10 of the warmest places to swim on a short-haul holiday this autumn

Richard Mellor

Autumn is a canny time to travel in the Northern Hemisphere for a few reasons. With kids back in school, crowds thin. Prices drop after summer, and the often-extreme temperatures have subsided into something more tolerable.

The coastal town of Cefalù, northern Sicily © IgorZh - Adobe Stock Image

Finally, after months of being microwaved, autumnal seas remain wonderfully warm between September and November. Here's our top pick of where to dive in on holiday across Europe, the Med and North Africa.

Getting there: whichever destination takes your fancy, you'll find the best value breaks from the likes of TUI^*, Jet2holidays^*, British Airways^* and Virgin Atlantic Holidays^*, which collectively offer deals from airports across the UK.

Cefalù, Sicily, Italy

Average sea temperatures in Cefalù: Sept - 25°C, Oct - 23°C, Nov - 20°C

Where to go on still-hot, citrus-scented Sicily? Particularly alluring for beach-lovers is Cefalù (pronounced "shef-a-loo"), an elegant north coast resort that's only 50 minutes by direct train from Palermo.

Visit its UNESCO-protected, mosaic-filled Norman cathedral before it shuts at midday, and cross the maze-like old town and easily find a spot on Cefalù's small crescent beach. Set below dramatic cliffs and old defensive walls, this spot sees clear Tyrrhenian Sea waters lap powdery honey-hued sand.

Hydra, Greece

Average sea temperatures in Hydra*: Sept - 25°C, Oct - 23°C, Nov - 20°C

Ninety minutes by ferry from Athens, Hydra's bumpy scenery and car-free quaintness have long lured the creative likes of Leonard Cohen and Pablo Picasso. Regular exhibitions around its grand stone mansions maintain this arty feel, as should a cameo in Brad Pitt's upcoming film, The Riders.

Pretty port on the Greek island of Hydra © Gatsi - Adobe Stock Image

From the island's harbour town, where boutique shops, waterfront tavernas and donkey-pulled carts hold sway, take a water taxi to beaches whose shallows still average 25°C in September. Mandraki Bay is the sole sandy shore and is overlooked by an upmarket resort.

* Please note, this is from the guide to Porto Heli, close to the island of Hydra.

Tenerife, Canary Islands

September
- 26
- 8
- 3
- 24
October
- 24
- 7
- 5
- 23
November
- 21
- 6
- 7
- 22

The largest of Spain's Canary Islands stays mild well into winter; September witnesses the peak of the island's average annual sea temperature at 24°C. October is especially tempting, with lingering warm waters and a chance to see the almond harvest, while November remains suitably pleasant for a dip.

Celebrate by eating some nutty bienmesabe cake alongside ice cream. As for sandy beaches, Tenerife's best are generally found in its more touristy south, ranging from Playa del Duque, with all cabanas and cocktail bars, to the simpler, breezier La Tejita, whose nudist section and straw-roofed chiringuito bar are memorably back-dropped by a rust-coloured volcanic cone.

Larnaca, Cyprus

Average sea temperatures in Larnaca: Sept - 26°C, Oct - 25°C, Nov - 22°C

The eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus has three main holiday options. Paphos pairs Roman mosaics with a cosmopolitan harbour. Not far to the east, bigger Limassol delivers edgier urbanity and a castle where Richard the Lionheart supposedly got hitched.

Big, open beaches off the coast of Larnaca © Leilani - Adobe Stock Image

Further on, Larnaca is least heralded, largely because most visitors who do fly in here promptly leave for nearby Ayia Napa. Their mistake.

Along with a crumbling fort, you'll find flamingo-rich salt lakes and wreck dives as well as several nice beaches dotting an eponymous bay. You'll be ahead of the curve, too: in 2030, Larnaca will be one of Europe's anointed Capitals of Culture.

Looking for something a little more exotic? Check out destinations across the Middle East, Caribbean and Indian Ocean, which all offer even warmer sea temperatures just a little further away and often with a slightly higher price tag.

Sliema, Malta

Average sea temperatures in Sliema: Sept - 26°C, Oct - 24°C, Nov - 21°C

Served by dozens of direct UK flights, Malta's proximity to Africa explains its absurdly sunny climate. Even in November, you'll typically enjoy more than six daily hours of rays.

Swimming off the rocks in Sliema, Malta © MisterStock - Shutterstock.com

The best bet is to stay in one of Sliema's capable hotels. Not only will you then have access to limestone pools, sea ladders and a lively promenade, but just south, and a short ferry ride away, lies the harbourside capital Valletta, with its honey-coloured forts and boisterous alleys.

To the north, boat trips enable easy outings to the blue lagoons of Comino and Gozo, two quieter satellite islands.

Olbia, Sardinia, Italy

Average sea temperatures in Olbia: Sept - 23°C, Oct - 21°C, Nov - 18°C

Olbia gets missed by tourists bee-lining towards resorts on northeastern Sardinia's classy Costa Smeralda.

Yet, this longstanding city is cheaper and more authentic than any of those, plus blessed with a superb centro storico: all cobbles, café-peppered piazzas and pastel-shade buildings below an 11th-century Romanesque basilica.

The azure waters off Olbia, Sardinia © Jenny Sturm - Adobe Stock Image

Sea temperatures here hover around 22°C as October arrives; you'll just need to avoid the persistent mistral wind. Head south to find a sheltered shore: requiring a short walk, Poltu Casu is shielded by granite cliffs while islands helpfully protect Porto Istana's four-part beach.

Bodrum, Turkey

Average sea temperatures in Bodrum: Sept - 24°C, Oct - 22°C, Nov - 20°C

Bodrum ranks among the loveliest of Turkey's Turquoise Coast resorts. At least, that's true if you swerve its party zone and instead make for a yacht-lined marina attended by romantic outdoor restaurants.

In between comes a massive 15th-century castle, whitewashed houses on flowery lanes and a bazaar hawking everything from copper pots to seashell pendants. Skip the town's skinny beach in favour of a plethora of longer, sandier alternatives all along the Bodrum Peninsula.

Many boast Blue Flag status for cleanliness, and the sea will still be warm enough to merit scoops of local mandarin-flavoured, slow-melting dondurma ice cream.

Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt

Average sea temperatures in Sharm el Sheikh: Sept - 24°C, Oct - 22°C, Nov - 20°C

You can expect temperatures of around 25°C to 30°C on land in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh during October or November, and similarly warm water temperatures.

Snorkelling in the Red Sea, Egypt © Patryk Kosmider - Fotolia.com

That aids the famous scuba diving here as well as closer-to-shore pursuits such as swimming and snorkelling. There's an additional reason for making for the Sinai Peninsula's pointy southern tip, however.

Along with a good array of hotel-backed beaches, guided tours to Sinai Desert ravines or St Catherine's, the world's oldest Christian monastery, and Mount Sinai (of The Ten Commandments fame) become heaps more comfortable outside of summer's intense heat.

Find out more: head to our dedicated guide to sea temperatures to learn more about how sea temperatures are measured and to see where else has warm waters worldwide in September, October and November.

Clearwater, Florida, USA

Average sea temperatures in Clearwater: Sept - 29°C, Oct - 26°C, Nov - 23°C

Autumn compares very favourably to the preceding season along Florida's Gulf Coast: days are now ideally warm, hotel prices sink, humidity decreases, and queues shorten.

Expect superb sunsets from Clearwater Beach, Florida © artiom.photo - Adobe Stock Image

Come October in laid-back Clearwater Beach, set on a wispy barrier island typical of these parts, the winning formula of pale sand and dolphin-watching tours is further enhanced by stone crabs arriving on grill menus. Tuck in to some only after following locals onto Pier 60 to watch the famously brilliant sunset.

Hammamet, Tunisia

Average sea temperatures in Hammamet: Sept - 26°C, Oct - 24°C, Nov - 21°C

Unsung it might be, but the North African republic of Tunisia has plenty going for it, including average daytime highs of 25°C as late as October, golden Mediterranean shores and bargain package holidays aplenty.

Aim for the chilled-out town of Hammamet, where a 15th-century Medina and rammed-earth Kasbah are flanked by low, whitewashed buildings that dazzle in sunshine. Hotels here often combine their beachfronts with golf offerings, thalassotherapy and easy-to-book excursions to the impressive Roman amphitheatre of El Jem.

Ready to book your seasonal escape? Check out our latest collection of travel deals and discounts, with savings on holidays, flights, hotels and more.

Richard Mellor

Richard Mellor is a freelance travel writer with a background in travel PR. He covers a wider range of topics and destinations, appearing regularly in Metro, The Guardian, The I and The Times. He's also authored a book, 'Foodie Breaks', and writes a weekly column for Roxhill Media's newsletter.

Posted in: Africa Beach Europe & the Mediterranean Season