Comparison

Where to travel in October — autumn leaves and mountains, cities at their autumn best, and places entering the dry season

October picks — autumn leaves in Sapporo, Seoraksan and Aso; Toronto, Madrid, Budapest; Taichung, Tainan and Sapa — plus National Day crowds and rain.

The huge granite rock peaks of Ulsanbawi in Seoraksan National Park. — Ulsanbawi, Seoraksan · Photo: Olga Lipunova / CC BY-SA 3.0

Published 2026-10-05

How to choose an October trip

October is when autumn deepens and the season for autumn leaves and comfortable walking begins. But sights in China are packed during National Day week (around October 1), and central Vietnam is deep in its rainy season. We picked eight places, grouped as autumn leaves and mountains, cities at their autumn best, and central-southern Taiwan entering its dry season plus golden rice terraces. City walks in Japan, Kyoto's autumn colors and Southeast Asia's dry-season beaches are covered in our November article.

This article uses the 'best time to go' in each city guide and the October normals (average high, average low and rainfall) stored in our guides. Normals are averages over many years, so they don't tell you this year's weather, and the source agency and period differ by city. Madrid uses 1981–2010 and Penang 1971–2000, older periods, and the source for Phuket does not state a period, so treat them as rough figures. Check the forecast before you go.

Temperatures are in °C and rainfall in mm. The sources are listed below; Sapa has no normals in our guides, so it appears without figures.

Japan Meteorological Agency, 1991–2020: Sapporo and Kumamoto stations, Ishigaki (Ishigakijima station)
Korea Meteorological Administration, 1991–2020: Sokcho station
Central Weather Administration (CWA), Taiwan, 1991–2020: Taichung, Tainan and Hualien stations
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), 1991–2020: Toronto (Toronto Pearson Airport station), Vancouver (Vancouver International Airport station)
HungaroMet (Hungarian Meteorological Service), 1991–2020: Budapest (Budapest Pestszentlőrinc station)
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: Seattle (Seattle–Tacoma International Airport station), Guam (Guam International Airport station)
AEMET (Spanish State Meteorological Agency), 1981–2010: Madrid (Madrid, Retiro station)
WMO World Weather Information Service, 1991–2020: Da Nang (Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration)
WMO World Weather Information Service, 1971–2000: Penang (Malaysian Meteorological Department, MetMalaysia)
WMO World Weather Information Service, period not stated by the source: Phuket (Thai Meteorological Department, TMD)

Autumn leaves and mountains — Sapporo, Seoraksan, Aso

Sapporo's September-October brings autumn colors. The October normals are a high of 16.4°C, a low of 8°C and 109.9 mm of precipitation (JMA, 1991–2020). Nearby Otaru is easiest for walking from late spring to autumn, so it pairs well.

Seoraksan in Sokcho has something to see all year — azaleas in spring, fresh green in summer, autumn leaves and winter snow — and in October a red snow crab festival is sometimes held alongside the Seorak autumn colors. Dates change every year, so check the city tourism site. The October normals are a high of 19.5°C, a low of 10.8°C and 87.9 mm of precipitation (KMA, 1991–2020). Compare room prices for your dates early in the autumn leaf season.

Kumamoto is at its best in October-November, the season for Aso's pampas grass and autumn leaves. The October normals are a high of 25°C, a low of 14.9°C and 87.1 mm of precipitation (JMA, 1991–2020, Kumamoto station). Public transport around Aso is sparse, so a rental car is easiest, and Mt. Aso is an active volcano, so check official crater access information on the day.

Cities at their autumn best — Toronto, Madrid, Budapest

Toronto's autumn, September to November, brings walkable weather, fall colors and cultural events. The October normals are a high of 14.6°C, a low of 5.3°C and 67.2 mm of precipitation (ECCC, 1991–2020, Toronto Pearson Airport). Three ferry routes serve the Toronto Island parks from mid-April to mid-October; in winter only the Ward's Island route operates.

Madrid is most pleasant in April-June and September-October. October has a high of 19.4°C, a low of 10.7°C and 60 mm of rain (AEMET, 1981–2010, Retiro). These come from 1981–2010, so treat them as rough figures. The Reina Sofía museum, home to Picasso's Guernica, is usually closed on Tuesdays.

Budapest is most pleasant for walking in spring (April-June) and autumn (September-October). October has a high of 16.4°C, a low of 7.2°C and 45 mm of precipitation (HungaroMet, 1991–2020, Pestszentlőrinc). The Hungarian National Gallery in the Royal Palace is closed on the last Monday of every month.

Our guides also name September-October as a good time for walking in Vienna, Prague, Istanbul and Warsaw.

Entering the dry season, and golden rice terraces — Taichung, Tainan, Sapa

Central and southern Taiwan get more sunny days from October. Taichung is driest and sunniest in October-April and Tainan in October-March, the best times to visit. The October normals are a high of 30.3°C, a low of 22.2°C and 25 mm of rain in Taichung, and a high of 30.8°C, a low of 23.3°C and 30.8 mm in Tainan (both CWA, 1991–2020). Typhoons are still possible from summer into autumn, so check the forecast before you go.

Sapa is at its best in September-October, when the rice terraces turn gold. The Muong Hoa Valley, about 10 km southeast of town, is green in summer and golden in autumn. It is cold and often cloudy on top of Fansipan, so bring warm layers. Ninh Binh, also in northern Vietnam, shows harvest scenery in October too.

Rice terraces on both sides of the Muong Hoa River — Muong Hoa Valley · Photo: Christophe95 / CC BY-SA 4.0

Think twice in October — rainy seasons and late typhoons

Central Vietnam is deep in its rainy season. Within Da Nang's September-December rainy season, heavy rain and typhoons are especially likely in October and November, and the October rainfall normal is 658 mm (WMO/Viet Nam MHA, 1991–2020). Nha Trang also gets frequent heavy rain in October and November, which can cancel island trips and boats. If you go to Da Nang now, see our Da Nang rainy-season article, and our November article for the rainy season as it continues into November.

Typhoon season is not over either. Ishigaki's typhoon peak is September-October, with 211.2 mm of rain in October (JMA, 1991–2020). In Hualien, summer to autumn is typhoon season, when roads and trails can close at short notice, with 350.6 mm in October (CWA, 1991–2020), and parts of Taroko remain closed after earthquake damage, so check the national park's official information. In Bohol, typhoons, mainly in July-October, can stop ferries and flights, Guam and Saipan may see typhoons from July to November, and Guam's October rainfall is 323.3 mm (NOAA NCEI, 1991–2020). Macau names October-November as its ideal time, but its typhoon season runs to November, so check the weather bureau before you go.

Rain picks up in some places. Phuket is in its rainy season until October, with 295.9 mm of rain in October (WMO/TMD, period not stated by the source), and Penang has frequent afternoon showers in September-November, with 374.5 mm in October (WMO/MetMalaysia, 1971–2000, an older period). Kota Kinabalu tends to be wetter around October-December. Bali's dry season runs through October, but in Ubud showers usually become frequent from October. Seattle and Vancouver, summer favorites, turn drizzly from autumn, with October precipitation of 99.3 mm in Seattle (NOAA NCEI, 1991–2020) and 123.9 mm in Vancouver (ECCC, 1991–2020).

National Day, Chuseok and October events

During China's National Day week (around October 1), sights and hotels in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Zhangjiajie, Qingdao, Haikou and Sanya are very crowded. In Xi'an, the Grand Tang Mall can see over 300,000 visitors a day during holidays, and sights post special holiday hours, and in Guilin, night cruise seats sell out on holidays, so book 1-2 days ahead. Hong Kong is also very crowded during Golden Week. Chuseok's dates also change every year, so check the official dates for both holidays.

October has its own events. Oktoberfest runs into early October, so check the official dates. In Amsterdam, hotels fill up fast around Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), held every October, and Himeji holds the Nada Kenka Matsuri (fighting festival) every October. The Gangneung Coffee Festival is held in autumn, with dates that change every year, so check officially. Vientiane's That Luang Festival is held every year around the full moon of the 12th lunar month (around October-November), and incidents are said to rise during festivals, so watch your belongings.

At a glance — October by city

A quick October summary. Figures are 'high/low temperature and rainfall'; sources and periods differ, so the comparison is rough.

Autumn leaves and mountains: Sapporo 16.4/8°C, 109.9 mm; Kumamoto 25/14.9°C, 87.1 mm (both JMA, 1991–2020); Sokcho 19.5/10.8°C, 87.9 mm (KMA, 1991–2020)
Cities at their autumn best: Toronto 14.6/5.3°C, 67.2 mm (ECCC, 1991–2020); Madrid 19.4/10.7°C, 60 mm (AEMET, 1981–2010); Budapest 16.4/7.2°C, 45 mm (HungaroMet, 1991–2020)
Dry season begins, golden terraces: Taichung 30.3/22.2°C, 25 mm; Tainan 30.8/23.3°C, 30.8 mm (both CWA, 1991–2020); Sapa (no normals)
Rainy-season check: Da Nang and Nha Trang; Phuket, Penang and Kota Kinabalu; Ubud; Seattle and Vancouver (drizzle)
Typhoon check: Ishigaki, Hualien, Bohol, Guam, Saipan, Macau
Holidays and events: China's National Day (Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Guilin and more) and Hong Kong; Chuseok; Oktoberfest, ADE, Nada Kenka Matsuri, That Luang Festival

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FAQ

Where can I see autumn leaves in October?

According to our guides, autumn colors come to Sapporo in September-October, Seoraksan (Sokcho) in autumn, Aso (Kumamoto) in October-November and Toronto in September-November. Kyoto's autumn colors are most beautiful from mid-November to early December, so see our November article.

Should I travel to China during National Day week?

According to our guides, sights in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Zhangjiajie and elsewhere are very crowded during National Day week (around October 1), and in Xi'an and Guilin you need to check holiday hours and bookings. Check the official dates, and avoid the week or book early.

What is Da Nang like in October?

According to our guide, within the September-December rainy season, heavy rain and typhoons are especially likely in October and November. The October rainfall normal is 658 mm (WMO/Viet Nam MHA, 1991–2020). If you go, keep your plans flexible and see our Da Nang rainy-season article.

Where is drier in October?

Among the cities here, by October rainfall normals, Taichung 25 mm, Tainan 30.8 mm (both CWA, 1991–2020), Budapest 45 mm (HungaroMet, 1991–2020) and Madrid 60 mm (AEMET, 1981–2010) are low. Sources and periods differ, so the comparison is rough.