COPENHAGEN, September 15 — The story begins with a season, not a city. In a fall travel guide published September 11 by Condé Nast Traveler, writer Jessica Sulima argues that autumn in Europe offers brisk temperatures, thinner crowds, and a chance to see cities in a more authentic light. The piece, titled “Ready for a Euro Fall?
Travel Experts Weigh In on the Best Destinations for 2026,” opens by noting that “Euro summer is coming to an end” and frames autumn as “arguably an even more rewarding travel moment.” At the top of the list sits Copenhagen and the Danish Riviera. Christine Andraus of Partenza Travel says, “Copenhagen just makes sense to me in the fall,” citing the food, bakeries, candles, design, and people embracing coziness rather than pretending it is still summer.
The guide recommends strolling the golden-hued Assistens Cemetery and bundling up in a fisherman’s sweater at the harborside food halls Reffen or Broens.
Where to stay, and what to add on
Kimberly Davis of Trouvaille Travel is seeing clients choose more design-forward hotels such as Hotel Sanders instead of Hotel D’Angleterre. Andraus suggests adding a couple of nights in North Zealand, the Danish Riviera, home to Kronborg Castle, vast forests, wild coastlines, and the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. Vienna follows.
Nadine Fedorenko at Fora Travel cites it as a top fall destination. The article says the city has welcomed a new crop of contemporary museums and galleries, restaurants moving beyond the farm-to-fork template, and luxury hotels including a Mandarin Oriental and Rosewood.
Fedorenko points to anniversaries across the city, noting that “Hotel Sacher turned 150 this year, the Albertina Museum turned 250, and even Mozart celebrated a big birthday [his 270th]!” Suggested activities include visiting vineyards outside the city for biodynamic wine, eating schnitzel at an old-fashioned café, and catching a screening of The Third Man at the Burg Kino movie theater. San Sebastian, Spain, described as having one of the highest numbers of Michelin-starred restaurants per square mile and a rich bar culture, makes the list next.
In fall, temperatures hover comfortably in the 60s, and quick spurts of rain lend the city an atmospheric mist. Andraus says, “San Sebastian in October gives you pintxos, the coast, Rioja nearby, and temperatures where you actually want to walk around all day.” This fall marks the 50th anniversary of New Basque Cuisine, celebrated at San Sebastián Gastronomika from October 5–7, which will host the legendary chefs who pioneered avant-garde Basque cooking in the ’70s for masterclasses and tastings.
Andraus points travelers to Hotel Maria Cristina in town, or Akelarre for its world-renowned restaurant.
Ireland, and the road off the beaten path
The Midland Region of Ireland rounds out the destinations detailed in the available material. The article notes Samhain, the earliest version of Halloween, was first celebrated in the Irish countryside. It mentions the sacred sites of County Meath, including the ancient Hill of Ward and Hill of Tara, where ancient Celts first lit fires over 2,000 years ago to scare off spirits, and the annual Púca Festival from October 29–November 1.
Andraus says, “Ireland is one of those places where a little bit of weather almost makes the trip better.” Davis frames the broader shift in how travelers are booking. “I’m seeing people looking far more off the beaten path this season,” she says.
“Even if they want to travel to major European cities, it’s places like Copenhagen rather than the typical London, Paris, or Rome.” The article is organized under Condé Nast Traveler’s Europe and Denmark sections and includes “Where to stay” links for each destination. For those involved in planning a fall trip, the guide’s seven expert-suggested destinations are only partly detailed in the available material, which ends mid-sentence while describing a country house, boots, and a long walk.
What to watch next: whether the remaining destinations surface as the season approaches, and whether the design-forward hotel shift Davis describes holds through the autumn booking window.
