With Halloween and half-term on the cards, October promises to be a busy month with plenty of events and festivals taking place. This is a great time of year to visit hotter countries like Ecuador and Egypt during their 'cooler' months or enjoy popular destinations during their less-crowded (and cheaper) season. Here are the best places to go in October.

As Portugal’s harvest begins late September and lasts well into the start of October, consider a Valley of Gold walking holiday to soak up its wine heritage. Guests start the self-guided tour (supplied with all the info) in Porto and wind through the Douro Valley. Delve into rural Portugal where grapes are still trodden by foot, swing by traditional quintas producing port using age-old methods and stay at a smattering of guesthouses like Casa do Visconde, a restored nobleman’s house.

The wine theme continues in Trentino with its DiVin Ottobre festival, held every weekend in October, providing guided tours of scenic vineyards and cellar wine-tastings. Over in Piedmont, the International Alba White Truffle Fair takes place in Alba's historic centre (pictured) from early October until December. Once you’ve snuffled truffles and taken in the medieval town, head out on a truffle hunting excursion in the hills around the cities of Asti and Monferrato. Stay at Locanda La Raia; offering 12 rooms, it's an ideal place to relax surrounded by the Gavi nature. Also set within La Raia's 180-hectare estate is a biodynamic farm and world-class winery. 

The epic Jasper Dark Sky Festival returns this 13-29 October with a focus on Indigenous, community-led events. Jasper National Park is the second-largest Dark Sky Preserve in the world and the best time to see the Northern Lights here is from September to May. With talks about extraterrestrial intelligence, guided night hikes and an orchestra symphony, this is a night beneath the stars to remember.

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Take advantage of Egypt’s slightly cooler temperatures to take in the incredible Great Sand Sea or head to the Siyaha Festival, celebrating the harvest and renewed friendship during the October full moon. Travel in style with a slow boat from Luxor to Aswan and visit riverside villages, camel markets and even the Valley of the Kings – this 10-day trip, departing 9 October, makes it an even smoother ride.

Head to Ireland's ancient east to discover the original birthplace of Halloween. The Puca Halloween Festival sees in the Celtic New Year where the creatures of Samhain, Ireland's ancient Halloween tradition, come to life. The festival takes place across Trim and Athboy in County Meath from 28 October with supernatural storytelling, music, food and a light show, celebrating the traditions carved by travellers over 2,000 years ago.

If it's a long-haul trip you're after, South Korea is stunning in October. Its fiery autumnal foliage hits its peak with plenty of national parks, mountain-top views and hiking trails to take in. With 70% of the country covered in mountains, you shouldn't miss the chance to see the changing of the seasons. This 12-night tour with InsideAsia sees you travelling from Seoul to Seoraksan where you'll stay at Hanok guesthouses, traditional villages and beachside spots in Busan.

Put those WFH lunchtime walks to use with a hiking adventure through the sandstone mountains of Jabal Umm ad Dami, Jordan’s highest mountain. While here, don't miss the ancient marvel of Petra, nor swimming (or floating) in the Dead Sea. This five-night group tour is great for solo travellers, couples or small groups where you’ll get to stay in a mix of hotels, homestays and Bedouin camps. Top it off with a traditional Arabic dinner and you’ll be left wanting more.

Looking for a weekend getaway? There’s so much to see during a weekend in Romania and this two-night group tour packs in the best bits. You’ll head into the Carpathian Mountains, home to 60% of Europe’s remaining brown bears, jump between bohemian cafes and take in the popular Bran and Peles castles before hunkering down for the night at a boutique hotel.

If it's ethereal night skies you seek, the north of England has some of the best spots. With large open moorland and views stretching for miles, you can see some of the darkest skies in the UK in Durham. The North Pennines Stargazing Festival (20 October-5 November) includes a family-friendly Galaxy Trail, telescoping at Star Camp and a stargazing supper at High Force waterfall. Or spot meteorites streaking across the sky at the Dark Skies Fringe Festival (27 October-5 November), taking place in the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales.

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The other half of England is jam-packed with October activities too. In Salcombe, there's the Live Music and Comedy Festival, Southampton serves up plenty of rainy-day activities like the Sea City Museum and early October sees the return of the Henley Literature Festival. For a stay with a difference, check into prison-turned-hotel Malmaison Oxford or head out on the epic South West 660 road trip route through Dorset, Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.

You probably don’t associate Abu Dhabi with basketball, but every October the NBA comes to town, bringing the excitement and pizazz of big time b-ball to the Emirates. 2023 sees the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves play two pre-season games at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island between 5 and 7 October. Tickets are available here.

Only in its second year, Oslo’s Munch Museum has already become a must-visit destination in the Norwegian capital. But once you’ve ogled The Scream, make sure you check out the capital city’s other cultural troves, striking architecture and rich art scene. Continue the theme with a stay at the stunning Sommerro, set within a restored 1930s building in Frogner. Paying homage to Norwegian cultural heritage with an Art Deco twist, this luxurious hotel spoils you with a choice of four restaurants, three bars, a sprawling wellness space and a rooftop terrace.

If you want to have the Caribbean all to yourself, visit Nevis in October. Visiting during low season means cheaper accommodation and fewer tourists, while temperatures still hover between 22 and 27°C (71-80°F). If you want to find out more about this small island's history, head to the Hamilton Museum in charming Charlestown, or those after a muddy-yet-rewarding challenge can tackle the 3,232-foot-high (269m) Nevis Peak. Then there are the traditional craft houses, thermal hot springs and fruit-and-veggie-focused Around the Garden tours to take in… the list goes on.

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With the monsoon season ending in Laos, October is a dry and warm time to visit this underrated Southeast Asian gem. Time your visit with Boun Awk Phansa, aka the end of Buddhist Lent (29 October), which is celebrated with boat races and the Lai Heua Fai (festival of lights), including candle-lit paper boats on the water. Delve into the highlights of the country with this 14-day tour where you’ll take in remote waterfalls, the artistic heritage of Luang Prabang and more.

Now in its 61st year, Belfast’s International Arts Festival promises nothing but diverse and thought-provoking entertainment between 12 October and 5 November. Theatre, dance, music, visual arts, film, talks… while there’s a lot to choose from, there are pick-and-mix-style ticket deals so you don’t miss your favourite acts. Stay close to the action at the Grand Central Hotel in the city centre with incredible views, as pictured here.

Enjoy a family-friendly spooky season with a selection of Halloween events across Wales. Follow Pembrokeshire Pumpkin Farm’s ‘Spooky Trail’ through wildflower meadows and go pumpkin-picking; board the Talyllyn Railway in southern Snowdonia; or listen to fireside tales at Carew Castle. Over-12s can scream their way through ‘Terror Mountain’ at The Silver Mountain Experience, just outside Aberystwyth.

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With balmy temperatures and sun-warmed waters, a villa in Sicily is a dreamy late autumn getaway. Zafferano, in the northeast, sees Ottobrata Zafferanese take over the historic centre in October, with each Sunday dedicated to a different local-grown food. Bumble along the food stalls, pick up porcini mushrooms or perhaps a jar of honey and watch craftsmen hone ancient skills, like creating lava-stone sculptures. Down in the far southeast, Vendicari Nature Reserve is home to thousands of flamingos, egrets and other aquatic birds, and this is the time to see them before they take flight for the last leg of their journey to Africa.

San Antonio will see the anticipated return of the state-wide Tasting Texas Wine + Food Festival, between 26 and 29 October. Over one hundred top chefs – many James Beard Award nominees and winners – will showcase their talents through walk-around tastings, intimate dinners, hands-on workshops and more.

Enjoying a cooler, drier season, pleasant temperatures (26°C/78°F) and fewer visitors, October is a great month to visit Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Explore the cobbled streets of Quito, marvel at the riches of the Amazon Rainforest and swim with reef sharks in the Galapagos. This 15-day tour also sees you take in the natural wonders of the Galapagos Islands via the open deck of the Ocean Spray vessel – think sea lion colonies and inquisitive penguins.

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Golf fans should head to Murcia, southeastern Spain, where there are 22 golf courses within 30 miles (48km) of each other. The sublime La Manga Club's courses wind through clusters of pine trees and along undulating plains, and were once the venue for the Spanish Open. The resort’s luxurious accommodation and facilities make it a worthy weekend contender, but as the region sees over 300 days of sunshine a year, make the most of the warm evenings with an alfresco meal of regional cuisine.

Escape the approaching autumn chills with a week of tropical sunshine in Bahrain. With temperatures averaging 30°C (86°F), October is still a hot time to visit, but there's an abundance of water sports to cool off with. Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites, seek out rare Arabian spices and don't miss the true-to-its-name Ahmad Al-Fateh Grand Mosque, which holds up to 7,000 worshippers.

The French Alpine village of Megève hosts the Toquicimes food festival between 20 and 22 October, which gives you the perfect opportunity to taste the region's finest flavours and local produce. Expect live cooking demonstrations, tasting sessions, workshops and live entertainment. Or live out your French countryside dreams at the Domaine des Etangs hotel (pictured) in Massignac, whose offerings include a 13th-century chateau, farmhouse cottages and surrounding land roamed by award-winning Limousin cows.

Ready to dress up as your favourite screenstar? Key West’s annual Fantasy Fest will be held between 20 and 29 October with 2023's theme set as ‘Uniforms and Unicorns’. There’ll be masquerade parties, quirky costume contests and live music throughout, culminating on the final night with a grand parade.

An autumnal Scotland getaway doesn’t come more rugged than Perthshire, aka Big Tree Country. This small group walking break's itinerary includes forest walks, volunteering with local rangers to see how flora and fauna are protected, and Iron Age hill forts. The cherry on top? A tour and tasting at the Highland Chocolatier.

The Helsinki Baltic Herring Festival (1-7 October) started in 1743, making it one of the oldest ongoing traditions in Finland. Combining the archipelago's old ways with modern food culture, the event is centred around Market Square in Helsinki, where fishermen sell their catch and you can try Finnish delicacies. Watch traditional sailing ships compete against the clock, or enjoy the unique herring filleting race.

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North Queensland is ideal for wildlife enthusiasts. October sees the start of the coral spawning season on the Great Barrier Reef (coral coverage is currently at its best in 36 years), cassowary nesting season in the Daintree and freshwater crocodile hatching around Cape York. 

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