After the summer and intense heat, flight cancellations and fires at European resorts, you want to relax at the sea, but without the problems of the peak season. I have been sitting at home in the summer for many years – in Ukraine, where you can have a great vacation in the Carpathians. But as soon as September begins, I look towards the Mediterranean countries, where the best time for rest is the velvet season.
Is it possible to fully relax at sea in autumn? Where is better to go in September, October and November?
The velvet season is the best time to relax on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic, when the tourist crowd subsides and the temperatures are pleasant for the body and skin. And the water in the sea is still warm enough to swim and relax on the beach all day.
I will tell you about the best destinations for seaside vacations in autumn.
Croatia – South Dalmatia
- The best time: September
- Temperature in October: +22-25°C
The Adriatic Sea is considered not too warm for the velvet season, especially in Croatia. Warm water lasts until the end of September in the southern part of the country. But, as in other countries, in September calm comes to Croatia – there are much fewer tourists, housing prices drop by 30% and you can relax here in a calm mood. September climate is less humid, September prices are more humane. For example, we rented these nice apartments in Baška Voda with parking and a balcony for 55 euros per day.
I advise you to look towards the Makarska Riviera – these are the best beaches in Croatia, where the sea water is still warm in September. We rested in Baška-Voda in the middle of September – very warm and beautiful, few people, good prices for apartments. The neighboring village of Brela also has beautiful beaches, but it is a little more difficult to go on excursions by public transport from here. But if you rent a car at Split or Zadar airport, where most flights arrive, traveling around Croatia will not be a problem.
Recommend to read: Independent car trip in Croatia – route, roads and transport costs
Dubrovnik is the southernmost city in Croatia, where you can go until the beginning of October for a vacation. It’s much less crowded at this time, it’s also cheaper than in the summer and there are some nice beaches near the town. You can really enjoy Dubrovnik only in autumn – it is hot and expensive here in summer.
Montenegro – Budva Riviera, Kotor bey
- The best time: September
- Temperature in October: +22-25°C
Montenegrins believe that their seasons have advanced by 15 days compared to other European countries. And indeed – until September 15, there is still a real summer. And autumn comes closer to October. We went there on vacation in September. Clean sea, delicious wines and seafood cuisine, few tourists – this is an ideal combination for those who do not like crowds.
Beaches of the Budva Riviera – for every taste and wallet. Small towns or Budva with many hotels, markets and supermarkets – choose what you like. In the Bay of Kotor, the water has warmed up over the summer and a pleasant sunny silence reigns in the wonderful towns of Perast and Herceg Novi. For those who are looking for a budget vacation and want to be sure that there will be warm water in October, you should look towards the south of Montenegro. These are Ulcinj and Bar, where it will be warm even in October.
Recommend for reading: Boka Kotor Bay – vacation on the Montenegrin fjord
Of course, during your vacation, you should not only lie on the beach, but also alternate lazy days with trips to ancient monasteries, fortresses and national parks with high mountain lakes – Black Lake in Durmitor Park and Lake Biograd.
Turkey – Oludeniz (Fethie)
- The best time: September – October
- Temperature in October: +23-27°C
Autumn in Oludeniz is an ideal time for relaxation. I was there in the summer and autumn – compared to the hot summer, October is simply incredible. Until the end of October, paragliders fly here from Mount Babadag, the sea is warm to +23 degrees, prices drop for everything – accommodation and paragliding flights. But these are not all the reasons why you should choose this particular location to continue your personal summer.
Oludenz is located where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Aegean Sea, and it is very beautiful here. In the region around Fethiye, you can not only relax by the sea. There is a large concentration of interesting historical and natural locations. Between Fethiye and Oludeniz lurks the ghost village of Kayakii, which used to be inhabited by Greeks. In the Valley of Butterflies (although you don’t have to wait for colorful butterflies there in autumn, but species without lepidoptera are quite self-sufficient) you can live in a wild campsite. And in the town of Dalyan, you can feed the Caretta–Caretta loggerhead turtles, which swim freely along the river here.
Active recreation is another feature of this coast. Go on a short hike in the Saklikent Gorge, and at the end of the hike, swim in the waterfall. And be sure to fly on a paraglider over Oludeniz Bay – it is incredibly beautiful from a bird’s eye view. And here the well-known Lycian trail begins – I hiked from Fethiye to Kalkan, its best part, where in October it is very pleasant to walk in the mountains and spend the night in a tent overlooking the sea. If you just want to relax and not think about anything – go to the village of Kabak, which is 20 km from Oludeniz. A wild vacation awaits you here in a picturesque bay where we spent some of the best days of our lives.
Recommend for reading: Lycian coast – big guide to unusual Turkey
Portugal – Algarve
- The best time: September-October
- Temperature in October: +20-25°C
The main autumn destination of Portugal is the southern Algarve region. The majority of vacationers went from the popular resorts of Albufeira or Portimão. The sun is not so hot, and the water is a little cooler than in summer. But swimming is still possible if you are not afraid of water with a temperature of +20 degrees. If you are afraid of a cold current, it is better to choose resorts closer to Spain, such as Faro. There are huge sandy beaches and it has its own airport, which is only 20 minutes away from the city.
It is better to go to Portugal in autumn for a more or less active vacation: the weather can be unpredictable, so counting only on the beach is risky. But I also swam in the middle of November – the water is invigorating, but it was nice on the beach. And here it’s nice to walk along the paths along the ocean – it’s especially beautiful from Cape San Vincente or Sagres, where one of the most beautiful beaches of this coast is located, to Lagos with its yellow rocks in the middle of blue water. Very beautiful sea slopes, incredible wild beaches – all this without crowds of people.
Recommend for reading: Alentejo Coast – where to find the most beautiful wild beaches in Portugal
Italy – Sicily, Calabria, Amalfi
- The best time: September-October
- Temperature in October: +20-24°C
The velvet season on the Italian boot is territorially divided in half. September and early October are good in central Italy – in the expensive but incredibly beautiful cities of the Amalfi Coast – Positano, Ravello, Sorrento, Amalfi and others.
Recommend to read: Tropea – complete guide about the rest on the best beaches of Calabria, Italy
And already velvet, in October, in the south: in Apulia (heel), Basilicata (sole) and Calabria (nose). For a holiday within the city limits, choose, for example, Tropea with its fantastically beautiful beaches against the background of the white cliffs on which this small town is built. This is where I plan to go this October – later I will write my own review about vacationing in Calabria in mid-October.
Sicily in autumn is always a good idea. When September ends, the influx of vacationers decreases, prices become more pleasant, and the climate is milder. Sicily is washed by three seas at once: the Tyrrhenian Sea from the north, the Mediterranean Sea from the south, and the Ionian Sea from the west.
Due to the large size of the island and the presence of a volcano, there are sandy, volcanic, rocky beaches and picturesque lagoons hidden from prying eyes. At the end of autumn, it is warmest in Sicily – for example, in Taormina, Cefalu or Modica, swimming and sunbathing are comfortable until the beginning of November.
Malta
- The best time: September – November
- Temperature in October: +23-25°C
In Malta, the sun shines 300 days a year. In summer, African winds bring heat, but sea breezes soften the hot air. Thanks to this neighborhood, there is enough heat for both September and October. But somewhere from the middle of September, the beaches become a little empty, and the sun stops being very scorching like in the summer. The weather is so good that sunbathing can be successfully alternated with exploring the surroundings and historical monuments.
The Maltese archipelago consists of six islands, three of which are very popular with tourists – Malta, Gozo and Comino. It is worth visiting all three main islands: immerse yourself in the history of Maltese cities, walk along the edge of the steep shores of the island of Gozo and swim in the most beautiful lagoons of Comino.
Recommend for reading: Where is the best place to stay in Malta
There are not many real beaches with sand in Malta and Gozo – the islands are steep and rocky, the entrance to the sea is often rocky, but equipped with steps and descents into clear and clean water.
Stony beaches can be found in all popular vacation spots for tourists. In Sliema – there are no others there, in Aura, Boujibba, St. Paul’s Bay, St. Julian’s. There are also places for entering the sea from a ladder in Valletta, but after all, people do not go to the capital of Malta for swimming in the sea.
One of the most popular sandy beaches is the Blue Lagoon beach. It is located between the small island of Comino and the very tiny Cominotto near the northern coast of Malta. One of the largest is Mellieha Bay, a gentle sandy beach that is comfortable to relax with children. Nearby is the very popular Golden Bay beach with a fairly wide sandy line.
Spain – Andalusia, Mallorca and Canarias islands
- The best time: September-October
- Temperature in October: +21-29°C
Spain is another autumn destination where you can have a good rest in the velvet season. Of course, you can go to Barcelona and relax on the beaches of the Costa Brava. But the water in the sea will already be cool. It is better to look towards the southern coast of Andalusia – at its resort areas: the Coast of the Sun – Costa del Sol, and the Coast of Light – Costa de la Luz. In October, it is much warmer on the beaches of Malaga. There lounging on the sand can be diluted not only with sights and local cuisine, but also with kitesurfing.
A separate story is the Spanish islands of Tenerife (and the other Canaries) and Mallorca (the Balearic Islands). They are located even further south, so it is warmer here for much longer. Mallorca has some of the best beaches in Spain. There are more than two hundred sandy beaches surrounded by rocky cliffs covered with pine groves. In the Canary Islands, the beaches are very different. From black volcanic beaches on Lanzarote to snow-white beaches on the island of Fuerteventura. On the island of Tenerife, choose the southern part, where it is much warmer and has a large selection of sandy beaches, as well as good infrastructure. But remember that there is actually no low season here – tourists come here all year round.
I recommend you to read: Mallorca Road Trip Itinerary – What to See in a Week by Car
Morocco – Agadir, Essaouira
- The best time: Septwmber-October
- Temperature in October: +23-29°C
It is very pleasant in Morocco in October. It is warm, not hot as in summer, the air temperature is +26°C on average. On the ocean shore, you can not only surf, but also swim and jump on the ocean waves. But for this you need to choose the beaches carefully – mainly those that are incarnated in coastal lagoons.
Recommend for reading: 8 things to do in Essaouira, Morocco
The main resort, which is very similar to the Mediterranean, is the city of Agadir. There is a huge beach with sunbeds and umbrellas, along which exquisite snow-white hotels are located. For those who like evening parties and do not want to look for Moroccan authenticity – you should go here. But, if you like Atlantic breezes and cozy restaurants, bars with live music and a relaxed atmosphere – you should go to Essaouira. Surfers, hippies and creative people from all over the world hang out here. There is a nice big beach where you can sunbathe and play beach football.
Cyprus – Paphos, Ayia Napa
- The best time: September-November
- Temperature in October: +21-25°C
In autumn in Cyprus, the water and air are warm. And to them is added the freshly harvest, which appears on the tables of taverns and plates and in the glasses of local residents and tourists.
The most famous velvet resorts are located in the south of the western – Greek part of Cyprus. And the best beaches in this part of the island are in Prataras, Ayia Napa and Paphos. Choose your style of rest, depending on which you need to choose the city where to look for a hotel or apartments.
The beaches of the resort of Ayia Napa are ideal for young people. The city is a full party with the appropriate attributes: night bars, colorful cocktails and discos. Plus, there is a huge selection of hotels where couples with children can rest comfortably – there is enough room for everyone. The best beach in Ayia Napa is Nissi Beach. It has blue water and white sand, along which rows of sunbeds are lined up.
The beaches of the Protaras resort are most suitable for family vacations: they have golden sand and turquoise water. A large selection of hotels, a long promenade stretches along the resort – a great place for a promenade. Some of the beaches are located in rocky bays that offer wonderful views from above. Fig Tree Beach is suitable for tourists with children. It has a gentle gentle entrance to the water, water that warms up quickly in shallow water, and it is convenient to get here – there is a road and buses to the beach.
Paphos has a wonderful promenade for walking and there are several sandy beaches nearby that can be reached by transport. One of them, Coral Bay, is family-friendly with pleasant sand and an entrance to the sea. It is located 12 km from Paphos, but it is 10 minutes by car, buses also go here.
Greece – the islands of Santorini, Rhodes
- The best time: September-October
- Temperature in October: +21-25°C
Greek autumn is the two months that add to the pleasant cool summer and extend the beach season. The more southerly it is, the warmer it is. In September, it’s good to rest on the coast of Halkidiki, and in October to aim for the Greek islands.
Any direction will be successful. – snow-white huts and black sand on the beaches of Santorini, or Rhodes, neighboring Turkey, where it is warm until the end of October (but the winds can blow).
All beaches in Santorini are different. Multicolored coastlines of intricate shapes are covered with unusual colored sand and pebbles. Here you will not see the usual yellow color of sand – the beaches are covered with gray and red volcanic sand, black pebbles and white stones. And all this is surrounded by the blue sea, bright yellow-hot sunset and rocky shores.
In Crete, it is also good to swim in early October, and to look at the Cretan ruins and the Knossos Palace – in the fall there will definitely not be the crowds that form queues at the entrance in the summer.
Useful articles and links:
Travel medical insurance with discounts can be purchased from HotlineFinance
Hotel and apartment bookings – Booking.com
- The best road trip in Morocco
- Sicily – the best beaches in the east and west of the island
- 5 most picturesque routes in Morocco that you should definitely add to your itinerary
- Road trip in Jordan – route, main sights and costs of the trip
- Apartments and hotels in Baska Voda, Croatia – where to stay on vacation
