Four great travel destinations for autumn 2017

As you look on social media with mounting envy at everyone else enjoying a summer holiday overseas, why not plan ahead? Autumn is a great time to travel, if you pick the right destination.

Here are a four suggestions for alternative travel destinations to consider for September and October 2017.

Chile

‘If Brazil owned South American travel last year, Chile takes over for 2017,’ extolled the Telegraph earlier this year. It’s true. Chile has become one of the most exciting travel destinations in the world.

The capital, Santiago, has a cosmopolitan vibe with cool bars and restaurants, but be sure to venture outside the city, too.

If you’re feeling energetic and motivated, you can hike to the top of the Cerro San Cristobal and soak up the stunning views of the Andes (there’s a cable car for holidaymakers with weary legs).

Other places of interest in Chile include the coastline of Iquique and the penguin colony on Magdalena Island. Mating season is in September and October.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Included in this list by the Guardian of the best alternative city breaks in Europe, Dubrovnik is worth serious consideration if it’s a long weekend or midweek break you’re looking for in autumn.

While there’s no doubt that some of the surge in the Croatian city’s popularity can be attributed to the fact that it serves as a location for the TV smash hit Game of Thrones, that barely scratches the surface of its appeal.

Dubrovnik is a gorgeous mix of old town charm, with its monastery at the heart of it all, and an excellent restaurant and bar scene. Oh – and there are beaches, too.

Aarhus, Denmark

The capital city of Copenhagen has rather hogged the limelight in Denmark for years but 2017 is shining the spotlight on Aarhus. It’s the proud owner of not one but two titles: The European Capital of Culture and Region of Gastronomy.

Located on the Jutland peninsula in Denmark, beaches and forests are within a 15-minute bike ride away and the city itself is blessed with countless galleries, museums, restaurants and bars.

The atmosphere is cool and the crowd young. It’s a university city and the student population makes Aarhus the youngest in Denmark if measured by average age. “The atmosphere is a vibrant mix of youthful energy and blasts from the pasts,” states the VisitAarhus website.

Santorini, Greece

Who says you can’t have a European beach holiday in autumn? Well, you can if you do your holiday homework and choose a destination that still sees plenty of sun at that time of year.

Try Santorini, the picture postcard perfect Greek island. The temperatures in September and October can still climb as high as 25°C, so the beaches of Kamari and Monolithos are warm and welcoming – and a lot less crowded out of the peak summer holiday season.

The sunny climate will still be perfect for a visit to an open-air cinema screening at Kamari Village. Browse Greece and other beach holiday destinations here.

Guest written by Bethany

Pic credit: Pixabay