Favorite Places to Visit Late October?

It was cooling off and I was beginning to get rained on in early October 2015 while I was in Montenegro and Croatia. Actually, the rain started in late September (Bulgaria). So I think it depends on luck (of course) and your tolerance for wet weather. At that time of year, I assume that if it's damp it's likely to be at least cool if not downright chilly.

I suggest going to wunderground.com and checking the historical weather data for October 2016, 2015, 2014, etc., to see the range of temperatures you could expect to experience in cities you're considering. If you choose "monthly", the website will display an hour-by-hour temperature graph. I find those far more useful than monthly averages.

Perhaps Andalucia would be an option?

Greece is wonderful in October.

I highly recommend Prague and Budapest in October! Krakow is also lovely in October with the fall colors.

Late October could be nice weatherwise, but you are more likely to experience some rain or cold or fog wherever you go in Europe at that time of year.

That week coincides with European half term school holidays, so places will be busier and many places will already be booked.

You don't say what your interests are, so it's difficult to advise. Prague and Budapest would be OK, as would Spanish cities including Madrid, Seville, Granada and Barcelona. A week is a good length of time to visit Lisbon and Porto. Paris, Rome or London can easily fill a week.

I have been to Greece in mid October and had dreadful weather.

Thanks, everyone! Very helpful. We are both around 40, so we are past going out late at night as an activity, but would like to walk a lot, see the sites and culture, and relax a bit too, as we only have a week. We prefer to go to trendier shops and restaurants. Thank you!

I tend to like a city itinerary from about mid-October through March when weather can make a more rural or outdoor itinerary uncertain or risky, and indoor activities more attractive. I would probably look more Southerly than North, Budapest and Prague would be fine, I am partial to Rome, Barcelona, Madrid, or another "Mediterranean" city, but any city would work, just prepare for wet or chilly weather.

We usually spend October half term in Mallorca or Estepona. Both places have fantastic weather at that time, plenty of time in the pool and sunbathing so in terms of spending time being outdoors you'll find southern Spain a good bet in October. That's not to say that we haven't experienced rain during this time but it has only been the odd day and it was usually brief showers.

Ireland and Scotland could be anything, could be warm, cold, stormy or very wet, a real gamble if you're looking for decent weather.

Romantic - Paris or Venice. Paris is wonderful in any weather. I'd expect Italy to be warm to pleasantly cool and mostly sunny. If you can, fly into Venice. If not, Milan is a good alternative. Land in the morning, then train to Venice, maybe with an overnight in Verona on the way and/or a night or two in Milan before flying home.

I loved Northern Italy in late October. We visited Verona, Venice, Vernazza, Florence, Siena, Pisa, Lucca, San Gimignano, Orvieto and Rome from mid-October to the first week of November. The weather was really comfortable, a few light rains but mostly warm days and cool nights. Rome at the end of October was comfortable - it felt, however, like getting there any earlier would have been very hot and muggy.

Our 2015 trip to Europe was in late October - early November. We got caught in a downpour in Paris as we strolled along the Canal St. Martin - actually it was kind of romantic... and experienced a little drizzle in Alsace. Otherwise, the weather was fine, if a little chilly. It was cool enough in Munich and Vienna that we could really enjoy the heavier cuisine that they are known for.

I've never been to Prague or Budapest, but we met some fellow Texans in Vienna who raved about both places. We're still going to places for the first time, but I would love to go back to Vienna some day. Great art, architecture, food, music, and very walkable.

If you decide to go to Vienna and want to see an opera, buy your tickets as soon as your travel plans are set and splurge on your seats if the budget allows.