Autumn is, for many travellers, the best-kept secret of the calendar. The summer crowds have gone home, prices have softened, the air is crisp rather than sweltering, and the light turns golden — and on top of all that, the season delivers some of the most beautiful scenery of the year, from blazing foliage to harvest-laden vineyards.
The timing shifts with latitude and altitude, so the trick is matching the destination to the weeks you can travel. Here are the best places to visit in the fall, and roughly when each one peaks.
New England, USA — Classic Foliage
New England's autumn is the benchmark the rest of the world is measured against. Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine blaze with red, orange and gold, typically peaking from late September in the north to mid-October further south. It is made for a slow scenic drive — the Kancamagus Highway and Vermont's back roads are classics.
Foliage timing varies year to year and moves south as the season progresses, so check local leaf-peeping forecasts and aim for a flexible few-day window rather than a fixed date.
Japan — Koyo (Autumn Colours)
Japan's autumn-colour season, koyo, is every bit the equal of its famous cherry blossom, and far less crowded. The colour sweeps from the northern island of Hokkaido in late September down to Kyoto and the lowlands through November, setting temples, gardens and mountainsides ablaze.
Kyoto in mid-to-late November is the showpiece, with illuminated temple gardens a highlight, but it does draw crowds, so start early in the day.
Italy — Harvest Season
Autumn is harvest time across Italy's food and wine regions, and the countryside is at its most rewarding. Tuscany and Piedmont come alive with the grape harvest and, from October, the white-truffle season around Alba, all under mild, golden skies and with summer's crowds long gone.
It is an ideal time for a slow food-and-wine road trip, pairing vineyard visits with quiet hill towns.
🏨 Find Hotels in Italy
Compare 2M+ properties on Booking.com — free cancellation on most stays. Filter by price, neighborhood, and traveler ratings.
Search Hotels in Italy →Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
🎟️ Book Top Experiences in Italy
Skip-the-line tickets, guided tours, and unique experiences — GetYourGuide has 60,000+ activities with free cancellation up to 24 hours.
Browse Tours on GetYourGuide →Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Bavaria, Germany — Oktoberfest & Castles
For a festive autumn, Bavaria is hard to beat. Munich's Oktoberfest runs from mid-September into the first weekend of October, and the surrounding region — fairytale castles like Neuschwanstein, the Alpine foothills and the Romantic Road — looks its best as the leaves turn.
Oktoberfest accommodation in Munich books out far in advance, so reserve early or base yourself in a nearby town.
US National Parks — Crowds Thin Out
Autumn may be the best season of all for the US national parks: brilliant fall colour, comfortable hiking temperatures and a fraction of the summer crowds. The Great Smoky Mountains, Acadia, the Rockies and Shenandoah are all spectacular as the foliage turns through late September and October.
Frequently Asked Questions
New England (Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine) is the classic destination for autumn colour, peaking from late September. Japan's koyo season is spectacular from late October into November, and US national parks like the Great Smoky Mountains and Acadia, along with the mountains of central Europe, also deliver brilliant fall foliage.
About the author
SK Kutubuddin · Founder & Editor
The founder and editor of Travel and Time. An aeronautical engineer with close to two decades in aviation, I build the site’s flight, distance, and trip-planning tools myself and check every figure before it goes live. I write from Kolkata, India.
More about author →