The autumn holiday trend: what experienced travelers have long known and others are discovering

For many travelers, the best time for a Mediterranean holiday no longer begins and ends with summer. Lithuanian travel organizers say more people are deliberately choosing early autumn, when the heat eases but resorts in southern Europe still feel like summer.

In September and October, travelers can find more space on beaches, shorter lines at tourist attractions, milder temperatures and more attractive holiday prices, according to Inga Aukštuolytė, head of public relations and marketing at Tez Tour. Airfares and package holidays can also be easier to find at appealing prices.

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For a long time, people assumed that holidays had to be taken in summer. Experienced travelers, however, judge a trip by its quality rather than the calendar.

The period between the summer and winter seasons offers another advantage for spontaneous travelers. Operators more often sell trips with unusual lengths, making it simpler to plan a short break, including a long weekend.

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At the beginning of autumn, you can see the real life of local people. Cities are less crowded, restaurants and cafes operate at their normal pace, and the summer rush is gone.

Italy, Spain, Greece and Turkey continue to offer warm weather after the calendar summer ends. The sea remains warm from the summer heat, the days are still long, and temperatures often reach 25 to 27 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, tourist numbers fall, queues become shorter and local residents return to a more normal rhythm.

Aukštuolytė said the quieter period gives visitors a better chance to see everyday local life, with restaurants and cafes operating normally rather than rushing through the peak season. September and October also bring the widest mix of destinations because summer beach programs continue while winter routes begin. Travelers can still choose sunny Greece or the Turkish Riviera, or start looking toward Egypt and the Canary Islands. Tez Tour identifies Italy as one of the autumn favorites, with Sardinia and Calabria joined this season by Tuscany, where quieter beaches and ripening grapes add to the appeal.

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That is why travelers can choose from the widest range of destinations. Such variety is not available at any other time of year.