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Best time to visit

Where to Go in October

October brings autumn colour to much of the northern hemisphere and spring to the southern. Each city below lists October among the best months to visit in its Wanderlust guide, and they are ordered by our overall ranking.

  1. Lagos, Portugal#1
    Portugal · Europe

    Lagos, Portugal

    Golden cliffs meet azure waters in Portugal's most charming coastal town

  2. Fuerteventura, Spain#2
    Spain · Europe

    Fuerteventura, Spain

    Canary Islands gem with volcanic landscapes, golden beaches and year-round perfect winds for watersports

  3. Kyoto, Japan#3
    Japan · Asia

    Kyoto, Japan

    Japan's ancient capital — 1,200 years of temples, tea ceremony, and timeless beauty.

  4. Gran Canaria, Spain#4
    Spain · Europe

    Gran Canaria, Spain

    Spain's miniature continent offering golden dunes, volcanic peaks, and year-round sunshine

  5. Jeju Island, South Korea#5
    South Korea · Asia

    Jeju Island, South Korea

    South Korea's volcanic island paradise — UNESCO landscapes, black-pork feasts, and world-class hiking at every turn.

  6. Faro, Portugal#6
    Portugal · Europe

    Faro, Portugal

    The Algarve's authentic capital — Moorish old town, lagoon wilderness, and year-round sunshine without the tourist crowds.

  7. Tsushima Island, Japan#7
    Japan · Asia

    Tsushima Island, Japan

    Japan's untamed border island — where samurai history, primeval forest, and Korea's coastline meet on the horizon.

  8. Fukuoka, Japan#8
    Japan · Asia

    Fukuoka, Japan

    Japan's laid-back southern gem — world-class ramen, buzzing yatai stalls, and an airport that drops you downtown in five minutes.

  9. Ericeira, Portugal#9
    Portugal · Europe

    Ericeira, Portugal

    Europe's only World Surfing Reserve - where traditional fishing village charm meets world-class waves and digital nomad culture.

  10. Daejeon, South Korea#10
    South Korea · Asia

    Daejeon, South Korea

    South Korea's Silicon Valley with nature at its core

  11. Mallorca, Spain#11
    Spain · Europe

    Mallorca, Spain

    Spain's sun-drenched Balearic gem — where dramatic Tramuntana mountains meet 262 pristine beaches.

  12. Tainan, Taiwan#12
    Taiwan · Asia

    Tainan, Taiwan

    Taiwan's soulful ancient capital — a living museum of temples, street food, and colonial history.

  13. Kobe, Japan#13
    Japan · Asia

    Kobe, Japan

    Japan's cosmopolitan port city — where mountain hikes, Michelin-starred beef, and harbor sunsets collide.

  14. Valencia, Spain#14
    Spain · Europe

    Valencia, Spain

    Spain's sun-soaked third city — birthplace of paella, home of futuristic architecture, and one of Europe's best-value Mediterranean escapes.

  15. Uluwatu, Indonesia#15
    Indonesia · Asia

    Uluwatu, Indonesia

    Bali's dramatic clifftop frontier — world-class surf, temple sunsets, and laid-back luxury on the Indian Ocean.

  16. Budapest, Hungary#16
    Hungary · Europe

    Budapest, Hungary

    Discover Europe's Pearl of the Danube where imperial grandeur meets thermal baths and vibrant nightlife.

  17. Lawrence, United States#17
    United States · North America

    Lawrence, United States

    University town with authentic Main Street, vibrant arts scene, and civil rights history

  18. Madeira, Portugal#18
    Portugal · Europe

    Madeira, Portugal

    Portugal's lush Atlantic island paradise known for its eternal spring climate and dramatic volcanic landscapes.

  19. Sanur, Indonesia#19
    Indonesia · Asia

    Sanur, Indonesia

    Bali's original beach town — calm seas, sunrise walks, and a slower tempo that the island's trendier spots can't match.

  20. Braga, Portugal#20
    Portugal · Europe

    Braga, Portugal

    Portugal's ancient "City of Archbishops" reimagined as a youthful tech hub with Baroque grandeur and affordable living.

  21. Busan, South Korea#21
    South Korea · Asia

    Busan, South Korea

    South Korea's coastal gem — where sandy beaches, hillside art villages, and world-class seafood collide.

  22. Nuremberg, Germany#22
    Germany · Europe

    Nuremberg, Germany

    Nuremberg blends medieval grandeur, world-class WWII history, and Germany's most iconic Christmas market.

  23. Taipei, Taiwan#23
    Taiwan · Asia

    Taipei, Taiwan

    Asia's most livable capital — where sizzling night markets, ancient temples, and ultra-fast transit collide.

  24. Andorra la Vella, Andorra#24
    Andorra · Europe

    Andorra la Vella, Andorra

    Europe's highest capital — a Pyrenean microstate where tax-free shopping, world-class skiing, and thermal spas share a stunning mountain valley.

  25. Okinawa City, Japan#25
    Japan · Asia

    Okinawa City, Japan

    Japan's rock-and-eisa capital — where Okinawan soul, American swagger, and subtropical beaches collide.

  26. Portimão, Portugal#26
    Portugal · Europe

    Portimão, Portugal

    Authentic Portuguese coastal city with golden beaches, maritime heritage, and vibrant marina life

  27. Lyon, France#27
    France · Europe

    Lyon, France

    France's culinary capital blending Renaissance history with modern elegance.

  28. Daegu, South Korea#28
    South Korea · Asia

    Daegu, South Korea

    South Korea's hot-blooded inland city — where street food, mountain temples, and K-drama backdrops collide.

  29. Seoul, South Korea#29
    South Korea · Asia

    Seoul, South Korea

    Where ancient palaces meet K-pop fever and world-class street food — Seoul delivers it all, non-stop.

  30. Menorca, Spain#30
    Spain · Europe

    Menorca, Spain

    The Balearics' quietest gem — a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of turquoise coves, prehistoric sites, and slow Mediterranean living.

  31. Naha, Japan#31
    Japan · Asia

    Naha, Japan

    Okinawa's subtropical capital — where Ryukyu heritage, tropical beaches, and izakaya nightlife meet.

  32. Alicante, Spain#32
    Spain · Europe

    Alicante, Spain

    Sun-drenched port city on Spain's Costa Blanca where Moorish hilltop castles meet sandy beaches and laid-back Mediterranean living.

  33. Gili Air, Indonesia#33
    Indonesia · Asia

    Gili Air, Indonesia

    The laid-back middle child of the Gilis — car-free, coral-rich, and perfectly balanced between party and peace.

  34. Yokohama, Japan#34
    Japan · Asia

    Yokohama, Japan

    Japan's historic port city where waterfront modernity meets deep multicultural roots.

  35. Ljubljana, Slovenia#35
    Slovenia · Europe

    Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Europe's greenest capital with fairy-tale castle, vibrant street art, and picturesque river walks.

  36. Leiden, Netherlands#36
    Netherlands · Europe

    Leiden, Netherlands

    The Netherlands' "City of Discoveries" — a canal-laced university town where 17th-century grandeur meets vibrant student life.

  37. Plovdiv, Bulgaria#37
    Bulgaria · Europe

    Plovdiv, Bulgaria

    Europe's oldest living city — Roman ruins, cobblestone charm, and a buzzing arts scene at Bulgarian prices.

  38. Sendai, Japan#38
    Japan · Asia

    Sendai, Japan

    Tohoku's vibrant capital — samurai history, celebrated festivals, and easy access to Japan's most scenic bay.

  39. Okayama, Japan#39
    Japan · Asia

    Okayama, Japan

    Japan's sun-drenched "Land of Sunshine" — home to one of the country's three great gardens and a gateway to art islands and historic canal towns.

  40. Tokyo, Japan#40
    Japan · Asia

    Tokyo, Japan

    Where ancient temples meet neon-lit skyscrapers — Tokyo is the world's most thrillingly layered megacity.

  41. Buenos Aires, Argentina#41
    Argentina · Latin America

    Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Argentina's passionate capital where European elegance meets Latin American soul in every tango-filled street.

  42. Kagoshima, Japan#42
    Japan · Asia

    Kagoshima, Japan

    Kyushu's volcanic southern gem — where Sakurajima's smoke, samurai history, and Satsuma cuisine converge on a warm, sea-kissed coast.

  43. Osaka, Japan#43
    Japan · Asia

    Osaka, Japan

    Japan's vibrant kitchen where ancient tradition meets neon energy and street food rules.

  44. Costa da Caparica, Portugal#44
    Portugal · Europe

    Costa da Caparica, Portugal

    Portugal's longest stretch of golden beaches just 30 minutes from Lisbon, beloved by surfers and locals alike.

  45. Malaga, Spain#45
    Spain · Europe

    Malaga, Spain

    Picasso's sun-soaked birthplace — where Moorish history, world-class museums, and Mediterranean beach life converge on the Costa del Sol.

  46. Lisbon, Portugal#46
    Portugal · Europe

    Lisbon, Portugal

    Europe's sunniest capital where golden trams climb ancient hills and Atlantic breezes meet historic charm.

  47. Sapporo, Japan#47
    Japan · Asia

    Sapporo, Japan

    Japan's northern gateway: vibrant culture, snow festivals, and natural beauty.

  48. Bern, Switzerland#48
    Switzerland · Europe

    Bern, Switzerland

    Switzerland's medieval capital — a UNESCO gem set on a sapphire bend of the Aare.

  49. Kitakyushu, Japan#49
    Japan · Asia

    Kitakyushu, Japan

    Japan's #1 nightscape city blending history, nature, and industrial heritage.

  50. Bilbao, Spain#50
    Spain · Europe

    Bilbao, Spain

    Industrial heritage meets avant-garde art in Spain's cultural capital.