With summer a distant memory, the best places to visit in October are all about vibrant fall foliage and spectacular celebrations.
October is deep into shoulder season. That means flight and hotel prices have dropped from the summer and the crowds have thinned out – magic.
It also means many less mainstream destinations start to wind down for a post-summer break. It is of course, also the month of Halloween. In the US in particular, that’s reason enough to party. Here’s my pick of the ten best places to visit in October in the world.
Thinking about your budget? Jump to KAYAK’s data-backed picks based on popularity, flight, and hotel prices.
The best places to visit in October in the US
The US absolutely buzzes in October. Halloween puts the entire country on spooky party alert and classic destinations go all out to enjoy it. Alongside my personal picks, KAYAK data shows Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Nashville are popular domestic destinations.
1. Klamath County, Oregon
- Learn more: Klamath Falls travel guide
- Why visit in October? For the spectacular annual bird migration.
Tiny Klamath Falls comes to life in the fall as one of the best October vacation ideas. The million-strong influx of waterfowl to the Klamath Basin is a spectacular start to the annual bird migration.
But it’s when the eagles, peregrine falcons, red-tailed hawks and other raptors swoop in that things dial up to 11. In total some 350 bird species will make the area their home, making it a magnet for twitchers.
The sprawling forests and evocative landscapes of Crater Lake National Park are just 60 miles north of the city. Magic for fall sightseeing and hiking. If volcanology is your thing, the Lava Beds National Monument is a paradise of lava tubes, strange rock formations, ancient petroglyphs, and Native American rock art.
2. Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Learn more: Albuquerque travel guide
- Why visit in October? Take to the skies at the International Balloon Fiesta.
Continuing the theme of looking to the skies for exultation, each October Albuquerque hosts the International Balloon Fiesta. For nine days from October 5th, hundreds of crazy and colorful hot air balloons take flight against the stunning backdrop of the Sandia Mountains.
Enjoy balloon rides, watch balloon rodeos and races, and stay until the evening for the showpiece Balloon Glow, where balloon burners turn the night sky to fire. There’s camping and glamping, cultural performances and live music, local eats, and lots more.
And that’s before you even explore the lovely Albuquerque Old Town or ride the Aerial Tramway 10,000 feet up to the peak of Mount Sandia.
3. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Learn more: New Orleans travel guide
- Why visit in October? Dance and dine at the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival.
“Without the blues, there would be no jazz or R&B.” So goes the mantra of the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival. A celebration of all things Big Easy, the 17th annual event runs over the weekend from October 11th, 2024.
The lively three-day event showcases exceptional blues music and drool-inducing barbecues from the best pitmasters in the US. Make it the highlight of a longer visit to this unique city set on the mouth of the Mississippi.
With 70°F average temperatures and just three inches of rain, October is the ideal month to exploit its best experiences.
Bar hop Bourbon Street, toast street performers in Jackson Square, and tap your feet to the best jazz on Frenchman Street. If you’re there at the end of the month, few places do Halloween scares quite like New Orleans. Don’t forget your costume!
4. Salem, Massachusetts
- Learn more: Salem travel guide
- Why visit in October? Scare yourself witless with Haunted Halloween Happenings.
Founded in 1626, Salem is one of the oldest towns in the US. Its infamy and spooky reputation come from the 1692 Witch Trials. October is the time to visit, as Salem goes all out for Halloween with a month-long Haunted Happenings festival.
Expect haunted houses, historical reenactments, elaborate costumes, grand parades, and witch-themed everything. With half a million visitors each year, the town is as busy as it gets. For celebrations like this though, that just adds to the atmosphere.
And if it’s too much, consider staying in nearby Boston, a 30-minute train ride away on the Newbury/Rockport line.
Book tickets to the Witch House and creepy (if dated) Salem Witch Museum with its memorial to the 19 victims so gruesomely and pointlessly hanged.
Away from the witchy fun, Salem has a long and proud maritime history. The impressive Salem Maritime National Historic Site is your first port of call. Spread along nine acres of Salem waterfront, including a tall ship, it’s a wonderful way to spend a fall day.
5. Asheville, North Carolina
- Learn more: Asheville travel guide
- Why visit in October? To see fall colors transform the epic landscapes.
The mountain city of Asheville is engulfed in a panoply of fall colors come October. Vibrant reds, oranges, and golds transform the landscape. The many deciduous tree species covering the slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains surrounding the city put on one of nature’s great shows.
Immerse yourself in it and breathe deep the mountain air on the many hikes that snake into the wilderness. Crabtree Falls and Rainbow Falls add thunderous waterfalls to the mix. Pisgah National Forest and Dupont Forest are highlights, as are the views from Craggy Gardens and Looking Glass Rock Overlook.
Leaf peepers should drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway – don’t forget your camera. En route, dozens of scenic viewpoints deliver beautiful views of those fall colors in all their grandeur.
6. Annapolis, Maryland
- Learn more: Annapolis travel guide
- Why visit in October? The bonkers Maryland Renaissance Festival.
Head to Anne Arundel County on the outskirts of Annapolis any weekend from August to October and you’d be wise to wear your finest 16th century threads. You’ll find yourself at the Maryland Renaissance Festival.
Revel Grove is a 27-acre village overseen by King Henry VIII. Wander its mud-lined streets amid hermits and wenches, magicians and minstrels – professional street performers playing out medieval shows and improvisations.
Shop handicrafts, feast on turkey legs, and frothy beers. Enjoy a spot of jousting and take in a show at the Royal Court. Let merriment abound!
Annapolis itself is lovely in October. Teeming with historic buildings and a fantastic harbor, its rich colonial history plays out perfectly for some haunted ghost tours and, if you need a little Dutch courage to embolden you, haunted pub crawls.
The best places to visit in October in Europe
My favorite places to visit in Europe come October stretch north to south and focus on art and culture. There are of course more destinations to choose.
KAYAK data highlights the popularity of Madrid and Munich (thanks in no small part to its beer festival.) Elsewhere, the cold Amsterdam weather doesn’t deter visitors, and there’s warmth still to be found in Athens.
7. Nice, France
- Learn more: Nice travel guide
- Why visit in October? Explore France’s most glamorous city without breaking the budget.
The clue’s in the name, but ‘nice’ goes nowhere near far enough to describe Nice’s majestic Côte d’ Azur setting. The capital of the French Riviera holds its own against any Mediterranean city in October.
KAYAK data shows average temperatures at an extremely comfy 63°F with only a few inches of rain over the month. It’s also renowned as one of the sunniest places in France.
While flight prices aren’t the cheapest at around $858, average October hotel prices are only $116 or so a night. In this city of glamor, wealth, and status, that a bargain. Nice new and old has a huge amount to offer, including:
- World-class museums, in particular the MAMAC and Musée Matisse.
- The Cimiez Quarter and Vieux Nice for shopping and bar hopping.
- The iconic architecture of the Hôtel Le Negresco and Palais de la Méditerranée.
My advice? Take a slow stroll along the wonderful Promenade des Anglais (‘La Prom’ if you want to sound local.) Find a spot to stretch out on the beach, lay down and soak in the last of the European sun.
8. Prague, Czech Republic
- Learn more: Prague travel guide
- Why visit in October? Mind-bending architecture and soul-shaking opera.
Arguably Europe’s prettiest capital city, Prague sees days shorten and cool after the giddy summer months. That fall atmosphere washes over the city and sparks its cultural calendar back into life.
Taking advantage of longer evenings, the Signal Festival lights up the city with luminous light shows and mind-blowing multimedia installations.
Crowds clear from the historic Charles Bridge, revealing its true beauty. Sunrise and sunset are perfect times for a slow walk across it to revel in the gothic splendor of the skyline.
The city’s theaters and concert venues resonate to the boom and shrill of operas and classical concerts. There are many to choose from but the intricate Klementinum Mirror Chapel, where Mozart played the organ, is my favorite.
9. Puglia, Italy
- Learn more: Fun facts about Italy
- Why visit in October? Join the olive oil harvest.
Occupying the heel of Italy’s ‘boot’, Puglia is south enough to stay relatively warm at this time of year. Even if the weather’s not perfect, there’s plenty to do – or more importantly, eat – making it one of the best places to visit in October.
October is when the olive oil harvest happens, known as the gold of Puglia. It’s a magical place to see thousand-year-old olive trees still delivering the culinary lifeblood of Italy.
Get your fill with a stay on an olive farm like Masseria Il Frantoio and join the harvest. There is, of course, plenty of food and wine thrown in for good measure.
No visit to Puglia is complete without a trip to Alberobello. The UNESCO World Heritage town and commune is famed for its whitewashed, conical roofed trulli (stone huts) and is incredibly atmospheric to wander around.
10. Vienna, Austria
- Learn more: The best day trips from Vienna,
- Why visit in October? Sate your cultural appetite at the Long Night of Museums.
The world’s most livable city is my pick for the best place to travel in October for culture. While average temperatures are a chilly 54°F, KAYAK data shows hotel prices average a reasonable $168 a night. And if you’re attending these events, you’ll mostly be indoors anyway.
On Saturday October 5th, the Long Night of Museums sees more than 100 cultural institutions throw open their doors until 1 am. A single ticket will get you into them all (or as many as you can fit it). Many put on special shows, events and exhibits.
Join the cultural throng wandering from museum to gallery and soak in the unique atmosphere. It’s my favorite night in the Viennese calendar.
Just as cultured and quite a bit glitzier is the Viennale. From October 17th to 29th, the city is gripped by the glamor of film fever. Celebrating its 62nd year in 2024, Vienna’s international film festival takes over cinemas across the historic center.
Data-backed picks from KAYAK
If seasonal events aren’t on your wish list, consider instead one of data-based destinations. These destinations are based on KAYAK flight and hotel data, taking into account budget, weather, and popularity (so you can avoid the crowds).
For personalized recommendations based on your location and chosen destination check out the Best Time to Travel tool.
Discover more great places to travel
With fall colors and falling prices, October is undoubtedly a great month to travel, especially for epic fall road trips. But it’s not the only one. Check my travel guides for the best places to visit in September, or if you’re planning further ahead, November and December. For fall sun, here’s where is hot in October and November.
For more inspiration, dive into the world map on KAYAK Explore. Wherever you plan to go, cheap flights, car rental and wonderful places to stay are what KAYAK does best.
