Last Updated on October 4, 2025
Temperatures in London are getting colder and the days wetter and shorter. Though it can feel summery in early October, it typically gets wintrier toward the end, with the middle of the month offering almost anything in between.
This is an ideal time for travelers in and around the London area to consider booking places that offer more sunshine and warmth. The good news is that multiple sun-drenched destinations are only one-to-three-hour flight from London.
Google searches for ‘October sun’ have increased by 47 percent in the last month in the U.K. as Brits scramble to hold onto the warmth of the best summer they’ve had in years.
Travel platform Omio has helped U.K. travelers out by analyzing weather data to identify European capital cities within a three-hour plane ride from London that offer lots of October autumn sunshine.
Valletta, Malta
Malta’s capital city tops the list with as the warmest European capital to visit in October, with temperature highs of 25°C, plenty warm enough for sleeveless tops and shorts. Malta has one of the sunniest climates in Europe, boasting mild winters and hot, dry summers.
Only a three-hour flight from London makes it is the perfect getaway for a long weekend or a full week of October sunshine.
Lisbon, Portugal
Coming in second is Lisbon, where you’ll find temperatures as high as 23°C during October. The perfect place for a city break, Lisbon is only 2 hours 45 minutes from London, it offers culture, great food, vibrant nightlife and lovely weather – what more could you want?
Rome, Italy
Italy’s capital city joins Lisbon in second place with equally stunning temperature highs of 23°C, and much like Lisbon, Rome makes for the perfect sunny city break.
Madrid, Spain
Madrid is third on the list with highs of 20°C in October. The ideal city for culture seekers boasts a vibrant arts scene, impeccable food and a buzzing nightlife. With a 2-hour 30-minute flight time, a long weekend is more than doable, allowing you plenty of time to explore and enjoy the feeling of some October sun on your skin.
Paris, France and Budapest, Hungary
Paris and Budapest make up the remainder of the top five European cities for October sun, with temperature highs of 17°C. While cooler than the top cities, they’re still comfortable enough to go sleeveless when wandering the streets during the day, but you’ll likely need to add a layer or two by the evening.
Here’s a compilation of the top 25 destinations that include flight times and highest average October temp.
- Valletta, Malta, 3 hours, 25°C
- Lisbon, Portugal, 2 hours 45 minutes, 23°C
- Rome Italy, 2 hours 30 minutes, 23°C
- Madrid, Spain, 2 hours 30 minutes, 20°C
- Paris, France, 1 hour, 15 minutes, 17°C
- Budapest, Hungary, 2 hours, 30 minutes, 17°C
- Ljubljana, Slovenia, 2 hours, 20 minutes, 16°C
- Zagreb, Croatia, 2 hours, 30 minutes, 16°C
- Bratislava, Slovakia, 2 hours, 30 minutes, 16°C
- Brussels, Belgium, 1 hour, 15°C
- Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1 hour, 15 minutes, 15°C
- Dublin, Ireland, 1 hour, 20 minutes, 15 °C
- Cardiff, Wales, 1 hour, 15°C
- Vienna, Austria, 2 hours, 10 minutes, 15°C
- Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, 14°C
- Berlin, Germany, 1 hour, 50 minutes-2 hours, 10 minutes, 14°C
- Prague, Czech Republic, 2 hours, 14°C
- Edinburgh, Scotland, 1 hour, 15 minutes, 13°C
- Belfast, Northern Ireland, 1 hour, 15 minutes, 13°C
- Warsaw, Poland, 2 hours, 30 minutes, 13°C
- Copenhagen, Denmark, 2 hours, 12°C
- Riga, Latvia, 2 hours, 45 minutes, 11°C
- Vlnius, Lithuania, 2 hours, 45 minutes 11°C
- Oslo, Norway, 2 hours, 10 minutes, 10°C
- Stockholm, Sweden, 2 hours, 30 minutes, 10°C
- Tallin, Estonia, 3 hours, 10°C
