Where to go in October
October is peak season for Greece, New Orleans and Hawaii, and 6 more of our 34 destinations are at their best. For better value, Ibiza is in shoulder season (24°C highs). Skip Da Nang and Costa Rica: their guides call October a month to avoid.
At their best in October
9 destinations are in their best season in October, ranked by the Atlas Ranger Score for the month. The warmest is Cabo San Lucas at 31°C; the driest is Greece with 27mm of rain.
Peak season
Peak season
Peak season
Peak season
Peak season
Peak season
Peak season
Peak season
Peak season
Good value in October
Ibiza is the best-value pick for October: shoulder season, a score of 90 and 24°C highs, without the peak-season crowds. Mallorca, Mexico City and Cabo San Lucas are also worth it this month.
Best value
Worth it
Worth it
Worth it
Worth it
Where to avoid in October
15 guides warn against October. Da Nang leads the list: Worst month of the year — typhoon peak, 631mm of rain.
- Da NangWorst monthWorst month of the year — typhoon peak, 631mm of rain28°C · 631mmWorst time to visit Da Nang →
- Costa RicaWorst monthWettest month nationally — the single month to skip30°C · 534mmWorst time to visit Costa Rica →
- Hoi AnWorst monthWorst month — typhoon peak, 656mm of rain, Old Town floods28°C · 656mmWorst time to visit Hoi An →
- JamaicaWorst monthWettest month of the year — the single month to avoid30°C · 242mmWorst time to visit Jamaica →
- Punta CanaWorst monthStill in the hurricane window, sunshine at its lowest30°C · 163mmWorst time to visit Punta Cana →
- Koh SamuiWet season starts — rainfall more than doubles, beach days unreliable31°C · 295mmWorst time to visit Koh Samui →
- KrabiContinued heavy rain — beaches stripped by storms32°C · 275mmWorst time to visit Krabi →
- MexicoWettest month, and hurricane risk lingers32°C · 242mmWorst time to visit Mexico →
- PhilippinesMonsoon easing — typhoons still likely30°C · 265mmWorst time to visit Philippines →
- MaldivesMonsoon tail — improving late, still cheap30°C · 200mmWorst time to visit Maldives →
- St. ThomasWettest month of the year, still inside the storm window29°C · 145mmWorst time to visit St. Thomas →
- ArubaWet season begins — humid, hazier, less sun32°C · 56mmWorst time to visit Aruba →
- CancunHurricane risk lingers, prices stay low30°C · 129mmWorst time to visit Cancun →
- TulumStorm risk eases late — Day of the Dead nears30°C · 134mmWorst time to visit Tulum →
- BahamasStill in the hurricane window, still wet29°C · 107mmWorst time to visit Bahamas →
October at a glance
| Destination | October | High / low | Rain | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ibiza | Good | 24° / 19°C | 43 mm | 90 |
| Mallorca | Good | 24° / 14°C | 45 mm | 89 |
| Greece | Peak | 23° / 15°C | 27 mm | 88 |
| New Orleans | Peak | 26° / 19°C | 78 mm | 84 |
| Hawaii | Peak | 29° / 23°C | 28 mm | 83 |
| Mexico City | Good | 23° / 11°C | 92 mm | 81 |
| Spain | Peak | 22° / 12°C | 73 mm | 78 |
| Cabo San Lucas | Good | 31° / 24°C | 51 mm | 75 |
| Osaka | Peak | 22° / 14°C | 110 mm | 71 |
| Bahamas | Skip | 29° / 25°C | 107 mm | 71 |
| Key West | Mixed | 28° / 26°C | 114 mm | 70 |
| Tulum | Skip | 30° / 24°C | 134 mm | 69 |
| Miami | Mixed | 29° / 23°C | 133 mm | 69 |
| Bali | Good | 31° / 25°C | 68 mm | 68 |
| Cancun | Skip | 30° / 24°C | 129 mm | 67 |
| Kyoto | Peak | 22° / 13°C | 130 mm | 66 |
| Okinawa | Peak | 28° / 23°C | 155 mm | 66 |
| Aruba | Skip | 32° / 27°C | 56 mm | 66 |
| St. Thomas | Skip | 29° / 27°C | 145 mm | 62 |
| Vietnam | Mixed | 29° / 22°C | 196 mm | 61 |
| Punta Cana | Skip | 30° / 25°C | 163 mm | 61 |
| Maldives | Skip | 30° / 26°C | 200 mm | 58 |
| Japan | Peak | 22° / 14°C | 200 mm | 57 |
| Jamaica | Skip | 30° / 24°C | 242 mm | 54 |
| Thailand | Mixed | 31° / 24°C | 233 mm | 53 |
| Philippines | Skip | 30° / 25°C | 265 mm | 53 |
| Mexico | Skip | 32° / 23°C | 242 mm | 52 |
| Tokyo | Peak | 22° / 16°C | 235 mm | 50 |
| Krabi | Skip | 32° / 23°C | 275 mm | 49 |
| Koh Samui | Skip | 31° / 24°C | 295 mm | 48 |
| Hoi An | Skip | 28° / 24°C | 656 mm | 46 |
| Costa Rica | Skip | 30° / 22°C | 534 mm | 44 |
| Da Nang | Skip | 28° / 24°C | 631 mm | 43 |
| Iceland | Mixed | 6° / 2°C | 147 mm | 16 |
October travel questions
Where is warm in October?
Cabo San Lucas (31°C highs), Bali (31°C highs) and Hawaii (29°C highs) are the warmest of the destinations that are good to visit in October.
Where is good for a beach trip in October?
Hawaii, Okinawa, Ibiza and Mallorca are in a good season with beach weather (24°C or warmer) in October.
Where is cheapest to visit in October?
October is one of the cheapest months for Thailand, Iceland and Hawaii, and none of their guides warns against it.
Where should I avoid in October?
Da Nang, Costa Rica and Hoi An. Their own guides flag October: Da Nang, worst month of the year — typhoon peak, 631mm of rain; Costa Rica, wettest month nationally — the single month to skip; Hoi An, worst month — typhoon peak, 656mm of rain, old town floods.