Europe · October and November
Autumn in Europe: where to see the colours
Red and gold beech woods, Alpine lakes with snowy mountains, vineyards at harvest time and stone villages among forests: in October and November Europe puts on its autumn colours, with fewer people than in summer.
Updated 20 October 2026 · How we make our guides
Forests
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GermanyBlack Forest
Fir and beech forests, half-timbered villages and waterfalls in south-west Germany.
What to see in Black Forest -
United KingdomCotswolds
Honey-coloured stone villages among hills and red-leaved woods.
What to see in Cotswolds -
IrelandKillarney
Lakes and forests in a national park in the west of Ireland.
What to see in Killarney
Lakes and mountains
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SloveniaBled
An Alpine lake with its island and a castle, surrounded by colourful forests.
What to see in Bled -
AustriaHallstatt
A village by a lake among mountains, quieter than in summer.
What to see in Hallstatt -
Vineyards
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FranceColmar
The Alsace wine route at harvest time, with the vineyards turning red and yellow.
What to see in Colmar -
PortugalDouro Valley
Terraced vineyards above the river, at harvest time.
What to see in Douro Valley
Frequently asked questions
Where can you see autumn colours in Europe?
In the Black Forest, the Cotswolds, Killarney, Bled, Hallstatt, the Dolomites and wine regions such as Alsace and the Douro valley.
When is the best time?
From mid-October to early November, although it varies each year with the weather and the altitude.
What about Spain?
See our selection of autumn in Spain, with beech forests such as the Irati Forest and the Montejo beech wood.
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More travel ideas
- Autumn in Spain: forests, vineyards and villages in colour
- The most beautiful villages in Europe
- City breaks in Europe
- All ideas
Reviewed 20 October 2026. Dates and seasonal warnings: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.
Cover photo: Dg-505 (CC BY 3.0), Wikimedia Commons.