The changing seasons make for a great time to get quality travel.
Cooling temperatures, thinning crowds, and scenic vistas are abundant across Europe. With so many places to choose from, it can be difficult to decide where to go.
Here are seven of the best places to go in the Fall on a trip to Europe.
Munich
Munich is the third largest city in Germany, with just under 1.5 million population. It’s the largest city and capital of the German state of Bavaria — the largest state in Germany.
About 580km south of the German capital of Berlin, Munich is relatively close to Germany’s southern neighbors of Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
The German south is a vast expanse of verdant mountains and open valleys, one of the most picturesque places in Europe during the fall.
What Is There To Do In Munich?
As one of the fastest growing cities in Germany, Munich is teeming with things to do. Whether it’s the rich cultural amenities within this historic city or the natural beauty of the landscape surrounding it, Munich offers a host of fulfilling options for eager travelers.
Bavarian beer halls are a fixture of German culture, plentifully found in Munich. Munich has stores of cultural amenities like museums, music halls, and theaters. Just outside the metropolitan area, there are countless hiking opportunities in the Bavarian Alps.
Its close proximity to its European neighbors to the south makes it a great place to pass through on an expansive tour of the continent. Learn how you can optimize your travel through Europe with ETIAS, a travel authorization that makes travel easier for visitors outside the E.U. and Schengen Area.
Oktoberfest
Easily the most alluring attraction Munich has in store for its visitors during the Fall are its Oktoberfest activities.
Oktoberfest is a world-renowned celebration. Millions of people around the world partake in Oktoberfest activities in cities around the world but nowhere does Oktoberfest better than Munich.
This weeks-long festival generally starts in mid to late September and ends in early October; Oktoberfest 2022 is scheduled from September 17th to October 3rd. Take part in a time-honored celebration with plenty of beer, German sausages, and pretzels amidst the beautiful Bavarian landscape this Fall.
Bruges
Bruges is a true fairy tale land that harkens back to Europe’s Middle Ages.
Located in a Flemish region of northwestern Belgium, Bruges is a quaint little city with a modest population of just over 100,000. Despite its small size, it is the capital city of its province, West Flanders.
This small medieval city is a 100km drive northwest of the Belgian capital Brussels, which is also the formal seat of the European Union. Within an hour's drive, visitors can go from the metropolis leading modern Europe into its bright new future to a city that captures the continent’s historical past.
What Is There To Do In Bruges?
A stroll through the gorgeous streets and hidden alleyways of medieval Bruges is enough to draw millions of tourists every year.
The city center itself is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its cobblestone streets, the many footbridges arching over canals weaving through the city, and the arresting medieval architecture transports visitors to another time.
This infinitely photogenic city is packed with relaxing cafés, museums, world-class chocolatiers, and bars that have some of the best beer in the world: Trappist beers.
The Markt
Perhaps the most alluring location in Bruges is The Markt.
The medieval town square's origins as the city's central hub for trade remain today: the Markt is packed with shops, cafés, and bars along its 100m long square. Lined with twinkling Christmas lights, the Markt is as picturesque as Europe can get.
At the very end of the Markt is the Belfort: an 83m high tower that provides spectacular views of the surrounding area. During the peak of the seasons, visitors can treat themselves to the seas of foliage extending far beyond Bruges as the Fall sets in across the Belgian countryside.
Barcelona
Though it is the second largest city in Spain, Barcelona is a European metropolis; it’s the fifth largest urban area in all of Europe, with a metro population of around 5 million.
Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, a northeastern province in Spain. The capital Madrid in central Spain, is about 505km away.
Right on the Mediterranean coast, Barcelona is a bustling hotspot for summertime tourists looking to soak in the sun on its beaches. Come Fall, temperatures start to decline, making it a great time to enjoy warm, sunny weather before winter.
What Is There To Do In Barcelona?
The city is world-renowned for its rich culture, its distinctive architecture, and its legendary nightlife. After a midday siesta, Barcelonanians will frequent the city's many nightlife offerings as late as 5 am.
Activities in Barcelona are virtually limitless. It’s home to world-class beaches right on the Mediterranean; 22 Michelin star restaurants are located in Barcelona; champion sports clubs like FC Barcelona grip the football world's passions. Barcelona has more than enough to offer its many visitors, no matter their interests.
A stop in Barcelona opens up to the rest of the European continent, only a few hundred kilometers away from the French border. As Schengen Area members, border-crossings between Spain and France are virtually unrestricted.
See A Sporting Event In Barcelona
Barcelona has some of the most passionate sports fans in the entire world.
FC Barcelona is a titan in football, sporting some of the best players to play the game. FC Barcelona generally has games scheduled all throughout the Fall. Their home stadium of Camp Nou houses almost 100,000 spectators every game.
Next to football, Barcelona is home to a competitive basketball team: FC Barcelona Bàsquet. Their season generally starts around the beginning of October. No matter the sport, the energy at a Barcelona sporting event is electric; it’s the perfect way to spend a Fall evening.
Paris
Few cities in the world, let alone Europe, are as iconic as Paris.
A landmark city for culture, the arts, and cuisine, there’s a reason the City of Lights is so celebrated.
With a metro population of 13 million, the French capital is one the largest cities in Europe. Its size, history, and cultural impact on the world make it a quintessential destination for any autumn tour of Europe.
What Is There To Do In Paris?
There’s no shortage of things to do in Paris. From global icons in architecture and museums to a limitless selection of local cafés and restaurants and everything in between, Paris offers travelers a whole world of things to do.
The Eiffel Tower gives visitors a spectacular view of Paris in the Fall as the leaves begin to change. Montmartre similarly provides travelers stunning views of the city; it’s a historic neighborhood steeped in culture and packed with eateries and cafés.
In a gastronomic world capital, visitors are hard-pressed to find an eatery that fails to live up to expectations. Paris has the most Michelin-star restaurants in all of Europe — 106 restaurants have earned this distinguished honor.
Nuit Blanche
Every year in early October, Paris celebrates a city-wide arts festival wherein many museums open their days free of charge to the public: Nuit Blanche.
The entire city hosts hundreds of art installations, sculptures, paintings, concerts, and more. With free admission, travelers can take in the spectacle of Paris at its most vibrant, its streets humming with activity and celebration of the arts.
Artists worldwide converge on Paris, making this one night visitors won’t want to miss.
Naples
As the summer days fade away, the coastal Italian city of Naples gives travelers a warm-weather respite to bask in sunshine and keep the summer temperatures going well into the Fall.
Naples is the third largest city in Italy, with a population of almost one million people. Located on the southern end of the Italian peninsula, Naples is about 220km from Rome.
Its ancient roots make it one the oldest continually habited urban areas on the planet. People who flocked to Naples for centuries; this city has always had something to offer eager travelers.
What Is There To Do In Naples?
Naples has a long history that enriches the city.
Its city center is considered to be one the largest in Europe, spanning centuries of usage. It’s a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Naples itself is a historical landmark. There are dozens of historical sites within the city and in the surrounding area for visitors to see.
Cuisine in Naples is world famous. Neapolitan food is heralded as the inventor of beloved dishes like pizza. As a coastal city, visitors can enjoy the scenic vistas of the Mediterranean that can’t be found anywhere else.
Naples Grape Festival
Italian wine is regarded as among the best in the world.
Early October heralds the Naples Grape Festival, wherein local vineyards and vintners share their harvest of grapes, wines, and more in celebration of their age-old love for these vine fruits.
See All There Is To See In Europe This Fall
Fall is a great time to travel across Europe.
With so much to see, make sure you spend more time enjoying the festivities and less time waiting in customs.
ETIAS helps international travelers access all that Europe has to offer. Get started on your application for ETIAS here.
Sources:
When Is Oktoberfest 2022? | Oktoberfest.de
Historic Centre of Brugge | UNESCO