Best holiday destinations in October

Finding somewhere to go on holiday in October is a little easier than in the previous months, as long as you know what you want.

Antalya, where the sweeping beaches take top spot
Antalya, where the sweeping beaches take top spot © EdNurg - Adobe Stock Image

If you're craving seriously hot and sunny weather, be prepared to travel a little further; however, if it's a case of just escaping for some pleasantly warm and sunny conditions, ideal for doing a bit of exploring, you'll still find this within easy reach of the UK at this time of year.

Top five destinations to visit in October

Whether it's a half term holiday or a just a late break for some pre-winter sun, there's a wealth of short and long haul places offering perfect weather in October. Five of our favourite holiday destinations in October include:

Where to go on holiday in October 2024/2025
Where to go on holiday in October 2024/2025 © Jose Ignacio Soto - Fotolia.com

1. Orlando, USA

  • Flight time from London: 9 hours
  • Daily high: 29°C
  • Daily hours of sunshine: 7

The USA's number one playground for all ages, Orlando, is a wonderful option in October, as the weather starts to lose some of the aggressive heat of the preceding summer months.

Days are still long and hot but the heat and humidity level drops to moderate, making conditions much more comfortable, and there's only a slim chance of seeing any rain.

Enjoying the weather in Orlando in October
Enjoying the weather in Orlando in October © Julie Fletcher - courtesy of Visit Florida

As well as delightful weather, Orlando makes a great destination simply because it has so many places to go and a seemingly endless list of things to do.

For the theme park hunters there's Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Studios (among many others), while water parks and wildlife parks keep big and little kids entertained.

Head to Restaurant Row for your pick of dining options, or try alternative activities such as stargazing and horseback riding.

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2. Cyprus

  • Flight time from London: 5 hours
  • Daily high: 27°C
  • Daily hours of sunshine: 8
  • Sea temperature: 25°C

Cyprus makes our pick of top five destinations in October thanks to its enduringly good conditions.

Destinations to the east, including Larnaca and Ayia Napa, are arguably the best places to go, as they see the most sunshine, the highest temperatures, and the warmest seas, all paired with low heat and humidity.

Troodos Mountains, Cyprus
Troodos Mountains, Cyprus © fazeful - Fotolia.com

Visiting Cyprus after the heat of the summer months also means it's that little bit easier to get around and explore without being too hot and sticky.

If you fancy a break from lounging on Ayia Napa's blue flag Nissi Beach, take a trip into the Troodos Mountains to see quaint hilltop villages or sample some of the freshest fish on Larnaca's promenade.

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3. Cape Verde

  • Flight time from London: 5 hours
  • Daily high: 27°C
  • Daily hours of sunshine: 8
  • Sea temperature: 25°C

Cape Verde, the increasingly popular archipelago off the west coast of Africa, is another special destination if you're after some heat in October.

There's plenty of sunshine, virtually no rain, and the sea is nice and warm. Evenings also remain pleasant, rarely sinking lower than around 24°C, letting you sit out and enjoy the great weather.

Santa Monica Beach, Boa Vista, Cape Verde
Santa Monica Beach, Boa Vista, Cape Verde © niall62 - Flickr Creative Commons

There's a moderate level of heat and humidity, which can make it feel hotter than it actually is during the day, although this is in part countered by the cooling breezes which sweep off the surrounding Atlantic Ocean.

You'll also need to watch out for the high level of UV and pack a strong SPF. It's a superb beach holiday destination, with a load of water sports and numerous beaches to choose from.

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4. Marrakech, Morocco

  • Flight time from London: 5 hours
  • Daily high: 27°C
  • Daily hours of sunshine: 8

Marrakech is a bewitching place much loved by everyone from city breakers to long term travellers.

If you're hoping to go somewhere in October that's perhaps a little different but with lovely weather, then Marrakech is likely to be for you.

During the day it's nice and warm, great for exploring the souk, enjoying a tagine on the terrace or visiting the stunning Ben Youssef Madrasa, while evening temperatures drop by more than 10°C to around 15°C, so you will want to pack a layer or two.

Ourika Valley, just 25 miles from Marrakech
Ourika Valley, just 25 miles from Marrakech © maximus shoots - Flickr Creative Commons

There's no heat and humidity to worry about, and at most only a passing rain storm. October is also a good time to get out of the city, whether you head into the Atlas Mountains or take a day trip to the Ouzoud Falls.

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5. Tenerife, Canary Islands

  • Flight time from London: 4.5 hours
  • Daily high: 26°C
  • Daily hours of sunshine: 10
  • Sea temperature: 23°C

Much closer to home in the year-round favourite of the Canary Islands is Tenerife, with its comfortable conditions, ideal when hoping to find somewhere in October in less than five hours.

Expect warm, sunny days with just the high UV to look out for. You might want to consider a hotel with a heated pool also, as the 23°C-sea temperature is verging on chilly, and may well be too cold for some.

Hotel on the south coast, Tenerife
Hotel on the south coast, Tenerife © Nikolai Sorokin - Fotolia.com

Discover Teide National Park with its selection of walking routes across the highest peaks in Spain, go horse riding, cycling, or take big and little kids on an adventure at Monkey Park or the epic Siam Park.

Tenerife is full of things to do from January to December, proving it's not all about the beaches and sunbathing.

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Alternative destinations to visit in October 2024/2025

If you're still unsure about where to go on holiday in October, we have a few more exciting destinations with great holiday weather at this time of year.

For somewhere a bit special, the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean is a real treat in every respect. Temperatures sit in the high twenties by day, falling no lower than around 23°C by night and only moderate heat and humidity.

Couple on honeymoon in the Seychelles
Couple on honeymoon in the Seychelles © Haveseen - Fotolia.com

The sky isn't completely cloudless but you'll enjoy plenty of long spells of sunshine, with around seven hours per day.

Watch out for the extreme UV during October, especially if you're making the most of the bath-like sea which is lovely and warm at 28°C. Expect the odd shower, but nothing that will dampen your holiday.

Heading east on a similar latitude, Bali remains incredibly inviting in October. Expect high temperatures and very high heat and humidity with warm seas.

Hotel in Bali
Hotel in Bali © yplastun - Fotolia.com

There's also an abundance of sunshine, so if you're after somewhere to go on holiday in October with seriously hot and sunny conditions, this could be for you. Again, just be prepared for the extreme UV, which is vicious.

Continuing to circumnavigate the globe, the Pacific island of Hawaii is another winner in October. Hawaii is stuffed with scenic spots, tasty treats and an abundance of things to do, from surfing to hiking volcanoes; for those who love the outdoors, this is a great call.

You can look forward to daily highs of 29°C, and warm evenings in the low twenties. There's a touch more sunshine than you'd find in the Seychelles, although a similar chance of passing cloud and rain storms.

The sea is inviting at 27°C, but can be notoriously strong in terms of current and waves, so do check where it's safe to swim.

Finally, if you're after somewhere a little closer to home and a bit more budget friendly, we have to mention Turkey and its array of coastal resorts.

You may find it's too chilly to swim at 23°C (the highest on the coast at Antalya) but thanks to pleasant temperatures reaching 26°C with up to eight hours of sunshine, you could find yourself having a truly relaxing time sampling Turkish cuisine, indulging in a Turkish bath, and relaxing by a hotel pool - heated, of course.

Kabak, near Olu Deniz, Turkey
Kabak, near Olu Deniz, Turkey © Stijn Nieuwendijk - Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Although summer in Europe may seem like a distant memory, deciding where to go in October for some deliciously hot and sunny weather isn't as difficult as you might think. It's just a question of making sure you know what you want to do, and finding the right location to do it in.

If it's a beach holiday with beaming sunshine and high temperatures you will be looking further afield, but if it's a more flexible break with warm and sunny conditions, you'll certainly find these slightly closer to home.

For more inspiration about where to go on holiday in October 2024/2025, visit our dedicated weather in October section, and be sure to visit our extensive travel deals section with the latest offers on everything from city breaks and holidays to flights and car hire - happy hunting!

Destination ideas for October 2024

  • Month: October
  • Daytime temperature: 22 - 28°C [remove]
  • Sunshine hours: 8 hours or more [remove]
  • Sea temperature: 25°C or warmer [remove]

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Rank Rating Score Destination
1 Weather Score for Antalya Coast in October is 100% 100% Antalya Coast, Turkey
  Weather Score for Cyprus in October is 100% 100% Cyprus
  Weather Score for Egypt in October is 100% 100% Egypt
  Weather Score for Florida in October is 100% 100% Florida, United States
  Weather Score for French Polynesia in October is 100% 100% French Polynesia
  Weather Score for Hawaii in October is 100% 100% Hawaii, United States
  Weather Score for Israel in October is 100% 100% Israel
  Weather Score for Madagascar in October is 100% 100% Madagascar
  Weather Score for Mozambique in October is 100% 100% Mozambique
  Weather Score for Queensland in October is 100% 100% Queensland, Australia
  Weather Score for Red Sea in October is 100% 100% Red Sea, Egypt
  Weather Score for Texas in October is 100% 100% Texas, United States
  Weather Score for Tunisia in October is 100% 100% Tunisia
14 Weather Score for Bahamas in October is 97% 97% Bahamas
  Weather Score for China in October is 97% 97% China
  Weather Score for Guadeloupe in October is 97% 97% Guadeloupe
17 Weather Score for Dalaman & Marmaris Coast in October is 96% 96% Dalaman and Marmaris Coast, Turkey
  Weather Score for Mauritius in October is 96% 96% Mauritius
  Weather Score for Rhodes in October is 96% 96% Rhodes, Greece
20 Weather Score for Brazil in October is 94% 94% Brazil
  Weather Score for Cape Verde in October is 94% 94% Cape Verde
  Weather Score for Jordan in October is 94% 94% Jordan
  Weather Score for Kenya in October is 94% 94% Kenya
  Weather Score for Puerto Rico in October is 94% 94% Puerto Rico
25 Weather Score for El Hierro in October is 93% 93% Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for Georgia (USA) in October is 93% 93% Georgia, United States
  Weather Score for La Palma in October is 93% 93% La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for Malta in October is 93% 93% Malta
  Weather Score for South Carolina in October is 93% 93% South Carolina, United States
30 Weather Score for Fiji in October is 92% 92% Fiji
  Weather Score for Hong Kong in October is 92% 92% Hong Kong
  Weather Score for Indonesia in October is 92% 92% Indonesia
  Weather Score for Jamaica in October is 92% 92% Jamaica
  Weather Score for Japan in October is 92% 92% Japan
  Weather Score for Martinique in October is 92% 92% Martinique
  Weather Score for Papua New Guinea in October is 92% 92% Papua New Guinea
  Weather Score for Samoa in October is 92% 92% Samoa
  Weather Score for Seychelles in October is 92% 92% Seychelles
  Weather Score for St Vincent & the Grenadines in October is 92% 92% St Vincent and the Grenadines
40 Weather Score for Bali in October is 89% 89% Bali, Indonesia
  Weather Score for British Virgin Islands in October is 89% 89% British Virgin Islands
  Weather Score for Cuba in October is 89% 89% Cuba
  Weather Score for Maldives in October is 89% 89% Maldives
  Weather Score for Tanzania in October is 89% 89% Tanzania
  Weather Score for Virgin Islands in October is 89% 89% Virgin Islands
46 Weather Score for Bodrum & Izmir Coast in October is 88% 88% Bodrum and Izmir Coast, Turkey
  Weather Score for Greece in October is 88% 88% Greece
  Weather Score for Kos in October is 88% 88% Kos, Greece
49 Weather Score for Antigua in October is 86% 86% Antigua
  Weather Score for Barbados in October is 86% 86% Barbados
  Weather Score for Bermuda in October is 86% 86% Bermuda
  Weather Score for Dominica in October is 86% 86% Dominica
  Weather Score for Grenada in October is 86% 86% Grenada
  Weather Score for India in October is 86% 86% India
  Weather Score for Malaysia in October is 86% 86% Malaysia
  Weather Score for Panama in October is 86% 86% Panama
  Weather Score for Philippines in October is 86% 86% Philippines
  Weather Score for Sri Lanka in October is 86% 86% Sri Lanka
  Weather Score for St Lucia in October is 86% 86% St Lucia
  Weather Score for Trinidad & Tobago in October is 86% 86% Trinidad and Tobago
  Weather Score for Vietnam in October is 86% 86% Vietnam
62 Weather Score for Crete in October is 85% 85% Crete, Greece
  Weather Score for Fuerteventura in October is 85% 85% Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for Gran Canaria in October is 85% 85% Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for Kefalonia in October is 85% 85% Kefalonia, Greece
  Weather Score for La Gomera in October is 85% 85% La Gomera, Canary Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for Peloponnese in October is 85% 85% Peloponnese, Greece
  Weather Score for Sicily in October is 85% 85% Sicily, Italy
  Weather Score for South Africa in October is 85% 85% South Africa
  Weather Score for Tenerife in October is 85% 85% Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for Zante in October is 85% 85% Zante, Greece
72 Weather Score for Anguilla in October is 83% 83% Anguilla
  Weather Score for Cayman Islands in October is 83% 83% Cayman Islands
  Weather Score for Curacao in October is 83% 83% Curacao
  Weather Score for Dominican Republic in October is 83% 83% Dominican Republic
  Weather Score for Goa in October is 83% 83% Goa, India
  Weather Score for Lombok in October is 83% 83% Lombok, Indonesia
  Weather Score for Mexico in October is 83% 83% Mexico
  Weather Score for Oman in October is 83% 83% Oman
  Weather Score for St Barthelemy in October is 83% 83% St Barthelemy
  Weather Score for St Kitts & Nevis in October is 83% 83% St Kitts and Nevis
82 Weather Score for Costa Rica in October is 81% 81% Costa Rica
  Weather Score for Kerala in October is 81% 81% Kerala, India
  Weather Score for Mexico's Caribbean Coast in October is 81% 81% Caribbean Coast, Mexico
  Weather Score for Thailand in October is 81% 81% Thailand
  Weather Score for Turks & Caicos in October is 81% 81% Turks and Caicos
87 Weather Score for New South Wales in October is 80% 80% New South Wales, Australia
88 Weather Score for Madeira in October is 79% 79% Madeira, Portugal
89 Weather Score for Gambia in October is 78% 78% Gambia
90 Weather Score for Costa Blanca in October is 77% 77% Costa Blanca, Spain
  Weather Score for Formentera in October is 77% 77% Formentera, Balearic Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for Ibiza in October is 77% 77% Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for Lanzarote in October is 77% 77% Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for Lefkada in October is 77% 77% Lefkada, Greece
  Weather Score for Majorca in October is 77% 77% Majorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for Santorini in October is 77% 77% Santorini, Greece
  Weather Score for Spain in October is 77% 77% Spain
98 Weather Score for Cambodia in October is 75% 75% Cambodia
  Weather Score for Palau in October is 75% 75% Palau
100 Weather Score for Aruba in October is 72% 72% Aruba
  Weather Score for Morocco in October is 72% 72% Morocco
  Weather Score for Samos in October is 72% 72% Samos, Greece
  Weather Score for Venezuela in October is 72% 72% Venezuela
  Weather Score for Western Australia in October is 72% 72% Western Australia, Australia
105 Weather Score for Albania in October is 71% 71% Albania
  Weather Score for Calabria in October is 71% 71% Calabria, Italy
  Weather Score for Campania in October is 71% 71% Campania, Italy
  Weather Score for Corfu in October is 71% 71% Corfu, Greece
  Weather Score for Ecuador in October is 71% 71% Ecuador
  Weather Score for Menorca in October is 71% 71% Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
  Weather Score for Paxos in October is 71% 71% Paxos, Greece
  Weather Score for Sardinia in October is 71% 71% Sardinia, Italy
113 Weather Score for Singapore in October is 70% 70% Singapore
114 Weather Score for Costa Almeria in October is 69% 69% Costa Almeria, Spain
  Weather Score for El Salvador in October is 69% 69% El Salvador
  Weather Score for Peru in October is 69% 69% Peru
117 Weather Score for California in October is 67% 67% California, United States
  Weather Score for Cook Islands in October is 67% 67% Cook Islands
  Weather Score for Pakistan in October is 67% 67% Pakistan
  Weather Score for South Australia in October is 67% 67% South Australia, Australia
  Weather Score for Tonga in October is 67% 67% Tonga
  Weather Score for UAE in October is 67% 67% UAE
123 Weather Score for Azores in October is 66% 66% Azores, Portugal
  Weather Score for South Korea in October is 66% 66% South Korea
125 Weather Score for Algarve in October is 64% 64% Algarve, Portugal
  Weather Score for Argentina in October is 64% 64% Argentina
  Weather Score for Costa de la Luz in October is 64% 64% Costa de la Luz, Spain
  Weather Score for Costa del Sol in October is 64% 64% Costa del Sol, Spain
  Weather Score for Gibraltar in October is 64% 64% Gibraltar
  Weather Score for Portugal in October is 64% 64% Portugal
131 Weather Score for Corsica in October is 63% 63% Corsica, France
  Weather Score for Costa Dorada in October is 63% 63% Costa Dorada, Spain
  Weather Score for Mykonos in October is 63% 63% Mykonos, Greece
  Weather Score for Naxos in October is 63% 63% Naxos, Greece
  Weather Score for Paros in October is 63% 63% Paros, Greece
  Weather Score for Syros in October is 63% 63% Syros, Greece
137 Weather Score for Lesbos in October is 61% 61% Lesbos, Greece
  Weather Score for Namibia in October is 61% 61% Namibia

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Kirsten Henton

Kirsten Henton

Kirsten Henton is Weather2Travel.com's editor. Kirsten writes, commissions and edits our travel features, liaising with our contributors and ensuring copy is spick-and-span. A member of the British Guild of Travel Writers, Kirsten also freelances writing articles on travel, history and the outdoors for titles such as Scotland Magazine and BBC Travel.

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