November can be an excellent month to visit Europe as long as you are prepared for the weather, which is mostly on the cool side and rarely even close to frozen. Summer is peak season for most popular European cities, and Christmas season tends to be crowded as well, so a November visit allows you to sneak in when crowds and prices are low and the weather is still decent.
The list below contains Europe’s only good beach destination in November as well as the 14 best options for those wanting a cultural holiday. Pretty much all of the famous cities are on the list below, and fortunately none of them are known for getting much in the way of rain, and that goes for London as well. All of the hotel prices are updated for 2023 and there are some great deals in Europe this November.
Important November 2023 Holidays
- November 1 – All Saints’ Day (major public holiday in most European countries)
- November 5 – Guy Fawkes Night in England (celebrations)
- November 11 – Armistice Day in France (major public holiday)
- November 17 – Velvet Revolution Anniversary in Czechia (major public holiday)
- November 19 – Sinterklaas arrives in Amsterdam (family celebrations)
- November 23 – Thanksgiving Day in the USA (major public holiday)
Below you’ll find
- Europe’s best November beach destination
- Europe’s 14 best November city destinations
Europe's only decent November beach destination
Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
- November avg high: 75°F/24°C
- November avg low: 65°F/18°C
- November avg precip: 1.1″/2.8cm
Tenerife highlights
- Sandy beaches and hundreds of nice hotel pools
- A pleasant atmosphere with very reasonable food and drinks
- Interesting and mellow nightlife with no huge night clubs
- Teide volcano and national park: Great day trip
- Comfortable island for English speakers getting out of the cold
By the time November rolls in, the entire European continent is too cold to sit on a beach and that will be the case until April. The good news is that the Canary Islands are technically part of Spain and there are cheap flights to Tenerife and the other islands all year round. November isn’t scorching, but it’s warm and sunny enough to work on your tan, and it’s quite cheap as well.
Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands and the best choice for English speakers as well. Head to the resort area in the southwest of Tenerife around the town of Los Cristianos for the most choices of hotels and apartment rentals. In November you’ll be surrounded by northern Europeans and the local workers. You might also look into the other Canary Islands including Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and La Palma, which all have similar weather and hotel prices. Tenerife is arguably the easiest for English speakers, but all of them are very welcoming.
- Good 3-star hotels in November from €58 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in November from €85 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in November from €12 per person
>>>Check hotel deals for Tenerife
>>>Tenerife prices and travel tips
14 Best non-beach destinations in Europe in November
Rome, Italy
- November avg high: 63°F/17°C
- November avg low: 47°F/8°C
- November avg precip: 4.4″/11.0cm
Rome highlights
- Colosseum, Ancient Rome, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and other monuments
- Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City
- Stunning architecture that surprises you around every corner
- Great place to sample Italian dining and drink styles from all over the country
- Coffee and wine bars that are affordable and friendly
November marks the start of the low season in Rome, but this is a city that is popular all year round so you certainly won’t feel alone. The days are chilly and you might get some rain, but Rome is still a great destination even in the colder months because there is so much to see and do, and much of it is indoors such as the enormous Vatican Museum.
If this is your first visit to Italy you’ll probably want to head north from Rome and visit Florence and Venice (both mentioned below). But if you have more time you might also consider Sorrento, which is a bit south of Naples. It’s a bit warmer in November and it’s the perfect base for day trips of Naples, Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast and the Isle of Capri.
- Good 3-star hotels in November from €76 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in November from €101 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in November from €15 per person
>>>Check hotel deals for Rome
>>>Rome prices and travel tips
Florence, Italy
- November avg high: 59°F/15°C
- November avg low: 42°F/6°C
- November avg precip: 4.4″/11.0cm
Florence highlights
- Florence Cathedral and city hall are two very photogenic attractions
- Ponte Vecchio bridge and its abundant jewelry shops
- Uffizi Gallery and other museums in the home of the Renaissance
- The Tuscan capital is the best culinary stop among tourist towns
- Great wine starting at shockingly low prices
Similar to Rome, Florence is such an amazing destination that it’s worth visiting any time of year. November is chilly and a bit wet, but even more than Rome and Venice, Florence is an indoor destination. This is one of the world’s great capitals for art and you’ll be indoors most of the day even if the weather is nice.
Florence is smaller than Rome so you can see the most famous sights in only 2 days or so, but you might still want to spend 3 or even 4 nights here because this is the ideal base for day trips to Pisa, Siena, and even the Cinque Terre. There are also several nearby hill towns that are worth a look to experience something uniquely Italian. As the capital and largest city in the famous Tuscany region, Florence is also a great food city. Avoid places with English menus out front for the best quality and value.
- Good 3-star hotels in November from €77 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in November from €94 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in November from €17 per person
>>>Check hotel deals for Florence
>>>Florence prices and travel tips
Venice, Italy
- November avg high: 53°F/12°C
- November avg low: 40°F/4°C
- November avg precip: 3.4″/8.5cm
Venice highlights
- St. Marks Square and Cathedral are unforgettable
- Rialto Bridge for amazing photos
- Doge’s Palace and Bridge of Sighs
- Gondola ride or other boat rides on canals
- Sidewalks and passageways in the morning and evening when they aren’t crowded
Again, if you are coming to Italy for the first time in November you are going to want to spend at least one day and night in Venice even if it’s a bit cool. There is no other city in the world like Venice and the smaller crowds in November will help you feel less like a herd animal.
The downside to visiting Venice in November is that it’s the peak month for the Acqua Alta, which is the high-tide flooding that the city experiences. It’s still possible to get around and enjoy a Venice visit in November, but it’s also wise to keep track of the Acqua Alta situation and work your schedule around it. The hotel prices for 2023 listed below are for rooms on the main island where all the sights are located. You can save some money by staying on the mainland or another nearby island, but it’s a lot of hassle getting back and forth so it’s really not worth it.
- Good 3-star hotels in November from €96 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in November from €114 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in November from €26 per person
>>>Check hotel deals for Venice
>>>Venice prices and travel tips
Paris, France
- November avg high: 51°F/11°C
- November avg low: 43°F/6°C
- November avg precip: 2.2″/5.5cm
Paris highlights
- Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe among many other amazing structures
- Louvre and Orsay Museum have amazing collections and are beautiful
- Seine river cruise at sunset to see all the bridges illuminated
- Hop-on, hop-off double-decker bus tour (actually amazing!)
- Probably the best food in the world, and wine as well
Similar to Rome and London, Paris is such an amazing city that you are going to want to visit no matter which month you are visiting. Fortunately, Paris still has reasonably mild temperatures in November and not much rainfall. There will be plenty of business travelers around, but tourist numbers are lower so it can be easier to get around and see the top sights.
As long as you dress properly you can still even enjoy the excellent hop-on, hop-off bus tour of Paris in November. It’s arguably the best city bus tour in Europe and it connects nearly all of the most famous buildings and attractions. It’s included in the Paris Pass, so you might also want to check our review of the Paris Pass. The included Seine River cruise is also highly recommended around sunset whether you buy a Paris Pass or not.
- Good 3-star hotels in November from €97 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in November from €149 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in November from €19 per person
>>>Check hotel deals for Paris
>>>Paris prices and travel tips
London, England
- November avg high: 51°F/11°C
- November avg low: 41°F/5°C
- November avg precip: 2.2″/5.5cm
London highlights
- Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey and on and on
- Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral, all in a small area
- Oxford Street shopping is world class
- Camden Markets and Portobello Road market for unusual vibes and items
- Neighborhood pubs and surprisingly good international cuisine
The good news about London in November is that it tends not to rain very hard when it does rain, so you often don’t even need an umbrella. But of course it will be cool every day in November so you will need to bring some outerwear with you. As with a few others on this list, London is such an amazing city that you’ll want to visit no matter the month of your trip.
London is another example of a mostly indoor city so the weather doesn’t really slow most visitors down. The famous attractions such as the (free) museums and famous cathedrals are welcoming no matter the weather outside. You might even want to look at our London Pass review if you want to see the top attractions in 2 or 3 days.
- Good 3-star hotels in November from £101 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in November from £127 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in November from £13 per person
>>>Check hotel deals for London
>>>London prices and travel tips
Barcelona, Spain
- November avg high: 63°F/17°C
- November avg low: 47°F/8°C
- November avg precip: 2.3″/5.8cm
Barcelona highlights
- Sagrada Familia cathedral and other Gaudi architectural highlights
- La Rambla pedestrian zone (watch for pick pockets!)
- Sandy beaches located within the city and are nice
- Marina complex with great food, shopping, and activities
- Nightlife that rivals Madrid and is late night and world-class
Being on the Mediterranean, Barcelona stays warmer than Madrid (see below) during the colder months. So November is still fairly nice and one of the better months to visit partly because the summer months have become so ridiculously crowded here. The main attraction here is the interesting architecture, and you can see all of the most famous buildings on top of the hop-on, hop-off bus tour, which is included with the Barcelona Pass.
If this is your first time to Spain you are going to want to spend 3 or 4 nights in Barcelona but also then take the high-speed train (in 2.5 hours) to Madrid for 3 or 4 nights there. The cities are very different from each other and both are wonderful for tourists with excellent food and nightlife on top of everything else. November is actually one of the best times to visit Spain, due to the mild weather and smaller crowds.
- Good 3-star hotels in November from €88 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in November from €107 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in November from €18 per person
>>>Check hotel deals for Barcelona
>>>Barcelona prices and travel tips
Madrid, Spain
- November avg high: 56°F/13°C
- November avg low: 43°F/6°C
- November avg precip: 2.2″/5.5cm
Madrid highlights
- Best city to experience the wide range of Spanish cultural highlights
- Royal Palace complex
- Prado Museum, which is one of the world’s best art museums and a gorgeous building
- Tapas bars, where you get free snacks with each drink ordered
- Excellent and famous nightlife that draws people from all over the world
Madrid does get a bit cool in November, but as mentioned above in the Barcelona section you are going to want to come here anyway. Madrid is of course the capital of Spain so this is where you see the Royal Palace and many other official buildings of note, as well as the Prado Museum.
The high-speed train that connects Madrid and Barcelona is fairly cheap if you book it at least a couple weeks in advance. Spain has a few of its own low-cost airlines, so flights into Madrid are pretty cheap this time of year, although booking early helps here as well.
- Good 3-star hotels in November from €68 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in November from €100 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in November from €17 per person
>>>Check hotel deals for Madrid
>>>Madrid prices and travel tips
Lisbon, Portugal
- November avg high: 64°F/18°C
- November avg low: 53°F/12°C
- November avg precip: 4.2″/10.5cm
Lisbon highlights
- Castles, towers, and cathedrals, all in the main center
- Tram 28, which connects many of Lisbon’s tourist sights for €3 a ride
- Elevador de Santa Justa – the famous outdoor elevator
- Great food at surprisingly affordable prices
- Fado local music shows to go along with great meals
If you have ever wondered which city on the European continent has the best year-round weather, you have found it in Lisbon. The breezes off the Atlantic keep this city cool in summer and mild in winter, although it does get a bit of rainfall this time of year.
This otherwise remote city is a real gem for those who go out of their way to get here. It’s a lovely city on 7 hills so views are fantastic in every direction. And the food and culture here are very interesting as well as quite different from Spain. You can take an overnight train from Madrid, but flying is probably the better option for most people.
- Good 3-star hotels in November from €55 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in November from €77 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in November from €15 per person
>>>Check hotel deals for Lisbon
>>>Lisbon prices and travel tips
Interlaken, Switzerland
- November avg high: 46°F/8°C
- November avg low: 33°F/1°C
- November avg precip: 3.3″/8.3cm
Interlaken highlights
- Gateway to the Lauterbrunnen Valley, the most beautiful place in Europe
- Cable cars and hikes and mountaintop views
- Jungraujoch railway and Schilthorn cable car are amazing and a bit expensive
- Skiing in winter and adventure sports the rest of the year
- Gimmelwald and other tiny villages in the Lauterbrunnen Valley
The weather in Interlaken isn’t exactly great in November, but it’s still worth considering on your trip because this is THE place to see the most dramatic Alps views anywhere in Europe. So many people say they just want to visit “Switzerland” that I wrote an article about where to go in Switzerland on a short visit.
On the other hand, Interlaken in November is not ideal because many hotels and businesses close down between mid October when the hiking season ends and mid December when skiing season begins. There are still places open and plenty to see, but you have to plan a bit more. If you want to visit a second place in Switzerland to admire the unusual beauty, Lucerne is your best bet.
- Good 3-star hotels in November from €171 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in November from €177 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in November from €29 per person
>>>Check hotel deals for Interlaken
>>>Interlaken prices and travel tips
Berlin, Germany
- November avg high: 45°F/7°C
- November avg low: 36°F/2°C
- November avg precip: 1.7″/4.3cm
Berlin highlights
- Brandenburg Gate and a variety of Berlin Wall attractions
- Berlin Cathedral and Reichstag building
- Museum Island and its collections
- Europe’s most eclectic and interesting nightlife
- Cheap food, drinks, and hotels for a big European city
Berlin has cold winters and in November the weather here is already started to become a bit annoying. Still, this is such an incredible city that it’s worth dressing a bit warmer if a November visit is your best or only choice. The famous nightlife and cultural sights are all going strong all year round, so there is plenty to see and do.
Another great thing about this city is that it’s cheaper than the other large cities in Germany including Munich and Hamburg. Better still, this city has become so popular and international that you can just speak in English to anyone you encounter and you’ll almost always get a polite answer back in English.
- Good 3-star hotels in November from €80 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in November from €108 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in November from €15 per person
>>>Check hotel deals for Berlin
>>>Berlin prices and travel tips
Amsterdam, Netherlands
- November avg high: 48°F/9°C
- November avg low: 39°F/4°C
- November avg precip: 3.0″/7.5cm
Amsterdam highlights
- Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum
- Rijksmuseum, Rembrandt House and many other top museums
- Heineken Experience is fun and they give you free beer at the end
- Stunning historic center with gorgeous 16th century buildings
- Nearly car-free nightlife and restaurant areas
Unfortunately, Amsterdam is another northern European city that typically only has one or two good months of weather each year. In other words, if you wait until it’s warm and sunny in Amsterdam, you’ll be here with a billion other people in mid July. With an excellent public transport system, it’s easy to get around Amsterdam by street car or even just walking.
The stunning architecture is one of the things that brings people to Amsterdam, and as long as you dress properly you’ll be able to soak that all in this month. Aside from that this is a cultural capital with excellent nightlife and a thriving arts scene. That goes all year round, as do the coffeeshops and small pubs all over town.
- Good 3-star hotels in November from €101 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in November from €145 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in November from €27 per person
>>>Check hotel deals for Amsterdam
>>>Amsterdam prices and travel tips
Prague, Czech Republic
- November avg high: 44°F/7°C
- November avg low: 36°F/2°C
- November avg precip: 1.2″/3.0cm
Prague highlights
- Prague Castle complex, which is one of Europe’s largest and most impressive
- Charles Bridge and Old Town Square for amazing photos
- Eastern Europe’s most interesting architecture that somehow survived WWII
- Hearty food at great prices (if you avoid tourist zones)
- Arguably the world’s best beer that is also cheap if you follow locals
Prague is a city that is so crowded in summer that many people actually prefer to come when it’s colder like in November, so they don’t have to battle crowds every minute of the day. As you can see, it’s chilly in Prague in November, but it rarely rains much as all so it’s just a matter of wearing another layer.
It will still be crowded in the main squares of Prague in November, but much less so than in warmer months so it’s more pleasant in general. If you want to spend a bit more time in Czechia, head to Cesky Krumlov, which is 3 hours away on a scenic bus ride or train. Cesky Krumlov is much more charming than Prague, and it’s cheaper than Prague by quite a bit as well.
- Good 3-star hotels in November from €39 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in November from €58 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in November from €14 per person
>>>Check hotel deals for Prague
>>>Prague prices and travel tips
Budapest, Hungary
- November avg high: 47°F/8°C
- November avg low: 36°F/2°C
- November avg precip: 2.4″/6.0cm
Budapest highlights
- Parliament building overlooking the Danube for your own postcard photos
- Some of Europe’s best architecture fitting of a major capital
- Very cheap food and drinks (outside of the main tourist zone)
- Natural hot spring complexes right in the city that are easy and cheap to visit
- “Ruin pubs” set in courtyards of old apartment buildings (highly recommended!)
This part of Europe gets quite cold in winter so Budapest in November is already on the chilly side. But it doesn’t rain much and this city has so much to see and do that it’s worth a visit even in the cool months, when crowds are much smaller as well.
Budapest has a lot in common with Prague, but the architecture here is on a grander scale for the most part and it feels very different. This city is also one of the cheaper capital cities in Europe, so your travel fund really goes a long way here. The famous nightlife in the ruin pubs should not be missed at any time of year.
- Good 3-star hotels in November from €46 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in November from €64 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in November from €9 per person
>>>Check hotel deals for Budapest
>>>Budapest prices and travel tips
Istanbul, Turkey
- November avg high: 60°F/16°C
- November avg low: 47°F/8°C
- November avg precip: 3.3″/8.3cm
Istanbul highlights
- Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque, which are right next to each other
- Grand Bazaar other excellent and interesting shopping areas
- Topkapi Palace
- Great food at very reasonable prices, especially the breakfasts
- Affordable hotels in the popular tourist district of Sultanahmet
November still has reasonably warm days in Istanbul so this is worth considering on any trip of eastern Europe this time of year. Istanbul itself is one of the world’s most historic and interesting cities, and it’s quite a travel bargain these days as well because the currency rate has gone down against almost all countries in the last couple years.
Those that have more than a few days might also consider exploring more of Turkey. For one thing, every other city in the country is at least a bit cheaper than Istanbul. And most places have even warmer temperatures in November, so it’s an ideal time to explore Cappadocia or even the southern coast along Antalya.
The currency in 2023 has plummeted and inflation has been pretty severe. The net result is that Turkey is one of the cheapest countries in the world this year for foreign visitors who bring in other currencies. That said, there has been a bit of unrest (usually very easy to avoid) so keep you eye on the news.
- Good 3-star hotels in November from €57 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in November from €69 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in November from €6 per person
>>>Check hotel deals for Istanbul
>>>Istanbul prices and travel tips
We are planning for Italy in first week of November for 9 days, we have shortlisted Rome, Venice, Florence, for completeness of our tour we are also planning for Milan with Lake Como or any parts of Italy from Alps will be visible better. Please suggest, thanks in advance.
Raja,
I think spending 3 days in Rome, 3 days in Florence, and 1 day in Venice is a great idea. Lake Como is primarily a place where Italians (and increasing numbers of tourists) go in summer to relax. By November it’s very quiet and less scenic because it’s often cloudy and gray. It’s a lovely area, but nothing like the Swiss or French Alps. If you’ve got 2 more days and want to see the most dramatic views I would take a train from Venice to Interlaken, with a change in Milan. You can read much more information on my Switzerland recommendations in this article.
Switzerland is expensive though, and it’s also fairly quiet in early November, even though the views are still amazing. If you want to stay closer to Italy you might head to Lugano, which is just across the border and it should be more interesting and less quiet than Como that time of year. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hello.. its been great reading your article and the queries. I am planning a European vacation with my kids aged 4 and 3 for 5 or 6 days from the end of November to December 3. What would be great choices of destination then? Have been to Italy and Paris – so thats pretty much off the list. Been thinking of Prague especially because its supposedly a small city and the christmas markets might be fun for the kids! And living in Dubai, we are looking forward for some cold weather as well
Rahul,
For most people the idea of going to Prague in late November isn’t ideal, but living in Dubai I totally know what you mean about wanting a bit of cool weather once in a while. I think Prague would be a great choice for a trip like that, and you can see the highlights in about 3 days. For another city to visit the closest and best options are Berlin if you want a large (and fun) city, or Salzburg if you want to see some snow and beautiful mountain scenery, or you could go about 3 hours to the small and gorgeous town of Cesky Krumlov. Any of those would be fantastic for what you have in mind. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hello Roger,
We are planning a trip to London in December end. We have to be in London for 3 days from December 29-Jan 2, for family event.
We are a family of 3 ( 8 year old kid), we planning to do tourist stuff in London, visit Windsor castle & Stone hedge pror to family event. We wanted to visit another city for 3-4 days , which city would you recommend to see with a kid. We were thinking of Scotland- since its close to london. Your thoughts?
Based on your experience and knowledge, which cities would you recommend and in which order should we organise our itinerary for smooth transits? More than happy for you to suggest other cities instead of the ones we are interested in.
Thanks
Art,
I think Scotland would be a great choice as an add-on, except that in late December the days up there are very short. The days in London that time of year are fairly short as well, but you can still see a lot with the sun setting at 4pm. In Edinburgh the sun sets at 3:40pm and in the Highlands near Inverness it’s more like 3:30pm. Edinburgh is a cool city, but seeing the scenery in Scotland is a big part of the experience, and late December is not ideal.
I’d instead go to Paris, which can be reached in a bit over 2 hours on the Eurostar train. It’s the easiest other city to reach from London, and it’s also one of the world’s greatest cities. They also have a Ferris wheel and kids also enjoy the boat rides on the Seine, and even the hop-on, hop-off bus tours to some degree. Buy your Eurostar train tickets as far in advance as possible for the lowest fares. I really think it’s your best choice, but if Paris won’t work for you let me know and I’ll try again. -Roger
Hi Roger,
I’m from Manchester, England and have travelled to all the main cities around Western Europe and was wanting to trip to somewhere in November. I was wondering if you have any suggestions of cities to visit around this time that are less touristy but also quite cheap! Sorry for the vague comment!
-Meg
Meg,
As a Karl Pilkington fan, it’s always nice to hear from someone from Madchester. My first thought on this is Split, Croatia, although it’s possible you’ve been there. They have pretty good weather in November (for Europe) and that time of year you can get a very good deal on a hotel or apartment. I’ve you’ve been to Dubrovnik then Split is similar in some ways in that the historic center is the same limestone and white marble and it’s really gorgeous. The main difference is that Split is a proper city with locals going about their days, compared to Dubrovnik that feels like an amusement park because 95% of everything within the city walls is touristy (and overpriced). Everything in Split is cheaper than in Dubrovnik, including food and drinks and such. And you can go to the islands nearby and maybe even head to Plitvice Falls National Park, although you’d want to do it on a clear day.
Or you could go to the Algarve, which has even nicer weather. I spent a few days in a small (fairly touristy) town called Tavira and I loved it. It’s pretty crowded in summer, but I think in November it should have few other tourists. And of course if you go to pretty much any other town in that area it will be less touristy. You should be able to get a cheap hotel there in November, and food and drinks are pretty cheap in Portugal as well.
If you really want a place that is cheap once you get there you might consider Serbia or Bulgaria. I actually lived in a town in Serbia called Nis for 5 months a few years ago and things there are VERY cheap and there are almost no tourists because there are few worthwhile attractions. But it does have a busy university so there are lots of young people, and there are city walls and a few other things to see. Sofia has more things to see and it’s very cheap without too many tourists. One problem with those is that a flight from Manchester might not be too cheap, although if the right low-cost carrier is flying there it might be very cheap. I hope some of those suggestions are interesting. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Thank you so much for your response. I will check out the article you reference here.
I am planning a 2 month trip to Europe starting the last week in October. The only place I have ever been is Prague. I’d love to see it all, if possible! Can you send me a suggested itenerary. My starting point is NY. I am 22 years old and on a budget but not bare bones. Thanks
Drew,
I don’t have time to type out a 2-month itinerary for you, but I will help in other ways. First off you might have a look at my main article on suggested Europe itineraries for first-time visitors. Those itineraries are meant for 1, 2, or 3 week trips with destinations grouped in logical orders so you can get from place to place pretty quickly. I think if you look at some of those you can choose 2 or 3 of the itineraries that interest you and then combine them together and then see where else you might go to connect them.
If you are starting in October I would start in northern Europe (or at least as far north as you’ll go) and then mostly head south and west from there. The mid-December weather in Copenhagen or even Krakow is pretty chilly and the daylight hours are short, but that time of year in Spain and Portugal is still pretty nice. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
My husband, toddler and I are travelling around Europe on 21st of October for 24 days. We will fly in and out of Paris from Australia. These are the cities we’re interested in seeing but we know based on time we won’t be able all of them:
France – Paris, Lyon, Nice or just Toulouse
Spain – Barcelona, San Sebastian, Seville?
Portugal – Lisbon, Porto, Lagos?
We plan on using high speed trains to get around if the max time is 3 hrs, otherwise we will fly if we can. We don’t plan on doing too much sight seeing, it will be a more leisurely holiday, strolling around taking in the views and eating lots of delicious food. We’ve been to France and just in Paris to visit friends.
Based on your experience and knowlegde, which cities would you recommend and in which order should we organise our itinerary for smooth transits? More than happy for you to suggest other cities instead of the ones we are interested in.
Thanks
Mary,
My strong recommendation for trips like this where you want to move quickly without moving TOO quickly is to stay three night in each city you visit. The travel day between cities always ends up taking most of the day from the time you pack to leave one hotel until you are moved into a hotel in the next city, so you won’t get much sightseeing done on those days. To travel every third day gives you a nice balance of two full days in each place and then the transit day. So with a 24-day trip I think you should choose 8 total cities to visit. You’ve only got 10 cities on your list, so saving two of them for a future trip shouldn’t be too tough.
I haven’t spent any time in Lyon, and that’s mostly because it’s not really considered a tourist city. I’ve seen a few travel shows on it and it looks interesting, but there aren’t many notable sights compared to many other smaller cities and towns in France. But if you are mostly planning on strolling and eating and such, it could be a good stop and I’ve heard the food is very good. Nice is actually pretty out of the way for your trip, and those trains that go along the southern coast are pretty slow. So getting from Nice to your next stop would take a long time. Speaking of that, my rule of thumb is that if a train journey takes 5 hours or less then it’s definitely preferred over flying. If you are going to take a one-hour flight in Europe it will take you at least 5 hours from the time you leave the city center until you reach the city center in the next place. You have to factor in airport transportation times (and costs) and of course security and waiting times before your flights, and then transportation back into the city from the next airport.
Another factor to consider is that trains are MUCH more comfortable than planes, even in Second Class, and you get pretty good scenery in most cases. One of my favorite things about traveling around Europe is to be able to check out of my hotel at 10am and then walk 10 minutes to the train station to jump on a 10:20am train, and then hop off that train a few hours later and already be in the center of the next city.
So I think saving Nice for later probably makes the most sense, and then saving Porto or Lagos for later as well. Those Portuguese cities are close enough together that you could probably enjoy them in about two days each, although Lisbon is pretty big so I still think three nights is better. One last thing is that Madrid really is a fantastic city and it’s very different from Barcelona, so you might consider it in place of San Sebastian or Seville. I think starting in Paris and then going to the next closest city by train makes the most sense, and then fly back from Lisbon to Paris for your flight home. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
our agency is suggesting a travel date: Nov 9 to 25, 2018.
Places to see for Berlin, Prague,
salzburg,Ljubljana-Postojna cave Vienna, Broastos;ava. Budapest, Krakow, and Warsaw. Its our first tour in Europe based on a package tour, where there is daily itinerary of places to see and hotels are already arranged. I just want to know if i will still be seeing the place as beautiful as they are as i Know that November is already winter and my family might not see anything as places will be covered by snow (winter months).
I want your honest opinion on the travel dates.
Liza,
It will be chilly in mid November in those cities, but it’s unlikely you’ll get any snow in those cities and it might not ever go below freezing. January and February are typically the coldest months in most of Europe, although large snow storms are rare in any of those cities, believe it or not. Actually, if it does happen to snow it will be really beautiful for the first day or so, and the streets will be cleared before you can take enough photos.
Personally I really enjoy traveling around Europe in November (although I’m not crazy about January and February in northern Europe) so I think you’ll really enjoy it. I’m sure that tour is cheaper than it would be in summer, but another advantage is that those cities will be far less crowded with tourists when you are there than in summer. It can really be exhausting when you are touring, say, a palace in Vienna, and there are 500 people right in front of you the whole time.
The mountains, including those above Salzburg and in Slovenia, will have snow on them, and they will look really beautiful. I’m not saying that it’s the best time of year to go, but I am saying that there is plenty to enjoy and a few big advantages to going in the autumn like that. Have a great trip. -Roger
Thanks a lot for your advice . Appreciate it 🙂 Have a great day
Hello Roger
I have been reading through your responses and wondering if you could give me a few suggestions/inputs.
We family of 6 (4+2 children) from India; planning to visit Austria in the 1st week November (4th Nov to 8th Nov).
As per Accuweather it will rain occasionally on these dates so wondering how we are going to manage with kids.
Please advise if its OK to visit Salzburg (2 nights) and Innsbruck (2 nights). And how we can plan our visit there?
Our basic plan is:
@ Salzburg: 1.5 day Hop-on / orientation tour
@ Innsbruck : 1 day at Stubai , half day at Swarovski and rest of the time orientation tour.
Please advise
P,
If you are skiing then Innsbruck is great, but otherwise I find it to be kind of a dud as a tourist destination. Salzburg, on the other hand, is really lovely and interesting, so I might even spend more time there.
As for weather forecasts, it’s usually not as bad as it looks that far ahead. In India and many other places you have a “rainy season” where it can sometime rain for days on end. Europe has rain spread around the year and if you get very unlucky it will be raining pretty hard for 4 or 6 hours on a couple of those days. But often it doesn’t rain at all, or just overnight, or it just sprinkles so lightly that you don’t even need an umbrella. If it is raining steadily you can always buy an umbrella for €5 or so from a shop or person who appears on the street with a box of them.
In Salzburg the main things to do are to explore the historic old town and the castle above it, as well as hopefully taking a sightseeing bus around the countryside to see the amazing scenery. You should be able to keep going just fine if it’s raining for any of those things, and hopefully it won’t be raining at all. If you are skiing in Innsbruck then it shouldn’t matter and hopefully you get light snowfall instead of rain. If you are going to Swarovski Crystal Worlds then hopefully you can find a time when it’s not raining. I’m not sure what else to say other than it can rain any day of the year in Europe and the cities are quite good at dealing with it and offering shelter and indoor options. -Roger