159 destinations scored for November.
Where to travel in November
Japan's crimson season, the desert belt in full stride, and the tropics on the verge of prime time.
The straight answer
The best places to travel in November are Kyoto at peak autumn color, Egypt and Jordan in their prime season, Dubai as its perfect winter begins, and Patagonia as southern trekking season opens.
November's headline is Japan. The autumn foliage that October promised arrives in earnest: Kyoto's temples typically hit peak crimson from mid to late November, the counterpoint to spring's cherry blossoms and, for many travelers, the more beautiful of the two seasons. Korea's color runs earlier in the month, and both countries offer crisp, dry sightseeing weather throughout.
The desert belt is now fully open for business. Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Dubai all sit in their comfortable season, and November is one of the best months of the year for all four. Meanwhile the southern hemisphere accelerates toward summer: Patagonia's trekking season gets under way, New Zealand warms into late spring, and Cape Town's beaches come alive.
In the tropics, November is the month of the turn. Atlantic hurricane season ends November 30, making late November the smart early entry into the Caribbean and Mexico at pre-peak prices. Thailand and mainland Southeast Asia begin their cool, dry season. The one broad exception: Bali and central Vietnam are heading into or through their wettest weeks.
Our November picks, ranked
Each one opens its own month page: weather, crowds, prices and what is on.
The full November board
All 159 destinations we cover, scored for November.
At their best in November
43 places. One of their best months of the year.
Dubai
Superb, highs near 87F (31C)
Jordan
Mild, Petra highs near 65F (18C)
Egypt
Ideal, Cairo highs near 77F (25C), Luxor near 84F (29C)
Morocco
Mild, Marrakech highs near 73F (23C)
Cape Town
Warm and drying, highs near 75F (24C)
Tokyo
Cool and sunny, highs near 62F (17C)
Kyoto
Cool and sunny, highs near 63F (17C)
Thailand
Drying and bright, highs near 89F (32C)
Vietnam
Dry and mild north and south; center still storm-prone
Sydney
Early summer, highs near 75F (24C)
Mexico City
Dry and sunny, highs near 71F (22C), cool nights
Riviera Maya
Drying and cooling nicely, highs near 84F (29C)
Costa Rica
Drying out, highs near 86F (30C), green at maximum
Patagonia
Late spring, highs near 55F (13C), building winds, long days
Seville
Mild, highs near 68F (20C), some rain
Hong Kong
Dry and comfortable, highs near 76F (24C), low humidity
Taiwan
Comfortable, highs near 77F (25C), north starting to turn damp
Osaka
Crisp and clear, highs near 65F (18C)
Angkor Wat
Drying out, highs near 88F (31C)
Luang Prabang
Dry, highs near 84F (29C), clear skies
Rajasthan
Pleasant, highs near 84F (29C), cool nights
Kerala
Drying out, highs near 87F (31C)
Goa
Dry and sunny, highs near 91F (33C)
Nepal
Dry and clear, Kathmandu highs near 72F (22C), freezing nights at altitude
Bhutan
Crisp and clear, Paro highs near 61F (16C), cold nights
Shanghai
Cool and clear, highs near 64F (18C)
Delhi and Agra
Pleasant, highs near 82F (28C), cool nights
Oman
Warm, Muscat highs near 86F (30C), dry
Abu Dhabi
Warm, highs near 86F (30C), pleasant evenings
Los Cabos
Warm and dry, highs near 85F (29C)
Oaxaca
Dry and sunny, highs near 78F (26C), cool nights
Guatemala
Dry season returns, highs near 73F (23C), clear skies
Galapagos Islands
Mild, highs near 78F (26C), seas calming
Buenos Aires
Warm, highs near 77F (25C)
Atacama Desert
Warm days near 79F (26C), cool nights
New Orleans
Pleasant, highs near 71F (22C)
Savannah
Mild, highs near 70F (21C)
Austin
Pleasant, highs near 71F (22C), crisp mornings
Great Smoky Mountains
Cool, highs near 61F (16C)
Sedona
Mild, highs near 65F (18C)
Mauritius
Warm and mostly dry, highs near 84F (29C)
Seychelles
Warm and calm, highs near 86F (30C), occasional showers
Melbourne
Warm, highs near 72F (22C), changeable
Also good
27 places. Solid conditions, no major caveats.
Seoul
Cooling fast, highs near 52F (11C)
Maldives
Drying out, highs near 86F (30C)
New Zealand
Warming, highs near 67F (19C), long evenings beginning
Washington, DC
Cool, highs near 58F (14C)
Orlando
Pleasant, highs near 79F (26C)
Hawaii
Warm, highs near 83F (28C), windward showers increase
Madrid
Cool, highs near 57F (14C), some rain
Athens
Mild, highs near 66F (19C), rain returning
Malta
Mild, highs near 70F (21C), rain more frequent
Canary Islands
Mild, highs near 75F (24C), a few rainy days
Okinawa
Pleasant, highs near 76F (24C)
Palawan
Drying out, highs near 87F (31C)
Beijing
Cool to cold, highs near 50F (10C), dry
Punta Cana
Warm, highs near 85F (29C), rain easing
Puerto Vallarta
Drying out, highs near 88F (31C)
San Francisco
Cooling, highs near 63F (17C), first rains
Las Vegas
Mild, highs near 66F (19C)
Charleston
Mild, highs near 69F (21C)
Nashville
Cool, highs near 61F (16C)
San Diego
Mild, highs near 70F (21C)
Key West
Warm, highs near 80F (27C), drying out
Los Angeles
Mild, highs near 73F (23C)
Grand Canyon
Cold, highs near 52F (11C), first snow possible
Zion
Cool, highs near 63F (17C)
Napa Valley
Cool, highs near 67F (19C), rain returning
Madagascar
Hot, highs near 84F (29C), first rains late month
Great Barrier Reef
Hot, highs near 86F (30C), humidity building
Quiet value
55 places. Fewer crowds and lower prices, with honest tradeoffs.
ParisThe moodiest month, and the cheapest good one. Holiday windows start late month.
LondonThe moody bargain month. Christmas lights switch on along Oxford and Regent Streets by mid-month.
RomeRome's wettest stretch, but lines vanish and trattorias feel local again. Pack a real rain layer.
FlorenceGray but rewarding: white-truffle season peaks and the museums are calm. Pack for rain.
BarcelonaCalm and cheap with plenty of sun. One of Europe's most comfortable off-season city breaks.
LisbonGreen hills, moody light, low costs. Bring a rain layer and shoes with grip for the wet cobbles.
AmsterdamThe moody bargain month. The Light Festival's canal installations begin late month or early December.
PragueThe quiet month between seasons, until the Christmas markets open around its final week.
IcelandIce-cave season opens under the glaciers. Dark, moody, and cheap between the storm systems.
IrelandLow season proper. Cities, museums, and pubs at full strength; plan around the early dark.
CroatiaThe off switch flips: hotels and restaurants close in waves, ferries thin out. Fine for Zagreb, Split city life, and empty old towns.
IstanbulThe season winds down. Fine museum-and-bazaar weather, soft prices, and the city handed back to its own.
PeruA decent-value gamble: many fine days early month, greener valleys, thin crowds. Trekking gets muddier as the month ages.
The Amalfi CoastThe shutdown begins: many hotels close early in the month. Cheap, quiet, and limited.
Lake ComoOne of the rainiest months. Villas close early in the month; Como's Christmas festival starts late in it.
Cinque TerreHeavy rain is common and boats stop. Cheap and very quiet if the weather cooperates.
SicilyQuiet and cheap, with the olive harvest in the countryside. Some seaside hotels close.
ProvenceOlive harvest and the start of truffle season. Many rural guesthouses and restaurants close.
The French RivieraQuiet and cheap, but wet. Cities and museums open; beach life finished.
The AlgarveOne of the wettest months. Cheap and quiet, with sunny spells between fronts.
MadeiraOne of the wetter months, especially on the north side. Good value.
ViennaQuiet until the Christmas markets open mid month. Good value for opera tickets.
BudapestLow season until the Christmas markets open mid month. Bath weather.
BerlinThe bleakest month until the Christmas markets open late in the month.
MunichThe quiet month. Christmas markets open late in the month.
CopenhagenTivoli's Christmas season opens mid month. The dreariest weather of the year.
Scottish HighlandsMany seasonal places close for the winter. Good for cozy pubs and whisky, less for sightseeing.
EdinburghGray and damp until the Christmas market opens mid to late month.
BrugesQuiet and gray until the Christmas market opens late in the month.
SalzburgQuiet until the Christmas markets open mid to late month.
KrakowAll Saints' Day on November 1 fills cemeteries with candles. Dark, damp, and quiet.
CreteMost beach resorts are shut and the gorge is closed, but the olive harvest and village raki distilling make it a strong food and culture month.
MallorcaResorts closed, Palma and the mountain villages quiet. Good for walking, food markets, and city breaks.
CappadociaQuieter and cheaper, with more frequent flight cancellations as winter approaches.
UzbekistanCrowds and prices drop. Early November can still be lovely; later in the month turns gray and cold.
Puerto RicoStorm season winds down but showers are frequent. Surf season starts in Rincon; Thanksgiving week spikes prices from the mainland.
JamaicaEarly November can still be wet; the second half dries out nicely before peak rates return. Thanksgiving week spikes.
The BahamasStorm season winds down while the water is still warm. A smart window, apart from Thanksgiving week.
ArubaStill dry by Caribbean standards: a few inches of rain, usually in quick bursts. Thanksgiving week spikes rates.
Turks and CaicosHurricane season ends and resorts reopen with fair rates. Thanksgiving week is priced like peak.
US Virgin IslandsHurricane season ends and businesses reopen. Showers are common, but so are fair prices before the holidays.
St. LuciaThe rainy season winds down and the island is green. Fair prices before the holidays.
BarbadosThe wet season winds down. Independence Day on November 30 brings celebrations across the island.
BermudaBeach season is over for most visitors. Pleasant for walking and golf, with falling prices.
BelizeRains ease through the month and the season reopens. Garifuna Settlement Day on November 19 is a highlight in Dangriga and Hopkins.
MedellinStill rainy but easing, and the Christmas lights usually switch on around the end of the month.
Rio de JaneiroThe wet season starts, with more frequent afternoon rain. Prices still reasonable before December.
ChicagoThe Magnificent Mile Lights Festival and Christkindlmarket open. Thanksgiving week is quiet.
BostonQuiet and cheaper. Thanksgiving is a natural fit, with Plymouth and its Pilgrim sites an hour away.
YosemiteTioga and Glacier Point roads typically close during the month. Quiet Valley and lower prices; carry chains.
NamibiaHeat peaks before the rains break. Waterhole viewing stays strong early month; value improves.
Okavango DeltaThe first storms break the heat. Impala and tsessebe calving begins; green-season rates start at many camps.
Victoria FallsThe lowest flow of the year. Stay on the Zimbabwe side for views. Great for adrenaline activities and quieter lodges.
ZanzibarThe short rains usually arrive as brief afternoon showers. Good value and still plenty of sun between storms.
TahitiThe wet season begins. Whale season tails off, and prices soften.Tradeoffs
14 places. Real upsides and real downsides. Read the month page before booking.
VenicePeak acqua alta season, fog, and near-empty streets. Haunting and cheap, but pack for wet feet and check tide forecasts.
East Africa SafariBrief, usually manageable rains green the plains as herds move south. Good value; most camps stay open through the short rains.
BaliWet season arrives. Quiet and cheap, with sunny mornings the norm and afternoon storms the pattern.
SingaporeThe northeast monsoon's heavy rains arrive. Fine for a museum, hawker, and mall trip; frustrating for outdoor-heavy plans.
FijiTransition month: often still lovely, officially the cyclone season's start. Prices drop and the islands quiet down.
New York CityEarly November is a quiet sweet spot around the marathon. Thanksgiving week flips the city into full holiday-crush mode.
PortoThe rainy season begins in earnest. Cheap, but some days are a washout.
AzoresOne of the wetter months. Quiet and cheap, but weather can scrub boat trips and hide viewpoints for days.
SardiniaThe coast is closed for the season. Cities and interior villages are quiet and local.
Sri LankaRain continues in many areas, and late in the year cyclones can form in the Bay of Bengal. The south starts to dry out by late month.
BorneoRain increases everywhere. Still workable for Sepilok and short river trips; rough seas can affect island and dive trips.
Kuala LumpurHeavy daily rain and occasional flash floods in the city. Deepavali often falls now.
CartagenaRainy at first but easing. Independence celebrations around November 11 bring parades and parties, and the national beauty pageant.
UluruThe heat season begins. Walks close early on extreme days; flies return in force.Think twice
20 places. Heat, storms, closures, or the year's worst crowds.
SantoriniThe shutdown arrives in earnest: most tourist businesses close for winter and ferry schedules thin.
Swiss AlpsThe other dead zone: too late to hike, too early to ski, much of the mountain plant shut for pre-season maintenance.
AlaskaClosed for mainstream tourism. Aurora season is underway in Fairbanks for those chasing the lights.
YellowstoneMost park roads close to regular vehicles in early November, and winter tours have not started. Only the northern road remains open to cars.
The DolomitesBetween seasons: lifts closed, many hotels shut, not enough snow yet. Christmas markets start late in the month.
StockholmThe gloomiest month: dark, wet, and before the Christmas lights. Only for museum trips.
Norway's FjordsThe wettest, grayest stretch. Short days, most seasonal services closed, not yet winter scenery.
Finnish LaplandThe gray gap: dark days, often not enough snow for sledding, many activities not yet running.
MykonosThe season is over. Most visitor businesses close and the island returns to its small year-round population.
KotorTypically the wettest month. Seasonal businesses close, boats pause, and the mountain views are often lost in cloud.
Lake BledGray, wet, and between seasons: the gorge closes, trails are muddy, and the snow has not arrived. Advent lights start late in the month.
HokkaidoLeaves are gone, snow is not reliable yet, and many seasonal attractions close. Little reason to go.
PanamaStill very rainy through most of the month. The patriotic holidays on November 3, 10, and 28 bring parades and marching bands across the country.
SeattleThe wettest month with the shortest days. Mountain roads start closing for winter.
BanffBetween seasons: lakes freezing, hiking over, skiing just starting. The Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival is the one bright spot early in the month.
VancouverRelentless rain, early dark, and ski season not yet reliable. Only the cheapest hotel rates of the year argue for it.
Quebec CityThe dreariest month: leaves gone, snow not yet reliable. The German Christmas market arrives at the end of the month.
MontrealThe bleakest stretch of the year. Museums and restaurants carry the trip; nothing outdoors shines.
Glacier National ParkThe alpine road is closed, services are shut, and winter sports have not really started. The quietest and least rewarding month.
AcadiaLeaves gone, most businesses closed, and the loop roads close to vehicles on December 1. Little reason to go.The US in November
9 states are in their best window.
New York City
The holiday city switches on: the Macy's parade on Thanksgiving morning, store windows unveiled, and rinks open, all before December's deepest crowds.
Santa Fe and Taos
Crisp high-desert light, pinon smoke, and gallery season, with early-season skiing possible at Taos by late month.
Death Valley
The season flips on: mild 75F (24C) days reopen the salt flats, dunes, and canyons that summer made untouchable.
Florida
The dry season begins: humidity breaks, hurricane season ends, and the Everglades and Keys enter their best half of the year at pre-holiday prices.
Think twice about: Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
November events worth flying for
Northern Lights Season
Iceland, Norway & Finnish and Swedish Lapland
September through March, whenever nights are dark; the equinox months and deep winter each have their own case
Dia de Muertos in Oaxaca
Oaxaca, Mexico
Builds through late October and peaks on November 1 and 2, with celebrations spanning roughly the last week of October into early November
Diwali in India
India nationwide
October or November, on the new moon of the Hindu month of Kartika; the date moves with the lunar calendar
Day of the Dead in Mexico City
Mexico City, Mexico
November 1 and 2 every year, with parades, altars, and events building through the second half of October
Pushkar Camel Fair (Pushkar Mela)
Pushkar, Rajasthan, India
About a week in the Hindu month of Kartik, ending on the Kartik Purnima full moon, which usually falls in November and occasionally in late October
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
New York City
Thanksgiving morning, the fourth Thursday of November, with the balloon inflation viewable the afternoon before
Monarch Butterfly Migration in Mexico
Michoacan, Mexico
November through March, with the butterflies arriving around early November and the liveliest viewing in the warming weeks of late January and February
Christmas Markets in Europe
Germany, Austria & France, multi-city
Late November through Christmas Eve for most markets, with some running into early January
Holidays and breaks in November
A holiday week has its own crowds and prices. These guides rank the world for that exact week.
Hidden gems in their November window
54 places from our lists whose best window includes November.
America's Coolest Small Towns Nobody Talks About- Marfa, Marfa, West Texas. Mar-May · Oct-Nov
- Bisbee, Bisbee, Arizona. Mar-May · Oct-Nov
- Beaufort, Beaufort, South Carolina. Mar-May · Oct-Nov
- Eureka Springs, Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Apr-Jun · Oct-Nov
The Best National Parks Nobody Visits- Congaree National Park, Hopkins, South Carolina. Oct-Nov · Mar-May
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park, West Texas. Oct-Nov · Mar-Apr
- Pinnacles National Park, Central California. Mar-May · Oct-Nov
Japan Beyond Tokyo and Kyoto- Kanazawa, Kanazawa, Ishikawa. Apr-May · Oct-Nov
- Naoshima, Naoshima, Kagawa. Apr-May · Oct-Nov
- Kurashiki, Kurashiki, Okayama. Apr-May · Oct-Nov
- Yakushima, Yakushima, Kagoshima. Apr-May · Oct-Nov
- Onomichi, Onomichi, Hiroshima. Mar-May · Oct-Nov
Asia's Most Underrated Places- Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang, Laos. Nov-Feb
- Taitung, Taitung, Taiwan. Oct-Apr
- Battambang, Battambang, Cambodia. Nov-Feb
- Kampot, Kampot, Cambodia. Nov-Mar
- Chiang Rai, Chiang Rai, Thailand. Nov-Feb
Beach Towns That Are Still Cool- Isla Holbox, Isla Holbox, Mexico. Nov-May
- Paternoster, Paternoster, South Africa. Nov-Mar · Aug-Sep
- Sayulita, Sayulita, Mexico. Nov-Apr
- Port Aransas, Port Aransas, Texas. Mar-May · Sep-Nov
The Best Shoulder-Season Trips- Morocco in November, Marrakech and the Sahara, Morocco. Nov
- Istanbul in November, Istanbul, Turkey. Nov
Whale Watching by Month: Where the Whales Are, All Year- Orcas in the Arctic winter, Fjords north of Tromso, Norway. Nov-Jan
Winter Sun Escapes: Where It Is Actually Warm in January- Canary Islands, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote, Spain. Nov-Mar
- Madeira, Funchal, Portugal. Nov-Mar
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Nov-Mar
- Oman, Muscat, Nizwa, and the Wahiba Sands. Nov-Mar
- Upper Egypt and the Red Sea, Luxor, Aswan, and Hurghada, Egypt. Nov-Feb
The Best Scuba Diving by Season: Where to Dive, Month by Month- Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia. Oct-Apr
- Palau, Western Pacific, Republic of Palau. Nov-Apr
- Komodo National Park, Flores, Indonesia. Apr-Nov
- Red Sea wrecks and reefs, Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada, Egypt. Mar-May · Sep-Nov
- Galapagos: Darwin and Wolf, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Jun-Nov
The Best Ski Destinations by Month: Where the Snow Is Best, and When- Zermatt, Valais, Switzerland. Nov-Apr
Fall Foliage Around the World: Where and When the Leaves Turn- Seoraksan, Gangwon Province, South Korea. Oct-Nov
- Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee and North Carolina. Oct-Nov
- Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Oct-Nov
- Kyoto temple maples, Kyoto, Japan. Nov-Dec
Islands Safe From Hurricane Season: Where to Go From June to November- Aruba, Southern Caribbean. Jun-Nov
- Bonaire, Southern Caribbean, Dutch Caribbean. Jun-Nov
- Curacao, Southern Caribbean, Dutch Caribbean. Jun-Nov
- Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Jun-Nov
- Seychelles, Indian Ocean. Oct-Nov
The Best Stargazing Destinations, and When the Skies Are Clearest- Wadi Rum, Southern Jordan. Mar-May · Sep-Nov
- Big Bend National Park, West Texas. Mar-May · Oct-Nov
- Death Valley National Park, California and Nevada. Oct-Apr
- Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve, Iveragh Peninsula, County Kerry, Ireland. Oct-Mar
- Finnish Lapland, Inari and Saariselka, Finland. Sep-Mar
Where November works against you
- Central Vietnam. The wettest weeks of the year: Hoi An and Hue see their heaviest rain and regular flooding from roughly October into November. The north and south are far better bets.
- Bali. The rainy season builds through November: heavier downpours, humidity, and murkier water. The dry months from roughly May through September are the play.
- The Greek islands. The curtain is down: seasonal hotels, restaurants, and most ferry routes are closed or skeletal until spring. Athens works in November; the islands mostly do not.
- The Rockies and Alps in shoulder limbo. Mud season: hiking is over, most lifts have not opened, and mountain towns run half-closed until the snow arrives in earnest, typically from late November into December.
November travel, quick answers
Where is hot in November?
Dubai, Egypt, and the Riviera Maya run reliably warm and dry, Thailand begins its best season, and the southern hemisphere heats up in Cape Town, Sydney, and Fiji. The Caribbean comes fully back online as hurricane season ends November 30.
Where should I avoid in November?
Central Vietnam in flood season, Bali as the rains build, the shuttered Greek islands, and mountain towns in the Rockies and Alps stuck between hiking and ski seasons.
When does Kyoto's fall foliage peak?
Typically from mid to late November, varying by year and by garden elevation. It draws cherry-blossom-level crowds to the famous temples, so book lodging months ahead and hit headline sights at opening time.
Is November a cheap month to travel?
One of the cheapest good ones. It sits between summer and the holidays almost everywhere: Europe's cities hit their price floor, late November opens the Caribbean at shoulder rates, and even Japan outside the foliage hotspots stays reasonable.
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