Autumn Escapes: Your Travel Guide to the Season
Summer gets all the attention, but autumn quietly steals the show. The crowds thin out, prices settle down and the world puts on some of its best displays: Japan’s maples turning red, the Northern Lights dancing over Lapland and Christmas markets glowing across Germany.
Whether you fancy one last blast of sunshine over half term, a long weekend wrapped up in a scarf or a once in a lifetime trip under the aurora, there’s an autumn escape for everyone.
So, grab a warm drink, get comfy and start planning.
Half term: sunshine in the Canary Islands
October half term is the perfect excuse to swap grey skies for a sun lounger, and the Canary Islands are the go-to for reliable warmth. Temperatures sit in the mid-twenties well into autumn, the flight is only around 4 hours and there’s something for everyone: volcanic landscapes to explore on Tenerife and Lanzarote, black sand beaches, water parks for the kids and plenty of whale and dolphin watching trips.
Top tip
Download offline maps before heading out on Tenerife and Lanzarote’s volcanic trails, where signal can be patchy, and pack a waterproof pouch to keep your phone safe on beach days and boat trips.
Autumn colours in Japan
If your idea of a perfect trip involves crunchy leaves and a camera roll full of red and gold, Japan in autumn is hard to beat. The leaf season, known as “koyo”, usually reaches Kyoto from mid to late November.
Wander the temple gardens, where maple trees frame centuries old wooden halls, stroll through the famous bamboo grove at Arashiyama and finish the day with a bowl of steaming ramen. Many temples also hold evening illuminations during the season, lighting up the leaves after dark for a completely different view.
Staying connected: Japan is a joy to explore with your phone in hand: train apps for the bullet train, translation apps for menus and maps for finding your way back through Kyoto’s backstreets. It sits outside UK roaming deals, so a Travel eSIM is the easy way to have data from the moment you land.
Under the Northern Lights in Lapland
As the nights get longer, aurora season gets going, and seeing the Northern Lights sits right at the top of plenty of bucket lists. Finnish Lapland is a favourite for good reason: glass igloos, husky rides and reindeer safaris mean there’s plenty to do while you wait for the sky to put on its show.
Staying connected: Share your live location with your group before heading out on a husky ride or aurora hunt, and save your accommodation details offline in case signal drops out in the wilderness.
Tick list for aurora hunters
- Find a dark spot away from town lights
- Wrap up in plenty of warm layers
- Turn on aurora forecast alerts
- Keep your phone warm in an inside pocket
- Pack a fully charged power bank
- Shoot in night mode on a steady surface
Thanksgiving and Black Friday in New York
Late November is a brilliant time for a New York break. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade takes over the streets on Thursday 26th November, the first festive window displays appear on Fifth Avenue and the city’s ice rinks open for the season.
And just as the city gets into the festive spirit, the bargains begin. Black Friday falls on 27th November, bringing some of the biggest shopping deals of the year to New York’s department stores and outlets. Our advice? Pack a half empty suitcase.
Top tip
Subway maps, restaurant bookings and a list of the best Black Friday deals will keep your phone busy, so expect to use more data than usual. The USA is one of the priciest places to roam on UK plans, which makes a Travel eSIM the simpler choice.
Christmas markets in Germany
From late November, Germany’s Christmas markets start twinkling into life, and they’re the original and arguably still the best. Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt and the market beneath Cologne Cathedral are two of the most famous, and both are easy to reach for a long weekend.
Come hungry: mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, gingerbread and a proper bratwurst are all part of the experience.
Staying connected: Use maps to hop between markets, travel apps to catch the last tram back to your hotel and live location sharing so your group can always find each other in the crowds.
Top tip
The biggest markets get very busy at weekends, so visit on a weekday evening if you can, and agree a meeting point in case your group gets separated.
Before you go: your autumn travel checklist
Before you zip up that suitcase, run through this quick list:
Checklist
- Passport checked, with plenty of time left on it
- Travel insurance sorted
- Phone charger and a power bank (essential for chilly aurora nights)
- The right plug adapter for your destination
- Offline maps downloaded for any remote areas
- Boarding passes and bookings saved to your phone
- A warm layer, because autumn evenings can surprise you
- Mobile data sorted with a Travel eSIM, so you’re connected from the moment you land
One last thing: the clocks go back in the UK on Sunday 25th October, so double check your times if you’re flying that weekend.
