10 AUTUMN DESTINATIONS IN EUROPE

Lake Bled is one of those picture perfect destinations to visit around Autumn. This stunning lake has waters of emerald green, a pretty town on its banks that shares its name and a beautiful little church that perches on a tiny islet in the middle of the water. 100 metres above the water, on rocky crags, stands an impressive medieval castle with ramparts, towers, moat and spectacular views. Surrounding the lake are some of the highest peaks in the Slovenian Alps. 

There are traditional gondola style boats called pletnas that take you out to the church which is located in the middle of the lake on the island. Although lake bled is a year-round destination the best time to visit is during Autumn. The whole village and the lake are enveloped by vibrant autumn leaves. 

Our recommendation: Be sure to try Slovenia’s famous ‘Kremna Rezina’ (cream cake) from the original source Park Hotel in Bled.

Other destination worth visiting in Slovenia during Autumn: Vintgar Gorge

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Reasons to visit Tuscany during the Autumn months are endless. It is one of the best autumn destinations in Europe, as the temperature begins to drop this leafy region of Italy that is built upon rolling hills turns into nature’s Autumn palette. Tuscany is lined with olive groves and vineyard, the harvest season is in full swing during the Autumn months making it the perfect time to visit. The early months of Autumn are devoted to grape harvest (for making wine) and the later Autumn months are all about the olive harvest, for Tuscany’s well known olive oil. We highly recommend a winemaking tour. 

There is plenty to do in the Tuscan region to get in the Autumnal spirit. Visit one of the charming Tuscan villages, art filled churches, eat your way through the food markets, visit of the many food festivals or stroll the medieval cobblestone alleys of the charming Tuscan town. If you are a nature lover explore the landscape with a hike through the rolling hills, relax in one of the many natural hot springs, rent a bike or classic with Vespa or by FIAT 500. There’s even horseback riding through the stunning landscape of Tuscany.

One of the most underrated autumn destinations in Europe, the Lake District is beautiful throughout the year however it will take your breath away as Autumn arrives. With beautiful hilltops, lake views and fewer visitors, autumn is arguably one of the best times to visit the Lake District. As the valleys transform, experience a palette of golds, browns, bronzes and reds at England’s largest national park.

The second largest lake in the Lake District, Ullswater is the perfect place to celebrate the arrival of autumn. Take a stroll, jump on the lake cruise or enjoy some watersports, this lake has it all. One of the most photographed buildings in the whole of Lake District, The Duke of Portland Boathouse is also located in Ullswater. This unique boathouse gives you a chance to view the magical lakeside surroundings from the comfort of your own balcony.

Our recommendation: For the best views over the lake make sure you get up early in the morning for the mist over the water and the golden leaves in the background.

Amsterdam is one of the most romantic Autumn destinations in Europe. There are over 400,000 trees that line the famous canal banks and parks of Amsterdam. So, when Autumn comes the city is covered in red and orange trees. Walk the cobbled streets as you crunch through the fallen leaves, witness the dazzling autumn colours and breathe in the fresh Autumnal air.

Autumn season in Amsterdam is also a fantastic time to enjoy cultural activities. Head to a exhibition or a museum, visit one of the many rooftop bars, stroll the streets that are lined with books shops and charming little clothing stores or curl up at a cafe or bar and tempt your taste buds with some delicious winter dutch food.

Krka National Park can be visited at any time of the year. It is most visited in summer, one of the perks of visiting in summer is that you are allowed to swim in the waterfalls. Cooling down in the crystal clear emerald waterfalls during the summer heat is simply satisfying.

This, however, doesn’t mean that the National Park isn’t worth visiting other times of the year. The Krka National Park is especially beautiful during Autumn when the landscape that surrounds the cascading waterfalls is transformed into a multicoloured sea of leaves. It is a sight worth seeing, some people just visit the National Park to see the arrival of Autumn.

Other destination worth visiting in Croatia during Autumn: Plitvice Lakes National Park

Related: Guide to visiting Krka waterfall

The quaint Austrian village of Hallstatt is definitely a must visit, the beautiful lake Hallstätter See (Lake Hallstatt) is one of Austria’s most famous lakes. The autumn colours make this postcard perfect town even more alluring and perfect Autumn destination in Europe. This charming alpine village which only resides around 1000 people also offers the Waldbachstrub Waterfall, and a funicular railway leading up to an old salt mine and a trail leading to Echern Valley glacier garden from where you can spot various glacial potholes. 

Hallstatt is also home to the World Heritage site ‘Welterbeblick Skywalk’. Hanging 350 meters over the Hallstätter See or Lake Hallstatt – we cannot recommend visiting this viewpoint enough! The unique panoramic views on offer overlook the magical lake, dramatic alpine mountains and surrounding village. Located just over an hour away from Salzburg, Hallstatt can also be visited as a day trip. 

Germany is no short of fairytale like castles but Burg Eltz certainly is a stand out location to visit during the Autumn season. This magical castle is nestled in the beautiful wooded Moselle Valley along the Elzbach river. It is not just the castle that make this place so enticing during the Autumn months but its surrounding area. The forest surrounding the castle is perfectly preserved, walk along the road through the forest that has transformed into a kaleidoscope of rich oranges and reds. The 900 year old castle sits on top of a cliff and offers view of the Elzbach Valley which is bursting with autumnal colours and River Eltz. 

There are plenty of hikes in the surrounding areas. We highly recommend: the Eltz Burg Panorama trail ( Eltzer Burgpanorama ).

Other destination worth visiting in Germany during Autumn: Berchtesgaden National Park, especially Lake Königsee and Klausbachtal Valley, Neuschwanstein Castle

Budapest is bursting with parks and gardens, so when Autumn arrives this timeless city transforms into shades of gold, amber and red. There is something so magical about taking a stroll through the parks in fresh Autumnal air. Autumn colours is not the only reason to visit Budapest during this season. The Hungarian capital is famous for its hot springs, in fact, it is home to Europe’s largest thermal bath – Széchenyi thermal bath, the cool Autumn weather makes hot springs the perfect activity.

Feast on seasonal and traditional delights and keep warm with the traditional Pálinka (which is a Hungarian fruit brandy) at one of the many food festivals that take place in the city during this season in the city. Some of the most popular festivals are the ‘Wine and Cheese Festival’ and ‘Palinka and Sausage’. Heading to Budapest ? Take a look at Top 10 things to do in Budapest

The Loire Valley is a UNESCO-listed valley which spans around 280 kilometres (170 miles). Often known as the ‘Garden of France’ witness the leaves changing colour with stunning Chateaux in the background. In fact, there are around 300 Chateaux in this infamous valley. With so many stunning chateaux to choose from, 3 chateaux we recommend that are worth a visit in Autumn are:

Château de Chambord – one of the largest Chateaux in the world, surrounded by forests where spotting deer and wild boar is very common.

Château of Sully-sur-Loire – hosts an annual international garden festival that continues into the Autumn season making them well worth a visit in Autumn.

Château de Villandry – a lovely 16th-century property that sits on the banks of the River Loire and overlooks three terraces of world-famous geometric patterned gardens. It also have a cute vegetable garden which is covered with pumpkins during the Autumn season.

The Loire Valley is also lined with botanical gardens, lakes and inland beaches. The valley has countless vineyards offering tours of the vineyards and wine tastings.

Iceland offers striking landscapes on its own but with the autumn hues, it makes them that extra bit special.  The Hraunfossar waterfalls are one of the unique waterfalls in Iceland, “Hraunfossar” actually meaning “Lava Falls.” They are a series of small waterfalls formed by water stream out of the solidified lava into Hvítá river. It is an unusual natural phenomenon and along with the eye watching Autumn colours, it truly is a spectacular sight. The viewpoint is located in the parking area which gives you a great panoramic view of both, the Hraunfossar waterfalls and the Hvítá river.