The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn

With millennia of history on every street corner, Rome is one of the most interesting cities in the world. Or you could head north by train to take in Renaissance art in Florence, the culinary delights of Bologna and the fashion temples of Milan. Autumn is the perfect time to visit, when the crowds are few and the sunshine lingers. Plus, you get changing woodland colours transforming the mountains that surround Lake Como – a truly splendid sight unique to autumn.

As if strolling the Grand Bazaar wasn’t reason enough, a visit to Istanbul in the autumn months will give you an opportunity to attend the oldest trade show in the country: the Izmir International Fair. If you can’t make it in the early days of September; October and November will embrace you with milder temperatures, which are ideal for comfortably exploring Koprulu Canyon National Park and sailing over Cappadocia in a hot-air balloon.

Early autumn is one of the best times of the year to immerse yourself in Georgia’s natural beauty. Green trees take on multicoloured shades as the last sunny days grace the season in and around Tbilisi. Hiking through Lagodekhi National Park and into the Caucasus Mountains is as serene as the photos would suggest. And when the chill comes in late autumn, the country’s hearty cuisine and rich wine heritage will warm you up.

Europe in autumn is splendid – and Southern Italy is an excellent destination at this time of year. As the tourist season comes to an end on the Amalfi coast, it’s an ideal time to visit cities such as Positano and savour the last days of sunshine without the crowds. Tourist-free towns such as Bari make Puglia equally alluring, offering a fantastic holiday where you won’t wait in long queues at restaurants or museums. Naples, is always a little chaotic, but you won’t have fight through so many crowds to get the best pizza in town on laid-back autumn trips through the Amalfi coast and Puglia.