5 Best Travel Destinations in Europe for Your Next Fall Adventure

As Europe’s peak travel season comes to an end, the influx of summer tourists will soon be replaced by a lesser number, but steadier stream of autumn holiday travelers. With a total of 120 million international visitors, it’s safe to say that summer was a crowd favorite, especially with its sun-kissed outdoors and refreshing creamy gelatos.

However, if you’re a more relaxed traveler like me, someone who prefers quieter streets, cooler breeze, or more serene and scenic retreats, then this next season may be more suitable for your next (or first) flight to Europe.

Who knows, if you’re lucky, you may even get to experience what we European’s call as “Old Woman's Summer” or “Granny Summer.” It’s a brief period during late September to early November when the cold bite of fall will shift into warmer autumn winds while the skies are still cloudless, but the streets are less crowded—it’s as if summer came back to bid us all goodbye.

With that in mind, fall is definitely an ideal time for sightseeing in “the old continent.”

Now… let’s start reviewing and adding some hidden gems into your list.

Photo Credits: Julia Solonina

1. Romantische Straße (The Romantic Road), Germany

Location: Southern Provinces of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg

Believe it or not, Romantische Straße, or The Romantic Road, started as a marketing ploy for travelers in the hopes of reviving the post-war tourism industry in Germany. At first, only the relatives and friends of the American soldiers stationed in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg were invited to visit, but the trail eventually became popular and soon attracted more visitors.

Now if you’ve seen photos or videos of the 460 kilometer-trail, you’ll see exactly why it became a tourist attraction.

Photo Credits: Özge Şengelen & Shutterstock

The Romantic Road is a scenic route that begins in Würzburg and takes you across another historic city, Augsburg, where you can explore Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Dinkelsbühl, and Nördlingen.

After travelling back in time through 29 famous towns renowned for their medieval and fortified structures, you can cap off the trail by marveling at two of the most popular tourist attractions in southern Germany—the Neuschwanstein Castle and the Alps.

Photo Credits: Ilia Bronskiy via Unsplash

If you’re worried how to get there, there’s no need. The trail is filled with the “Romantische Straße” road signs. And these days, there’s a lot of available tour options you can try. You can either join coach parties or official individual tours.

However, if you want to do the tour on your own, you can find more information about The Romantic Road here or visit their official website for more updates.

Photo Credits: Romantische Strasse

Average Temperature:

September: 11°C - 19°C (66°F - 52°F)

October: 7°C - 15°C (59°F - 45°F)

Autumn Highlights and Top Attractions:

Neuschwanstein Castle and the Alps

GPS Coordinates: Lat: 47.557732, Long: 10.749646 (Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany)

2. Bordeaux, France: Wine Region

Location: Southwest France, North of the Aquitaine region

Dubbed as “La Belle Endromie” (Sleeping Beauty) and “La perle d'Aquitaine" (The Pearl of Aquitaine), this favorite autumn destination is a must-have for your Euro-trip bucket list, especially if you’re pining for more hidden gems instead of the more popular cities.

On top of its charming nicknames, the Bordeaux wine region is also often recognized as the world’s wine capital, which stemmed from its 2,000 year-history of wine making. During fall, Bordeaux is an even more stunning destination, especially when the vineyards are vibrant with autumn’s palette.

Photo Credits: Alana Harris via Unsplash

Fall is also the best time for wine harvest, so during your visit, you can fully experience their wine culture culinary events, and festivals. Imagine a 360 view of the vineyards in captivating fall colors while you’re on a balloon ride during their hot air balloon festival on October.

Just a short trip away, exactly 44km from Bordeaux, you can also take a day trip in Saint-Émilion. Known as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the region, the oldest wine area in Bordeaux is a quaint destination where you can savor the “savoir vivre” culture of France while soaking up the charm of fall.

Average Temperature:

September: 17°C - 26°C (63°F to 79°F)

October: 12°C - 21°C (54°F to 70°F)

Autumn Highlights and Top Attractions:

Saint-Émilion (A UNESCO Heritage Site)

GPS Coordinates: Lat: 44.88333, Long: -0.15

3. Lake Bled, Slovenia

Location: Julian Alps of the Upper Carniolan region of Northwestern Slovenia

The third one in our list is another one for the books. With its own fairytale castle and the Julian Alps and Karavanke Mountains as its backdrop, this stunning picturesque lake is a scenery that’s seemingly made for this season.

Photo Credits: Stars and Stripes

Considered as one of the best travel destinations in Europe for fall, the vibrant autumn foliage transforms the natural beauty of Lake Bled into a magical experience, highlighting the crystal blues of the lake with the striking hues of oranges, reds, and golds.

With a 6-km path around the lake, you can take a leisurely stroll (or cycle) and enjoy the fresh September breeze while taking in the views of the iconic church and island at the center. You can breathe in the sceneries or take advantage of the countless photo opportunities that’s perfect for your fall gallery.

If you’re the more adventurous type, you can also hike in any of these trails: Mala Osojnica, Ojstrica, or Okstrica, all offering breathtaking and panoramic views of Lake Bled. While Okstrica is more intense and appropriate for more experienced hikers, Mala Osojnica is only moderately strenuous, and Ojstrica is slightly easier and more suitable for beginners.

Of course, your trip won’t be complete without visiting Bled Castle, a historic landmark built during the 11th Century. Perched atop a cliff with panoramic views of the majestic surroundings, it’s as iconic as the lake itself.

Photo Credits: Croatia Times Travel

Average Temperature:

September: 15°C to 23°C (59°F to 73°F)

October: 6°C to 14°C (43°F to 57°F)

Autumn Highlights and Top Attractions:

Bled Castle

GPS Coordinates: Lat: 46.3699° N, Long: 14.1006° E

4. Hallstatt, Austria

Location: Upper Austrian Salzkammergut region

As Austria’s oldest Village, it’s no wonder that the next destination on our list is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Based on archeological records, this beautifully preserved Alpine town has been inhabited since the early 800-450 BC—Europe’s Iron Age.

Photo Credits: Alejandra Cifre Gonzále via Unsplash

This postcard-perfect village also houses the world’s oldest salt mine, which has been in operation since the early 5000 BC. With this much history, an exhibition through its crystalline cave structures will make you feel like you’re traveling in time for as far back as 7000 years.

Dubbed as Austria’s most instagrammable town, and sometimes even considered as Europe’s most beautiful village, it’s hard to resist raising the expectations bar a little higher than usual. The good news is, Hallstatt has always lived up to every tourist’s high hopes.

In fact, when you visit this quiet little town during autumn, you’ll know exactly why Hallstatt got all its monickers. In its isolation, the place has maintained its charming beauty with its late baroque architecture and timber-framed buildings. Now picture that in a backdrop of mountainous slopes filled with the fiery hues of fall.

Photo Credits: Hallstatt.net

Average Temperature:

September: 11°C to 20°C (52°F to 68°F)

October: 5°C to 13°C (41°F to 55°F)

Autumn Highlights and Top Attractions:

Hallstatt Salt Mine and Dachstein Ice Cave (Dachsteinhöhlen)

GPS Coordinates: Lat: 47.5633 , Long: 13.6367 (Hallstatt Salt Mine)

5. Featured Hidden Gem: Dunajec River, Pieniny National Park, Slovakia

Location: Pieniny Mountains region, Slovak-Polish border

This last one on my list is more of a hidden gem instead of a popular tourist destination, although it also gets crowded during peak summer season. However, since we’re curating the best destinations in Europe for Fall, nothing beats visiting one of the perfect places that can showcase the vibrant autumn colors.

Photo Credits: Curious Wanderess

Located in the Slovak-Polish border, the National Park of Pieniny (PIENAP) is considered as the second oldest park and the smallest of all the Slovak National Parks. There are three access points to the park. You may either enter through the towns of Červený Kláštor, Spišská Stará Ves, or Stará Ľubovňa.

To make the most out of your autumn visit, there are three hiking trails that you could choose from, with varying features and catering to different fitness levels. The Three Crowns (Trzy Korony), Wysoka Peak, and Biala Woda Nature Reserve.

If you’re not much of a hiker, that’s perfectly fine too, you can still soak up the September autumn breeze without tiring yourself. In fact, one of the most popular activities in the park is also the best way to admire this hidden gem—river rafting on the Dunajec.

During this leisurely ride, you’ll be captivated by the breathtaking views of the river gorge highlighted with bright orange and yellow hues.

Photo Credits: Curious Wanderess

Average Temperature:

September: 12°C to 15°C

October: 8°C to 11°C

Autumn Highlights and Top Attractions:

Dunajec River & The Three Crowns (Trzy Korony)

GPS Coordinates: N49°23'14'' E20°30'22''

Time to Visit Europe This Fall

Since you’re looking into the best travel destinations in Europe for fall, you’re probably still not sure yet which countries or cities you should visit. Hopefully, I was able to help you decide which ones to include (or scrap) from your bucket list.

This list is mostly composed of personal favorites, but I tried to mix it up between famous fall tourist spots and the less popular, but still worth-visiting destinations.

Although, I would advise against cramming your autumn Euro-trip into a one-week itinerary. It’s always best to travel slow and fully immerse yourself in each destination’s unique traditions, especially during one of the most stunning seasons.