Spectacular Fall Foliage in Europe

The fall foliage in Ireland might not be as spectacular as Americans can experience it, but is, without a doubt, beautiful. Plus, fall is a great period to visit not only Ireland, but also the entire Europe. The air is crisp and the days are still sunny. Prepare for some rather cold mornings and nights though.

The fall months in Ireland are: September, October and November if we go by national meteorological service guidance. But according to the Celtic traditions, fall actually starts in August and lasts until October.

>>read more about Weather in Ireland

The Budget

But fall foliage is spectacular all over Europe so don’t be shy to plan your vacation this time of the year. Why? First of all, fall is considered low-season and the prices are always at their lowest, unless you end up in Europe right smack during a popular festival. Finding cheap flights in Europe this time of the year is easy as pie. If you fly from the States, get a plane ticket to one of the European hubs such as Paris or London. Then, look for low-cost flights to other European cities. Many carriers run special fall sales so it just takes a bit of patience to find the right deal for you.

Hotels in Europe are also affordable at this time of the year. Of course, if you plan to be in Munich during Oktoberfest you’ll end up paying €50 for a bed in a dorm. But, in general, fall in Europe means low rates in hotels. And there are also some discount hotels available in one of the beautiful European cities.

Sample fall foliage tour in Europe

You can start your vacation in Paris and then head to the Loire Valley. The leaves have splendid autumn colors and the crisp air is a perfect backdrop for tasting the incredible wines.

Then you can fly to Dublin , rent a car and drive in the country side. If you prefer a tour, there are plenty to choose from and many focus on this beautiful period.

You can also mix in a bit of Central-Eastern Europe, where the fall colors are indeed spectacular. By the middle of October, the forests in central-eastern Romania look incredible, with colors ranging from yellow to deep reds and some ever greens providing the interesting mix.

You can easily get in this area by flying into Budapest and then choosing a train to Romania. You’ll see the beautiful scenery along the way. And you can also try some of the local wines (both Hungary and Romania are famous for the incredible wines produced here).

Photo credit: Cristina Dima