The October half-term is nearly here, and if you’re anything like us, you’re frantically Googling last-minute sun holidays.
Parts of southern Europe are still enjoying warm weather, meaning you don’t need to fly too far (or spend a fortune) to soak up some sun.
From mainland Spain to the Greek islands, city breaks to fly-and-flop beach breaks, there are plenty of options under four hours from the UK.
You might even get a tan.
Istanbul and southern Turkey
October is an excellent time to visit Turkey’s southern coast, with daytime temperatures averaging between 20ºC and 28ºC.
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The sea is still warm and pleasant for swimming, with temperatures around 24ºC. Some say the Aegean is ‘like a bath’ after months of summer heat.
Antalya, Bodrum and Marmaris are obvious choices at this time of year, but you could also try something a little different in Istanbul.
Our Travel Editor, Alice Murphy, recently spent a week there and fell in love with Büyükada, a tiny island where turquoise water and immaculate beaches are framed by a pine forest backdrop.
It has no cars, no cinemas, and no theatres, plus it’s blissfully crowd-free in autumn.
Best flight deals: Fly from London Gatwick to Antalya (AYT) with easyJet and Sun Express from £207 return, departing October 28 and returning November 4.
The Canary Islands
Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura are a safe bet if you’re looking for autumn or winter sun.
Each of the Canary Islands has an average daytime temperature of 27ºC in October, with sea temperatures ranging from 22ºC to 23ºC, sunshine hours of roughly seven hours a day, and low chance of rain.
Peak season here is between December and February, so you could bag a half-term bargain, too.
Best flight deals: Fly from London Gatwick to Lanzarote (ACE) with easyJet for £60 return, departing October 28 and returning November 4.
Fly from Glasgow to Tenerife with Jet2 and Ryanair for £142 return, departing October 27 and returning November 3.
Cyprus
Cyprus offers average daily highs of 26ºC, 10 hours of sunshine a day, and sea temperatures of 24ºC.
There are plenty of beaches along the Paphos coastline, and October is still warm enough to head to the Blue Lagoon for a dip or give watersports a go in the stunning Coral Bay.
Larnaca is a good all-rounder, with a vibrant city feel, nice beaches and plenty of options for day trips.
For a quieter, family-friendly holiday, consider Pissouri or Protaras.
Best flight deals: Fly from London Stansted to Paphos with Ryanair for £144, departing October 29 and returning November 5.
The best short-haul getaways for October and November
Malta
October in Malta sees daily temperatures of 22ºC, warm seas, and about a 60% chance of a perfect sunny day (or 40% chance of both sunshine and clouds).
Plus, as the humidity tends to be quite high here, it feels even warmer than the forecast may suggest.
Thanks to an average rainfall of 20mm (compared to over 62mm here in Britain), it’s great for an escape from the drizzly weather.
A decrease in visitors means you’ll get to experience historical sites and museums without fighting the crowds, and tours and events continue to run throughout the autumn season.
Best flight deals: Fly from Glasgow to Valletta with Ryanair for £32, departing October 28 and returning November 4.
Fly from London Gatwick to Valletta with KLM Malta for £127, departing October 27 and returning November 4.
Kos, Greece
With an average temperature in October of 26ºC, eight hours of daily sunshine and wind speeds of 4.1mph, Kos is beautiful at this time of year.
While largely dry and warm, there is likely to be more cloud cover and an increased chance of rain, so factor this into your plans.
Otherwise, get ready to enjoy gorgeous coastlines and plenty of historic Greek island sights that are well worth visiting.
Best flight deals: Fly from London Gatwick to Kos (KGS) direct with British Airways, and return to London Heathrow on Aegean Airlines with a stop in Athens for £393, departing October 27 and returning November 4.
Rhodes, Greece
When visiting the Dodecanese island of Rhodes in October, you can expect highs of around 26ºC and a 70% chance of a perfectly sunny day.
Despite the 30% risk of seeing some clouds, there’s a low 11mm rainfall this month as well as warm 24ºC seas ideal for swimming and watersports.
The party atmosphere here winds down towards the end of the season, making it a nice option if you’d like to see a different, more relaxed side of the popular Greek holiday spot.
Other Greek islands that deserve your attention all year round include:
Best flight deals: Fly from Birmingham to Rhodes with easyJet for £109, departing October 28 and returning November 4.
The Algarve
The Algarve region in southern Portugal actually enjoys more sunshine each year than California, with an average of just four rainy days in October.
October can be cooler here due to the Mediterranean climate, which means the daily highs of 23ºC can be tempered by lows of 14ºC at night.
Yet with seven hours of sun predicted every day, cheap flight deals and journey times of around three hours from London to Faro, it makes a perfect half-term choice.
Our Lifestyle Editor, Kristina Beanland, has been visiting the Algarve since she was a child. Check out her tips for the best day trips here.
Best flight deals: Fly from London Stansted to Faro with Ryanair for £37, departing October 29 and returning November 5.
Sardinia
Many people choose to visit Sardinia during October as the weather is milder and more bearable than the scorching summers.
The temperature this month peaks at 22ºC, which may not be as warm as some places, but allows you to find a spot on the normally-packed beaches of Costa Smeralda and go hiking on the island’s stunning trails without getting overwhelmed by the heat.
Best flight deals: Fly from London Gatwick to Olbia with easyJet for £122, departing October 28 and returning November 4.
Seville
Looking for a city break that’s still nice and warm in October?
Seville, with its highs of 26ºC and seven hours of sunshine, could be the place for you.
It is possible you could see rain this month in the southern Spanish city, but it’s still temperate enough for exploring the sights, taking cycling trips, or paddleboarding on the Guadalquivir River.
Check out these other Spanish destinations that we love no matter the weather:
Best flight deals: Fly from London Luton to Seville with Ryanair for £108, departing October 28 and returning November 4.
Tips for October travel
Bring layers
Even if it’s hot during the day, it may get cooler in the evenings, so pack light jackets and jumpers to ensure you don’t catch a chill.
Double-check activities
If you have your heart set on activities like boat trips or hiking, call ahead to check weather conditions are right. Stronger waves or winds during autumn could mean plans need to change.
Make alternative plans
On that note, it’s important to have other options in case your planned activities can’t go ahead. The tourist board website for wherever you are headed should have plenty of ideas.
Pre-book where possible
Although it may not be peak season everywhere, October can be a popular month for tourists. To avoid disappointment and get ahead of the crowds, pre-book activities, meals or excursions.
This article was originally published on September 20, 2024.
All flight prices checked on Skyscanner and accurate as of October 16, 2025.
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