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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Help me find a Southern Europe adult holiday for October half term please

21 replies

HeritageVegetable · 07/09/2024 20:35

We didn't have a "proper" holiday this summer, just a city break in the UK, and I'm now desperate to go somewhere warmish for half term.

There are three of us, two adults and our autistic teen who likes museums, historical sites, parks, zoos, countryside, quaint streets, beaches (but not swimming) and long walks but doesn't like huge crowds or noisy children - hence can be treated as a third adult.

Where can we go for a car free week or so at the end of October which will be noticeably warmer than the UK but not actually hot, and will have enough to do to fill four or five days sightseeing, but not be madly full of tourists?

Not Venice or Barcelona, too overtouristed. Not Naples, too hectic. Not Rome, we love it and know how to avoid the crowds but have been recently. Not Milan, insufficiently pretty.

Considering Seville and Valencia, of which I've heard good things. I'd love to go to lovely little Tuscan towns but we don't want to hire a car, so need somewhere that's manageable by public transport. The Italian lakes are apparently doable by ferry in the summer but does that work in October? Just how crowded is Dubrovnik?

Thank you.

OP posts:
SpanThatWorld · 07/09/2024 20:59

Seville is lovely.

We went to Malta in October half term. Temperatures low to mid 20s. Stay in Valletta and there is so much to do. Lots of history, lots of quaint streets. A beautiful port with ferries to explore the surroundings. Modern buses that criss cross the island. Miles of coastline. Everyone speaks English. Food is heavily influenced by Italy. Perfect for a week.

minipie · 07/09/2024 21:03

Yes to Seville.

No to Dubrovnik.

Italian lakes very iffy weather wise in October, high chance of rain.

Marrakech? Might be a bit sensory overload though.

Athens? The Parthenon and Plaka will be busy but the rest not so much.

Sicily? I haven’t been, but want to. Same for Turkey - I am not sure where would be best to base yourself but weather should be good and lots to see.

Crete would be great but might be tricky to see sights car free. Although if you stayed somewhere fairly developed they probably run day trips to eg Knossos, Spinalonga.

minipie · 07/09/2024 21:04

Re reading your OP, strike Marrakech

JC03745 · 07/09/2024 21:18

DH and I often travel in Oct, because we don't have children and avoid school holidays, hate too much heat and hate crowds.
Malaga city itself- not the crowded beach resorts along the coast. There is a beach, but other than walking along the promenade- didn't actually swim in the sea or sunbath. The promenade goes for miles, so we'd walk early morning, then stop at a beachside cafe for breakfast, before walking back. There is the Picasso museum, the castle, car museum, glass/crystal museum and fantastic fruit/veg market. We did a day trip via the train to Ronda, to see the amazing bridge. It felt a mix of European tourist but also just locals.

Another place we went in Oct is Sicily. We had 2 weeks, so travelled all around the island. Palermo is fascinating and you could stay just there, or do some day trips. The catacombs (depends if this is something you son would/wouldn't want to see!) We got the train 2hrs to Agrigento. It looks similar to the Greek Parthenon, but all the interesting things were in the museum. We caught a local bus to Mondello beach for lunch. It wasn't busy at all. A few people swimming, and some lovely restaurants to choose from.

HeritageVegetable · 07/09/2024 22:07

Thanks all.

I've been digging into Valencia in the meantime, which does look lovely, but Palermo and Sicily in general is tempting, we're a mix of pescatarian / vegetarian/shellfish phobes who would find Italian food easier than Spanish. I'm a sucker for classical ruins and would fancy a Palermo/Syracuse double header.

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Decorhate · 07/09/2024 22:20

Nice and surrounding areas. There were some families with children (and obviously families live there!) but when we went last October it was noticeably more of an adult destination - there were hardly any children on the plane even though it was half term.

BuzzieLittleBee · 07/09/2024 22:20

Palermo and Syracuse are a long way from each other! Sicily is a big island (the biggest in the med, IIRC).

It is a fab island, but I wouldn't try and do both east and West in the same week.

There are lots of 'earthquake towns' (towns wiped out by the earthquake of 1693 in the south east - Noto and Ragusa come to mind straight away. A history lover's dream. Also the Pantalica necropolis and the cava grande for stunning 'natural' sights. And of course Etna!
It's an amazing island, but I wouldn't do it without a car, and I wouldn't do both sides in the same trip.

Lisbon is another option. No need for a car to get out and visit Sintra, Cascais etc.

feellikeanalien · 07/09/2024 22:25

I would also suggest Lisbon OP. Parks, the zoo, historic buildings, lovely cobbled streets, trams and delicious food. As pp said there are good train connections to some lovely places both inland and on the coast. The metro is very accessible and the river front has been developed in recent years.

user1468867181 · 07/09/2024 22:32

We went to Valencia last year and I loved in. Really enjoyed the zoo and aquarium. The science museum was really interesting and we enjoyed walking in the park.

StaringAtTheWater · 07/09/2024 22:33

I was pleasantly surprised by how nice Athens was when we went a couple of years ago. You could also take day trips to several nearby islands from there.

HeritageVegetable · 07/09/2024 22:56

Lisbon (or Porto I guess) would also be a good call, thank you. I hadn't thought of Portugal.

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TheBirdintheCave · 07/09/2024 23:04

I'm autistic and what you described your teen loving is basically my dream holiday, haha.

Seville was brilliant so I'd highly recommend that. It's so pretty, especially at night! We took the train to Cadiz for the beach which is also lovely and has a fun camera obscura exhibit!

We also went to the Italics Roman ruins which was a great day out!

TheBirdintheCave · 07/09/2024 23:05

*Italica. Silly autocorrect!

MissAmbrosia · 08/09/2024 10:09

Ortigia in Siciliy is gorgeous - great archeological parks - days out to Noto and Ragusa.

Ensconcedinvelvet · 08/09/2024 14:10

Yes to Seville!

Also consider Sardinia. Olbia region or emerald coast. Smile

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 15/09/2024 21:43

There are three of us, two adults and our autistic teen who likes museums, historical sites, parks, zoos, countryside, quaint streets, beaches (but not swimming) and long walks but doesn't like huge crowds or noisy children - hence can be treated as a third adult.

I think Valencia would definitely fit the brief for you here.

We found Seville to be a lot busier than Valencia (visited both random weeks out of season). Italian lakes can be pretty chilly by the end of October, especially evenings and early mornings. You mention Tuscany, and I think it's possible to travel between the larger cities by train but perhaps not the little hill top villages. I recall reading a post last year from someone who had stayed in Florence but got about quite a bit on public transport .

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 15/09/2024 21:47

I'm pescatarian but not fond of shellfish and I've never had a problem with food in Spain by the way .

HeritageVegetable · 15/09/2024 22:08

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 15/09/2024 21:47

I'm pescatarian but not fond of shellfish and I've never had a problem with food in Spain by the way .

That's good to know thank you. Just about to book.

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junebirthdaygirl · 15/09/2024 22:22

I wouldn't think Lisbon would be warm enough in October. We went once in May and the weather wasn't great so feel it has a shorter season compared to Southern Portugal.

SpanThatWorld · 15/09/2024 22:24

junebirthdaygirl · 15/09/2024 22:22

I wouldn't think Lisbon would be warm enough in October. We went once in May and the weather wasn't great so feel it has a shorter season compared to Southern Portugal.

We were there October half term. T shirt weather and my son and I swam in the sea at Cascais.

Ensconcedinvelvet · 23/10/2024 19:44

Where did you end up booking OP? 😃 hope you had/will have/ are having a great time

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