The best places to visit in October are all about vibrant fall foliage and spectacular celebrations. It is, of course, also the month of Halloween – and in the US in particular, that’s a serious reason to party.
October is shoulder season, which means flight and hotel prices have dropped from the summer and the crowds have thinned out – magic. It also means many of the less mainstream destinations start to wind down with business closing for a post-summer break. Here’s my pick of the ten best places to visit in the USA and Europe in October.
- Klamath County, Oregon
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Salem, Massachusetts
- Asheville, Carolina
- San Francisco, California
- Annapolis, Maryland
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Puglia, Italy
- Vienna, Austria
Best places to visit in October across the US
1. Klamath County, Oregon
Learn more: Klamath Falls travel guide
Tiny Klamath Falls draws tourists year-round but really comes to life in October as one of the best fall vacations.
The million-strong influx of waterfowl to the Klamath Basin is a spectacular start to the annual bird migration at the start of the month. 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 from around the globe.
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.
On the morning of October 14th, 2023, something extra special also comes to Klamath Falls – a three-minute-and-23-second ring of fire (or annular) solar eclipse. To celebrate the town is holding EclipseFest23 from October 10th-15th with camping, live music, food, and drink for umbraphiles and ordinary folk alike.
2. Albuquerque, New Mexico
Learn more: Albuquerque travel guide
Continuing the theme of looking to the skies for exultation, Albuquerque hosts its huge International Balloon Fiesta in October. For nine days from October 7th, hundreds of colorful and strangely shaped hot air balloons take flight against the spectacular backdrop of the Sandia Mountains.
From the early serenity of the Dawn Patrol to the spectacle of the Mass Ascension, there’s plenty to see and do. 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 to do.
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
“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 held over the long weekend of October 13th to 15th.
The lively three-day event showcases exceptional blues music and drool-inducing barbecues from the best pitmasters the US can muster. Make it the highlight of a longer October visit to really make the most of this unique city set on the mouth of the Mississippi.
The month’s warm weather and low rainfall make it an ideal time to exploit its best features. Bar hop Bourbon Street, toast street performers in Jackson Square, and tap your feet to the best jazz on Frenchman Street. And if you’re there come the end of the month, few places do Halloween quite like New Orleans – just don’t forget your costume.
4. Salem, Massachusetts
Learn more: Salem travel guide
Founded in 1626, Salem may be one of the oldest towns in the US but its infamy comes from the 1692 Witch Trials. October is the month to visit, as Salem goes all out for Halloween with its 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, but for celebrations like this I think 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 is a town with a long and proud maritime history well worth exploring. The impressive Salem Maritime National Historic Site with nine acres of attractions spread along the Salem waterfront, including a tall ship, is a wonderful way to spend a fall day.
5. Asheville, North Carolina
Learn more: Asheville travel guide
The mountain city of Asheville is engulfed in a panoply of colors come October, making it one of the best fall vacations in the USA. Vibrant reds, oranges and golds transform the landscape. The many deciduous tree species covering the slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains that surround the city put on one of nature’s greatest shows.
Immerse yourself in it and breathe deep the clear mountain air on the many hikes that snake their way 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 make for the drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Don’t forget your camera as dozens of scenic viewpoints deliver crushingly beautiful views of those fall colors in all their grandeur.
6. San Francisco, California
Learn more: San Francisco travel guide
The turn of fall sees clearing skies above San Francisco, its famed fog receding to reveal the city’s beauty. Natural and manmade wonders seldom look better – the towering redwoods of Muir Woods and the Golden Gate Bridge seeming to float above the Bay.
October also sees the Fleet Week celebration roll into town for nine days from October 2nd. Spread across the city and celebrating the US Navy and marine forces with plenty of pageantry.
There’s a parade of ships and military demonstrations, live music, and food festivals. The eye-popping airshow from the US Navy Blue Angels paints an aerial tapestry between the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island.
If you are more of a foodie, two days after the end of Fleet Week there is the tenth anniversary of the La Cocina San Francisco Street Food Festival. Two days, 50-plus Bay Area chefs and a whole lot of eating and drinking make SF one of the best places to visit in October for sure.
7. Annapolis, Maryland
Learn more: Annapolis travel guide
If you’re heading to Anne Arundel County on the outskirts of Annapolis any time between late August to late October, you’d be wise to throw on your finest 16th-century threads.
You’ll find yourself at the Maryland Renaissance Festival, an entire English village dedicated to a year in the life of Henry VIII. 2023 celebrates the year 1536 and the start of Henry’s descent into madness and malevolence played out in medieval street shows and improvisations. Shop handicrafts, feast on turkey legs and frothy beers, and enjoy a spot of jousting while Henry’s demise plays out around you. 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.
Best places to visit in Europe in October
8. Prague, Czech Republic
Learn more: Prague travel guide
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 the earlier evenings, the Signal Festival lights up the city with luminous light shows and mind-blowing multimedia installations. Crowds clear from the historic Charles Bridge, making a walk across towards the gothic splendor of the skyline a pleasure rather than a chore.
And 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 once played the organ, is not to be missed.
9. Puglia, Italy
Occupying the heel of Italy’s “boot”, Puglia is south enough to remain relatively warm well into October. Even if the weather’s not perfect, there’s plenty to do – or more importantly, eat. While Puglia is one of the best places to visit in Italy in October, there’s always somewhere great to visit in Italy all year round.
October is when the olive oil harvest happens and Puglia is a magical place to see thousand-year-old olive trees still delivering the culinary lifeblood of Italy. Known as the “gold of Puglia,” get your fill with a stay on an olive farm like Masseria Il Frantoio and join the harvest, with 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: Vienna travel guide
The world’s most livable city is my pick for the best place to visit in Europe in October for culture vultures.
Kicking off on October 7th, the evocatively named Long Night of Museums sees more than 100 cultural institutions throw open their doors until 01:00. A single ticket will get you into them all (or as many as you can cram in) with many putting on special shows, events and exhibits. Join the cultural throng wandering from museum to gallery and soak in the unique atmosphere – my favorite night in Vienna.
Just as cultured and quite a bit glitzier, from October 19th until month end the city is gripped with film fever thanks to the Viennale. Celebrating its 61st year in 2023, Vienna’s international film festival takes over cinemas across the historic center. Showing more than 300 films from most imaginable genres, expect big international premieres too.
Find more of the best places to visit in 2023
With fall colors and falling prices after the summer rush, October is undoubtedly a great month to travel, especially for epic fall road trips. Seriously though, is there ever actually a bad month to travel in? If you’re anything like me that’s a hard no.
In which case you might want to take a look at our travel guides for the best places to visit in September or, if you’re planning ahead, November and December. Or if you’re looking for where is hot in September, October, November or December, KAYAK has you covered too.
Wherever you plan to go, find cheap flights, trains and car rental as well as wonderful places to stay. And naturally, don’t miss the KAYAK newsletter for the latest guides and inspiration.
