With temperatures reaching historical highs across Europe this summer, leading to raging fires in sunny destinations such as Greece and Italy, tourists are now growing warier of visiting the Old Continent in the peak season.
As those of you who have been to Rome between June and August will know, there’s only so much sightseeing you can do before you’re overheating, and surely walking cobblestones and climbing hilly historic centers is no fun under the scorching sun.
With these in mind, it’s no surprise the popularity of fall season travel is growing exponentially, as the heat is milder, though warm enough for wearing shorts during the day, and prices tend to normalize as the school holidays end.
If the prospect of an infernal European summer scares you, and you’re thinking of heading to Europe this fall instead, you may be wondering where it is warmest to visit as temperatures drop.
As usual, we’ve got you covered.
On this article, we bring you 3 incredible options for an early fall sunny getaway across the pond:
Tenerife, Canary Islands
The largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, located off the coast of West Africa, Tenerife is a subtropical paradise known for its ‘eternal summer’ type of weather.
Enjoying balmy autumns, and long hours of sunshine year-round, it is one of Europe’s most popular off-season destinations.
Some of the top attractions include Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the sprawling capital, famous for its nightlife and resort scene, Los Cristianos, home to the Monkey Park and sandy beaches, and San Cristóbal de La Laguna, a charming small town easily recognized for its vibrant colors and landmark cathedral.
During the fall, it sees an average temperature of 22 degrees, though it can reach highs of 25, as well as lows of 19 in the evenings.
It is worth mentioning the sea is usually colder, as this is the Atlantic, after all, but if strolling at leisure on a sunny day and eating alfresco without shivering sounds pleasant, then Tenerife might be the right pick for you.
Luckily for Americans, they can now reach this paradisaical location on nonstop flights.
Cyprus
If it’s a warm ocean is what you’re after, and long sunny days that are not overwhelmingly hot, perhaps a little escapade to Cyprus in the fall would be more to your liking.
An island-nation in the East Mediterranean, it remains surprisingly warm over autumn.
As reported by TUI, there is a 77% chance of a ‘perfect sunny day’ visiting Cyprus in October, with an average daily maximum of 28 degrees, and a daily minimum of 18.
At that time, considering the sea has been exposed to soaring temperatures all summer and it’s yet to cool off completely, it is also perfect for swimming.
Cyprus’ main appeal lie in its Greco-Roman heritage, scattered along a sandy coastline that’s bounded by turquoise waters.
A literal Heaven – or should we say, ‘Olympus’ – on Earth, it is one of the trendiest European destinations of the year, both for summer and off-season.
Malta
Finally, there is Malta.
Similarly to Cyprus, except it is much smaller, it is a tiny island state world-renowned for the crystalline hue of the Mediterranean Sea that laps its shores, ochre-colored cityscapes, and limestone Mediterranean cathedrals.
Holiday Weather informs that tourists should expect highs of 25 degrees and lows of 21 traveling in Malta in the fall, specifically October, and reassures them it stays sunny and warm for the most part, bar the odd gray day.
Tourists often base themselves in either Valletta, Malta’s incredibly compact capital, or the busy resort areas in Sliema or St Julian’s, the latter of which concentrades most of the country’s social scene.
Those looking for a more recluse vacation often choose to stay in the neighboring island of Gozo, also part of the country of Malta, as it has fewer residents, the territory even smaller, and tourism hosting capacity is more limited.
Are you thinking of flying abroad this fall for an off-season getaway, and you’re still not sure where you should be headed with so many incredible options at hand? Get further inspired here and start narrowing them down.
