No Small Wander

This week I’ve been feeling the impact of autumn in London. There was one glorious week where it was the perfect weather. The end of the hot weather was one push of bright, blue skies and plus-20°C weather. The dry temperatures brought gold, falling leaves. It was the best of both worlds!

And now…less so. The weather is grey. It’s been raining outside my apartment for at least three days, on and off. Whenever I step out now, it’s always with an umbrella, and an uncertainty about what kind of outerwear I should be wearing. Being indoors so much is starting to really impact my mood.

So then I got to thinking: if the city’s turning me blue, it’s time to take a trip. But when I’m bummed out about my current situation, sometimes it’s hard for me to get excited about what’s around the corner. So I’m approaching this in two ways:

Reject The Bad Weather

This looks like me being in total denial that the summer is over, and seeking out places nearby that are still hot and sunny throughout September and October. Places I’m considering for these months include:

Barcelona, Spain

I love Spain—the last time I went, it was Madrid in January, and even in winter it was bright and warm, unless you stood in the shade. The weather in the summer is hot, so autumn is the perfect time to visit for summery vibes without roasting. I love Barcelona because it’s such a walkable city, and the architecture makes for these walks to be so beautiful. For a can’t-miss attraction, the Sagrada Familia is one of the most beautiful places I’ve been in—it felt like standing in a rainbow!

Sintra & Lisbon, Portugal

I visited Sintra last summer for a wedding, and it was beautiful. I loved walking through nature, woven seamlessly into the palaces and castles. Sintra is only a 30-minute taxi from Lisbon airport, so I’d make Lisbon my base and do a few day trips. With temperatures in autumn averaging around 26°C in September and October, it’s the perfect summery getaway for the middle of fall!

Any Island, Greece

I usually don’t like to recommend places I haven’t been to. But I’ve only visited two of the Greek Islands, Thessaloniki and Crete. And I loved them both! But truthfully, there are so many Greek Islands that I want to visit that I feel like I’d be a fool to go to the same place twice. Rhodes, Kos, and Corfu are at the top of my list—and with temperatures averaging up to 25°C well into October, I think that there would be so many excellent spots to check out this time of year!

If I hadn’t spent some time in Italy this summer, Florence would also be on my list (as daytime temperatures often reach 27°C in September). All of these are places I could see myself being happy in, basking in the warm weather. But there’s another thought I’m thinking…

Go All-In On Autumnal Vibes

If you can’t beat them, join them—this counts for seasons, not terrible weather. London’s autumn is wet and cold. I want a fall that feels more back-to-school, Practical Magic, pumpkin spice latte vibes!

Paris, France

Is going to France in the fall too much of a cliché? Maybe. But I’d still love to go. Fashion week brings fall fashion; cooler weather is the perfect time to enjoy a hot French onion soup or steak and frites. Stereotypical? Perhaps. But it still feels like the place to be to enjoy the changing weather—especially when you consider all the green spaces and parks the city has to offer. Great places to see the leaves change!

Edinburgh, Scotland

Weather-wise, Edinburgh is similar to London in that there’s always a chance of rain. But what I love about Edinburgh isn’t the perfect weather; it’s the gothic architecture, the way the winding streets lead to the castle on the hill, and all the little museums. There are so many places to pop into if the weather turns—pubs, cafes, bookstores, you name it.

Prague, Czech Republic

I last visited Prague in the winter, and I loved it. The cobbled-stone streets; the architecture (including the astronomical clock and the two-towered cathedral); the food. It’s all so cosy—and there was so much greenery throughout the city, I can’t help but think it would be a perfect place to watch the foliage change from green to gold!

What’s your vibe—lean into the autumn weather? Or escape it by going to sunny locations? I hope you’ll tell me in the comments—happy travels!