Autumn is an ideal time to travel thanks to cooler temps, fewer crowds and shoulder season savings.
Shoulder season is the sweet spot between peak season (when everyone travels to a destination) and low season (when the weather is less than ideal). Pleasant weather combined with the potential for off-season savings is the perfect recipe for an autumn holiday.
Here are 10 destinations for a last-minute autumn holiday. Read on for our picks and then give our flight search a try for yourself on KAYAK.ie.
Explore flights with our interactive map
Budapest, Hungary
Budapest is a big draw for autumn travellers. Get a comprehensive, convenient, and inexpensive overview of the city on land and water via RiverRide, an amphibious bus that meanders over the 19th century Széchenyi Chain Bridge, a suspension bridge that spans the River Danube and zooms past popular places like Széchenyi István Square, the Hungarian State Opera House, and the Budapest Zoo before plunging in the water to float past Margaret Island, a bucolic island in the Danube River and the palatial Baroque Buda Castle, the former palace complex of Hungarian royalty.
Berlin, Germany
Industrial and modern, Berlin is perennially popular among travellers. Avoid crowded Munich, which hosts Oktoberfest from late September to early October, and opt to sip a stein or two of beer in Berlin at the lively and jovial Hofbräu, a massive, cavernous beer hall that serves beer, pretzels, and hearty Bavarian sausages with a side of live musical entertainment. Don’t miss the Brandenburg Gate – the city’s only surviving gate – which serves as a symbol of German unification. Use your extra savings from booking a shoulder season package for splurging in Kurfürstendamm’s trendy shops.
Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik is cool, figuratively and literally, with temps averaging 10 to 12 degrees in autumn. Savour your savings with a splurge-worthy soak in the turquoise-hued geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon (indulge in a pricey but oh-so-worth it floating massage) or chase the dazzling green, pink, purple and white rays of the Northern Lights. Check The Icelandic Met Service for the northern lights forecast and head outside the capital to improve your chances of spotting nature’s light show.
Prague, Czech Republic
The winding cobblestone lanes in Prague’s Old Town are wonderful places to wander. Spend time in the palatial Staroměstské náměstí, the oldest square in the capital. The gathering spot is crammed with notable landmarks like the Old Town Hall, Church of Our Lady before Týn, Baroque Church of St. Nicholas, the Rococo Kinský Palace, and Gothic House at the Stone Bell.
Stop for selfies at the nearby Prague Castle where locals and visitors admire its iconic astrological clock. If your trip is over the weekend, stroll the Saturday farmers market in Naplavka, a long strip along the river between Vysehrad Castle and Dancing House, which is an unofficial centre of nightlife and a popular venue for picnics, concerts, exhibitions, and festivals.
Paris, France
While Paris can be pricey, the City of Lights offers a variety of places to explore for free, from taking in the exterior of the 324-meter tall Eiffel Tower to the gothic Notre Dame Cathedral (enter for a fee) to the Pont des Arts bridge, where lovers place padlocks in a kaleidoscope of colours. Take time to stroll the tree-lined Champs-Élysées to window-shop the luxury boutiques. Enjoy a picnic in the nearby Tuileries Gardens and stop to people watch at Place de la Concorde, an octagon public square situated along the Seine.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
See the city from the water by riding the free blue-and-white ferries along the city’s 165 canals, but be sure to save time for museum hopping with stops at the Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, which features Dutch art and history from the Middle Ages to today, and the Anne Frank House. Create your own art by taking colourful portraits in front of Amsterdam’s gabled building façades.
Istanbul, Turkey
Whether soaking in traditional Turkish baths or visiting culturally significant sites like the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Underground Cistern and Topkapi Palace, there’s plenty to explore inexpensively, adding to your holiday savings. Stock up on affordably priced souvenirs like apple tea, Turkish delights, miniature glass perfume bottles and rugs at the expansive Grand Bazaar.
Rome, Italy
You don’t have to walk far in Rome to find something extraordinary to do. From sipping espresso at a corner coffee shop to indulging in a tub of creamy gelato to toasting your trip with a refreshing Bellini at the Hassler Bar at the top of Rome’s Spanish Steps, there are countless ways to roam Rome. Don’t forget to maintain your good fortune by throwing a coin in the ornate Travertine stone Baroque Trevi Fountain to ensure a return to Rome.
Porto, Portugal
Toast your travels with port in the eponymous birthplace of the sweet, red wine. The coastal city on the banks of the Douro River beckons to be explored. Check out its baroque church, Torre dos Clérigos, its riverside restaurants that serve bacalhau (cod) and its quaint shops that line the medieval cobblestoned streets. Sweeten your trip by sampling pastel de nata (Portuguese egg tarts), which make great souvenirs (that is if the sweet, flaky pastries aren’t eaten en route to the airport).
Barcelona, Spain
Admiring Pablo Picasso’s art at the Museu Picasso, strolling Las Ramblas, walking through Gaudi’s Parc Guell and sampling Spanish wines and savoury tapas are popular pastimes in the Catalan capital. Make sure to take in the free excitement of the intricate, tri-level Montjuic Magic Fountain, where colourful lights, whimsical music and wispy sprays of water make for great entertainment and photo ops.
Ready to go? Search flights on KAYAK.
Note: These rates are based on search queries made on KAYAK.ie. Prices are subject to change, may vary, or no longer be available.
