15 Cities You Have to Visit in the Fall

For the scholastic sightseer, Boston presents something of a back-to-school flair around this time of the year. Home to ivy-league giant Harvard University, you’ll find local Harvard Book Store plans most of its special events and readings during the fall season. Books and fall feels – what could be better?

Well, obviously the city of love would make it onto this list. Whatever the season, Paris is a must on every travel bucket list, and the autumn months are certainly no exception. This is the time to take a stroll through the colourful gardens of the city, as tourism dwindles down around this time of year, and you’ll be able to truly take in the beauty of the many tree-lined paths.

Early fall is when you’ll score the best of Chicago weather and be able to take in the annual World Music Festival, kicked off each year in September.

For autumn travelers looking to extend that summer feel, Virginia Beach offers a unique fall experience. Its busy shoreline quiets as summer tourists thin, offering the autumn visitor the chance to enjoy the seasonal shift with their toes in the sand.

Watching the range of vibrant colours spread amongst the many plants and trees of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco is worth the flight, we promise.

Another stop in California should be San Diego, where fans of surfing know autumn is primetime for the best waves in this area. Who says you can’t surf your way into winter?

For those autumn travelers not looking to spend their time embracing the seasonal chill outdoors, consider Florence for that fall getaway. With countless things to do indoors, from museums to galleries and shops, visitors will appreciate the thinned out tourist scene. We suggest taking a trip over to Tuscany, where seasonal harvest festivals are abound.

This city is a draw at any point of the year, but its warm Mediterranean climate will ease those seasonal chills during the autumn months.

We won’t make any promises, but we hear it’s a safe bet that warmer days will last well into November, so for your fix of local culture, seasonal foliage and extended warm-weather, nothing beats Prague.

There is something so serene and stunning about the colourful trees that line the canals of Bruges in the fall…

Take a chairlift through one of the vibrant and lush gardens of Budapest, or indulge in one of the many autumn festivals, ranging in activities like horseracing and wine-tastings to more traditional and unique celebrations such as one that celebrates the traditional pastry of the region, the “chimney cake.”

Bright and bold and everywhere you look - Edinburgh comes to life in the fall. This is when the city truly shines, with such vibrant foliage; it often takes the rank as one of the most colourful landscapes to visit this time of year.

Offering up unique opportunities for hiking enthusiasts, visitors to Salt Lake City in the fall will enjoy the lesser crowds on popular trails and no doubt marvel at the vibrant foliage in the Cottonwood canyons.

Central Park. Need we say more? As if you needed another reason to visit this spectacular city in the fall and indulge in all the colours of one of the world’s most famous parks, the city in general is a year-round draw, offering up some of the world’s best in dining, shopping and seasonal entertainment.

Settled along the Adriatic Coast, Dubrovnik is a city that’s probably already on your bucket list – but did you know the most affordable time to visit this beautiful Croatian city is in the fall? Hike amongst the fall foliage just outside the city, or take in those last few beach days and enjoy the warmer weather – and smaller crowds.