Where to Travel in Europe in November

Hi all,

I'm travelling to Europe in Late October/November this year for between 4-8 weeks. I've never been to Europe before and wanted to get some advice from people for the off-season as most hot spots are ideal if travelling in Summer.

I'd like to see cool outdoor places, I want to try and see the Northern Lights if possible, as well as any hiking that could be done at that time of year. Basically open to any ideas and wanted to hear from people who have travelled around that time of year before!

Thanks in advance :)

Comments

  • +1

    I would try the Mont Blanc cable car. Try a google image search.

    • My fear of heights will hate me for it but it looks amazing!

    • +1

      Did this last month. Amazing.

  • +1

    most hot spots are ideal if travelling in Summer.

    tbh, I would not call travelling in summer ideal. The "hot spots" have too many people, and are too hot. e.g. https://outline.com/mZPnqT

    Spring or autumn are less crowded, and much nicer temperature if you are hiking.

    For November, I'd stick to southern Europe where the temperature will probably be quite pleasant in October/November. e.g. Greece, Italy, Spain
    Lots of hiking in each of those. The meteora in greece are a "cool outdoor place" that I am surprised are not more widely known.

    Further north probably too early for snow but might be a bit grey and rainy for hiking, and it will get dark quite early.

    We are in a solar minimum for the next couple of years so your chances of seeing the northern lights are lower, but not gone completely, so you could go to the far north and chase that https://www.aurorahunter.com/solar-cycle.html

    • How interesting about the solar cycles (a shame though). Thanks heaps for the advice. I am quite keen to avoid the extreme crowds.

      Glad to hear I haven't picked the worst possible time to go :)

    • ^^^ This ^^^
      November is a great time to visit Europe (which covers a large geographic area, so plenty of variations in climates)

      As well as less tourists everywhere, you will probably find airfares are a little more palatable, along with available accommodation options.
      And even if it does get cold, there is nothing like the experience of keeping warm in a nice small cosy pub or whatever.

  • Iceland is beautiful, has lots of outdoorsy stuff and you have a chance of seeing the northern lights.

    I've heard Prague is lovely in November/December and if you're going for 8 weeks, you might catch the Christmas markets.

    • I have been told about the christmas markets. Someone mentioned to me the other day that Germany was the place to go for them in early December. I'll have to check out what the Prague ones are like

      • i've heard the christmas markets are just a tourist trap.

        I've done prague 4 times in the last 20 years and love it.

        I'd recommend Czech republic, Slovakia and Hungary.

        depends what you want to do. - i.e. the sites (paris e.g. eiffel towers, etc) or just experience "different"

  • +1

    If you are flexible there is really no need to book anything that late in the year. Plenty of free accommodation with room to negotiate. From the beer festivals in Germany eg running up the stairs of the dome of Ulm to Prague and further east. Once it gets cold go to the southern belt Greece to Lisbon can still be wonderful in November. The rather cool north is best seen in June before the crowd while having super long days, unless you are nocturnal. Sights can be addictive as Europe has plenty to discover.

  • As far south as possible as 95% of the continent is too cold!

  • Did you end up deciding where to go? Just curious as a fellow traveler, I'm going in late October/early November for 7 weeks, and I am simultaneously excited and nervous! First overseas trip alone!

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