Where is hot in October 2024 - and cheap (2024)

Q. Where is hot in October?

A. October is a perfect time to escape the UK for some autumn sun. The Mediterranean is hot and sunny through most of October with temperatures in the high 20s, and the sea is invariably warm enough for a leisurely swim. Temperatures only start to cool down towards the end of the month.

These are my personal recommendations based on 15 years writing about travel for The Sunday Times. Follow the links below for more details and prices. Also see our expert guides to the best family holidays in October half-term and the best singles holidays in October.

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• Kos, Greece

Average temperature in October: 25ºC
Hours of daily sunshine: 9
Flying time from UK: 3 hours 45 mins

October in the Mediterranean is a month of transition: there is usually a fairly big drop in temperatures from the beginning of the month to the end. To be sure of hot weather throughout October, I would head south. The Greek island of Kos has a long season, and this is an ideal time of year to pick up a bargain. If you want an upmarket all-inclusive hotel, the IKOS Aria is an excellent choice – see the latest special offers and check out this exclusive £250 discount for our readers.

Also consider:Crete, the most southerly of the Greek islands. For an inspired selection of small hotels and guest houses in beautiful locations, I recommendi-escape. See more holiday ideas in Greece and my guide to the hottest Greek islands in October.

• Seville, Spain

Average temperature in October: 27ºC
Hours of daily sunshine: 8
Flying time from UK: 2 hours 45 mins

The elegant cities of Seville and Granada lie in the “frying pan” of Andalucia, with temperatures in July and August frequently topping 40ºC. October is a far better time to visit. You could spend a few days being dazzled by palaces and eating tapas al fresco, then head to the wild unspoilt beaches of the Costa de le Luz. It’s usually still hot until the end of October.

Also consider: sophisticated Palma the capital of Mallorca, and Sorrento on Italy’s Amalfi Coast. For more ideas, see the best city breaks in October and where’s hot in Spain in October and my guide to where’s hot in Italy in October.

• The Azores

Average temperature in October: 23ºC
Hours of daily sunshine: 5
Flying time from UK: 4 hours

The volcanic islands of the Azores boast superb beaches and are among the best places in Europe for whale and dolphin watching.There are direct flights from the UK to these Portuguese islands and the weather is ideal for walkingorcycling.

Also consider: the beaches of the Algarve and the beautiful unspoilt Alentejo region of Portugal both enjoy excellent weather in October. You can explore them both on a fly-drive holiday, staying in historic pousada hotels. See my guide to where’s hot in Portugal in October.

• Corsica, France

Average temperature in October: 22ºC
Hours of daily sunshine: 8
Flying time from UK: 2 hours 10 mins

I love the French island of Corsica for its white-sand beaches, rugged mountains and delicious food, and it’s typically hot in early October. You’ll find a range of apartments and villas with private pools and you can take advantage of special offersthis late in the season.

Also consider: a luxury barging holiday in the South of France for a really indulgent treat. For more inspiration, see the hottest places in France in October, and our research on where’s hot in Europe in October.

• Marrakech, Morocco

Average temperature in October: 28ºC
Hours of daily sunshine: 9
Flying time from UK: 3 hours 30 mins

If you want a short flight, hot weather and near guaranteed sunshine, Morocco is an absolute winner. Marrakech offers dry desert sunshine, perfect for sightseeing and shopping as well as sunbathing, and you can stay at a palatial riad for a bargain price. It’s a good time of year to explore – head to the beaches of Essaouira, take a desert tour and cool off in the beautiful, tranquil Atlas Mountains.

Also consider: the riches of ancient Egypt. In Cairo where you can expect highs of 29°C, falling at night to 18°C. Flying time from the UK is five hours.

• The Gambia

Average temperature in October: 32ºC
Hours of daily sunshine: 8
Flying time from UK: 6 hours

The Gambia is only a six-hour direct flight from London or Manchester and makes for one of the best-value beach holidays in October. This small West African country has friendly English-speaking people and a good range of accommodation including my personal favourite, the Kombo Beach Hotel. See the latest special offers.

Also consider: Jordan (25°C) for sightseeing and desert adventures. If you’ve never visited the rock-carved city of Petra, this is a great month to experience it, but there’s so much more to see including Jerash, the Dead Sea and the desert scapes of Wadi Rum. Check out this Splendours of Jordan 8-day tour.

• Dubai, UAE

Average temperature in October: 36ºC
Hours of daily sunshine: 10
Flying time from UK: 7 hours

In the Arabian Gulf, hot weather in October is as good as guaranteed. There are four main options: Dubai,Oman, Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Dubai is firmly established for its iconic hotels including the Burj Al Arab, exciting restaurant scene and Atlantis the Palm, home to the Aquaventure Waterpark. Abu Dhabi is catching up fast with stunning hotels, glamorous shopping malls and Yas Island, home to Waterworld, a Formula 1 track and the world’s fastest roller coaster. My personal favourite is Oman, the best choice if you want an authentic experience of old Arabia, while Qatar is a buzzing new destination with five-star hotels, private beaches, art treasures and high-octane activities from dune bashing to kite surfing.

• Taormina, Sicily

Average temperature in October: 23ºC
Hours of daily sunshine: 8
Flying time from UK: 3 hours 10 mins

Sicily is a gorgeous destination in October because it’s not just about beaches (though these are lovely). With lots of sunshine and temperatures around 23°C, conditions are perfect for renting a car and visiting the medieval port of Syracuse and the charming town of Taormina, set against the backdrop of Mount Etna. Check out these stunning villas in Sicily, many of which have their own private pool, and these lovely quirky places to stay. See my guide to the hottest places in Sicily in October.

Also consider:Puglia near the southern tip of Italy, which will be uncrowded in October, as most Italians take their holidays in August.

• Kalkan, Turkey

Average temperature in October: 25ºC
Hours of daily sunshine: 9
Flying time from UK: 4 hours (to Dalaman)

Turkey is a good option: it’s warm in October and relatively cheap because the Turkish Lira has fallen sharply against Sterling. Temperatures on the Aegean Coast stay comfortably in the mid-20s. If you want a classy quiet resort with lovely local restaurants head to the charming resorts of Kalkan or Fethiye.

Also consider: a gulet cruise along the dazzling Turquoise Coast.See more holiday ideas in Turkey and my guide to the hottest places in Turkey in October.

Long haul ideas in October

October is a goodtime to visitMauritius. The island is home to many world-class luxury hotels, and the climate is perfect: temperatures of around 27°C with eight hours of daily sun.

In South America, Brazil sees the start of summer with sun and samba in Rio de Janeiro, which you can combine with the pristine castaway beaches and rainforests of Fernando de Noronha.

For a real adventure, head to Argentina where you can watch (or learn) tango amid the faded elegance of Buenos Aires, taste wines at vineyards in Mendoza and stay on a working ranch in the pampas and ride with Gauchos. For all South American adventures, we recommend on-the-ground specialists, Dehouche.

October is generally a good time to visit Africa, particularly if you’re looking to combine safari and beach. Kenya is the classic destination where you can start with the Big Five in the Masai Mara followed by some lazy days on the Indian Ocean coast, perhaps at Hemingways Watamu. Coastal temperatures typically reach 30°C.

How about a self-drive adventure in the USA? It’s the perfect time to see the autumn colours in New England, or you could embark on an epic road trip such as Route 66, or drive the coastline of California.

The dry season is starting in the Maldives, where you can expect temperatures of 29°C and seven hours of sunshine – the islands get genuinely hot in October. See more detailed weather info. If you love nature, but also crave some pampering, take a look atMadagascar which has fabulous beaches and unique nature experiences.

October is also an excellent time of year to visit Sri Lanka. It’s just coming up to the high season but still at low season prices. Rather than choose between a beach holiday and a tour, combine the two: spend a week visiting Buddhist temples, sacred rocks, national parks and an elephant orphanage, then unwind with a few days on the coast. There are some stunning boutique hotelsandeco resorts,

First-time visitors to India should head for the Golden Triangle in the royal state of Rajasthan – Delhi, Agra and Jaipur – temperatures are high at around 33°C but low humidity makes the weather feel comfortable. For something slower-paced, try this Treasures of Southern India tour in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. See a selection of private tours in India (with chauffeur and English-speaking guide) and small group tours.

For a good value beach holiday with guaranteed hot weather, it’s hard to top Mexico, particularly if you stay in one of these all-inclusive resorts. If you want a lively, fun and action-packed resort, check out the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya.

Octoberis the dry season in Botswana, making it a prime time for big game spotting – the lack of rain means that animals gather around watering holes, with guaranteed sightings. The Chobe and Khwai River region has the highest concentration of elephants and lions in Africa.

It’s spring time in South Africa whereCape Town is a very pleasant 22°C. In the east, Johannesburg and Durban are in the high 20s. This is a wonderful time of year to visit Kruger NationalPark. We recommend this classicCape Town, Winelands and Kruger safari adventure. See the hottest places in South Africa in October.

The Caribbean in October

October marks the tail end of the Caribbean hurricane season, but this can still be an excellent time to visit, and it’s good value. Also, many islands lie south of the hurricane belt including Barbados, St Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Dutch island of Curaçao. Find more details about the Caribbean weather in October.

Hottest holiday destinations in October

What are the hottest places in October?

In terms of holiday destinations, Dubai (36ºC) is the hottest place in October with an average 10 hours of daily sunshine and zero rainfall. In Europe, Seville (27ºC) is the hottest city with 8 hours of sunshine and 48mm of monthly rain. Other attractive holiday destinations include The Gambia (32ºC), Marrakech (28ºC), Cancun (28ºC) and the Maldives (28ºC). The hottest spot in the Mediterranean in October is Cyprus (28ºC).

Sunniest holiday destination in October

Where is sunny in October? The Arabian Gulf destinations of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Oman are amongst the sunniest places in October with 11 hours of average daily sunshine. You’ll find 10 hours of sunshine in Las Vegas, and 9 hours in Hurghada and Soma Bay in Egypt. Many popular destinations enjoy an average 8 hours of daily sun including Mauritius and Cape Town in the Southern Hemisphere; Athens and Cyprus in the Mediterranean, and Marrakech in Morocco.

Where is it warm to swim in October?

The warmest sea temperatures in October can be found in Hurghada, Egypt (28ºC), Cancun (27ºC), Dubai (27ºC), Dominican Republic (27ºC), Miami (27ºC), phu*ket (27ºC) and Bali (27ºC). In Europe, the highest sea temperatures are in the Canary Islands (25ºC) and Cyprus (25ºC). Elsewhere in the Mediterranean, you can expect temperatures around 21ºC to 24ºC, which most people find is warm enough for a swim.

Where is still hot and cheap in October for a holiday?

Many people are looking for hot holidays in October somewhere cheap. Fair enough. Some destinations are cheap on the ground – such as Thailand and Bali – but airfares are expensive. Egypt is cheap and flights are not expensive, and the climate in October is usually excellent. Cyprus and the Canary Islands are still hot in October – with cheap flights, good value accommodation and warm dry weather that is almost guaranteed.

>> Find more ideas for holidays in October, and tips for making the most of your family October half-term holiday. You may also be interested in the best October honeymoons.

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Last updated: 26 April 2024

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