The summer holidays have been over for a while, and the ski holidays are still a long way off? What could be more obvious than to take a short trip in the golden autumn? Preferably to a city you’ve been wanting to visit for a long time, but where it’s too warm or too crowded for you in summer? Or maybe one where you can extend the summer and spend a few hours on the beach in addition to sightseeing? Here you will find the best destinations for a city trip in autumn.
Barcelona, the lively metropolis on the Mediterranean
If you haven’t had enough of summer, sun and joie de vivre, Barcelona is the destination for you. Here, the sun still has a lot of power, and sometimes temperatures of 20 degrees and more prevail until December. On the other hand, Barcelona is much quieter in autumn than in the summer months, and you can visit the city’s highlights such as the Sagrada Familia or the Poble Espanyol Museum in a relaxed manner without standing in long queues and crowding into crowds of visitors. With a bit of luck, you can spend a few hours on Barcelona’s wonderfully wide sandy beach after sightseeing before ending the day in one of the numerous tapas bars. In any case, Barcelona is a dream destination that is especially worth visiting in autumn.
Rome, the Eternal City
Rome is also the ideal destination for globetrotters who are passionate about culture and history and want to extend the summer at the same time. Here you can expect T-shirt weather around 20 degrees or more even in late autumn. Rome is one of those cities that everyone should visit once in a lifetime. Here, every stone breathes thousands of years of history. Ancient sites such as the Roman Forum or the Colosseum are particularly impressive. Also worth seeing are the magnificent Renaissance and Rococo palaces and, of course, St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums. Rome is very large and very diverse, and it’s perfect to explore on a hop-on hop-off bus tour. These rides are relatively inexpensive and allow you to customize your Rome sightseeing tour. If you need a break from culture and history after a few days, you can simply get on the train and enjoy the beach life in Ostia 30 minutes later.
Edinburgh, the mysterious
Autumn is synonymous with long walks in the city and nature and cosy evenings by the fireplace with tea or hot chocolate. But it also has a scary side, and it is especially evident at night. You can experience this up close in the Halloween city of Edinburgh. Of course, the Scottish capital also has a lot to offer during the day with the impressive Edinburgh Castle, several museums and cozy shopping streets. Other highlights of the city are Arthur’s Seat with its spectacular view and Calton Hill. From the latter, an eerily beautiful parade starts on Halloween night, which then makes its way through Edinburgh’s old town. But even on the days before and after, horror fans get their money’s worth on organized ghost tours or at haunted parties in enchanted houses.
Amsterdam, the colourful city on the water
Amsterdam is always worth a visit, but Amsterdam is especially beautiful in autumn. Because then the city will be colored in the national color of the Dutch “Oranje”. Yellow-red foliage and the golden autumn sun create beautiful plays of colour that are reflected in the city’s countless canals. After sunset, the wonderful nostalgic street lamps bathe Amsterdam in a very special light. This effect is amplified from the end of November to the end of January, when the fascinating Amsterdam Light Festival takes place. In addition to the canals, special sights of the city are the Anne Frank House, the Rembrandt Museum and the Van Gogh Museum. If you want to warm up after a long day of exploring, you can do so in one of the Bruine Cafés or a Pannekoeken-Huis. To spend the night, a houseboat on one of the canals is highly recommended. A stay on such a boat is a very special experience.
Canterbury, the old episcopal city
It doesn’t always have to be a big metropolis. Especially the smaller cities often offer many lesser-known treasures to discover and explore. One such gem is Canterbury in the county of Kent in the south of England. Kent is considered an absolute picture-book landscape and rightly bears the nickname “Garden of England”. In autumn, this garden shows its most beautiful side. Then the many colorful deciduous trees and orchards bathe the landscape in a very special light. Picturesquely embedded in romantic Kent, the small town of Canterbury invites you to explore it. At the headquarters of the Anglican Church , there are several impressive monasteries, churches and medieval alleys to marvel at. Canterbury Cathedral and Saint Martin’s Church are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Canterbury is an ideal base for exploring some of England’s most beautiful castles, such as Hever Castle, Dover Castle or Sissinghurst.
Prague, the Golden City
When it slowly gets colder and more uncomfortable outside, the desire for a hearty meal and strong beer grows. This is another reason why the Golden City is an ideal destination for the cooler months. Now Prague is not as crowded as it is in summer, and guests can enjoy delicious Czech beer and dumplings and roast pork after a long sightseeing tour. Prague is not only known for its beautiful castle towering over the city and for at least 100 towers, but also for beautiful parks and gardens that look particularly beautiful in autumnal colours. Letna Park, for example, is only a few minutes’ walk from the romantic Lesser Town and offers a unique view of the entire city. Prague’s Hradčany Castle or the even older Vysehrad Castle also offer beautiful prospects.
Bruges, the romantic
In Bruges, too, it is worth waiting until the big tourist rush of the summer is over. In the capital of West Flanders, you will feel like you have been transported back to the Middle Ages. Impressive buildings bear witness to Bruges’ splendour as a former Hanseatic city, which was once one of the richest cities in Europe. Several canals, cobblestones and winding alleys make up the unique charm of the city. Stroll across the imposing market square with the beautiful Stadthuis and the belfry towering over everything. An ascent there is exhausting, but the breathtaking panoramic view, which reaches as far as the North Sea in good weather, is worth all the effort. Bruges also has a lot to offer in terms of culinary delights. You shouldn’t leave the city without a visit to a chocolate shop and feasting on seafood fries at least once.
