Looking for Destination Suggestions – October/November Trip

anywhere in Italy!

We’ve been doing large Mediterranean islands the past few years. Sardinia, Corsica and Malta are all perfect in the early fall (mid-September to mid-October generally seems to be the sweet spot IMHO; November weather becomes more mixed/chancey, and you may also find some things shut down, but the crowds thin out nicely). These places have been among our all-time favorite destinations. Sicily would also be lovely at that time. Two weeks in any of them would be blissful.

Western Crete.

If you don't mind cold, I highly recommend Iceland. Fall is my favorite time of year there, and you can often see the northern lights. Iceland has excellent food. In all of our trips, we have never had a bad meal or even a so so meal. You can visit numerous hot springs/lagoons, do an ice cave tour, a glacier hike, ride horses, etc.

benjybronk,
Sicily!

For that time of year, consider Greece. The summer heat and crowds have diminished.

Portugal, Italy, Greece.

Turkey or Turkiye

I'll be spending 5 nights in Cappadocia at the end of October & 27 nights until 25 November in Antalya.

benjybronk,
brushtrim's suggestion of Turkey is a good one also. We did an Insight Tour for 15 days, Treasures of Turkey that was all we could have wished for. If that is too long for you, they have an eleven day Wonders of Turkey Tour that you might like.
I suggested Sicily above because that is next on my bucket list (not my next trip though) and the weather should be great then. Yet Turkey was one of my big goals and I really enjoyed the trip there. The history alone, going back to the Hittites and up to today, is amazing. We also loved the food. The honey, apricots, tomatoes, lemons, fish, lamb.......yum!

Weather should be great then too. And Turkish Air is one of my favorite airlines. We were able to fly direct from Los Angeles to Istanbul. (By the way, I am totally over Lufthansa. Our last two flights with them were awful!)
Good luck in choosing your destination!

I agree with Mary's suggestion of Portugal, Italy, or Greece! October would be perfect in either one of these countries: cooler temps and less crowded. Although I keep reading that Italy is crowded in October but it wouldn't be as crowded as the summer months. Greece would be wonderful in October and November, especially Athens and Nafplio. If you are interested in the Greek islands, I think you should research if the islands start shutting down in November.

Or Spain. You've been to Andalusia, but have you been to Madrid, Toledo, and Barcelona? We visited Barcelona one year in October, and the weather was perfect. Very comfortable temperatures.

"October or November" really covers a lot. Early October? For the entire Mediterranean region, take your pick, everywhere will be open, the weather generally delightful, crowds thinning out with each passing day. But...end of November? Many places will have cool, wet, winter-like weather, especially in the north but even in the south, it won't feel much like summer. If you have the choice of going anytime in either month, I'd pick the first 2 weeks of October, which I have come to think of as the sweetest sweet spot of the year for most of Europe.