Where to Find Late Season Sunshine
Fewer crowds, better prices, and more manageable temperatures - but still warm enough for sunbathing
Gozo, Malta
October sees highs of 24C, and far fewer crowds to compete with than in high summer.
Cooler temperatures make sightseeing more comfortable on this sun-drenched island just a short hop from its better known and neighbouring big sister Malta, a 25 minute ferry ride away. Head up to Victoria, Gozo’s capital perched high on a hilltop, and enjoy the island views before wandering down its historic alleyways. The ancient fortress town of Citadel atop the neighbouring hill, with its quaint, narrow streets weaving around historic buildings, is also well worth a visit. The island has a rich, colourful history and is home to the world’s oldest free-standing temples of Ggantija, a UNESCO world heritage site found near Xaghra, the oldest inhabited area of Gozo.
Walkers will not know which trail to take first, but for anyone just wanting a beach break, you’ll have some of the best stretches to yourself in October. Head to the red sands of Ramla Bay with its sheltered waters ideal for swimming and snorkelling, the popular diving spot of Qbajjar, or take a boat trip to the famous white sands and striking waters of the Blue Lagoon.
Where to stay: Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz
Tucked into the valley side, between the traditional Gozitan village of San Lawrenz and Ta’ Dbeigi, a village renowned for local crafts, this is one of Gozo’s largest hotels. Low, sprawling and made of local limestone, rooms here tend to be large with private balconies. It has a great spa, tennis courts and three outdoor pools, and just down the road is Dwejra, a marine conservation area with a dramatic coastal landscape and one of Gozo’s top dive sites. The hotel also runs a free bus service to Victoria and Ramla Bay.
Elounda, Crete
Daily highs reach around 25C and the water temperature stays around 20C in October, making it a great time to hit the beach once the peak crowds have departed.
With warm water and sunny skies you no doubt will want to spend time on the various beautiful beaches, but the island is definitely worth exploring and the roads are far quieter come October. Drive from west to east and you can take in the major sights and cities of Chania, Rethymnon, Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos and Sitia, and to the south Sfakia and the pink sand of Elafonisi. There are great ancient archaeological sites including the Minoan Palaces of Knossos and Phaestos and natural wonders such as the Spinalonga island, the ancient Matala caves (once a hang-out for ‘60s hippies including Janis Joplin, Cat Stevens and Joni Mitchell), and Chania’s cedar forest. One of the best beaches is on the east coast at Elounda. Elounda, once a picturesque fishing village, lies opposite Spinalonga, the former leper colony and now a tourist attraction standing guard over the harbour and the crystal clear waters of the Gulf of Mirabello.
Where to stay: Elounda Gulf Villas
Just a 20-minute stroll though olive groves, past the sunken city of Olous, and you are into Elounda harbour. These secluded, luxury villas, many with private pools, scattered on a steep hillside are part of a five-star boutique hotel with a lavish spa, private beach club and delicious dining in the two restaurants, plus a poolside lounge bar for day-to-night tipples with buggies on hand to take you back to your villa afterwards.
Douro Valley, Portugal
Daytime highs hover around 23C but the best way to explore this steeply sided valley is on a river cruise, stopping off at the sprawling vineyards which line the valley slopes.
The oldest demarcated wine region in the world, producers here still adhere to traditional hand-picking and grape stomping, and in autumn the grape harvest is in full swing. Stretching east from Porto, the winding river cuts through dramatic canyons and lofty, tree-studded cliffs, but it’s the russet and gold of the vine-cloaked slopes that are simply breathtaking at this time of year. Stop at Pinhao, the heart of the port wine producing region. On a bend in the river, the town is a great base for exploring, and many of the local quintas are open for tours and wine tastings, or drop into one of the town’s many riverside bars to sample the local offering. Further east, the Parque Natural do Douro Internacional is a huge nature reserve cut through by the river. Sweet acorn oak, prickly juniper and cork oak stud the steep valley sides and the park is home to the endangered Egyptian vulture. Biking, hiking and walking trails criss-cross the area, taking in some of the most spectacular sights of this border region.
Where to stay: The Vintage House Hotel, Pinhao
Once a 19th century winery, this elegant hotel is cocooned by vine-covered slopes. With 47 rooms and suites, all with views over the River Douro, and the popular Rabelo Restaurant and more relaxed Library Bar, both with riverside terraces and both serving local produce, and wine of course, it’s a great place to relax, unwind and explore this idyllic corner of Portugal. Borrow a bicycle to tour the town, drop into the Wine Academy, pop into the station to see the original blue and white tiles which depict harvest time in the Douro Valley, or catch a river cruise for a less energetic way to soak up the spectacular scenery.
Formentera, Spain
The driest and warmest of the Balearics, with wide sandy beaches and rolling dunes, the island is characterful but still relatively quiet compared to its trendier neighbour Ibiza.
Day time temperatures hover around 24C into October and the water is still warm, although the nights start to chill a little in autumn. With the roads less busy, the best way to explore the island is by bike, or moped, scooting along the flat coastal paths with their spectacular views. Nature lovers should head to UNESCO World Heritage site Ses Salines and its salt ponds and prolific wildlife, whilst the far reaching views from the Barbaria lighthouse on the cliff edge of Sa Talaiassa are worth seeking out, especially at sunset. There are three main beaches on the island; Ses Illetes, and Llevant, a surfing hot spot, in the north and Migjorn in the south, but there are plenty of quieter spots if you are prepared to seek them out, and you are never far away from refreshments as the dunes are punctuated by bars and beachfront bistros.
Where to stay: Hotel Casbah, Playa de Migjorn
Just a five-minute walk from Playa Migjorn, and set amidst a lush pine forest, this a great low-key base for exploring this laid-back island. The individual whitewashed, finca-style apartments are dotted around the hotel’s beautiful botanical gardens. Simply furnished but spacious, the traditional white walls and terracotta floors are offset by splashes of colour. There’s an outdoor pool and solarium and plenty of quiet break-out spaces to just chill, and you can dine under juniper and olive trees in the hotel’s popular Casbah restaurant. For anyone bored with the spectacular beaches, the lively town of San Francisco Javier is just three kilometres away.
