Best places worldwide to travel in autumn

Fall is just around the corner, which means that days are getting a bit colder, and flight and hotel prices are getting a bit lower. Crowds of tourists around the world are easing up and nature is getting ready to put on one hell of a show.

If you’re one of those people who wants to avoid the summer crowds, prefers sweaters to swimsuits, and loves nature and coziness, welcome to the club. Here are some of the best destinations around the world to travel to this fall.

Endless Alpine forests pop brilliantly with color against mountains dusted with snow during the fall. Plus, there’s a castle, medieval bridge, or stunning church around every corner, making Bavaria look like a fairytale.

Come autumn, shades of yellow, red and orange embellish the ancient canals of Utrecht. Its old wharf cellars have now been transformed into cosy cafes, bars, restaurants and shops. The best way to discover the city is by boat.

For the best views of maple trees and red oaks showing off their fiery tones reflected in the water, paddle along in a canoe in Algonquin Provincial Park. If you’d rather explore on foot, hike amongst 1000-year old trees to the edge of cliff-side at the Bruce Peninsula National Park.

Autumn colors look amazing on this already famous country for its out-of-this-world scenery. The rivers and lochs reflect the array of gold-covered hillsides in Perthshire. And to get amazing views, one can walk the steep, but not too strenuous walk to Knock Hill.

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Mount Fuji in the autumn offers a postcard-perfect picture of yellow pines, striking red leaves, blue waters and a snow-capped summit. Late night food stall bites under the brightly lit trees makes for a romantic evening at the foot of the Mount. 

Yellowstone is hard to beat if you want awe-inspiring scenery and an abundance of wildlife. The park is home to 67 species of mammals, like moose, bears and wolves, and has more than a thousand miles of trails, often in great weather, although early snowfall could occur.

About three hours away by car from Mexico City, lies this cobblestone town, famous for its baroque architecture and artistic scenery. Autumn is the season of ‘The Day of the Dead’, a cultural festivity that has captivated people from around the world.

Being spring time in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s the time when nature blooms and whale watching is at its prime. Horseback riding, kayaking and mountain biking are some of the other activities the Argentinian Patagonia has to offer.

Autumn is harvest season in Italy. In different parts of the country they harvest grapes (for wine), truffles and olives. So food lovers, pack your bags, and head into an italian taverna to taste an authentic pasta with porcini mushrooms and a glass of Chianti from central Tuscany.

Towering over Belfast, hike up Black Mountain for a view that stretches across the city towards the Strangford Lough inlet. A water safari or a stroll along the orange-hued shore make for a perfect excuse to pop into a liquor saloon and warm up with a spiced gin cocktail.

There are few better places than Romania for taking advantage of all that is Halloween and beautiful fall scenery at once. Head into the Carpathian Mountains to enjoy breathtaking vistas of stunning autumn foliage and some rather spooky sites of Dracula’s Castle.

Thingvellir is home to Gullfoss, also known as Golden Falls, sometimes referred to as Iceland’s version of Niagara Falls. Also, after mid-September, the night sky begins to put on its spectacular natural light show known as the aurora borealis.

Its colorful autumn displays and vineyards ablaze in red, orange, and gold, are a great addition to its fairytale-like chateaus. Autumn is also harvesting time, so you can watch as the grapes are picked in the fields and find a cozy spot along the riverbank to take in the views with a glass of local tipple.

Finally, if you’re still looking for summer vibes, Lisbon is the place to visit in the fall. The sun is still high in the sky with temperatures of 25ºC (77ºF). You can explore the historic city without masses of tourists, and if you want to go to the beach, you can hop on a train at Cais do Sodré station and you’ll get there in less than 30 minutes.

Image: Julian Dik/Unsplash