The top destinations to visit in October

Autumn or Fall is for bonfires, changing colours or a beach break for those longing for the long-gone distant summer. Take a look at the top destinations to visit in October in Citizen Femme’s guide Where To Go Next Month.

Sun seekers can explore a road trip through Cyprus, and city dwellers can go for rooftop cocktails in Hong Kong. From cozy-meets-country-chic in New England to sunny days and starry nights in Jordan.

All of Italy leaves the country during August, the summer crowds have now gone and the Romani get back to their routines, come October. The weather could not be better – enjoy outdoor dining on Rome’s sidewalks, wandering the city, using your hotel balcony, and getting your fill of the arts, theatre, opera, and museum calendars, which rapidly start filling up. The Film Festival takes place in October as well as La Notte dei Musei, which sees over 90 Roman museums and cultural spaces opening their doors, free, from 8pm to 2am. Trevi Fountain selfie, here we come.

Still in the Med but with the Middle Eastern climate, makes Cyprus one of the hottest destinations in Europe this month. Brimming with history, Cyprus has centuries of leaders who came to conquer its riches with its convenient location between Africa, Asia and Europe. With this it brings the best attractions for sight-seeking travellers. Limassol, Paphos and Larnaca each have characterful old towns. But day trips including the Limassol foothills, in the capital Nicosia, are high on the list of must-dos. Fear not, sandy beaches are afoot for beach babies, with Larnaca’s Nissi Beach and Paphos region.

Top tip: Don’t miss the Troodos mountains, vineyards and hillside villages and friendly tavernas.

Visit three of Hawaii’s most loved islands; Oahu, Kauai and Big Island. Spend your first two days in Oahu and watch the sunset on Waikiki Beach. Then, head to Kauai where you can explore the magnificent views and sandy beaches and finish up in Big Island to visit an active volcano.

While the beaches are world class, treat yourself to an adventure whether you fancy deep sea diving, soaring over waterfalls on a helicopter tour, or a kayak trip along the Na Pali Coast.

October also sees the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival, featuring a roster of over 150 master chefs, culinary personalities, and wine and spirit producers in a mission to show Hawaii’s “Taste of Love for the Land”.

A blaze of colours sweeps the landscapes this month with the leaves turning bright red, vivid yellow, dazzling orange and deep gold which calmly sit under clear blue skies. The six states within New England comprising of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont tick so many boxes for holiday “musts”.

From Cape Cod to Martha’s Vineyard, Plymouth Massachusetts to the largest city Boston, New England encapsulates beach breaks to island escapes. City slickers should take walking tours of Boston’s Freedom Trail, art and culture lovers should take to the cobbled streets of Martha’s Vineyard.

A perfect plate of Middle Eastern mezze with modern cities combined with Bedouin inhabited deserts, the ruins of Petra intertwined with cosmopolitan cafes of Amman, you’ll leave Jordan utterly fulfilled. Traditions of hospitality are ingrained, so you may be surprised with an invite to tea or a meal exposing you to the cosmopolitan local people. Overrun with history with Roman remains at Jerash and Azraq, Hellenic ruins at Umm Qais and crusader castles at Karak and Shobak. It’s a part of the Middle East where women are well integrated into positions of power in government and business than almost anywhere else in the region.

Take a float in the Dead Sea, dive in the Red Sea reefs at Aqaba, spot wildlife in the heights of Dana Nature Reserve, and wander the desert expanses of Wadi Rum – by foot, 4WD or camel power.

Considered the summer month by the locals, it’s the ideal time to enjoy the city’s hiking trails, markets and shopping streets of Mongkok or Causeway bay, and rooftop bars. Prime for an urban adventure, tap into the city’s frenetic energy as you explore the world’s most vertical and arguably futuristic city.

And October features a month long season of events. It kicks off with a fireworks display for National Day on the 1st, the Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival, the Hong Kong Tennis Open, and Hong Kong gets into full preparation with pumpkins and goblins for Halloween fests.