Zappeion and passes the Parliament building.

If you’re into wine, October is harvest season. Vineyards in Santorini and Naoussa offer tastings of the year’s first press, and you might stumble into a village festival celebrating the grape harvest. It’s unhurried, authentic, and exactly what Greece does best!

• Plan your trip: The 12 Most Beautiful Islands in Greece You Need to Visit

12. 🇺🇸 USA

• 🍂 Best For: Fall foliage road trips, balloon festivals, Halloween celebrations
• 🗓️ Key Dates: Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta (Oct 3–11), Salem Haunted Happenings all month, Austin City Limits (Oct 2–4 & 9–11)
• 🌡️ Weather: New England 8–18°C, New Mexico 7–22°C, varies hugely by region
• 💡 Pro Tip: For Balloon Fiesta, arrive before dawn for mass ascension. General admission is $20, but the real magic is the evening Balloon Glow when hundreds of balloons light up simultaneously.

New England in October is peak fall foliage. Vermont and New Hampshire turn deep reds and golds in the first two weeks, then colour shifts south to the Berkshires and coastal Maine by mid-month. The Kancamagus Highway is the classic drive, and towns like Stowe and Woodstock look exactly like the postcards suggest.

The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is the world’s largest balloon festival, and it’s not close. Over 500 balloons launch at sunrise against the Sandia Mountains, drifting slowly while the desert warms up around you. General admission is $20, Old Town makes a good base, and the evening glow sessions are worth staying for.

Salem does Halloween bigger than anywhere else in America. The whole month is ghost tours, costume parades, psychic readings, and serious crowds filling the cobblestone streets. It’s touristy and proud of it, so book accommodation months ahead if that sounds like your thing.

October is also shoulder season across most of the country. National parks thin out, prices drop, and the weather stays mild almost everywhere except the northern mountains. It’s a good month to visit places that feel overrun in summer.

• Read this: Salem in October (How to Do ‘Witch City’ When It Goes Full Halloween)
• You may also like: 12 Fall Foliage Airbnbs in New England for Cozy Off-Grid Vibes

13. 🇲🇦 Morocco

• 🏜️ Best For: Sahara camping, medina wandering, Atlas hiking
• 🗓️ Key Dates: Erfoud Date Festival mid-Oct, shoulder season pricing kicks in
• 🌡️ Weather: Marrakech 15–28°C, desert 10–30°C, coast 17–24°C
• 💡 Pro Tip: Desert camps get cold at night. Bring layers even though days are warm, and book a camp with proper blankets.

October is when Morocco finally cools down. The summer heat that makes Marrakech unbearable lifts, temperatures settle into the mid-20s, and you can spend a full day exploring without hiding from the sun. It’s shoulder season too, so prices drop and the crowds thin out.

This is prime time for the Sahara. The Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga become cool enough for overnight camel treks, and sleeping under the stars is comfortable. A two-day trip from Marrakech runs €100–150 per person shared, and the drive across the Atlas Mountains is half the adventure.

I visited Chefchaouen last October and the weather was ideal for wandering the blue streets and hiking up to the Spanish Mosque. Fes and Marrakech lose that oppressive heat too, so the medinas become a pleasure. Riads drop to €60–100 a night for gorgeous courtyard rooms.

The Erfoud Date Festival runs mid-October if you’re anywhere near the desert. Berber music, camel races, markets piled with fresh dates, and almost no tourists. It’s the kind of local event that makes a trip feel real.

• For more reading: 12 AMAZING Things to Do in Morocco (Top Attractions & Hidden Gems)