Revealed: The Top Five November Destinations in Europe

Autumn is in full swing and Europe is covered in leaves and marginally nicer weather than the UK: that’s right, it’s the pre-Christmas sweet spot more commonly known as “November”. Find a friend or loved one, take the Friday/Monday off work, and head out for some early winter charm in one of these wonderful and affordable destinations that will not be teeming with tourists.

1. Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Bang in the middle of Transylvania, you don’t have to be a Dracula aficionado to have an incredible weekend in Cluj. A bright, walkable town full of students and laid back locals, wide clean pavements are lined so relentlessly with spectacular ornate buildings that your 16gb iPhone will be full of photos in just one day. What really sets Cluj apart, however, is the fact that is hosts several features that you will literally not find anywhere else in the world. The world’s biggest salt mine is impressive enough (trust me, you will never have seen anything like it). But it is the whimsical penchant for underground concept café-bars that keeps Cluj exciting all weekend: take your pick amongst 10 or 12 different and increasingly bizarre joints, with my top choices being Insomnia, a trippy Alice in Wonderland style café; Joben Bistro, a very heavily kitted out shrine to steampunk; and L’Atelier, a bar where the entire room, and everything in it, is made entirely out of cardboard. Don’t spill your drink!

2. Bologna, Italy

I cannot express how delicious Bologna is. It looks delicious, it smells delicious, and everything sold in every culinary establishment in the city is the most delicious of them all. Often overlooked for nearby blockbusters Milan and Florence, Bologna has an energy given to it by its cosmopolitan crowd of edgy students from all over Italy, and with hidden passageways and small canals galore you will feel like there is something to discover around every corner. Itinerary suggestion: walk around, have a coffee, have some food, walk a bit more, have more food, then walk, have some food, maybe some wine, then following a tiny bit more walking, a load more food and wine should do you perfectly for the evening. Unless you hate indulgence at incredibly affordable prices, Bologna is for you.

3. Gent, Belgium

I am going to write a list of things that Ghent excels in, and if you like at least two of them then it would be rather silly not to visit: chocolate, epic panoramic views, canals, beer, day trip potential, chips, romance, gigantic cathedrals, gin, being cheaper than Bruges, mussels, cycling, beer again. Add to this that you can take a train there from London (it’s only a 30 min connection from Brussels) and I’m not really sure why you are still reading this and not on your way to St. Pancras International already.

4. Utrecht, Leiden and Rotterdam, The Netherlands

It turns out that the transport ministry in The Netherlands realised early on that their country was very small and very flat, and therefore lent itself perfectly to a spectacular train network. With just one Dutch version of an Oyster card, you can navigate the whole country on reliable high speed trains. The nearby triumvirate of Utrecht, Leiden and Rotterdam works perfectly (in any order, although you’ll want Rotterdam for Saturday night if you are a night owl) given that they are under an hour away from each other. Utrecht is a compact version of Amsterdam with quirkier architecture and a fresher, younger feel. You’ll think you have your Instagram Story sorted until you reach the tiny university town of Leiden, which offers the picture perfect view of The Netherlands, insofar as every photo you take will look like a postcard. You’ll think you actually have your Insta sorted this time, until you reach Rotterdam, which is just a total shit show. There is nowhere on earth that has buildings like Rotterdam. It is basically what would happen if you let a four year old play Sim City, but I dare you not to love the chaos. Insta: sorted.

5. Athens, Greece

Hear me out on this one. Athens is far too hot to be enjoyed properly in the summer months, and you’ll do so much fighting through swathes of tourists as you try to get to the great Olympic stadium that you will feel like one of the ancient gladiators that formerly graced it. The weather in late autumn is sunny and mild, with all the same wonderful attractions, bars and unbelievable food, but none of the queues and far cheaper accommodation – all perfect for a budget getaway to a timeless and vibrant city.

Let me know if you have any other great ideas, or if you decide you want to head to one of these destinations then leave a comment and more guidance is available!