Where’s Hot in October from the UK: Best Holiday Destinations

October is one of the best months to travel from the UK. The half-term break falls within it, but the bigger story is that southern Europe and North Africa remain warm while prices drop sharply from summer levels. Four destinations stand out for different reasons, but each offers real warmth, good flight connections from the UK and a noticeably quieter experience than you would have had a month earlier.

For a full overview of where works each month, see our guide to where’s hot from the UK.

Cyprus

Cyprus in October offers some of the most reliable warmth anywhere in the Mediterranean. Average temperatures sit around 25 degrees and the sea, which absorbs heat throughout the long summer, stays warm at around 26 degrees. That combination of warm air and warm water is hard to find anywhere closer to home in October. The resorts around Paphos and Limassol are considerably quieter than they are in July and August, and prices for flights, accommodation and car hire drop noticeably once the school holidays end.

Cyprus has a lot more going for it than beach time. Paphos is a UNESCO World Heritage site with extraordinary Roman mosaics in the House of Dionysus, a Byzantine castle at the harbour and the Tomb of the Kings burial complex. The Troodos Mountains, in the centre of the island, have cool walking trails, painted Byzantine churches and small villages producing some very good wine. A hire car makes it easy to move between the coast and the mountains in the same day.

Flights from the UK to Paphos and Larnaca run year-round with Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2, TUI and British Airways from multiple airports including London, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh. October flight prices are considerably more reasonable than August. Cyprus uses the euro, which makes budgeting simple. UK passport holders do not need a visa.

Crete, Greece

Crete in October has largely shed the crowds that overwhelm its most famous beaches in July and August. Elafonissi and Balos, the two most photographed spots on the island, are accessible and enjoyable in October in a way that simply is not possible in peak summer. Temperatures average 23 degrees, the sea stays warm enough for swimming without hesitation, and the island’s character reasserts itself as the bars and tavernas thin out and the Cretan locals take their island back.

October is an excellent time to engage with the parts of Crete that go beyond the beach. The Palace of Knossos, the centre of the ancient Minoan civilisation, is far more pleasant to visit without August’s heat and queues. The old town of Chania, with its Venetian harbour and labyrinthine streets, rewards an evening’s wandering. The Samaria Gorge, a 16-kilometre trek through one of Europe’s longest canyons, is typically open until mid-October and is considerably more manageable than in summer heat.

Direct flights from the UK go to Heraklion and Chania from multiple airports with Ryanair, easyJet, TUI and Jet2. The island is large enough that where you land matters: Heraklion is closer to the east coast beaches and Knossos; Chania is the better base for western Crete including the Samaria Gorge and the beaches at Elafonissi. Self-catering apartments in October are very good value on both sides of the island.

Canary Islands

The Canary Islands sit in the Atlantic off the coast of West Africa, which gives them a climate that barely changes month to month. In October, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote all average around 24 degrees with consistent sunshine and very low rainfall. This makes them by far the most reliable warm-weather destination for UK families travelling in half-term, when a guaranteed sun matters more than a marginal temperature difference. They are also the UK’s most connected overseas destination in October, with near-daily flights from most regional airports.

Tenerife is the largest and most visited, with a clear north-south divide: the south around Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos has the best beaches and most developed resort infrastructure; the north around Puerto de la Cruz and Teide National Park has more character and cooler temperatures. Gran Canaria offers Maspalomas, one of the most impressive dune systems in Europe, along with a lively resort strip and the colonial old town of Las Palmas. Lanzarote is more stark and volcanic in character, with extraordinary lunar landscapes, the Jameos del Agua cave system and the Timanfaya volcanic park.

Flights from the UK to all three main islands run throughout October with virtually every UK carrier: Jet2, TUI, easyJet, Ryanair, Vueling and British Airways all offer routes from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Newcastle among others. The Canaries use the euro and UK passport holders travel visa-free. October half-term flight prices are higher than the weeks either side, so booking four to six weeks ahead pays off.

Marrakech, Morocco

Marrakech in summer is extremely hot: temperatures regularly exceed 38 degrees and exploring the medina on foot in the middle of the day is very uncomfortable. October changes the city entirely. Temperatures drop to around 27 degrees, the evenings are warm enough to eat outside until late, and the souks, gardens and riads that make Marrakech one of North Africa’s most compelling cities are all at their best. It is also very good value compared to European beach destinations, with flights from London under three hours and a strong UK direct market keeping prices competitive.

The medina is the obvious draw: the Djemaa el-Fna square, the tanneries in the souk quarter, the Ali Ben Youssef Medersa and the intricate covered markets that extend in all directions from the main square. Majorelle Garden, restored by Yves Saint Laurent, is one of the best botanical gardens in North Africa and an hour’s break from the medina bustle. The Bahia Palace, a 19th-century riad complex, is one of the finest examples of Moroccan architecture in the city. Day trips to the Atlas Mountains, about 70 kilometres south, are easy by hire car or taxi.

Ryanair, easyJet and Royal Air Maroc all fly direct from London Stansted, Gatwick and Manchester to Marrakech Menara Airport. Flight times are around three hours. Marrakech is a cash economy in the souks, so drawing dirhams on arrival makes sense. Tipping is expected. UK passport holders can visit Morocco visa-free for up to 90 days.

For more warm-weather ideas, see our where’s hot in September guide or browse all our where’s hot destination guides.

Further afield: long-haul options for October

October opens up some excellent long-haul options. Florida enters its best season, Cape Town is warming up fast, and the Caribbean is emerging from hurricane season at lower-than-winter prices.

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