Autumn weekend breaks in the sun
Some tips on the best European destinations for a weekend in September and October
Here at Planet, we’re building an app to help people with the gruelling process of planning and organising holidays. Our team have a lot of experience travelling around the world and building awesome digital products, but we know that to make a truly valuable service that really helps people plan their trips, we need to get a much deeper and varied understanding of the problems travellers face. So far in our product discovery journey we’ve interviewed almost 50 people to learn about the difficulties of planning travel, and most recently, to take this one step further, we’ve become part-time travel agents to learn even more about the process. These activities have been hugely valuable with developing Planet but they have also helped us collect some valuable tips on the best places to go at different times in the year. This post is all about sunny weekend breaks in the Autumn, but keep an eye on our blog for more travel tips.
As summer draws to a close and the days start to shorten it can seem like a pretty long haul to make it through the British winter. Booking in a long-weekend to somewhere sunnier this Autumn is a great way to bridge the gap to the festive season as well as taking advantage of the better weather further south.
To help you maximise your precious time away, we’ve listed our top picks for weekendable destinations where you can expect warm temperatures and a good chance of sunshine. We’ve also teamed up with our friends at Skyscanner and Booking.com to help you find the best deals on flights and hotels.
September
Sicily
Average high temperature in September: 29C. Average 6 hours of sunshine.
Flights: 3h05, London to Catania from £228pp. Click here to search flights.
The weather in Sicily stays warm well into October. We recommend flying into Catania in the South East and basing yourself in the vicinity of Siracusa or Taormina. From there you can either chill at your hotel or get out and about exploring the island’s many historical sites, great restaurants or amazing scenery including the famous Mount Etna. There are plenty of fantastic hotels to choose from such as the Monaci delle Terre Nere, The Ashbee and the Belmond around Taormina to name but a few.
Click here to see all our recommended hotels in Sicily.
Amalfi Coast, Italy
Average high temperature in September: 26C. Average 8 hours of sunshine.
Flights: 2h35. London to Naples from £101pp. Click here to search flights.
The incredible scenery is worth the trip all by itself. Fly into Naples then take the Corniche roads down to the Amalfi Coast. Head to Positano for picture-postcard perfect Amalfi Coast views, treating yourself to a stay at the NH Collection Grand or Villa Fiorentino. Otherwise consider Sorrento, which is also beautiful, or pick one of our recommended hotels along the coastline.
Click here to see all our recommended hotels on the Amalfi Coast.
Mykonos
Average high temperature in September: 27C. Average 10 hours of sunshine.
Flights: 3h45. London to Mykonos from £346pp. Click here to search flights.
For a more lively scene head to the Cycladic island of Mykonos where the season continues through September and into the early weeks of October. Mykonos is known for its beach clubs and restaurants, but you can also get away from it all, for example by taking a day trip to the Unesco island of Delos. There are also some fantastic hotels like the Grace Mykonos and Mykonos Grand to mention just a couple.
Click here to see all our recommended hotels in Mykonos.
October
Majorca
Average high temperature in October: 26C. Average 8 hours of sunshine.
Flights: 2h25. London to Palma from £50pp. Click here to search flights.
Majorca has so much to offer from the pleasantly bustling capital of Palma to the beautiful coastal villages of Soller and Deia on the north coast. Fortunately most of the tacky part is constrained to a relatively small part of Palma, leaving the rest to more discerning travellers. Try the Hotel Bon Sol or Convent de la Missio in Palma or head north and stay at the Jumeirah Hotel & Spa in Port Soller or treat yourself to the superb Belmond La Residencia in Deia. There are also plenty of destination hotels on the centre of the island and around the north east coast (for example we love the Gran Hotel Son Net and Son Brull Hotel & Spa).
Click here to see all our recommended hotels in Majorca.
Andalucian Coast
Average high temperature in October: 24C. Average 7 hours of sunshine.
Flights: 2h55. London to Malaga from £144pp. Click here to search flights
Head to the Andalucian Coast (aka the Costa del Sol) around Malaga and Marbella to soak up the sun, shops and many restaurants. There are also some beautiful beaches as well as a happening nightlife. Either go for a stay in Malaga itself if you’re after more a a city vibe (try the Town House) or head out along the coast in and around Marbella if you want more pools and beach (check out the Finca Cortesin Hotel & Spa or Marbella Club Hotel).
Click here to see all our recommended hotels on the Andalucian Coast.
Ibiza
Average high temperature in October: 24C. Average 6 hours of sunshine.
Flights: 2h25. London to Ibiza from £83pp. Click here to search flights
Ibiza is famed for its clubbing and late night partying, but it also has some stunning scenery and beaches, particularly as you get away from Ibiza Town. Head north to one of our recommended agroturismo hotels like Atzaro or rural retreats like Can Curreu. Alternatively slip your shoes off and stay at a relaxing beach-side retreat like the ME Ibiza or Sol Beach House.
Click here to see all our recommended hotels in Ibiza
If you plan on taking the kids, another good option to consider is the Algarve in Portugal, easily reached with flights into Faro. Its stays warm late into the Autumn, with good hours of sunshine and is often less windy than the summer months. Our favourite pick is Martinhal, but there are plenty of other family-friendly hotels to choose from like the Pine Cliffs Resort.
If you are prepared to fly further or take an extra day or two then Crete (3h55), Cyprus (4h40), The Canaries (4h30) and Marrakesh (3h45) all have sunshine well into the late Autumn and being generally further south have higher temperatures and more sure weather.
Whatever you pick you’re bound to feel refreshed and able to take on those drizzly autumn days when you get back.
