Looking for a sunshine escape in Europe in October? Croatia, Albania and Montenegro all get a decent amount of sunshine and there are other advantages to visiting the Balkans at this time – fewer crowds, it’s cheaper, ideal temperatures for walking holidays, plus it’s rakija season, meaning ample opportunities for tastings.
It’s also time for religious festivals such as All Saints Day on 1st November, when Catholics place flowers and lanterns on the graves of their relatives to celebrate their lives (in a similar way to Mexico’s Day of the Dead) before heading home for a big family get together and feast. You will see people in Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia preparing for this in the last week of October and there will be flower stalls everywhere.
Photographers will be familiar with the term ‘golden hour,’ the periods just after dawn and before dusk when the sun is low and gives off a soft, golden hue. Well, October in the Balkans is like a month-long golden hour. In fact, our Kosovan guide Edo says it’s his favourite time of year to hike in the Accursed Mountains because of the sunlight and gentle heat, the reddening forests and the fresh autumnal smells of nature.
There’s just a couple of reasons to visit the Balkans in October and if this sounds like a bit of you, read on for trip inspiration and a country-by-country breakdown of the weather conditions.
£100pp off ALL autumn holidays
From hiking in Albania to painting and wild swimming in Montenegro, get your October holiday for less with £100pp off all holidays in September and October.
Croatia in October
It doesn’t get much better than watching the autumn sunshine rise and set over the Adriatic – and that’s exactly what you can expect from our seven-day Multi-Activity Holiday in Southern Dalmatia.
Based in Ston on the Pelješac Peninsula, prepare for the perfect blend of adventure and culture as you walk Europe’s answer to the Great Wall of China, cycle to vineyards for wine and rakija tastings, swim in warm, sheltered bays, and eat world-renowned oysters. We’re only an hour away from Dubrovnik too, so there’s a chance to enjoy that without the summer throngs.
Keen kayakers can paddle from Croatia to Montenegro on our 10-day cross-border holiday which will see you drifting to secret beaches, hidden caves and islands crowned by centuries-old monasteries. To round it off, kayak on southern Europe’s largest lake, Lake Skadar, and glide amongst the water lilies before they hibernate.
Croatia weather in October
Croatia experiences mild daytime highs of 19℃ in October with sea temperatures averaging at around 20℃, warm enough for a swim. Although it’s generally bright and sunny, be prepared for some rain too.
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Montenegro in October
October is down time for many Montenegrins after a busy summer for tourism. This is when the locals tend to kick back and enjoy their lakes, mountains and beaches before hunkering down for the winter.
With milder temperatures and plenty of sunshine around, it’s an ideal time for hiking in Montenegro’s jaw-dropping national parks, such as Durmitor and our beloved Lake Skadar. Witness pastoral shepherds lead their sheep down from high summer pastures and capture epic photos of the dramatic limestone peaks being backlit by the autumn sun. It’s also pomegranate season, so we’ll likely visit some of the nuns in the area busy harvesting and pressing them for cordial.
We’ve a range of holidays based at Villa Miela, our traditional farmhouse on the shores of Lake Skadar. Find your inner Picasso with a week-long painting and wild swimming program or embark on a kayaking and bushcraft adventure on Lake Skadar in which you’ll paddle 60 km over five days and wild camp beneath the stars.
Montenegro weather in October
Montenegro boasts daytime highs of 21℃ on average with eight hours of bright sunshine and 11 hours of daylight. That said, like anywhere in the Balkans in October, rainstorms are likely too. On average, Montenegro experiences 10 days with some rainfall in October. But fear not, we always have exciting wet weather activities up our sleeves!
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Albania in October
Forget Canada. Albania’s Accursed Mountains in October could easily be mistaken for the Rockies. Soak it up on our North Albania multi-activity holiday which includes hiking the Valbona pass. We start the adventure with a traditional Theth village homestay before embarking on this epic trek through ancient forests, which are coloured striking reds, golds and deep emerald green in autumn. Gentle heat makes it the perfect time to take on this challenging hike and explore the cities of Shkodër and Krujë.
Alternatively, there’s no better time for a food and culture tour as sarma season begins in October. A traditional Balkan delicacy, sarma is stuffed vine or cabbage leaves drizzled in paprika sauce. It’s a hearty dish (what isn’t in the Balkans?) and while it can be found year-round, it’s more popular in the autumn and winter months. During our week-long culinary exploration of Albania, you will eat and sleep at a pioneering agritourism establishment, take cooking lessons with a family in Theth, eat your way around the Ottoman town of Berat, and explore Tirana.
Albania weather in October
Like Montenegro, Albania enjoys daytime temperatures of up to 21℃ in October with six hours of bright sunshine and 11 hours of daylight. Rainstorms are a possibility with an average of nine days affected by some wet weather during the month. And bear in mind the higher up you travel, the cooler it will be, so bring layers if your trip includes heading into the mountains.
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Bosnia & Herzegovina in October
Bosnia & Herzegovina can get pretty hot in July and August with temperatures known to soar to 40℃ in Mostar. If that’s a bit too sweaty for you, join us there in October instead for a week of Bosnian history, culture, food and outdoor adventures in some of its glorious forests and rivers (which look stunning with their autumn foliage).
See the eclectic mix of Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian and Yugoslavian architecture in Sarajevo and enjoy a traditional Bosnian coffee in its old town before making your way down to Mostar, Bosnia’s other great city, where you can weave through its narrow streets with ease as all of the summer crowds have gone.
Sandwiched between these two city stops is white water rafting on the Neretva, Europe’s coldest river, hiking to plunging waterfalls and traditional pottery making in a neolithic village. See the full itinerary.
Bosnia & Herzegovina weather in October
Bosnia & Herzegovina is split into two main climates – a Mediterranean/coastal climate in the southern Herzegovina region and a cooler continental climate in the northern Bosnia region.
Generally speaking, you can expect temperatures to be in the mid to high teens in October, depending on where you go, and five hours of bright sunshine in the day. Rainstorms do happen with an average 11 days with rainfall.
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Serbia in October
Tara National Park is another destination which just gets even better after the summer. Hike amongst the red, gold and green foliage and gaze down at the mighty blue Tara River from Banjska Stena viewpoint. Our guides Alex and Philomena may even invite you to take part in a forest bathing session during the week to really soak up the smells, sounds and warmth from the gentle sunshine breaking through the trees. It’s also the time for fire salamanders to be out, so keep your eyes peeled around puddles and shallow lakes for these striking little amphibians.
As well as some key moments in nature in October, visit local farmers who will insist on you sampling some of their freshly made rakija and get to know Belgrade without the summer crowds.
Serbia weather in October
Serbia boasts highs of 18℃ during the day in October with five hours of bright sunshine and nine days affected by rainfall on average. Bear in mind it will be a little bit fresher in the mountains, so pack layers and waterproofs as well as shorts and t-shirts.
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Kosovo in October
Kosovo is another tree-covered nation with plentiful walking trails in its stretch of the Accursed Mountains. During our week-long activity holiday there, you’ll complete a number of hikes through jaw-dropping karst limestone landscapes and thick forests. If you’re feeling daring, take the opportunity to complete a via ferrata.
There’s also kayaking, wild swimming, and a visit to Kosovo’s biggest cities of Prizren/Prizrenci (pictured above) and Prishtina, the capital, during the week. As for wildlife encounters, there’s the unique chance to see European Brown Bears at the Prishtina Bear Sanctuary.
Kosovo weather in October
In Kosovo in October, expect temperatures to hit 17℃ maximum on average – ideal for walking – with five hours of bright sunshine during the days, 11 horus of daylight in total, and nine days of rainfall.
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