This post lists 10 best autumn destinations in Europe.
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Autumn in Europe turns entire landscapes gold, red and amber and if you’re chasing the best fall European destinations for a proper foliage trip, you’ve got more options than the usual Bavaria-and-Tuscany shortlist. I’ve picked these 13 which are mostly places I’ve visited in autumn or places I’d love to go in autumn. From famous stretches of the Alps to a couple of underrated countries that don’t usually make it onto these kinda lists.
Quick Guide
- Location: Germany, Slovenia, France, Italy, Czechia, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, plus a bonus UK pick
- Getting there: mostly flights into major hubs, with trains or a hire car for the more rural spots
- Currency: Euro across most of the list; Swiss franc in Switzerland; Pounds for the Scotland bonus
- Best time to visit: late September in northern Europe through to mid-November further south
- Don’t miss: Vianden’s castle in Luxembourg, the reflections at Esch-sur-Sûre and Glencoe if you’re adding on a UK leg
Best Autumn Destinations in Europe
Bavaria, Germany
Bavaria is known for rolling hills, castles and forests that light up gold every autumn and, while you can get around by train, I’d strongly recommend hiring a car so you can stop at the smaller spots along the way. Neuschwanstein Castle and the Bavarian Alps are the obvious draw and, if you’re relying on public transport, the train to Füssen gets you there and is worth the stop in its own right: a fairytale-like town with cafés serving excellent cake, the Gothic Hohes Schloss and a museum inside St Mang’s Abbey covering the town’s violin and lute-making history. From Füssen, bus routes 71 or 73 take you to the base of Neuschwanstein in five to ten minutes. You can also walk just over an hour if you’d rather do it on foot. There’s also a shuttle bus up the hill for anyone who’d rather skip the climb.
- Don’t miss: Füssen on the way to Neuschwanstein, not just the castle itself
If you’d rather not deal with local transport at all, a guided day tour covers Neuschwanstein for you. And if you’re exploring Munich, I’ve got a guide for that here too!
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Munich Travel Guide 2026: Where to Go and How to Plan Your Trip
Black Forest, Germany
The Black Forest is one of Europe’s most famous regions for autumn colour and dense forest turning into a sea of red and gold makes it easy to see why. I drove through it one October during an unusually warm spell and the scenery was stunning. Fair warning if you’re driving a UK-plated car: the Schwarzwaldhochstraße’s narrow, winding roads take some getting used to when you’re not sure what’s coming the other way. I was terrified but, fortunately, not the one behind the wheel. The scenery glistening in the sun made me feel better!
Don’t miss: a drive along the Schwarzwaldhochstraße for the best panoramic views
FOR MORE GERMANY:
Munich Travel Guide 2026: Where to Go and How to Plan Your Trip
Best Cities to Visit in Germany
Essential Berlin City Guide for First Time Visitors: All You Need to Know
How to Move to Germany on a Budget
Lake Bled, Slovenia
Lake Bled is a dream destination in any season, but the mix of autumn colour and the lake’s still, crystal-clear water is hard to beat. Walk the full loop around the lake, then hike up to Bled Castle for the best view over the water and the surrounding hills.
I actually haven’t been there yet, I’ve been wanting to for YEARS! So here’s a tip from friends who made it to the lake:
- Don’t miss: the view over the lake from Bled Castle at golden hour
The French Alps, France
The French Alps turn dramatic in a different way come autumn. Valleys and mountainsides washed in colour, perfect for a cosy hike without the summer crowds. Chamonix is a good base and it’s close enough to Annecy, one of France’s most charming towns and home to the turquoise waters of Lac d’Annecy, to easily combine the two.
- Don’t miss: pairing Chamonix with a day trip to Annecy for the gorgeous lake and one of the cutest French towns!
Tuscany, Italy
Tuscany is quieter in autumn than in peak summer and the region’s vineyards and olive groves turn a warm, patchwork gold that suits the season better than the heat of July ever could. Chianti and Val d’Orcia are the classic landscapes to aim for and autumn also happens to be harvest festival season, plus some of the best food and wine you’ll find anywhere. Proper autumn comfort food!
- Don’t miss: timing your trip around a local harvest festival in Chianti or Val d’Orcia
Bohemian Switzerland, Czechia
This is one of the lesser-known picks on the list. Dramatic rock formations and forest ablaze with colour, with none of the crowds of the bigger names here. Hike to the Pravčická Gate for views over the sandstone towers set against the autumn treeline.
- Don’t miss: the hike up to Pravčická Gate
Hallstatt, Austria
Hallstatt is postcard-perfect at the best of times and autumn makes it more so, with the surrounding mountains and lake reflecting every shade of gold and red. Stroll around the lake, then take a boat ride out onto the water to see the village properly framed by the hills behind it. It got popular on the socials so it might be busy…
- Don’t miss: the boat ride out onto the lake for the full view of the village
Triglav National Park, Slovenia
Triglav National Park is home to Slovenia’s stretch of the Julian Alps, and it’s a proper paradise for nature lovers once autumn hits. Explore the Vintgar Gorge for a gentler walk, or hike Mount Triglav itself if you want the full day out.
- Don’t miss: the Vintgar Gorge if you want autumn colour without a full hiking day
The Ardennes, Belgium
The Ardennes is built for autumn hiking and cycling; vast forest and winding rivers running through the valleys, with far fewer visitors than you’d find in the bigger-name spots on this list. The Semois Valley is the standout and a scenic drive through it is worth doing even if you’re not stopping to hike.
- Don’t miss: a scenic drive through the Semois Valley
Luxembourg
Luxembourg might be the most underrated autumn destination on this list. Small enough to cover in a couple of days, with medieval towns and river valleys that turn spectacular shades of gold wherever you look, not just in one or two postcard spots. I made my way through Luxembourg City, Vianden, Wiltz and Esch-sur-Sûre in autumn and never ran out of colour.
- Don’t miss: Vianden’s hilltop castle framed by the season’s colour and the hike up Esch-sur-Sûre for the views.
I’ve got a whole guide to Luxembourg city here and also one to the best places to visit in Luxembourg country if you’re looking for some guidance and inspiration.
RELATED:
Luxembourg City Break: All You Need to Plan the Best Trip
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Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein barely gets a mention on European autumn lists, which is exactly why I’d put it on this one. Vaduz and Triesenberg were covered in gold-toned hillsides when I visited and one thing caught me off guard: I had a full spell of summer weather here in the middle of October, so don’t assume the Alps mean cold the moment autumn starts (hello, climate crisis!).
- Don’t miss: Vaduz for the castle views over the valley, Triesenberg for higher mountain scenery without a full day of hiking
Have a look at my Liechtenstein guide here for more information on the country and the gorgeous hotel view I had in Triesenberg!
READ MORE: Liechtenstein: The Tiny Country That Blew My Mind
Switzerland
I’ve been to Switzerland three times, always in winter, so autumn here is still on my list rather than something I’ve seen first-hand. But going by how beautiful Bavaria was in autumn (similar rolling, forested landscape just across the border), I can only imagine what it looks like. I’ve also seen the most gorgeous photos of Blausee with impossibly clear water ringed by golden trees so that’s been on my list since (although I was told it’s actually a very small lake!).
- Don’t miss (once I get there): Blausee, if you’re picking one spot to build a Swiss autumn trip around
Bonus: Scotland, If You’re Also Doing a UK Trip
Technically not mainland Europe, but too good to leave off this list. If you’re a regular reader, you know how much I love Scotland!
Glencoe in autumn is one of the most beautiful landscapes I’ve seen in this colour palette and Edinburgh’s autumn leaves come with a bonus if you time it right. I was there for Samhain and the city’s summer-versus-winter celebration is one of the best seasonal events in the country!
- Don’t miss: Glencoe and Edinburgh if your dates line up with Samhain
If you don’t want to drive yourself, a Highlands day tour from Edinburgh covers Glencoe without the logistics, or see my Best Day Trips from Edinburgh guide for more options.
ICYMI:
Best Day Trips from Edinburgh: Beautiful Places to Visit by Train or Tour (2026)
Best Things to Do on the Isle of Skye
1-Week Scotland Road Trip: The Ultimate Itinerary
The Most Magical Places in Scotland (Witchy History, Folklore and Wizarding World)
Tips for Autumn Travel in Europe
Best time to visit: autumn technically starts in late September, but exactly when the colour peaks is always a bit of a moving target in Western Europe. Head further north like Finland, for instance, and by early-to-mid November you’ll find snow and fallen leaves mixed together instead.
What to pack: layers are essential, since temperatures can swing a lot across a single day. For colder stretches, I can’t recommend the Uniqlo Heattech range enough.
Book in advance: autumn is peak season for festivals and local events across Europe, so book accommodation early, especially in the smaller, rural spots on this list.
FAQ
Peak colour generally runs from late September in northern Europe through to mid-November further south, though it shifts a little year to year.
Germany’s Bavaria and Black Forest regions and Slovenia’s Julian Alps are consistently among the most striking, but underrated spots like Luxembourg and Liechtenstein rival them without the crowds.
Not always. Lake Bled, Hallstatt and Luxembourg’s main towns are all manageable by train and on foot but a car opens up more of the smaller villages in Bavaria, the Black Forest and the Ardennes.
Generally yes, outside of festival dates, since autumn falls after the peak summer season in most of these destinations.
Final Thoughts
Europe’s autumn colours don’t stop at Bavaria and Tuscany, even if those are the two everyone reaches for first. Some of the best of this list (in my humble opinion) like Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Bohemian Switzerland barely get a mention anywhere else.
Have you been to any of these? Let me know in the comments, especially if you’ve got other underrated autumn spots in Europe worth adding to a part two.
Pin this for your next autumn trip and, if you’re staying closer to home, check out my guide to autumn day trips from London too.
This post listed 10 best autumn destinations in Europe.
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