Autumn is when summer's crowds leave the Mediterranean but its warmth stays. The sea is at its warmest of the year, the heat has become gentle, and the light takes on a golden quality. At the same time, autumn is the season when the Mediterranean's weather becomes more changeable, so it pays to know where and when to go.
Temperatures are typical daytime highs from long-term averages, rounded.
September: summer, but better
In September, most of the Mediterranean still feels like summer:
- Air temperature: about 26–30 °C in southern Spain, southern Italy, Malta, Greece and Cyprus; 23–26 °C on the northern Mediterranean coasts.
- Sea temperature: at its annual peak, typically around 23–26 °C.
- Crowds: much smaller after the school holidays, especially from mid-September.
It is an excellent month for beach holidays, island hopping and sailing. On the Atlantic coasts of Portugal and Spain, September is often one of the sunniest and most settled months.
The north in September
In northern Europe, September often has spells of calm, sunny high-pressure weather: warm afternoons, cool mornings and the first autumn colours. In Germany this is called Altweibersommer, similar to what is known as an Indian summer in English. The days are still 12–13 hours long at the start of the month. It is a lovely time for walking and cycling, with comfortable temperatures and few insects.
October: the golden month in the south
October is perhaps the best month for active trips in southern Europe:
- Andalusia and the Algarve: about 23–25 °C, with walking and cycling weather that is ideal after the summer heat.
- Sicily, Malta and Crete: about 23–25 °C, and the sea is still around 22–24 °C, warm enough for swimming.
- Cyprus: about 27–28 °C, almost like summer.
- Canary Islands: about 25–26 °C, the start of their high season.
Further north, Rome, Barcelona, Nice and Lisbon are about 21–23 °C in October: pleasant for city breaks, with rain becoming more frequent towards the end of the month.
November: the reliable choices narrow
By November, only a few places in Europe remain reliably warm:
- Canary Islands: about 23–24 °C, and the most dependable option.
- Cyprus: about 22–23 °C, with the first winter rains.
- Madeira: about 22 °C.
- Southern Spain and Crete: about 19–21 °C, bright between rainy spells.
For northern Europe, November is usually the darkest and greyest month. That makes it the month when a trip south brings the greatest difference, both in sunshine and in daylight.
Autumn weather risks
Autumn is the season when the Mediterranean Sea is at its warmest and the air above it starts to cool. That contrast can fuel intense rainfall.
- Heavy rain and flash floods. From September to November, the Spanish east coast (from Catalonia to Murcia), southern France, parts of Italy and Greece are prone to sudden, very heavy downpours. In Spain these are often linked to a cut-off low called a DANA. They are short-lived but can cause dangerous flash floods.
- Storms. Occasionally, small storms with some tropical features, called medicanes, form over the Mediterranean.
- Atlantic storms. From October, Atlantic low-pressure systems bring wind and rain to Portugal, north-western Spain, France and the British Isles more often.
What this means in practice:
- Check the forecast shortly before travelling and follow official weather warnings.
- Avoid dry riverbeds and underpasses during heavy rain, and do not drive through flooded roads.
- Book flexibly so that you can change your destination if a storm is forecast.
Autumn light and shorter days
Days shorten quickly in autumn, especially in the north. In late October, Stockholm has around 9 hours of daylight and Berlin about 10, compared with about 10.5 in Rome and 11 in Tenerife. When you plan day trips or hikes, check the sunset time, and allow for the change from summer time at the end of October, which makes evenings darker overnight.
Choosing where to go in autumn
- For a beach holiday: September anywhere in the Mediterranean, October in the south (Crete, Cyprus, Sicily, Malta, southern Spain).
- For walking and cycling: October in Andalusia, Mallorca, Crete and the Algarve; September in the Alps and the north.
- For a city break: September and October in Rome, Barcelona, Lisbon, Athens and Seville.
- For guaranteed warmth in November: the Canaries.
How SunFinder helps in autumn
In autumn, the weather can change quickly from week to week, and averages are a poor guide. SunFinder compares the forecast for your dates at home with every place you can reach, so you can see where the settled, sunny weather will actually be, whether that is a Mediterranean island or a coast a few hours away that is enjoying a late spell of summer.