We have been to Europe many times and I'm stumped as to where to go in early October. Over the last few years, we've stayed all over Italy and, as much as I still love it, I would like to find someplace with fewer tourists, good weather (not cold), good food and wine in the Mediterranean as opposed to Germanic style, great museums and monuments with an old town, and European style. We will have two seniors, 2 30-somethings, and an infant. Ideas?
Posted by
5282 posts
Where in Italy have you not been? Sticking outside of Rome, Venice, and Florence (plus Amalfi and Cinque Terre), I have experienced little of the crowds people often complain about.
I'm having a hard time tearing myself away from Italy, but I have enjoyed Croatia, Greece, and Spain.
Have you been to Sicily, Sardinia?
Posted by
Twin Cities, Minnesota
2040 posts
Last year in late September, early October I was in the Provence and Nice areas. The weather was fantastic and I enjoyed so many varied activities. Rick Steves has a guide specifically on Provence and the Riviera which can describe all your options much better than I. I will say though that I found Aix in Provence very quiet and restful with great food and there were some wonderful museums in Nice such as Chagall & Matisse. If you don't want to buy a guide, see if your library has a copy.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
20869 posts
South of France or Sardinia or Corsica
Posted by
OP
19 posts
Thank you for replying so quickly. We have stayed in Sicily and Nice and Provence, (and a lot of Italy including Naples, Matera, the Dolomites, Lake Como, Courmeyeur, Milan and Venice and Rome and the Amalfi Coast and Tuscany and Florence and Cinque Terre, Rappalo, Portofino and Positano, Bolzano, Bressanone, Val Gardena, Aosta - many of these multiple times. I love Italy). We haven't been to Croatia or Sardinia so those are good thoughts.
Posted by
OP
19 posts
Also have stayed in Spain and Portugal and Greece but not Corsica.
Posted by
5282 posts
I meant where have you not been--that could be the sweet spot (Marche is lovely; I see Puglia missing and I would not worry about crowds as much in October). October is off season in Sardinia, but I would go then if the weather stats look good. You would need a car for Sardinia but in Croatia it's a toss-up (yes in Istria, no along coast).
The season gets longer every year, so I would also go to Croatia in October even though some islands will be scaling back at that time. It's an ideal time for the northern coastal region of Istria, where I believe truffle season is late October (maybe some overlap there?). I have not been to Istria, but the northern islands were gorgeous.
Posted by
Bellingham, WA
508 posts
Not sure what parts of Spain you have been to, but San Sebastián fits the bill if you include the Guggenheim museum in nearby Bilbao.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
20869 posts
Croatia, hasn't got the museums you asked about and for every local you will meet 2 tourists. Something else you wanted to avoid.
For better, go a bit further south. In Montenegro, you will find old towns in Herceg Novi, Perast, Kotor, Budva, Stari Bar, Ulcinj. Museums? Ehhhhh, good one in Perast and a good one in Cetinje; and Stair Bar and Kotor are living museums. Italian "like"? lots of ancient Venecian influence. Number of tourists? A fraction of what's in Croatia. Finally, the cost structure is suh that you gan do a "nicer" holiday in Montengro.
You didn't mention nature, but if the deepest canyon in Europe, forests, rivers, and spectacular views interests you .... Montenegro.
And last time I checked, there were some convenient flights to Italy (very close) so you could do some of both.
• Perast, https://youtu.be/q2nckBnc7_M?si=CohK_4nsI6l7chEB
• Stari Bar, https://youtu.be/OBU56OT78fw?si=tzF65lSmOXSEpWKZ
• Ulcinj, https://youtu.be/SBY7G9HHw5s?si=wjPy2V0P1mhua7Cs
• Tara River Canyon, (Motel Tara MB) https://youtu.be/9aGMZB8hB5Y?si=NFKsf6YtGAX2uVCa
• Ostrog Monastery, (Hotel & Restaurant Sokoline) https://youtu.be/ixrJu6qv46M?si=WML9Hs2hOQCsKZwE AND https://youtu.be/miNV1FVK7qI?si=iZC_lViMUEk6JGI
• Budva: https://youtu.be/GF7hyxB8Xq4?si=re2lmDTm5pRNpioH