The best places to travel in November: 20 unmissable holiday destinations

Looking for the best places to travel in November? Here are twenty stellar destinations to inspire your next trip, from winter sun and Northern Lights to festivals and the first Christmas markets.

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, November is the month that the reality of winter bites. The halcyon days of summer are long gone, replaced with chilly weather, short daylight hours and, if you’re really lucky, buckets of rain.

No wonder then that November is the time that many people (including me) decide to flee the scene of the impending winter in favour of something a little different.

Whether you’re looking for winter sun holiday destinations, adventure hotspots or just cool places to spend a few days, these are the best places to go in November. I’ve included the average high and low temperature for each one (from Weather Spark) so you can see at a glance what to pack.

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Where to go in November

Nevis, Caribbean

Average temperatures: 29° / 25°C

Season: End of the wet season

Nevis is a small island with a big personality that has somehow managed to escape the tourist hordes. In other words, it is the perfect place for a chill Caribbean holiday and who doesn’t like the sound of that?

Adventure-lovers can tackle the distinctive Nevis Peak, the dormant volcano that looms over the island, while sun-worshippers can flop and drop on the island’s quiet beaches. I’ll admit that the descriptions of ropes and slippery drops put me off the climb, but everyone I met who’d done it was still alive, so…

However you choose to spend your day, you should top it all off with a legendary “Killer Bee” sundowner at Sunshine’s Beach Bar and Grill on Pinney’s Beach. Fair warning: they live up to their name. Paradise found.

I stayed at Paradise Beach, a cluster of villas with private plunge pools a few steps from the sea, and my daily ritual of opening the terrace doors to that view is one I still miss. The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs until 30 November, but storms are much rarer by now, and the island is gearing up for its busy winter season.

Where to stay: Paradise Beach or Montpelier Plantation & Beach

Read next: Exploring Nevis, your new favourite Caribbean hideaway

Patagonia, Argentina and Chile

Average temperatures: 15° / 7°C

Season: Spring

Wondering where to go in November? Well… Patagonia truly is as spectacular as they say.

If mountains, adventure and near-unbelievable landscapes are your thing, you need to get here pronto.

Spread across neighbouring Chile and Argentina, plan to visit both, as each side has its own distinct highlights.

On the Chilean side, the spectacular Torres del Paine National Park is the big ticket. Hiking the four or five-day W or the longer O trek reveals a world of jagged peaks, sparkling lakes and some rather temperamental weather. The main trekking season runs from late October to March, and on one of my two trips to the park a local who used to work there told me that November is one of the mildest months. I did the W as a solo, first-time multi-day hiker, so if I can do it, you can too. Book your campsites or refugios well ahead, as the best spots go fast.

Over in Argentinean Patagonia, few people have watched (and heard) the progress of the behemoth that is Glaciar Perito Moreno without exclamation. For decades it was one of the few glaciers in the world that wasn’t shrinking, but a 2025 study found that it has now tipped into rapid retreat, so there’s no time like the present. Further north, El Chaltén is the base from which adventurers explore the dramatic Los Glaciares National Park.

Where to stay: Tierra Patagonia

Read next: Hiking the W trek in Torres del Paine National Park

Lisbon, Portugal

Average temperatures: 18° / 12°C

Season: Autumn

Lisbon has burst onto the international scene with a spark and a sizzle. It’s not difficult to see the appeal: a gorgeous city with gleaming cobbled streets, plenty of striking architecture old and new, an established foodie scene and a laid-back culture.

All of that means that these days, Lisbon can be the teeniest bit trying in the summer, with lots of crowds and soaring temperatures. Not so in the cooler months, hence why it’s one of my favourite places to travel in November. I’ve visited Lisbon several times, and each trip has shown me a little more of what a fantastic city it is.

Don’t miss the triumvirate of historic landmarks (the Belém Tower, Monument to the Discoveries and Jerónimos Monastery) in pretty Belém, before gorging yourself on a few quivering, crumbly and rich pastéis de Belém from the bakery of the same name.

Those looking to discover a different side of the city would do well to walk around Mouraria, Lisbon’s old Moorish quarter. The birthplace of the city’s much-loved fado music, it’s a web of cultures, cuisines and ages waiting to be explored.

Time your trip for 11 November and you’ll catch St Martin’s Day (Dia de São Martinho), when the smell of roasting chestnuts drifts through the streets and the bars pour the season’s young wine.

Where to stay: Memmo Alfama

Read next: The Lisbon city break guide

Lofoten Islands, Norway

Average temperatures: 5° / 1°C

Season: Late autumn, Northern Lights season

Ranging across Norway’s slab of the Arctic Circle, a trip to the Lofoten Islands is an unforgettable experience.

The Arctic Circle might not spring to mind when you’re thinking of where to holiday in November. Perhaps it should. The nights are long and dark, which means plenty of hours to look for the Northern Lights, and the summer crowds are long gone.

This is the place to go fishing in the fjords. Don’t worry, it’s not as crazily cold as it sounds: the islands benefit from the warming temperatures of the Gulf Stream, which also just so happen to bring a wealth of fish ready to be caught on the line. On my first trip, in October, I went out fishing on the fjords from Svolvær, using a fish finder for the very first time. If you want to see the islands at their busiest, the famous skrei (Arctic cod) season runs from roughly January to April.

Fishing is hard work and there’s no better place to refuel (read: treat yourself to a blowout meal of a lifetime) than Lofoten Food Studio, an intimate chef’s table in the fishing village of Ballstad. It’s open all year except January, and you’ll need to book ahead.

Watch in wonder as your chef and host Roy-Magne Berglund deftly prepares dish after dish, each as tantalising as it is technically skilled. Then, stumble out with a sated stomach to see if you can spy the Northern Lights.

Where to stay: Thon Hotel Lofoten, Svolvær

Read next: A foodie adventure in the Lofoten Islands

Cape Town, South Africa

Average temperatures: 22° / 14°C

Season: Spring

Cape Town’s spectacular setting plays no small part in its enduring popularity as a cool holiday destination, not to mention it’s one of the best places for sun in November. I visited in mid-November and early December, and the weather was perfect for getting outdoors.

Where else can you climb a mountain in the morning, go surfing in the afternoon and be sipping sundowners with a beach backdrop in time for happy hour? I hiked Table Mountain on my first morning, up the Platteklip Gorge route, and I can’t think of a better introduction to the city.

Make like the ‘Grammers and photograph the colourful Bo-Kaap neighbourhood, gird your stomach and join the city’s irreverent Gin Jol with Kiff Kombi Tours, an ode to Cape Town’s burgeoning gin scene that hops between distilleries in a painted minivan.

Alternatively, you could spend most of your time working out which of the many, many beaches in the city and its surrounds is your favourite (my vote goes to Clifton 1st and then Boulders for the penguins). Plus, when you’re finished, explore more of South Africa’s jewels like the Cape Winelands and the Garden Route.

Where to stay: The Glen Boutique Hotel & Spa

Read next: Fabulous places to discover in and around Cape Town

Take a Caribbean cruise

Average temperatures: 29° / 25°C

Season: End of the wet season

November sees the Caribbean come to the end of the hurricane season (it officially closes on 30 November), luring holidaymakers with whispers of pristine beaches, warm waters and lazy days in the sunshine.

Not sure which island to choose for your trip? Consider booking a Caribbean cruise. Getting between the islands independently can be a nightmare and liners offer high-end facilities that will keep you entertained at sea.

My first cruise was with Princess Cruises, on the Sky Princess, and it made a convert of me: I was surprised by how much was included, and the OceanMedallion wearable made everything from boarding to ordering a drink easier. Princess has 11 ships in the Caribbean for the 2026 to 2027 season, sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Port Canaveral and San Juan.

Where to stay: Princess Cruises sails throughout the Caribbean

Read next: First-time cruise tips

Barbados, Caribbean

Average temperatures: 30° / 26°C

Season: End of the rainy season

It might seem like overkill to include three Caribbean entries but what can I say? The Caribbean really is one of the best holiday destinations in November.

Barbados needs no introduction. The white sands and calm seas of the rolling Caribbean coast have adorned more than their fair share of postcards splashed with “Wish You Were Here” and “Welcome to Paradise”.

But away from the well-heeled beach clubs and golf courses, a different side of the island is coming to the fore.

The wild and rugged Atlantic coast to the east of the island offers pink sand beaches (it’s no accident that Crane Beach has been named as one of the world’s most spectacular beaches several times), boutique hotels and renovated plantations that tell the tale of a very different island to the hedonistic glitz of the western side.

Stay until the end of the month and you’ll be on the island for Independence Day on 30 November, when Barbados marks the anniversary of its independence in 1966 (and, since 2021, of becoming a republic). Don’t leave without a fish cutter: seasoned, fried flying fish stuffed into salt bread is the most traditional filling and, in my opinion, the tastiest.

Where to stay: Atlantis Historic Inn

Read next: Time to discover: Barbados

Mérida, Mexico

Average temperatures: 31° / 21°C

Season: Start of the dry season

While Mérida has popped up on an increasing number of travellers’ must-visit lists, it’s still unknown to many.

Looking for the best cities to visit in November? The capital of Mexico’s diverse Yucatán Peninsula has a lot going for it: a chic (verging on but not quite) hipster vibe, standout cuisine and a quaint historical centre to say the least. I liked it so much that I went back to spend more time there.

Food-lovers will have a field day with the sheer volume of tasty eats to be found in the city’s diverse eateries, ranging from unassuming taco stalls to ‘grammable haute-cuisine restaurants. The best tacos I had in town were at Wayan’e, and they were almost criminally cheap.

Walk it all off perusing the city’s numerous museums and cultural attractions. A little out of the centre, the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya walks you through the history and culture of the Maya people. Arrive at the very start of the month and you’ll catch Hanal Pixán, the Yucatán’s own take on the Day of the Dead, from 31 October to 2 November.

Where to stay: Rosas & Xocolate

Read next: Discovering Mérida, the colourful capital of the Yucatán

Athens, Greece

Average temperatures: 18° / 11°C

Season: Autumn

Ancient architecture, street culture and crazy-good food? You must be thinking of Athens. Like Lisbon above, Athens in the peak of summer is a torrid affair, with uncomfortably hot temperatures and busy streets.

Contrast that with November, when the temperatures are still warm enough to be pleasant but the city takes on a quieter and calmer aspect.

Visiting Athens in November comes with the benefit of being able to explore the iconic Acropolis without witnessing the uncomfortable reality of over-tourism evident during peak months. Winter hours start on 1 November, when the site opens from 8am to 5pm (last entry 4.30pm), and a full-price ticket costs €30.

Runners (and anyone who likes a party) should note that the Athens Marathon, The Authentic, takes place on 8 November 2026, following the original route from Marathon into the Panathenaic Stadium. Book your hotel early if you’re visiting that weekend. Afterwards, climb Philopappos Hill for one of the best views of the Acropolis, hidden in plain sight.

Where to stay: AVA Hotel & Suites

Read next: Incredible things to do in Athens

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Average temperatures: 24° / 17°C

Season: Spring

Buenos Aires’ nickname “the Paris of South America” doesn’t really do it justice.

Yes, there’s a definite sense of elegance of Old World money here, but Buenos Aires is undoubtedly a city with a distinct culture and style of its own. A culture where you can go to a beautiful gallery by day, shop at an artisan market, eat a meltingly good steak then party with the best of them until past dawn. I went for two days and ended up staying for two weeks.

Stroll around bohemian San Telmo, then contrast it with the colourful and lovable chaos of La Boca, home to those rainbow-hued houses and Boca Juniors. In November, the city’s jacaranda trees are in bloom, so the parks and avenues are washed in purple.

For that meltingly good steak, my pick is Parrilla Don Julio in Palermo. It’s the only restaurant where I’ve seen a table of ten people fall completely silent for the first few minutes after the food arrived.

Where to stay: Mio Buenos Aires

Read next: Exploring Buenos Aires on a three-day city break

Rovaniemi, Lapland

Season: Early winter, Northern Lights season

The capital of Finnish Lapland, Rovaniemi, is a magical spot in November. Just on the cusp of the Christmas season, there’s no better way to get in the festive mood than at the home of Santa.

Go sledding with reindeer, enjoy a sauna like a local, witness the breathtaking Northern Lights… There are so many things to do in this dreamy, snowy city. The first proper snow usually arrives in November, and the Ounasvaara ski slopes open on 11 November 2026. Days are short, with around five and a half hours of daylight on average, which means long, dark nights for aurora hunting.

When I visited in March, I stayed in a glass-roofed Kammi suite at Apukka Resort, just outside the city, and saw a mad geomagnetic storm light the sky green over the resort. Apukka’s self-driven husky adventure was one of the highlights of my trip.

Oh, and a visit to Santa Claus Village is non-negotiable. It sits right on the Arctic Circle, it’s open every day of the year and it’s free to enter.

Where to stay: Apukka Resort

Read next: Apukka Resort review: sleeping under the Northern Lights in Rovaniemi

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Average temperatures: 30° / 19°C

Season: Start of the cool, dry season

Thailand’s capital of the north is one of my favourite cities in the world. A mix of old meets new, it’s a world away from the likes of Bangkok and Phuket. I’ve been four times, and each trip has taken me a little deeper into the city.

And it just so happens to be a great place to discover in November, when it heads into its cooler months (just out of the rainy season, too).

What to do? Check out the mesmerising Buddhist temples (Wat Phra Singh is one of my favourite spots in Thailand, full stop), visit an ethical elephant sanctuary and explore the lush slopes of Doi Suthep that rise above the city. One of those November travel destinations that gets overlooked, but is a brilliant option.

November is also lantern season. Loy Krathong falls on 25 November 2026, and in Chiang Mai it coincides with Yi Peng, when the city glows with lanterns and candlelit krathongs float down the Ping River. Sky lantern releases are now limited to set times and places, and the big Mae Jo release is a ticketed event, so check the rules before you go and book your hotel early.

Where to stay: The Empress Hotel

Berlin, Germany

Season: Autumn

Berlin in November, more specifically the end of the month, is seriously magical. Once the Christmas markets are out, the Christmas vibes are in full swing. For the 2026 season, the WeihnachtsZauber on Gendarmenmarkt opens on 23 November (it costs €2 to get in, but it’s free on weekdays from 11am to 2pm), as does the market at the Rotes Rathaus, and the Alexanderplatz market is a must too.

You’re unlikely to experience snow in November (you’ll have to head further north for that), but the festivities are incredible nonetheless. Plus, German food was made for the cold weather: hearty sausages, potatoes, burgers, and all things beige.

Word of warning: wrap up WARM, Berlin gets seriously cold. Or glug a kirschwein or two, that helps. Truly one of the best places to travel in November.

Where to stay: Hotel Romy by Amano, by Berlin Hauptbahnhof

Sydney, Australia

Season: Spring

Now, the Sydney Opera House might be on my bucket list of things to do, but that’s not the only reason it makes a great place to travel in November.

The Aussie seasons are totally reversed, so November sees things warm up a little bit (yet it’s not quite reaching the blistering summer heat). Spring is the perfect time to hunt out those gorgeous coffee shops (Aussie coffee is elite) and get stuck into Australia’s chilled-out way of living.

It’s also jacaranda season, when the city’s streets and harbourside parks turn purple, and the sea is warming up nicely for the coastal walk from Bondi to Coogee and a dip in the ocean pools along the way.

Where to stay: The Ultimo

Bali, Indonesia

Average temperatures: 32° / 25°C

Season: Start of the rainy season

Where to travel in November for a little bit of heat? Head to Bali in early November, just before the rainy season fully takes hold.

Not only will you be able to enjoy the prettiest restaurants and cafes without the hordes of tourists (and Instagrammers who hog the açaí bowls!), but the attractions will be less busy, too.

Enjoy Seminyak’s vibrant lifestyle and faster pace of life, or head to Canggu to really chill. Or, spend a few weeks hopping around the island to get a feel for both sides of Balinese life.

I spent two months in Bali in the rainy season, and while it rained on around one day in two, plenty of those were short bursts rather than washouts. Pack a light rain jacket, plan temple visits and hikes for the mornings, and remember that international visitors pay a one-off tourist levy, which you can pay online through the official Love Bali site before you fly.

Check out my total guide on where to stay in Bali to find your dream accommodation.

Where to stay: Alila Seminyak

Read next: What’s it like to travel in the Bali rainy season?

Iceland

Average temperatures: 4° / 0°C (Reykjavík)

Season: Early winter, Northern Lights season

If the Northern Lights are on your bucket list, Iceland in November is hard to beat. Reykjavík gets around six and a half hours of daylight a day on average, so the nights are long and dark, and it’s quieter than the Christmas and New Year peak.

I saw the aurora two nights in a row at Hotel Rangá, a log-cabin-style lodge in the dark countryside of south Iceland, and the night that was forecast to be the quietest of my stay turned into a geomagnetic storm with a Kp of 8. The hotel’s Northern Lights wake-up call means you can go to bed and let the night staff ring you if the sky lights up, and its private observatory opens on clear nights from late September to the end of March.

November is also when the natural ice cave season gets going under Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier, so you can pair a glacier hike and an ice cave tour with your aurora hunting. Caves only open when conditions are safe, so book with a licensed guide and keep your plans flexible.

Hire a car if you’re confident driving in winter conditions (I drove from Rangá all the way to Jökulsárlón in a day), but check the road and weather forecasts every morning before you set off.

Where to stay: Hotel Rangá

Read next: Hotel Rangá review: my favourite Northern Lights hotel in Iceland

Luxor and Aswan, Egypt

Average temperatures: 28° / 13°C (Luxor)

Season: Peak season

Egypt’s summers are brutally hot, but by November the Nile Valley has cooled to warm, dry days and fresh mornings, which makes this one of the best months of the year to explore its temples and tombs.

Taking a hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings was one of the highlights of my whole trip. You rise at dawn as the first rays of sun turn the desert gold, with the Temple of Hatshepsut laid out below. Book your sunrise balloon flight over the Valley of the Kings ahead, as the best operators fill up in peak season.

Aswan was the place I knew least about before I went, and by the time I left it was a close contender for my favourite spot of the trip. Take a boat out to Philae Temple, sail a felucca at sunset and spend an evening with a Nubian family if you can. I took the overnight sleeper train from Cairo to Aswan, which I enjoyed, but I’d fly back.

If you’re starting in Cairo, the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Pyramids of Giza fully opened in November 2025, and its Tutankhamun galleries are worth a morning on their own. The UK Foreign Office advises against travel to North Sinai and some border and desert areas, but not to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan or Abu Simbel. Check the latest advice before you book.

Where to stay: Sofitel Legend Old Cataract, Aswan

Read next: 10 days in Egypt: a step-by-step Egypt itinerary

Oaxaca, Mexico

Average temperatures: 26° / 11°C

Season: Start of the dry season

Oaxaca was one of my favourite stops on my Mexico trip, thanks to its insanely good food, brilliant markets and the incredible places to visit in the valleys around the city. And if you can get here for the very start of November, you’ll see it at its most extraordinary.

Día de Muertos (the Day of the Dead) runs from 31 October to 2 November, and Oaxaca is one of the best places in Mexico to experience it. Families build ofrendas (altars) heaped with marigolds, bread and photos of loved ones, cemeteries glow with candles through the night, and processions with music and costumed dancers wind through the streets. Accommodation books up months ahead, so plan early.

Stay on into the month and you’ll have the start of the dry season’s sunny days and cool evenings with fewer crowds. Don’t miss the Sunday market in Tlacolula, which was up there with the best things I did in Oaxaca, and take a traditional Oaxacan cooking class with a market visit. I booked one with a local chef and finally understood why the region’s food is so famous.

If you can, hire a car to explore the surrounding valleys. I came through on a road trip and wouldn’t have done it any other way.

Where to stay: The Santo Domingo area, close to the sights, bars and restaurants

Read next: Unmissable things to do in Oaxaca

Lanzarote, Canary Islands

Average temperatures: 23° / 18°C

Season: Autumn, winter sun season

Looking for winter sun without a long-haul flight? The Canary Islands sit off the coast of Africa, about four hours’ flight from the UK, and Lanzarote is the most otherworldly of them all, with volcanic moonscapes, black-sand vineyards and the artist César Manrique’s fingerprints all over the island.

One of my favourite hikes was the Caldera Blanca, which takes you right into the heart of Lanzarote’s volcanic landscape, and November’s milder temperatures make it far more comfortable than in summer. Venture down into the Jameos del Agua caves, where tiny albino crabs glow like stars in an underground lake, and wander the Jardín de Cactus, which I expected to be a snooze and absolutely wasn’t.

Wine-lovers should head to Bodegas El Grifo, founded in 1775 and the oldest winery in the Canary Islands, where the vines grow in hollows dug into the black volcanic earth. Then spend a lazy afternoon at the coves of Playa de Papagayo, on the island’s southern tip. I was totally blown away by them, and they were my favourite beaches on the island.

Where to stay: Arrecife Gran Hotel & Spa

Read next: The best things to do in Lanzarote

Seychelles

Average temperatures: 29° / 25°C

Season: Between the trade winds (best in early November)

The Seychelles sit between two trade winds: the southeast trades bring rougher seas from May to September, and the northwest trades bring the wet season from late November to March. In between, the winds drop, the sea goes glassy and the visibility for snorkelling and diving is at its best. That makes October and early November my favourite window to visit.

Snorkelling around Grande Soeur is my favourite way to spend time on the water here, and Praslin might just be my favourite island, with the ancient palm forest of the Vallée de Mai and some of the most stunning beaches in the country. Don’t leave La Digue off your list either. It’s still relatively untouched, and you get around by bike to beaches like Anse Source d’Argent.

On Mahé, tour the Takamaka rum distillery (I loved it), then treat yourself to a few nights somewhere special. Four Seasons Desroches, on a private island in the Amirantes, is one of my all-time favourite hotels.

Where to stay: Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island

Read next: When’s the best time to visit the Seychelles?

Practical tips for booking a November holiday

• November may be low season in a number of destinations in the Northern Hemisphere but it’s coming into high season for many places in the Southern Hemisphere and the tropics. Book ahead to snag the best price, especially for Cape Town, Patagonia and the Caribbean from late November.
• Watch the calendar. The Day of the Dead (31 October to 2 November), the Athens Marathon (8 November 2026), Loy Krathong (25 November 2026) and the opening of Berlin’s Christmas markets (23 November 2026) all push up hotel prices, so book early if you’re going for them.
• Not sure when to book your flight? Set up a price alert on Google Flights or Skyscanner and they’ll tell you when fares on your route drop.
• For hotels, check Booking.com for excellent rates. It’s also worth checking the hotel’s own site, as many offer incentives for booking direct.
• Heading to the Caribbean early in the month? Make sure your travel insurance covers hurricanes, as the season officially runs until 30 November.
• Chasing the Northern Lights? Book flexible or refundable trips where you can, give yourself at least three or four nights and check the cloud forecast every evening. I use Windy.com to find gaps in the cloud.

Where to travel in November: read next

• The best places to find winter sun in Europe
• The ultimate travel bucket list: 100 epic destinations you have to explore
• Where to travel when: unique travel destinations for each month
• The best places to travel in September
• The best places to travel in October
• The best places to visit in December
• The best places to visit in January
• Winter sun destinations: warm holiday destinations you should know about

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