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.
#1Portugal · EuropeLagos, Portugal
Golden cliffs meet azure waters in Portugal's most charming coastal town
#2Spain · EuropeFuerteventura, Spain
Canary Islands gem with volcanic landscapes, golden beaches and year-round perfect winds for watersports
#3Japan · AsiaKyoto, Japan
Japan's ancient capital — 1,200 years of temples, tea ceremony, and timeless beauty.
#4Spain · EuropeGran Canaria, Spain
Spain's miniature continent offering golden dunes, volcanic peaks, and year-round sunshine
#5South Korea · AsiaJeju Island, South Korea
South Korea's volcanic island paradise — UNESCO landscapes, black-pork feasts, and world-class hiking at every turn.
#6Portugal · EuropeFaro, Portugal
The Algarve's authentic capital — Moorish old town, lagoon wilderness, and year-round sunshine without the tourist crowds.
#7Japan · AsiaTsushima Island, Japan
Japan's untamed border island — where samurai history, primeval forest, and Korea's coastline meet on the horizon.
#8Japan · AsiaFukuoka, Japan
Japan's laid-back southern gem — world-class ramen, buzzing yatai stalls, and an airport that drops you downtown in five minutes.
#9Portugal · EuropeEriceira, Portugal
Europe's only World Surfing Reserve - where traditional fishing village charm meets world-class waves and digital nomad culture.
#10South Korea · AsiaDaejeon, South Korea
South Korea's Silicon Valley with nature at its core
#11Spain · EuropeMallorca, Spain
Spain's sun-drenched Balearic gem — where dramatic Tramuntana mountains meet 262 pristine beaches.
#12Taiwan · AsiaTainan, Taiwan
Taiwan's soulful ancient capital — a living museum of temples, street food, and colonial history.
#13Japan · AsiaKobe, Japan
Japan's cosmopolitan port city — where mountain hikes, Michelin-starred beef, and harbor sunsets collide.
#14Spain · EuropeValencia, Spain
Spain's sun-soaked third city — birthplace of paella, home of futuristic architecture, and one of Europe's best-value Mediterranean escapes.
#15Indonesia · AsiaUluwatu, Indonesia
Bali's dramatic clifftop frontier — world-class surf, temple sunsets, and laid-back luxury on the Indian Ocean.
#16Hungary · EuropeBudapest, Hungary
Discover Europe's Pearl of the Danube where imperial grandeur meets thermal baths and vibrant nightlife.
#17United States · North AmericaLawrence, United States
University town with authentic Main Street, vibrant arts scene, and civil rights history
#18Portugal · EuropeMadeira, Portugal
Portugal's lush Atlantic island paradise known for its eternal spring climate and dramatic volcanic landscapes.
#19Indonesia · AsiaSanur, Indonesia
Bali's original beach town — calm seas, sunrise walks, and a slower tempo that the island's trendier spots can't match.
#20Portugal · EuropeBraga, Portugal
Portugal's ancient "City of Archbishops" reimagined as a youthful tech hub with Baroque grandeur and affordable living.
#21South Korea · AsiaBusan, South Korea
South Korea's coastal gem — where sandy beaches, hillside art villages, and world-class seafood collide.
#22Germany · EuropeNuremberg, Germany
Nuremberg blends medieval grandeur, world-class WWII history, and Germany's most iconic Christmas market.
#23Taiwan · AsiaTaipei, Taiwan
Asia's most livable capital — where sizzling night markets, ancient temples, and ultra-fast transit collide.
#24Andorra · EuropeAndorra 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.
#25Japan · AsiaOkinawa City, Japan
Japan's rock-and-eisa capital — where Okinawan soul, American swagger, and subtropical beaches collide.
#26Portugal · EuropePortimão, Portugal
Authentic Portuguese coastal city with golden beaches, maritime heritage, and vibrant marina life
#27France · EuropeLyon, France
France's culinary capital blending Renaissance history with modern elegance.
#28South Korea · AsiaDaegu, South Korea
South Korea's hot-blooded inland city — where street food, mountain temples, and K-drama backdrops collide.
#29South Korea · AsiaSeoul, South Korea
Where ancient palaces meet K-pop fever and world-class street food — Seoul delivers it all, non-stop.
#30Spain · EuropeMenorca, Spain
The Balearics' quietest gem — a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of turquoise coves, prehistoric sites, and slow Mediterranean living.
#31Japan · AsiaNaha, Japan
Okinawa's subtropical capital — where Ryukyu heritage, tropical beaches, and izakaya nightlife meet.
#32Spain · EuropeAlicante, Spain
Sun-drenched port city on Spain's Costa Blanca where Moorish hilltop castles meet sandy beaches and laid-back Mediterranean living.
#33Indonesia · AsiaGili Air, Indonesia
The laid-back middle child of the Gilis — car-free, coral-rich, and perfectly balanced between party and peace.
#34Japan · AsiaYokohama, Japan
Japan's historic port city where waterfront modernity meets deep multicultural roots.
#35Slovenia · EuropeLjubljana, Slovenia
Europe's greenest capital with fairy-tale castle, vibrant street art, and picturesque river walks.
#36Netherlands · EuropeLeiden, Netherlands
The Netherlands' "City of Discoveries" — a canal-laced university town where 17th-century grandeur meets vibrant student life.
#37Bulgaria · EuropePlovdiv, Bulgaria
Europe's oldest living city — Roman ruins, cobblestone charm, and a buzzing arts scene at Bulgarian prices.
#38Japan · AsiaSendai, Japan
Tohoku's vibrant capital — samurai history, celebrated festivals, and easy access to Japan's most scenic bay.
#39Japan · AsiaOkayama, 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.
#40Japan · AsiaTokyo, Japan
Where ancient temples meet neon-lit skyscrapers — Tokyo is the world's most thrillingly layered megacity.
#41Argentina · Latin AmericaBuenos Aires, Argentina
Argentina's passionate capital where European elegance meets Latin American soul in every tango-filled street.
#42Japan · AsiaKagoshima, Japan
Kyushu's volcanic southern gem — where Sakurajima's smoke, samurai history, and Satsuma cuisine converge on a warm, sea-kissed coast.
#43Japan · AsiaOsaka, Japan
Japan's vibrant kitchen where ancient tradition meets neon energy and street food rules.
#44Portugal · EuropeCosta da Caparica, Portugal
Portugal's longest stretch of golden beaches just 30 minutes from Lisbon, beloved by surfers and locals alike.
#45Spain · EuropeMalaga, Spain
Picasso's sun-soaked birthplace — where Moorish history, world-class museums, and Mediterranean beach life converge on the Costa del Sol.
#46Portugal · EuropeLisbon, Portugal
Europe's sunniest capital where golden trams climb ancient hills and Atlantic breezes meet historic charm.
#47Japan · AsiaSapporo, Japan
Japan's northern gateway: vibrant culture, snow festivals, and natural beauty.
#48Switzerland · EuropeBern, Switzerland
Switzerland's medieval capital — a UNESCO gem set on a sapphire bend of the Aare.
#49Japan · AsiaKitakyushu, Japan
Japan's #1 nightscape city blending history, nature, and industrial heritage.
#50Spain · EuropeBilbao, Spain
Industrial heritage meets avant-garde art in Spain's cultural capital.