Better weather, beautiful colours: Top places for a holiday in October

October is a lovely in-between month with fewer crowds, cooler weather and, in the northern hemisphere, a colourful eruption of autumnal trees. Here are top countries and cities in which to celebrate happy days.

COUNTRIES

Canada

Go leaf-peeping in Kejimkujik National Park.Credit: iStock

Why you should go: There’s nowhere better for autumn scenery and the graceful pastime of what Canadians call leaf-peeping. Not that you need to peep: the spectacle is an eye-popping drag show of colour, from yellow birch to bright red dogwood, purple sumac to the varied hues of maple. The weather, still cold but often beautiful, is great for hiking.

Don’t miss: Almost anywhere in Canada is magnificent, but why not discover eastern province Nova Scotia, the perfect place for a peep, whether along the Eastern Shore or in Kejimkujik National Park with its reflecting lakes. The Cabot Trail around Cape Breton has one of the world’s great scenic drives through a Hallelujah Chorus of colour. See travel.destinationcanada.com

Fiji

The Yasawa Islands is home to arguably Fiji’s best beaches.

Why you should go: Not only 300-plus tropical islands but, on mainland Viti Levu, a rugged hinterland where you can hike, white-water raft, zip line and swim beneath waterfalls. Fiji can be cheaper than Queensland, is not too far away, and October is the end of the good-weather season, still with low humidity and blue skies, and lower prices too.

Don’t miss: The romantic Yasawa Islands, fringed in glorious beaches – probably the best in Fiji – beneath coconut trees that demand a snooze in a hammock. If you want to find Nemo, plunge in amid the coral. Nanuyalailai Island has long seagrasses where you might spot elusive seahorses. See fiji.travel

United States

Halloween is a fun time to be in the US.Credit: Getty Images

Why you should go: Parts of the US – especially New England, Appalachia and Colorado – rival Canada for autumn colour, while the rest of the country enjoys low-season pricing. But never mind that: the Americans know how to celebrate Halloween. Get yourself to haunted houses, usually open all month, for a shrieking good time.

Don’t miss: The relatively child-friendly Haunted Mansion in California’s Disneyland, or the adult horrors of Nashville Nightmare with its dark take on fairytales and zombies. The notorious McKamey Manor in San Diego has such extreme scares it sometimes makes visitors faint. Dark Hour Haunted House in Texan town Plano uses movie technology and costumes to animate a dilapidated mansion and cemetery to great effect. See visittheusa.com.au

Japan

Kunamoto Castle hosts a 17-day Autumn Festival.Credit: iStock

Why you should go: Japan enjoys a spate of festivals honouring harvest season, and autumn foliage unfolds across the landscape in glorious colour. Hokkaido changes first, before the spectacular russet wave moves south, breathlessly forecast on websites and in weather reports. Gardens and temples show off stunning red maple, yellow ginko trees and orange zelkova trees, and locals enjoy maple-viewing parties.

Don’t miss: Trekking in Daisetesuzan National Park in Hokkaido, where you can soak in Asahidake hot springs at the foot of a volcano. Izu Peninsula south of Tokyo is popular for its forests of colourful larch, birch and katsura trees. Kunamoto Castle hosts a 17-day Autumn Festival involving archery at full gallop, taiko drumming and theatre performances. See japan.travel

Greece

Santorini sunsets are at their best in October.Credit: iStock

Why you should go: Shocking summer crowds have gone and so has searing heat. Rain barely appears until late October, and hotel prices fall: what’s not to like? You can find a spot on the sands of the famous beaches of Mykonos, and the sunsets of Santorini are particularly vivid without summer haze. It’s a great time for hiking on the mountainous mainland, too.

Don’t miss: Away from the obvious Aegean islands, the hearty can tackle the trek up Mount Olympus, while the more sedate can walk through the spectacular, monastery-topped scenery of Meteora. It’s a good time to visit mainland ancient-Greek ruins near Athens such as Delphi, Epidauros and Mycenae. See visitgreece.gr

CITIES

Bordeaux, France

Bordeaux, one of France’s most handsome cities.Credit: iStock

Why you should go: October in the northern hemisphere is a great time to visit wine-producing regions flushed with orange and celebrating the grape harvest. There’s no better base than Bordeaux, one of France’s most handsome cities, surrounded in three directions by world-famous wine regions such as Margaux, Medoc, Sauternes and St-Emilion. Consider a river cruise for a relaxed overview.

Don’t miss: The city centre is full of elegant 18th-century buildings and some fabulous Gothic churches, while kilometres-long promenades along the Garonne River are wonderful, so get walking. The excellent Cité du Vin museum gives an interactive overview of the world of wine. The best excursion is to pretty St-Emilion. See bordeaux-tourism.co.uk

Albany, Australia

Albany has a fascinating history.Credit: William Marwick/Tourism Western Australia

Why you should go: This small city in our country’s southwest is full of history and surrounded by limestone caves, karri forests and sumptuous white-sand beaches. In October, the “humpback highway” that passes offshore lets you whale watch, while the wildflower season erupts in a spectacle of springtime colour. The region has 1500 species of wildflower, dozens of them unknown anywhere else.

Don’t miss: Albany was WA’s first European settlement, and has the oldest surviving house in the state (Patrick Taylor Cottage) and a fascinating whaling museum. The must-see National ANZAC Centre outlines Australia’s involvement in the First World War. For wildflowers, get into the jagged Stirling Ranges, Waychinicup National Park and Fitzgerald River National Park. See westernaustralia.com

Derry, Northern Ireland

Derry is another spot where Halloween is a big deal. Credit: iStock

Why you should go: Halloween has its roots in an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain marking the onset of winter, and Halloween traditions from pumpkins to masks and trick-or-treating all have their origins in Ireland. The four-day Derry Halloween festival in Northern Ireland is one of Europe’s biggest Halloween celebrations, and often cited as one of the world’s best.

Don’t miss: Twilight haunted tours, a haunted house, and spectacular lighting and performances on the city walls. The festival is very family friendly, with a lively costumed parade, face painting, storytelling and magic shows among the entertainment. The event ends with a “spooktacular” fireworks display over the River Foyle. Take the opportunity beforehand to visit the glorious Antrim Coast and Donegal. See visitderry.com

Marrakesh, Morocco

Find street food heaven at Djemaa el Fna square.Credit: iStock

Why you should go: Pleasant weather makes autumn a fine time in Morocco, and European tourists are back at work, allowing top destination Marrakesh to breathe. The old city is backed by the Atlas Mountains and crammed with crumbling palaces, old Quranic schools, gateways, and endless craft and souvenir shops along labyrinthine alleys.

Don’t miss: Djemaa el Fna square for street food and evening conviviality, the teahouses and coffeehouses of the souk, and rambling Bahia Palace. Beyond the old town is the cactus-filled and colourful Majorelle Garden and a graceful newer town of chic cafes and fashion stores that attest to the city’s lively and French-influenced fashion scene. See visitmarrakech.com

Berlin, Germany

The Festival of Lights brightens up Berlin in October.Credit: Alamy

Why you should go: Oh come on, why shouldn’t you? In Berlin, you don’t have to bother (much) with traditional sightseeing, leaving you to enjoy buzzing street life, great food and outstanding nightlife in an ever-changing contemporary city. While its party central at any time, October seems to command more festivals and events than many other months.

Don’t miss: The Festival of Lights brightens up the facades of historical buildings for a week, Berlin Food Week is on and so, later in the month, is gourmet festival Eat! Berlin. Then there’s the Days of Club Culture, a program of events in 40 nightclubs, not to mention the Berlin Autumn Carnival. See visitberlin.de