Trending Now – Off-Season Europe

More travelers are skipping the summer crush and heading to Europe’s most beloved warm-weather destinations during the shoulder season instead. With milder temperatures, jam-packed cultural calendars, and a growing awareness of overtourism’s impact during peak periods, fall is increasingly becoming the discerning traveler’s favorite time to go. Below, seasonal highlights in Spain, Italy, Greece, and beyond.

While summer in the Mediterranean has its charms, savvy travelers know that fall—with its sun-soaked days, gentler heat, and quieter ports—is the best time to explore its coastal beauty. Newsflash: For the first time, PONANT Eexplorations, the world’s leading designer of small-ship explorations, is offering Mediterranean sailings in fall 2025.

WHERE TO SAIL

• For a deep dive into Mediterranean culture, “Cruising the Mediterranean: Sicily, Sardinia, and Mallorca,” October 2-10, 2025—co-hosted by Smithsonian Journeys—features expert-led excursions by historian Thomas Dandelet and archaeologist Suzanne Pilaar Birch.
• “Ancient Shores of the Mediterranean” is a 10-night voyage, November 7-17 from Athens to Málaga, stopping at legendary ports like Carthage in Tunisia and Hippo in Algeria—cradles of Phoenician and Roman civilization that are rarely included on mainstream itineraries.
• “Italian Escape” is a breezy five-night sailing, November 17-22 that traces the east coast of Sicily, dips into Calabria and the Amalfi Coast, and ends in the baroque splendor of Valletta, Malta.

Greece is emerging as a year-round destination, thanks in part to expanded air routes from the U.S. The number of weekly flights to Athens International Airport has jumped 25% year-over-year, and major carriers are extending their seasons well into the winter months. American Airlines is flying direct from New York to Athens through October 28, 2025; Delta has extended service through mid-January 2026; and United is now flying from Newark through November.

WHERE TO STAY

• Mykonos: Open through early November, Kalesma is a sleek Greek-owned retreat on the island’s rugged northwest end. Don’t be fooled by its traditional Cycladic village architecture; inside, it’s all fashion-forward Rick Owens-designed furniture, a sumptuous spa with Dr. Barabara Sturm treatments, and Pere Ubu, one of the island’s buzziest restaurants. Newsflash: Kalesma has just debuted a new dining concept, Kuveda, modeled off a traditional Greek kafenio (café) and serving shareable, all-day bites like meze platters.
• Athens: With bookings open through late October, NEW is the first hotel by Brazilian designers Fernando and Humberto Campana, who brought their whimsical, upcycled aesthetic to a 1950s-era hotel adjacent to Constitution Square. The 79 rooms and suites feature Athenian-inspired art installations along with vintage furniture sourced from the city’s flea markets; elsewhere in the hotel, find artworks from owner Dakis Joannou’s 1,500-piece collection, with pieces by the likes of Jenny Holzer and Laurie Simmons.
• Santorini: Located in the charming town of Mesaria on the edge of the Santorini caldera, NOŪS (open through late October) is a rare haven of sophistication and tranquility less than 10 minutes from the island’s capital, Fira. The sleek resort boasts an 164-foot pool (the island’s largest); 160 site-specific works of original art; and 119 rooms, bungalows and suites — many with their own private pools and gardens.

September is prime time for classical music in Prague, with performances held in the city’s grandest concert halls and gilded theaters. Taking center stage is the Dvořák International Prague Music Festival (September 5–23), which brings top-tier orchestras and soloists to iconic venues for more than two dozen concerts. Highlights include the Frankfurt Radio Symphony’s opening performance at the neo-Renaissance Rudolfinum; a genre-blending “Mozart y Mambo” concert at the Spiral Theatre at the Prague Exhibition Grounds; and a 20th-anniversary performance by the Czech Republic’s Belfiato Quintet in the soaring Gothic halls of the Convent of Saint Agnes.

WHERE TO STAY
Set inside the former Alcron Hotel — Prague’s first luxury hotel dating to the First Republic and frequented by the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Winston Churchill, and Ella Fitzgerald — Almanac X Alcron Prague is the city’s grandest, and most glamorous, stay. After a €20 million transformation, the hotel’s 1930s splendor shines brighter than ever, featuring original artwork and interior detailing (picture: marble pillars, wood paneling, and onyx fireplaces), craftsmanship by local artists, and top-floor suites with views of the Prague Castle. This fall, Almanac guests can further tap into Prague’s cultural pulse with exclusive access including VIP tours of Museum Kampa led by the chief curator, after-hours visits to The DOX Centre for Contemporary Art, and a behind-the-scenes look at Rückl Glassworks, including time with chief designer Katerina Handlová.

The Catalan capital is preparing for a packed calendar of fall events, beginning in September with La Mercé – the city’s biggest annual festival, combining live music, parades, street theater, and the iconic human towers (castellers). The excitement continues in October with the Swab Barcelona Art Fair (October 2-5); Barcelona Design Week (October 7-17), and Open House Barcelona (October 26-27). The latter offers access to some of the city’s most iconic and lesser-known architectural gems that are normally closed to the public, such as the seafront private residence Casa Gomis in El Prat de Llobregat or the Ricardo Bofill-designed Edifici Walden 7.

WHERE TO STAY
Located just off Passeig de Gràcia, Almanac Barcelona is a stylish home base for exploring all the Catalan capital has to offer, with just 61 rooms and 30 suites, all of which have either a Juliet balcony, private terrace, or floor-to-ceiling window “cubes” with built-in daybeds that jut out over bustling Gran Via. It’s also one of the city’s few family-owned Spanish hospitality brands. At the rooftop bar, Azimuth, mingle with locals while taking in views of La Sagrada Familia and Mount Tibidabo. Meanwhile, at the ground-level Virens, chef Rodrigo de la Calle crafts plant-forward interpretations of classic Mediterranean dishes. Save 10% on stays between September 1 and November, including complimentary breakfast.