Denmark’s second city is underrated, especially as it was once named the European City of Culture with its world-class galleries and museums. One of the most eye-catching attractions to visit in Aarhus is Your Rainbow Panorama, a multicoloured glass walkway located on the top of one of Northern Europe’s largest museum, ARoS.
A canal snakes through the centre where you’ll find plenty of open-air cafes (many with blankets and outdoor heating available). Another brilliant stop for foodies is at the permanent Aarhus Street Food Market, where you can choose from more than 30 different street kitchen bars.
For a chance to see some spectacular autumn colours, head to the Deer Park just south of the centre. Here, you can get up close and even feed the sika and fallow deer.
The autumn temperature in crowd-free Évora makes for pleasant exploring. The UNESCO-listed Old Town is drenched in history, with huge rose-granite cathedrals, Roman temples and baths, and an impressive archbishop palace.
One of the most unique monuments in Evora must be the Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones). Enter this small chapel and discover why it has been named so. The interiors are lined with skulls and bones – a morbid but fascinating viewing with a curious backstory.
Head out of the centre and search for The Cromlech of the Almendres – the Portuguese equivalent to Stonehenge. After seeing the magnificent stones, explore the regions vineyards where you can try one of the many wine tours, tastings and local food on offer.
This fourth-largest Spanish city is perfect destination for culture and food in autumn. Once known for its industrial heritage, Bilbao turned its reputation around with the arrival of Guggenheim in 1997. This striking innovative art museum was the beginning of city becoming a must-visit destination.
The food is another excellent reason to visit Bilbao, as it’s home to several Michelin star restaurants. But the star attraction of Bilbao is its pintxos – tapas style finger food. Discover bar counters across the city offering bite-sized delights including tortilla chunks and jamón bocadillos (weighty sandwiches) to gourmet creations using foie gras and seaweed.
Autumn is a beautiful time to visit the Estonian capital as the streets are emptied of tourists. The temperature drops to around 6 degrees in October, but it’s worth wrapping up to wander around this fairy tale destination. One of the best-preserved medieval cities, Tallinn has turreted towers dotted across the skyline with red tiled rooves, and the cobbled streets are full of artisan stores, traditional boutiques and coffee houses.
The history of the city is showcased in an array of museums and galleries, churches and castles. The first substantial fort was built in the 11th century.
To see the spectacular autumn foliage, just an hour away from the Tallinn is Laheema National Park with great hiking and cycling routes. There’s a 3.5km trail through bog and forest landscapes. Walk along the long boardwalk with a lookout tower in the middle, allowing you to take in the view of Estonia’s natural landscape.
Named as Europe’s Green Capital 2016, Ljubljana has a great selection of spots within the city to see autumn colours. Head to the much-loved Tivoli Park, its largest green area, or perhaps to take a scenic walk to Ljubljana Castle, where you can walk up forested hills and peer through the leaves to see exceptional views of the city.
The architecture here makes visitors compare Ljubljana with Prague. Essential landmarks to check out include Triple Bridge, the monastery complex of Križanke and Žale Cemetery. The city also has a great foodie scene, with the centre coming alive with markets stalls from March through to October, serving cuisines from all over the world. Enjoy a slice of culture visiting one of the museums and art galleries, or even by spending an evening at the opera.
You may associate Tuscany with the sizzling summer season, but with smaller crowds, cooler temperatures, and stunning scenery, it’s definitely worth considering for an autumnal trip.
Siena's city centre has a series of winding narrows streets and is largely pedestrianised, which just increases the cities charm. There are many medieval marvels to visit, including Siena’s cathedral, Duomo. It’s an awe-inspiring example of 13th century Gothic architecture, with an interior of zebra-striped walls that will make your head spin. For a chance to see the city from above, climb up Torre del Mangia, a tower that offers stunning views that reach out to the surrounding Tuscan countryside.
Being Italy, of course, you won't go hungry either. There's a wealth of restaurants, cafes, gelaterias and pasticcerias to eat your way through.
Possibly Norway’s most beautiful city, Ålesund was rebuilt in 1904 after a devastating fire swept across it. However, this relatively modern beauty still has its fairytale charm intact thanks to a restoration of Art Nouveau architecture, dotting the city with picturesque turrets and towers.
Ålesund is where the mountain and fjords meet the ocean. The landscape here is just jawdropping. Climb up 418 steps to the summit of Mount Aksla and enjoy the panoramic views of the city, coast and Sunnmøre Alps. Although the weather can be unpredictable, autumn is a great time to enjoy the exquisite scenery, eat delicious food and uncover the city's history. A peaceful and magical visit.