At Expat Explore we’re all about living life between the beats – in fact, the popularity of our tours can largely be ascribed to the fact that we aren’t scared to stroll down the road less travelled, which just so happens to be where we’ve found many of the gems that feature on our best-loved excursions.

Today we’d like to share one of the travel industry’s best-kept secrets. Are you ready? Okay, here we go:

AUTUMN IS  ONE OF THE BEST TIMES OF YEAR TO TRAVEL TO EUROPE!

There, we’ve said it; cat’s out the bag! Here are a few reasons why it is an absolutely wonderful idea to pack your bags and head for Europe in mid/late August to mid/late October:

There is no prettier time of year

We’ve never quite understood why autumn is so underrated. Sure, summer is all about azure skies and balmy beach trips, but autumn has a charm all of its own – think crisp mornings, cosy evenings and sunny afternoons bathed in golden light. Europe in autumn becomes a real-life fairytale; every castle and stately home surrounded by trees that are decked out in shades of amber, russet and saffron. You have to see it to believe it. Plus, you can take the most amazing photos while on tour!

It’s less crowded and more authentic

Because autumn is not normally viewed as the ideal time to visit Europe, there are fewer travellers around. Granted, this means that certain tourist destinations are closed, but those that remain open are wonderfully free of queues and are just waiting to be explored at your leisure. At this time of year, you are also able to get a taste of the real spirit of each destination. When peak season is over, locals settle back into their true lifestyles and routines.

Off-season rates are far more affordable

If you’re travelling on a budget, autumn is the season for you. The inflated prices of high summer make way for affordable shoulder-season rates that are a lot friendlier on your pocket.

It’s not as cold as you may think

Yes, summer may be over and nighttime can be quite brisk, but that is nothing that a thick jacket, a handy scarf and a proper pair of boots can’t cure! In fact, many European cities (i.e. Athens, Barcelona, Istanbul) boast temperatures in the high twenties until deep into September, so we recommend you pack a few T-shirts, a swimsuit and sunscreen just in case!

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By this time, we hope you’re as excited as we are about our autumn tours to Europe! Take a peek at our Western Europe tours to France, Germany and the Netherlands, as well as Southern Europe tours to the Mediterranean climates of Italy, Greece and Spain for some trip inspiration!