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Best Countries to Visit in October 2024
South Africa
South Africa is uniquely situated in the southern hemisphere, at the bottom tip of the African continent. While the rest of central Africa may be experiencing droughts and heat during this time, South Africa will currently be mid-spring. Its proximity to large bodies of water and the climate makes this the perfect tourist destination during this time. With spring comes blooming flowers, where the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens will be hastily opening their exhibits for travelers to come and experience the beauty of nature. South Africa is also well-known for its unique wines, which are fresh and ready to taste during this time.
South Africa has many beaches but also has some of the most wonderful metropolitan attractions in the world. The cities of South Africa and shops are just as coveted as their wonderful sea-to-land atmosphere.
Germany
There can be no list in this world that does not contain Germany during October. Germany is a country with a varied and unique past, notably never being conquered by the Romans which have had their customs and traditions passed down to the rest of western, and parts of eastern, Europe. The Germanic culture has thrived over time. "German" was a word that initially came from the word "barbarian", which initially meant "non-Roman". Throughout time, many cultures have tried to conquer the country to no avail, eventually giving rise to "Germany" or the land of foreigners.
The Bavarian alps house some of the most magnificent landscapes in the world, and its tall castles and turrets are sublimely underlined by the unique fall colors. For tourists that prefer a more urban adventure, then look no further than Germany's largest cities, which include Frankfurt and Zurich. The famous Oktoberfest happens in, you guessed it, October, which signals the end of the harvest season and a time to celebrate. Drink beer, eat sauerkraut and sausage, and sing traditional songs with the locals.
Barbados
Barbados has long been a famous destination in the Caribbean but has recently been made more popular due to its acceptance of digital nomads, which were displaced due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Barbados has a visa application process for those who wish to live and work there remotely for other international corporations or for small businesses which need access to the internet and a job market.
October is the perfect time to visit, as the climate is perfect. Enjoy its nice beaches, palm trees, and white sandy beaches, and try the famous Mount Gay Rum.
Romania
Romania is a hidden gem in the Carpathian mountains, with a more moderate climate. There may be a small, crisp chill in the air for October, but the trees in the hills of Brasov are sure to please. While you are there, make sure to visit the historic Bran castle, which was home to Vlad Tepes, the birthplace of Dracula. Although Romanians do not celebrate Halloween, they have set up popular and spooky attractions in the Transylvania region during October for all to visit.
- Different sources and individuals may place different degrees of importance upon the various individual qualities of a given destination, resulting in different lists. Multiple lists are displayed here for comparison and contrast.
Country | Conde Nast | Exit45 Travels | Specific Attractions | Travel Triangle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Yes | Natural wonders from rock formations in north to glaciers and lakes in Patagonia (south), Torres Del Paine, Los Glaciares National Park, wildlife (Magellanic penguins, pumas, foxes, and condors), vineyards of Mendoza and Cafayate, Iguassu Falls, Oktoberfest (esp. in Villa General Belgrano). | ||
| Australia | Yes | Yes | Great Barrier Reef, whale watching (East coast), 650+ national parks, Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach, Uluru, Daintree National Park, Fraser Island, Kakadu National Park, Big Talk One Fire Festival, flower festivals (Floriade in Canberra, Tesselaar Tulip Festival in Victoria), Oktoberfest in Brisbane, International Film Festival on Gold Coast. | Adelaide - Cuisine and wine, wilderness cabins, conservation parks. | Ningaloo Reef - Diving and snorkelling, often alongside whale sharks and humpback whales, whale watching, Cape Range National Park. | Surfer's Paradise - World-class surfing, beaches. | 18 |
| Austria | Yes | Vienna - Vineyard views and visits, Mozart and Beethoven, mild-but-sunny weather. | ||
| Bhutan | Yes | Scenic hiking including mountain views, sacred temples, and valleys and forests; luxurious lodges, uncrowded tourism, traditional festivals, Thimphu, Paro, Punakha. | 27 | |
| Botswana | Yes | Wildlife safaris, Okvango Delta, bush walks with the San people of the Kalahari desert. | ||
| Cambodia | Yes | Angkor Wat temple, beach resorts, hiking and biking, traditional festivals, Phnom Penh, Tonle Sap lake, Koh Rong island resorts. | ||
| Canada | Yes | Yes | Up-close polar bear watching at Churchill, Niagara Falls, poutine, fall foliage (especially on Little Beehive Trail or Larch Valley Trail), stargazing in Jasper, Sugar Beach, Banff National Park and the Rocky Mountains, Old Quebec, Parliament Hill, canoeing on Lake Louise, Jasper SkyTram, Maligne Lake, Spirit Island, Jasper Dark Sky Festival. | 12 |
| Chile | Yes | Atacama Desert - red canyons and sand dunes, volcanoes, salt flats, geysers, hot springs, stargazing, Explora Atacama spa and observatory, scenic views, mild temperatures, historic towns with indigenous culture. | ||
| Colombia | Yes | Diverse coastlines and climates, wildlife viewing, outdoor activities (kayaking, rafting, surfing, rock climbing, diving), dancing, street art in Medellín, Walled City of Cartagena, jungle trekking in Tayrona National Park, beaches of Taganga village, Cali nightlife, whale watching in Nuquí and Buenaventura, Yipao festival, Leticia Theatre Festival, Tunja World Coleao Encounter, Mompox Jazz Festival. | ||
| Croatia | Autumn landscapes, national parks, swimming in the Adriatic Sea, nightlife in Dubrovnik and Zagreb, Plitvice Lake National Park, Split. | 22 | ||
| Cyprus | Yes | Mild-but-warm weather, beaches, scenic coastline, Troodoos mountains, vineyards and hillside villages, welcoming taverns. | ||
| Czech Republic | Prague - Vitava river cruise, Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, Wenceslas Square, National Museum, the Clementium, National Gallery. | 9 | ||
| Ecuador | Yes | Galápagos Islands - Wildlife viewing (marine and terrestrial), swimming. | ||
| France | Yes | Yes | Cuisine (Lyon especially), beaches (French Riveria), Loire Valley hot air balloons, Cote d’Azur, Champagne tour in Reims, Oktoberfest, Festival Lumière in Lyon. | Paris - Cuisine, Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Palace of Versailles | Provence - Food, scenery, peaceful pace. | 5 |
| Germany | Yes | Oktoberfest, beer and wine-tasting festivals, food, music, Berlin Light Festival, Rhineland-Palatinate wine region, Black Forest, Zugspitze Summit, hiking and biking in the Bavarian Alps, Neuschwanstein and other castles, MuseumIsland, canals of Hamburg, Cannsatter Volksfest festival. | ||
| Greece | Yes | Beaches, festivals and ruins at Rhodes, blue domes of Santorini, scenery, island resorts, Acropolis, Mykonos, Delphi, Corfu, Nafplio, Thessaloniki | 2 | |
| Hong Kong | Nightlife, Symphony of Lights, hiking, Ocean Park, Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong Disneyland. | 28 | ||
| Iceland | Yes | Northern lights, rugged natural beauty, hiking, whale watching, Reykjavik, Gullfoss Waterfall, Thingvellir National Park, Strokkur Geyser, Fjallaback Nature Reserve, Blue Lagoon, Seljalandsfoss waterfall, Skógafoss waterfall, Reynisfjara black sand beach, Reykjavik International Film Festival. | 26 | |
| India | Yes | Yes | Landscapes from jungles to the Himalayas, the neighborhoods of Delhi, Western Ghats mountains, tiger reserves, cuisine in Amritsar, yoga in Rishikesh, Diwali (Festival of Lights). | Darjeeling - Himalayan views, Tiger Hill, Mount Kanchenjunga, plantation tea tasting, Victorian-era hotels, steam trains. | Kerala - Cuisine, shopping, culture, beaches, sailing, scenic hiking, Alleppey, Wayanad, Kumarakom, Kovalam, Varkala, Kasargod, Idukki. | 19 |
| Indonesia | Yes | Beaches, rainforests, Komodo dragons and snorkeling in Komodo National Park, Borobudur and Prambanan temples in Yogyakarta, Bali, Ubud rice terraces, sunrise from Mount Bromo, diving and snorkeling in Raja Ampat, Jember Fashion Carnival. | Bali - Cuisine, beaches, natural beauty (hills, forests, lagoons), ancient temples, resorts, Tanah Lot Temple, Mount Batur, Uluwatu Temple, Ubud Monkey Forest, Waterborn Bali, Nusa Islands and the Nusa Dua Fiesta, Bali Art Festival. | 16 | |
| Ireland | Yes | Hiking, scenery, Spanish Arch and Salthill Promenade in Galway, Viking Triangle in Waterford, Glendalough Round Tower, Titanic Museum in Belfast, Bram Stoker Festival, Derry Halloween, Puca Festival. Dublin - Pubs, parks, live music, Dublin Castle, Temple Bar, Trinity College, Grafton Street, Merrion Square, Phoenix Park, Dublin Zoo. | 15 | |
| Israel | Yes | Culture, cuisine, beaches, nightlife in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Masada, the Dead Sea, the Red Sea, Bahai Gardens in Haifa, Old City of Akko. | ||
| Italy | Yes | Yes | Mediterranean climate, cuisine and wine, art, architecture, landscapes from mountains to the seaside, Lake Como, Leaning tower of Pisa, Pompeii, Amalfi Coast, Herculaneum, Blue Grotto in Capri, Florence, Venice, Rome, International Eurochocolate Festival, Lucca Comics and Games International Convention, Sagra dell'Uva grape festival, Boccaccesca Food and Wine Festival, Venice Biennale art exhibit. | Perugia - Chocolate, 10-day chocolate festival, cooking classes and cuisine, history and art, scenic views. | Rome - Trevi Fountain, Colosseum, Vatican City, St. Mark's Basilica, few tourists, International Rome Film Fest. | Siciliy - Striking landscapes (volcanoes, islands, architecture), cuisine, beaches, wine. | 7 |
| Japan | Yes | Yes | Fall foliage near Kyoto and Nikko, Mount Takao hiking, Mount Fuji views from Lake Kawaguchiko or Hakone, cycling the Shimanami Kaido, Tokyo Ramen Festival, Halloween celebrations. | Japanese Alps - Fall foliage with scenic lakes and rivers, hiking, mountain resorts, spas around Takayama, hot-spring baths, fine dining. | |
| Jordan | Yes | Ruins of Petra, the Dead Sea, ruins of Roman city of Jerash, Bedouin desert camps, teh Valley of the Moon, Wadi Rum. | ||
| Madagascar | Yes | Blooming jacarandas; turtles, lemurs, and other wildlife; beaches, forest hikes. | ||
| Maldives | Yes | White-sand beaches, marine life viewing, snorkeling, scuba diving, private island resorts, jet skiing, kayaking, windsurfing and paddle boarding, Dhoni boat sunset cruises, cuisine, city of Male, dolphin watching. | ||
| Mauritius | Yes | Flowers, rainforest, camping, sea kayaking, mountain biking, resorts, Black River Gorges National Park, Ile aux Cerfs, Pamplemousses Garden, Chamarel Colored Earth, Tamarind waterfalls | 1 | |
| Mexico | Yes | Yes | Beaches, cuisine, resort hotels, natural beauty (beaches, volcanoes, cenotes, jungles), Los Cabos, El Castillo, Coba, Xcaret Park, Monte Alban, El Malecon, Uxmal, Chichen Itza ruins, Lucah Libra westling in Mexico City, Agua Azul or Cascada El Chiflón waterfalls in Chiapas, surfing in Sayulita, Día de los Muertos in Oaxaca (Often starts around Oct. 31, runs through Nov 02), Guadalajara Fiestas de Octubre. | 3 |
| Morocco | Yes | Natural wonders (mountains, oases, caves, coastlines), Sahara desert hiking in mild temperatures, stargazing, beaches, cuisine, panoramic views, Erfoud Date Festival, Marrakesh medina, Hassan II Mosque, Fes el Bali, Chefchaiuen, Bab al-Mansour, Dades Valley, Blue City of Chefchaouen, Fez, Essouaria. | 21 | |
| Nepal | Yes | Hiking the Himalayas and Annapurna, Mount Everest, jungle forests, ancient temples, rafting the Karnali and Trisuli rivers, see tigers and rhinos on safari in Chitwan National Park, paragliding at Pokhara, architecture in Bhaktapur, Dashain festival (runs Sept. to Oct.), Tihar Festival of Lights. | ||
| Peru | Yes | Hiking the Inca trail to Machu Picchu, ruins of the Sacred Valley, Andes mountains, scenic landscapes, cuisine, Nazca Lines, Colca Canyon, volcanoes and sights of Arequipa (The White City), Lake Titicaca, street food and the Procesión del Señor de los Milagros festival in Lima, Tambopata Nature Reserve. | ||
| Philippines | Bohol - coral reefs, geological mounds, tropical resorts, Chocolate Hills, Bamboo Hanging Bridge, Tarsier Conservatory, Cathedral of San Jose. | 10 | ||
| Portugal | Yes | Cuisine, beaches, secluded beach caves, outdoor vistas, Lisbon, Faro district, Madeira, Porto, few other tourists, surfing (Ericeira, Nazare, Peniche), wine tasting on Douro River, medieval castle at Obidos, National Gastronomic Festival in Santarem, Obidos International Literacy Festival. | 23 | |
| Seychelles | Tropical beaches, cuisine, Morne Seychellois National Park, Beau Vallon Beach, Vallée de Mai National Park, Curieuse Island, St Anne National Marine Park, Anse Intendance, Baie Lazare, Beau Vallon, Ste Anne National Marine Park, Anse Lazio, Victoria, and Cousin Island. | 17 | ||
| South Korea | Yes | Fall foliage, nature and cultural festivals, hiking in national parks, mountain vistas, gardens in Gyeongju City's Historic Area, Seoul nightlife, Korean street food, Seoraksan National Park, Naejangsan National Park, Changdeokgung Palace and Secret Garden, Jinju Lantern Festival, Buddhist Templestay experience, Andong Mask Dance Festival, Gangneung Coffee Festival. | ||
| Spain | Yes | Yes | Cultural festivals, beaches, architecture, Guggenheim Museum (Bilbao), Madrid's Museo El Prado and El Retiro Park, Alicante, Zaragoza's Fiestas del Pilar festival. | Andalusia - Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba, Alhambra. | Barcelona - La Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Las Ramblas, street food. | Málaga - Cuisine, art, artisan boutiques, Pompidou Centre, Picasso museum. | Menorca - Island beaches. | Seville - Cuisine, art, cafés, Seville cathedral (Catedral de Sevilla). | 4 |
| Switzerland | Skiing the Swiss Alps, Jungfrau, cheese and chocolates, the Swissminiatur, Lake Lucerne, the Matterhorn, Interlaken, Lake Geneva, Rhine Falls, Oberhofen Castle. | 20 | ||
| Taiwan | Yes | Sightseeing at Taoist temples, shopping, night markets, exotic nightlife, Miramar Ferris Wheel, world-class beer, museums, seafood, Sun Moon Lake, Taipei 1010, Taroko Gorge, Yushan National Park, Alishan Scenic Mountain Area, Dragon & Tiger Pagodas. | 11 | |
| Tanzania | Yes | Zanzibar - Beaches, wildlife viewing, kitesurfing, Paje Beach, Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park, Stone Town (Freddie Mercury house), Prison Island (tortoises), Michanwi Pingwe (Rock Restaurant). | ||
| Thailand | Yes | Local festivals, beaches, snorkelling, scuba diving, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, ancient temples, street food, nightlife, natural beauty, night markets, Phuket, Koh Samui, PHi Phi Islands, spas. | ||
| Turkey | Yes | Yes | Beaches, diverse landscapes, Turkish coffee, hot air ballooning, Hamam, Istanbul, Antalya, Cappadocia fairy chimneys, Pamukkale thermal baths, Ephesus, Marmaris beach resort, the Air Games festival. | Turkish Coast - Beaches on the Zegean and Bosphorus coasts, boutique hotels, picturesque fishing villages, Istanbul. | 25 |
| United Arab Emirates | Yes | Dubai - Moderate temperatures, beach clubs, restaurants, desert excursions, Burj Khalifa, boutiques and galleries. | ||
| United Kingdom | Yes | Lake District - Autumn foliage, cuisine, quaint villages and private Airbnbs. | Wiltshire - Salisbury Cathedral, Stourhead, Castle Combe, Tithe Barn, Warminster, Lacock, Devizes. | 8 | |
| United States | Yes | Yes | Beaches (southern states), national parks such as Yosemite and Great Smoky Mountains. | California (Mendocino) - Coastal ocean views, sea cliffs, redwood trees, art galleries, wine, fine dining. | Florida - Beaches, Everglades National Park, Disney World. | Hawaii - Beaches, swimming, snorkeling, local bars, cuisine, surfing, scenic hiking, rural art vendors, whale watching, Food and Wine Festival, Nā Pali, Big Island, Iolani Palace, Diamond Head, Waimea Canyon, Akaka Falls, Mokolua Islands | Louisiana - French Quarter in New Orleans, music | New England - Fall foliage in Vermont (also New Hampshire and Maine), cuisine, Rhode Island, Boston. | Texas - Austin City Limits festival, road trips, San Antonio, art, food, fall foliage. | Vermont - Fall foliage, forests and covered bridges, Lake Champlain, Shelburne Museum, Ben & Jerry's Factory, Church Street Marketplace. | 6, 13 |
| Vietnam | Yes | Yes | Natural scenery, cuisine in Hanoi, Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh City, boutiques, coffee shops, hiking, Ha Long Bay, MEkong Delta, hiking and biking, cultural celebrations, lanterns and mooncakes, Hanoi, Halong Bay, mountain treks in Sapa or Mu Cang Chai, museums of Ho Chi Minh City, green sea turtle hatches at Con Dao, beaches of Pah Thiet and Mui Ne, islands of Con Dao and Phu Quoc, wildlife viewing at Cat Tien National Park (birds, monkeys, elephants, rhinos, crocodiles. |
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