I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for this sweltering heatwave to finally pass.

Enough of island-hopping around the Maddalena archipelago, gelato by the pier in Amalfi, and toasting in the sun like fried calamari in Menorca.

I’m counting down the days until it’s sweater, fireplace weather, and it’s time to escape to the mountains for some of that crisp, cool air.

I've Been To Over 40 European Countries Here's My 4 Favorite For Lush Fall Foliage

After 8+ years of solo traveling around Europe—and being based in Paris, the much-loved, equally-despised City of Lights—I was bound to have my select few favorites as far as fall getaways go.

If you’re impatient for fall foliage, that coppery sea of pine trees extending as far as the eye can see, and a hot chockie date as it drizzles gently outside, I’ve got it covered for you:

From your favorite Travel Off Path Eurocorrespondent, with 40+ European countries under his belt and a decade’s worth of years living in Paris to back it up, here’s my top 4 all-time favorite European autumnal escapes.

Scotland

Scottish Highlands

Everyone flocks to Scotland to witness the Gothic spires of Edinburgh, or if they’re devoted Potterheads, the Harry Potter-featured Glenfinnan Viaduct in person, but the main reason why I keep getting drawn back to the Land of the Gaels year after year is the vast, untamed wilderness that is the Highlands.

Stretching from Fort William all the way north to Thurso, with countless rugged islands and sea lochs lying just offshore, this vast wilderness offers epic Munro hikes, misty lochs, dramatic castles perched atop vertiginous coastal cliffs, and some of the dreamiest fall scenery you could possibly ask for.

Glen Coe is what I like to call the European Banff:

Think huge mountains, moody valleys, pristine waterfalls emptying into glassy basins, and that endless burnt-orange woodland that looks almost surreal. Bidean nam Bian is particularly spectacular in the fall, and if you’ve brought your camping gear along, there’s plenty of wild camping spots in the area.

Eilean Donan Castle In The Fall, Scotland

You’ll literally be sleeping beneath the fall colors.

Then there’s the Cairngorms, a national park best for that classic Highland wilderness. Loch Morlich is surrounded by golden birch and russet foliage, and over in Glenmore, you’ll find enormous swathes of birch and pine that turn almost copper at sunset, backdropped by those jagged mountains.

My favorite Scottish fall hideaway, however? That has to be the Isle of Skye, a rugged island accessible by a causeway bridge, known for its windswept grassland, colorful harbor towns, and crystal-clear Fairy Pools.

Scotland In The Fall

Best City/Town Breaks

Fairy Pools In The Isle Of Skye, Scotland

Edinburgh: beautiful capital city known for its Gothic architecture and golden parks
Glasgow: the largest, most metropolitan hub, packed with Victorian-era monuments and lively pubs
Inverness: the perfect small city right on the doorstep of the glassy Loch Ness
Stirling: a castle-dominated town surrounded by russet-colored hills

Best Parks & Nature

Cairngorms: for the ultimate fall wilderness vibe, with golden birch forests and ancient pines galore
Loch Lomond & The Trossarchs: Scotland’s prettiest lake, within easy reach of Highland peaks
Glen Coe: a postcard-ready autumn valley featuring towering mountains and fiery forests
Glen Affric: best for ancient Caledonian pinewoods and secret lochs in every direction

How Safe Is Scotland Right Now?

Loch Lomond In The Scottish Highlands, Scotland

Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, scores 83 out of 100 on the Traveler Safety Index, based on reports from recent visitors:

Insider Tips

👉 Stay in a rustic Courtyard Cottage at the Highland Club Scotland in Fort Augustus, a converted Benedictine Abbey on the shores of Loch Ness—$482 for 2 nights

👉 Fly nonstop from New York, Washington, Chicago and more to Edinburgh, or from Newark to Glasgow

Apply For A UK ETA To Travel To Scotland

Scotland is a constituent nation of the United Kingdom. As of 2025, Americans are no longer eligible to travel to the United Kingdom without first applying for a travel permit.

The UK Electronic Travel Authorization must be obtained prior to your flight, otherwise you won’t be able to board the plane.

Check the Entry Requirements that apply to U.S. passport holders traveling to different European countries on this page.

Italy

The Dolomites

You probably know Italy for the pastel-hued coastal towns, the crazy traffic, and the endless maze of narrow alleys framed by overhanging laundry. What if I tell you there’s a different side of Italy more closely related to the Germanic world than it is to the Mediterranean south altogether?

The Dolomites are a rugged range of alpine mountains that traverses northern Italy, separating the Italian Alps from Austria, though if you dig deeper, you’d be surprised to find they actually share a lot more in common with Austria than with Rome or Naples.

Up here, it’s all about snow-capped mountain massifs, lakes of an impossible blue-green, wooden chalets and solitary Baroque chapels adorned with Germanic motifs and architecture that could, well, easily belong in Austria. Oh, and of course, it sees fall foliage like no other.

Val di Funes is where you go for lazy afternoons munching on smoked sausage, dipping bread into melted mountain cheese, and wandering through rolling meadows.

Alpe di Siusi is a literal hiker’s paradise, though you won’t find me attempting one of those terrifying via ferrata anytime soon: catch me instead relaxing by Lago di Fiè, enjoying a cup of hot chocolate with views of the dramatic Sciliar massif.

My Dolomitian coup de cœur, you ask? That has to be Lago di Braies, a ridiculous alpine lake I wouldn’t have believed wasn’t AI until I saw it with my own eyes.

Emerald-green waters, every imaginable shade of gold and crimson trees reflecting on the glassy surface, and towering peaks that seem to touch the sky.