Best Places to Visit in October: 14 Warm, Dry Picks (and 5 to Skip)

The best places to visit in October are the ones where summer heat has finally backed off but the days are still warm and dry. Using 20 years of weather data, our top picks are Athens (73°F with only 4 rainy days), Seville (79°F), Las Vegas and San Diego (2 rainy days each), and New York, which hits a crisp 65°F just as the leaves start to turn. If you want somewhere hot, Antalya on Turkey's coast still averages 78°F.

October is quietly one of the best travel months of the year. Schools are back, so prices and crowds drop in a lot of places. Meanwhile, much of southern Europe and the American Southwest is still warm. Below, we've used WeatherApex's monthly averages to pick the places where October really shines, plus a few popular spots we'd skip this month. Every number is a 20-year average (2006 to 2025), not a forecast.

Best places to visit in October: the quick answer

Here's the short version. The table is sorted from fewest rainy days to most.

The best places to visit in October in Europe

October is when southern Europe finally becomes pleasant again. The summer heat waves are over, the sea is still warm from months of sun, and most of the crowds have gone home.

Athens, Greece: the driest pick in Europe

Athens in October averages 73.4°F (23°C), with lows around 59°F (15.1°C) and only 4 rainy days. That's the fewest rainy days of any European city on this list. You get clear, warm afternoons that are perfect for the Acropolis, which in July is honestly too hot to enjoy.

Island hopping is still possible in early October, though some ferry routes and island hotels start winding down toward the end of the month. If beaches are a big part of your plan, go early in October rather than late. Full numbers on our Athens weather in October page.

Seville, Spain: summer without the summer heat

Seville is brutal in July and August. In October it averages 79.3°F (26.3°C), which still feels like summer, but without the afternoon heat that shuts the city down. Nights cool off to about 61°F (15.9°C), so dinner on a terrace is lovely.

There are around 7 rainy days, usually later in the month. If you want the warmest version of Seville that's still comfortable, early October is the sweet spot. See Seville weather in October.

Antalya, Turkey: still beach weather

If you want a proper beach holiday in October, Antalya is one of the safest bets in Europe. The average high is 78.1°F (25.6°C), there are only about 6 rainy days, and the sea is still warm after the long Mediterranean summer. You get summer conditions with far fewer people.

It's a good-value choice too, as prices tend to drop once the school holidays are over. Check the monthly data on Antalya weather in October.

Lisbon, Portugal: mild and easy

Lisbon averages 72.3°F (22.4°C) in October, with warm nights around 61°F (16°C). It's about as comfortable as a city break gets. The trade-off is rain. The wet season starts to arrive in October, and the city averages around 9 rainy days.

Most of that rain comes in short bursts, so you'll still have plenty of sunny hours (over 9 a day). Pack a light rain jacket and you're set. More on our Lisbon weather in October page.

Valencia, Spain: Seville's breezier cousin

If Seville sounds too hot even in October, Valencia is a great alternative. It averages 75°F (23.9°C) with only about 7 rainy days, and the sea breeze keeps it feeling fresh. You get a big-city break and a beach in the same trip, since the city's beaches are a short tram ride from the center.

It's also the home of paella, so plan at least one long lunch. See Valencia weather in October.

Rome, Italy: comfortable, but pack an umbrella

Rome in October averages 71.4°F (21.9°C) with lows of 55.8°F (13.2°C). It's great sightseeing weather, warm enough for gelato and cool enough to walk for hours. The catch: around 10 rainy days, which makes October one of the wetter months in Rome.

Don't let that put you off. Rome has more indoor sights than you could see in a month, from the Vatican Museums to hundreds of churches, so a wet afternoon is easy to fill. See Rome weather in October.

Best places to visit in October in the US

New York City: crisp days and fall color

October might be New York's best month. The average high is 64.9°F (18.3°C), and the low is 50.5°F (10.3°C). The muggy summer air is gone, and walking the city feels easy again. Leaves in Central Park start turning in October, and by late October and early November the color is at its best.

If you want even more fall color, Boston (62.4°F) and the rest of New England tend to peak earlier in October than New York. Further north, Montreal is already down to 56.7°F (13.7°C), so bring a warmer jacket if you go that way. NYC details are on our New York weather in October page.

Las Vegas, Nevada: finally comfortable

Las Vegas in summer regularly runs well over 100°F. By October, the average high drops to 80.2°F (26.8°C), with just 2 rainy days and very dry air (27% humidity). This is the month when the pools are still open and a trip out to Red Rock Canyon or the Hoover Dam doesn't feel dangerous.

The desert cools fast at night, down to about 58°F (14.7°C), so bring a layer for evenings on the Strip. If you're wondering what to bring, we put together a full guide on what to wear in Vegas. Data on Las Vegas weather in October.

San Diego, California: the no-stress choice

San Diego in October averages 74.5°F (23.6°C) with only 2 rainy days. It's actually one of the warmest months of the year here. The grey coastal mornings of early summer are long gone, and the ocean is still warm from summer.

If you just want a warm, sunny trip without checking the forecast every hour, this is it. See San Diego weather in October.

Nashville, Tennessee: the best month for a weekend trip

Nashville averages 71.6°F (22°C) in October with cool nights around 53°F (11.7°C). Summer here is hot and sticky, and October is the relief. It's ideal weather for walking between music venues downtown, and the trees around the city start turning toward the end of the month.

Rain is moderate at about 9 days. More on Nashville weather in October.

New Orleans, Louisiana: the humidity finally breaks

New Orleans in October averages 78.3°F (25.7°C), and for the first time since spring the humidity starts to ease. It's a great month for eating your way through the city and catching live music at night.

One thing to keep in mind: the Atlantic hurricane season runs until November 30. The risk is lower in October than in August or September, but it isn't zero, so travel insurance is a good idea. See New Orleans weather in October.

Best places to visit in October for something different

Cape Town, South Africa: spring is just starting

October is spring in the Southern Hemisphere, and Cape Town is a great example. The average high is 69.4°F (20.8°C), there are only 5 rainy days, and the sun shines for 12 hours a day, more than anywhere else on this list. It's perfect for hiking Table Mountain and visiting the wine country.

October is also whale season along the coast near Cape Town, when southern right whales come close to shore. Nights are cool, around 55°F (13°C), so pack a jacket. Data on Cape Town weather in October.

Sydney, Australia: warm spring days

Sydney in October averages 72°F (22.2°C) with 10.6 hours of sunshine a day. It's not quite beach-swimming weather for most people, but it's perfect for the coastal walks and harbor ferries. The city's jacaranda trees start blooming purple toward the end of October and into November.

Expect about 9 rainy days, often as quick spring showers. More on Sydney weather in October.

Kyoto, Japan: mild, and early for the leaves

Kyoto in October averages 71.1°F (21.7°C) with lows of 56.3°F (13.5°C). It's comfortable for walking between temples, and much less humid than summer. About 10 days see some rain.

Just be aware that Kyoto's famous red maple leaves usually peak in mid to late November, not October. If the leaves are the main reason for your trip, push it a few weeks later. If you just want pleasant weather and fewer crowds, October is great. Our best time of year to visit Japan guide covers both seasons.

Places we'd skip in October

A few popular destinations look great on paper but have weather problems this month.

• Cancun, Mexico: it's warm (83.7°F), but October averages 20 rainy days, the most of any city here, and it's still hurricane season. See Cancun weather in October.
• Key West, Florida: about 14 rainy days and hurricane season. Wait until December or later.
• Dubai: still averaging 97.7°F (36.5°C). It cools down properly from November.
• Bali: the wet season is starting, with about 13 rainy days and high humidity (83%).
• Mexico City: the rainy season is ending but still brings about 13 rainy days.

Early October or late October?

October changes a lot from the first week to the last, especially in the Northern Hemisphere.

• Early October still feels like late summer in southern Europe. It's the better choice for Athens, Antalya and Valencia if you want to swim.
• Mid October is usually the sweet spot for city breaks like Rome, Lisbon and Seville, with warm afternoons and cooler nights.
• Late October is best for fall color in New York and Nashville, but colder for Montreal and Boston, where the leaves may already be past their peak.

Down south, it works the other way. Cape Town and Sydney get warmer every week of October as their spring moves toward summer.

How to choose where to go in October

• Want guaranteed sun? Las Vegas or San Diego (2 rainy days each).
• Want a beach? Antalya, or Athens if you go in early October.
• Want fall leaves? New York, Boston, Montreal or Nashville.
• Want a European city break? Seville, Lisbon or Rome.
• Want something completely different? Cape Town or Sydney, where October is spring.
• Want to avoid storms? Skip the Caribbean and Gulf coast, or buy travel insurance.

Whatever you pick, check the 16-day forecast in our trip planner about two weeks before you leave. Autumn weather can swing a lot from one year to the next.

What to pack for an October trip

October is a layering month nearly everywhere. Daytime highs in the 65°F to 80°F range feel warm in the sun, but evenings in most of these places drop into the 50s. Bring T-shirts, one or two warmer layers, long pants and a light rain jacket. For New York, Boston or Montreal, add a proper jacket. For Las Vegas, Antalya and Seville, sunglasses and sunscreen are still a must. Our guides on what to wear in 60 degree weather and what to wear in 70 degree weather have more detail.

How we picked these places

Every number here comes from WeatherApex's climate data: 20-year averages (2006 to 2025) for October in each city. We looked at average highs and lows, rainy days, sunshine hours and humidity, and chose the places where October brings comfortable temperatures and relatively little rain. We also flagged a few popular spots where October is a poor month, so you don't book the wrong trip.

Remember that averages tell you what's typical, not what will happen on your exact dates. Use them to choose where to go, then check the forecast before you pack.