When the leaves are turning brown, temperatures plummeting and skies going grey in the UK, great swathes of southern Europe remain gloriously warm.
Well into October, temperatures around the Med, and further south in Spain’s Canary Islands, can climb to 25c or higher. Beaches, meanwhile, are nowhere near as busy as in the summer, with hotel and flight prices lower, too.
Turkey sizzler
In the summer there can be scorching 30c highs in the sleepy sailing town of Göcek on Turkey’s Lycian coast. It’s not so baking in October, though. Less hectic than Turkey’s better-known resorts, you won’t have to fight for space on the beach. Just gaze out to sea or take a walk in the lovely surrounding countryside.
How to do it: Adults-only Layla Göcek is close to the beach and has a big pool, with doubles from £160 (laylagocek.com); return Gatwick flights to Dalaman from £233 (ba.com).
October high: 26c
Make it Malta
With temperatures averaging 18-25c in October, Malta is another good choice. Spinola Bay in the lively area of St Julian’s has a lovely harbour and some fine beaches. The waters here are popular with divers, too.
How to do it: The smart, contemporary AC Hotel St Julian’s by Marriott has a rooftop pool and doubles from £160 (marriott.com); return Manchester flights from £175 (ryanair.com).
October high: 25c
Perfect Portugal
The Algarve’s famous beach resorts stay sunny well into the autumn, when they’re often much more laid back than in the summer. Head for the harbour town of Sagres, where the Praia de Baleeira is popular with sun worshippers and windsurfers alike.
How to do it: The contemporary, sea-view Memmo Baleeira Hotel has doubles from £143 (memmohotels.com/baleeira); return Manchester flights to Faro from £179 (easyjet.com).
October high: 23c
Cypriot hotspot
With October temperatures edging teasingly close to 30c, Cyprus is another reliable hotspot. The Unesco World Heritage listed city of Paphos on the island’s west coast is also home to some of the island’s loveliest beaches, not least the Blue Flag-awarded Coral Bay.
How to do it: The five-star, adults-only Cali Resort & Spa has doubles from £356 (caliresortandspa.com); return Luton flights to Larnaca from £150 (wizzair.com).
October high: 28c
Roasting in Rhodes
Once known as a party town, you’re now more likely to find families and couples at Faliraki on the Greek island of Rhodes in the Dodecanese. Big attractions are its golden sandy beach and fabulously clear, shallow waters. It’s also still warm in October. Enjoy scuba diving, snorkelling and boat trips or just wander through the cobbled streets of the old town.
How to do it: The beachfront Elysium Resort & Spa has doubles from £156 (elysium.gr); return Manchester flights from £178 (ryanair.com).
October high: 24c
Sicilian sun
Joined by a bridge to the city of Syracuse on Sicily’s south-eastern coast, the small, UNESCO-listed island of Ortigia is often named one of Sicily’s most beautiful destinations, with beaches and culture in droves. It’s also delightfully warm. Head for the beaches or take a leisurely stroll through the Baroque town centre with its churches, piazzas and trattorias.
How to do it: The stylish 15th-century Maecò Ortemisia B&B has doubles from £134 (bbmaeco-ortigia.it); return Luton flights to Catania-Fontanarossa from £70 (easyjet.com).
October high: 22c
Wonderful Montenegro
The amazingly scenic Kotor Bay, amid the Dinaric Alps mountain range in Montenegro, is wonderfully warm in autumn. Explore the nearby beaches as well as the UNESCO-listed town of Kotor’s 12th-century cathedral.
How to do it: The beachfront Hotel Carubba has doubles overlooking the bay from £159 (septemberhotels.com/carruba-tivat); return Luton flights to Tivat from £94 (easyjet.com).
October high: 22c
Crete heat
While Crete may not reach the dizzying high temperatures of elsewhere, you’ll rarely find it lower than 20c come October. The water is still warm enough for swimming and the blissful beaches around the harbour town of Chania are less busy than in the summer.
How to do it: The glamorous Domus Renier hotel has views of the old port and lighthouse from £238 (domusrenier.gr); return Manchester flights to Chania from £153 (ryanair.com).
October high: 21c
Andalusian sunshine
On some parts of Spain’s southern coast you can almost see across to North Africa, so it’s little surprise temperatures stay wonderfully warm long past summer.
For a Blue Flag beach with miles of powdery soft golden sand, as well as cycling trails, water sports and a golf course, look no further than the family-friendly beach resort of La Barrosa, near the ancient port city of Cadiz.
How to do it: The glamorous Iberostar Royal Andalus has doubles from £122 B&B (ihg.com); return Stansted flights to Jerez from £66 (ryanair.com).
October high: 23c
Fuerteventura guarantee
With guaranteed sunshine virtually all year and miles of sandy beaches, it’s little surprise the second largest of the Canary islands is a favourite come October. Caleta de Fuste, an east-coast resort, is ideal for families and couples alike thanks to its sheltered beach and golf courses.
How to do it: The Sheraton Fuerteventura Beach, Golf & Spa Resort has doubles from £194 (marriott.co.uk); return Birmingham flights from £124 (ryanair.com).
October high: 26c
Sunny Puglia
With its beaches and historic villages, the lush region of Puglia sits right on the heel of Italy’s ‘boot’, and being so far south means it enjoys a good six hours of sun per day well into the autumn. Head for the sandy and unspoilt Rosa Marina beach backed by dunes, or explore Ostuni, Italy’s ‘white city’, with whitewashed buildings, cobbled streets and a 15th-century Gothic cathedral.
How to do it: The smart Ostuni hotel has doubles from £145 (ostuniamare.com); return flights from Stansted to Brindisi from £49 (ryanair.com).
October high: 22c
Sardinian warmth
Like its close neighbour Corsica, Sardinia is another of Southern Europe’s warmest enclaves, with temperatures lingering in the early 20s well after the British summer is over. Dune di Campana on the southern coast has fabulous beaches with powdery sand and shallow waters ideal for families.
How to do it: Hotel Village at the Chia Laguna Resort runs free shuttles to the beach and has doubles from £172 (chialagunaresort.com); return Stansted flights to Alghero from £34 (ryanair.com).
October high: 23c
Charming in Croatia
On Croatia’s coast, the T-shirt wearing season lasts well into October, especially on the gorgeous Cavtat peninsula. Less well known than Dubrovnik, Cavtat bay is surrounded by pine woods, with blissful beaches, a lovely harbour town and countryside begging to be explored.
How to do it: Boutique Hotel Villa Pattiera is close to the seafront and has doubles from £167 (villa-pattiera.hr); return Stansted flights to Dubrovnik from £133 (jet2.com).
October high: 22c
Hot in Ibiza
Ibiza may never quite shake off its image as a party island, but it’s also a winner with families looking for a warm, half-term break. With temperatures well into the upper 20s, Ibiza is ideal for that elusive Indian summer. The resort of Santa Eularia des Riu has wide, sandy beaches and a palm fringed promenade.
How to do it: The sea view Hotel Tres Torres has doubles from £116 (hoteltrestorresibiza.com); return Stansted flights from £32 (ryanair.com)
October high: 28c
Balmy Madeira
Madeira is reliable for balmy autumnal temperatures. For dramatic scenery with cliffs, forests and dark sand beaches, take a look at Porto Moniz on the northern coast. The saltwater rock pools are not to be missed.
How to do it: Facing the sea, Aqua Natura has doubles from £150 (aquanaturahotels.com); return Gatwick flights £204 (easyjet.com).
October high: 23c
Gorgeous Greece
Known for its gorgeous beaches and grand, neoclassical mansions, the Greek island of Spetses is a favourite with holidaying Athenians thanks to its closeness to the mainland. It also stays fabulously warm, nudging a balmy 23c well into October. Luxuriate in the warm waters at Agios Mamas beach in Spetses town or nearby Kaiki beach.
How to do it: The glamorous Poseidonion Grand Hotel has doubles from £156 (poseidonion.com); return Luton flights from £74 (wizzair.com); return ferries from Athens to Spetses from £84 (ferryhopper.com).
October high: 23c
Tenerife scorcher
With their closeness to the West African coast, it’s no surprise the Canary Islands are hot in autumn. As the largest, Tenerife has beaches galore, and this is the time to bag a bargain. Puerto de la Cruz is the best-known resort but for somewhere quiet; the former fishing village of Garachico with its brightly coloured houses, has volcanic rock pools perfect for swimming.
How to do it: The 17th-century La Quinta Roja Hotel in Garachico has doubles from £133 (quintaroja.com); return Stansted flights from £94 (jet2.com).
October high: 29c
