Autumn travels: where the Caribbean, Kyoto and Brittany shine in October
In October 2024 we recommended four destinations where autumn shows its most beautiful side. We’ve refreshed the guide: warm beach days in the Caribbean, temple gardens in Kyoto and a misty Atlantic coast in Brittany.
Autumn is its own travel season: landscapes blaze in warm reds and golds, the summer heat has faded, and the big sights are quieter. If you love the calm mood of this time of year, there are places around the world that come alive in autumn. We’ve taken a closer look at four of them: tropical beach days, temple gardens lost in autumn foliage, and a rugged Atlantic coastline.
- Dominican Republic & Bali: tropical warmth around 30-32 °C, but autumn brings regional rainy seasons-expect short, heavy showers.
- Kyoto, Japan: autumn foliage begins late October, peaks mid-November and lingers until mid-December.
- Brittany, France: rugged, misty and unpretentious-perfect for a road trip along the Atlantic coast with crêpes, oysters and cider.
- Best travel months: September and October for late-summer warmth plus early foliage; November for Japan’s peak season.
Tropical warmth in autumn: Dominican Republic and Bali
If you’d rather lounge under palm trees than crunch through autumn leaves in September, add the Dominican Republic to your shortlist. Here you’ll find powder-white beaches like those in Punta Cana and plenty of shade beneath swaying palms. With daytime highs of around 30 °C and roughly six hours of sunshine each day, your sun cravings will be fully satisfied. For a quieter, more immersive experience, the Los Haitises National Park is well worth a visit, its dense mangrove forests and limestone caves offering a wild contrast to the resort scene. A guided mangrove tour often ends with a dip in the natural pools of Caño Hondo. A word of caution: depending on the region, autumn overlaps with the rainy season, so brief but intense showers are common.
In Bali, the rainy season typically begins in November and lingers until March. Even so, temperatures remain warm, peaking at about 32 °C, and the rain usually arrives as a short, sharp downpour before the sun breaks through again. With roughly seven hours of sunshine each day, there’s ample time for culture: the Uluwatu Temple is best visited at sunset, when its silhouette is etched against the cliffs. September and October are the most comfortable months, when the humidity is low enough to make yoga and spa treatments genuinely enjoyable.
Autumn forces us to travel more slowly-and that’s precisely what makes it such a precious season.
Autumn splendor in temple gardens: Kyoto, Japan
In Kyoto, autumn is an event in itself. Leaf-peeping begins in late October, reaches its peak in mid-November, and lingers until mid-December. Known as momijigari, the tradition of admiring scarlet, amber and gold maple leaves draws locals and visitors alike to photograph the fleeting spectacle.
Top viewing spots include the Kiyomizu-dera Temple with its wooden stage overlooking the city, the Eikandō Temple-home to more than 3,000 maples and evening illuminations-and the Arashiyama district, famed for its bamboo grove. The surrounding hillsides usually turn in the second half of November; smaller temples such as Tenryū-ji and Jōjakkō-ji are also rewarding at this time of year.
Wild beauty on the Atlantic coast: Brittany
The Brittany coast reveals its rugged soul in autumn. The interplay of sea mist and dramatic cliffs lends the landscape an almost mystical quality-perfect conditions for a road trip along the Atlantic. Towns like Saint-Malo and Quimper invite leisurely strolls, while Breton cuisine warms the soul with crêpes, oysters and cider. Autumn is the ideal season for long walks on windswept beaches and pit stops at historic lighthouses.
Which autumn month suits which destination?
September and October deliver the best of both worlds: Caribbean-style beach weather in the tropics and the first hints of fall color in Europe. For Japan’s fiery foliage, aim for mid-to-late November, the peak of momijigari. Brittany remains appealing from September through November, growing ever moodier and quieter as the weeks pass. For more off-the-beaten-track European routes, browse our road-trip guide featuring seven hidden gems. If you prefer a compact getaway, our two-day city break in Ljubljana offers a serene autumn alternative.
Active travelers eager to pair autumn with adventure will find inspiration for trail running and outdoor pursuits in the cooler months over at our sister magazine InspiredBySports.
Good to Know
▸When is the best time for the autumn foliage in Kyoto?
The colours begin to appear at the end of October, peak around mid-November, and linger until about mid-December. For the most vivid hues, aim for the second half of November.
▸Is Bali a good idea in autumn despite the rainy season?
Yes. Although the rainy season starts in November, the downpours are usually short and intense, quickly giving way to sunshine. September and October offer the most pleasant conditions with tolerable humidity.
▸Which destination suits an autumn road trip in Europe?
The Brittany coast. In autumn, the Atlantic shoreline is wild and mist-laden, the villages are quiet, and the cuisine warms the soul. The later in the year, the more secluded it becomes.
▸Do I need rain gear for the Dominican Republic?
It doesn’t hurt. In autumn, parts of the country experience a rainy season with brief, heavy showers. Temperatures, however, remain consistently warm at around 30 °C.
