Experience Fall Foliage And Wine Walks In Europe In September & October

September has arrived in Europe and with it comes some stunning fall foliage, best to view on a hiking vacation. Meanwhile, along the way, several wine walks are also recommended in September and October. Where are the best European destinations to enjoy the wonders of fall foliage with an enjoyable wine walk?

Fall foliage and wine walks in Europe

It’s been a long, hot summer in Europe, but finally, temperatures are starting to drop, while crowds of tourists have mostly gone home. This makes the months of September and October the perfect time to enjoy a European hiking vacation. Read on to discover some of the most scenic destinations for a fall hiking vacation in Europe.

– Take a train to Fontainebleau Forest in France

Fontainebleau Forest is the second-largest national forest in France and is just a 40-minute train ride away from Paris. The forest has many hiking trails to choose from, but the most popular is the Massif des Trois Pignons circuit which winds around the forest edge. The route takes between three to four hours of hiking along rocky paths and it makes a perfect day trip from the City of Light with shades of gold, red, orange and yellow fall foliage to enjoy.

– Wine hike in Douro, Portugal

The Duoro region of northern Portugal is a scenic wonder and offers some of the best hiking trails in the country. The hillsides have been carved into man-made terraces for the vines, which take advantage of the region’s perfect grape growing conditions. Meanwhile, wine has been produced in this valley for some 2,000 years.

The grape harvesting season here normally starts in September, making the fall the ideal time to visit and enjoy the beautiful fall foliage while exploring the vineyards. Take the train to the town of Pinhão, then hike between the wine estates (known as Quintas). Moreover, some of the Quintas offer their own hiking maps for trails on their unique wine-growing estates. Best of all, the weather in September and October offers the perfect temperatures for hiking.

– Take a hike in the Tatra Mountains with fall foliage

Hike in the Tatra Mountains, part of the Carpathian chain that forms a natural border between Slovakia and Poland. Many of the trails in this area and easily accessible, making them the perfect place for beginner hikers with little experience of hiking through the mountains.  On the Slovakian side, take a cable railway such as the Kasprowy Wierch to Lomnitz Peak, the second-highest mountain in the High Tatras.

Early in the fall is a perfect time for hiking and touring the mountains with more comfortable temperatures and less crowds getting in the way. This offers the perfect chance to enjoy the spectacular fall colors in peace.

– Head up into the Pyrenees Mountains

The mountain range set on the French–Spanish border and is hot during summer, but offers cooler temperatures in September and October, making the mountains the perfect place for hiking. Meanwhile, the mountains along the border offer a range of conditions on any given day from the dry foothills in the south to the cloudy higher valleys of the north. This offers a better opportunity to find the best weather for hiking.

Foix, Pau and Lourdes are the larger towns at the foot of the mountain range and make excellent bases from which to start a hiking adventure. Moreover, wild camping is an option here, but there are also around 1,500 refuges across the region offering an overnight stay for those who don’t want to carry camping equipment.

Experience a hike through Europe in September or October for the rewards of magical fall foliage along the way.