Are you looking for the best places for Autumn foliage in Europe? Well, you’re not the only one! Fall frenzy has officially arrived and this season truly is my favorite out of all 4! Cozy evenings under a blanket, the crisp air when you go for a walk outside and the trees that colour in 50 shades of yellow, orange and red.
Most of these places I already visited myself, others I hope to visit really soon and others I will add to my never ending list of beautiful places in Europe that I long to see!
15 Best Places For Autumn Foliage in Europe
1. Burg Eltz – Germany
Burg Eltz is one of the most beautiful fairytale castles in Germany and my personal favourite! So far I have visited this stunning place 3 times and it probably won’t be the last time!
Burg Eltz is located in Wierschem and looks like it got transported straight out of a Disney movie. What sets it apart from a lot of other castles in Germany is that it isn’t set on top of a hilltop. Instead Burg Eltz is nestled in a beautiful valley and surround by the Eltz forest. Currently, the castle is owned and maintained by the 33rd generation of the Eltz family. It’s one of the only castles that escaped destruction during World War II and can be seen in it’s original glory.
There is a big parking lot for visitors near Burg Eltz and from here you can access the castle from 2 ways. You can take the foot path through the woods or you can pass the chapel at the end of the parking lot and walk down the winding road. This way you will also come across a beautiful look out point of this amazing castle.
Opening hours – 9am – 5pm (from end of March to early November)
Entrance – €10
You can only visit the castle with a guided tour. Most of the tours are in German and start every 15 minutes. There are some tours available in English and French but these are less frequent. You can’t take photos inside the castle.
Best time to go – Early to mid October
🏨 Click here for available hotels in the area.
For more Castle Inspo from Germany click here.
2. Hrensko – Czech Republic
Hrensko is a small town in the Czech Republic and is located right across the border with Germany. And when I say small, I really mean it. Can you believe that only 275 people actually live in Hrensko? But this also means peace and quiet. Especially cause Hrensko is not on a lot of tourists radar! Imagine a beautiful morning walk through what pretty much looks like an enchanted forest and there is literally no one else around for hours! Sounds pretty good right?
Best time to go – Early to mid October
🏨 Click here for available hotels in the area.
Click here for the perfect 2 Day Guide to Hrensko.
3. Autumn Foliage in the Dolomites – Italy
So far I have been lucky enough to visit the most beautiful mountain range in Europe five times! Two times in Summer, twice during Fall and once in the Winter. Larches are very common in the Dolomites and from early October you can see them turning yellow and orange!
Especially the area around Cortina D’Ampenzo is absolutely stunning during fall season. Must see places during thise time are Lago Federa, Lago Sorapis, Passo Gardena and Passo Falzarego.
Best time to go – Mid to late October
🏨 Click here for available hotels in the area.
Click here for all of my FREE guides on the Dolomites!
4. Müllerthal – Luxembourg
Luxembourg may be a tiny country but it’s a beautiful one when it comes to spotting Autumn foliage in Europe. Müllerthal is often referred to as Luxembourg’s very own little Switzerland thanks to it’s hilly landscape. The entire Müllerthanl trail consists of 112km of walking fun but one of the highlights has to be the Schiessentümpel waterfall!
Visiting the Müllerthal region is one of the coolest day trips you can do from Brussels by the way!
Best time to go – Early to mid October
🏨 Click here for available hotels in the area.
5. Lake Bled – Slovenia
Lake Bled has to be one of the most famous and photographed lakes in Europe and with good reason! Therefore ‘s a ton of activities to do such as hiking to two different view points or you can even rent out a row boat!
You can find all of the information that you’ll need in my blog post on the 8 Best Things To Do in Lake Bled!
Lake Bled is only 55km from the main capital Ljubljana and can be easily reached by car!
Best time to go – Start to Mid October
🏨 Click here for available hotels in the area
6. Botassart – Belgium
The Ardennes in Belgium is a must visit for spotting beautiful Autumn foliage! It’s the perfect weekend get away and hiking here is pretty easy since Belgium is a pretty flat country ;). This specific view point is called Le Tombeau du Géant and it can even be reached by car. there are however numerous walks in the area that are definitely worth checking out!
Best time to go – Early to mid October
🏨 Click here for available hotels in the area.
Click here for more Hidden Gems in Belgium!
7. Paris – France
Paris is always a good idea of course but honestly during the Summer months it can get sooooo busy! A lot less tourists visit Paris during Fall season so it’s the perfect spot to see some beautiful Autumn foliage in Europe! Make sure to visit the park around the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre and Les Tuileries to see the most beautiful Autumn colours!
Best time to go – early October to end of October
🏨 Click here for available hotels in the area.
8. Lake District – United Kingdom
The Lake District is a mountainous region in the Northern part of the UK. The Lake District National Park is one of the most beautiful places in the entire UK to see the Autumn foliage. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017 and covers an area of 2,362 square kilometres. Make sure to visit Buttermere and Tarn Hows on your visit here!
Best time to go – Mid to late October
🏨 Click here for available hotels in the area.
9. Hallstatt – Austria
Hallstatt has to be one of the most picturesque towns in Europe but it’s also one of the most frequently visited! Make sure to arrive early in the morning if you want to snag a parking spot! The town itself is rather small so you won’t need more than a couple of hours but the area surrounding it is beautiful as well and worth the visit!
Hallstatt is the perfect stop on a European road trip!
Best time to visit – Mid October
🏨 Click here for available hotels in the area.
10. Autumn foliage surrounding Schloss Neuschwanstein – Germany
This fairytale castle in Germany had been on my bucket list for years and last year I finally had the chance to see it for myself. And it did not disappoint!
The construction of the idyllic castle was started in 1869 on behalf of the shy and eccentric King Ludwig II, who had this castle built to escape public life. After his passing in 1886 the construction was paused and the fairytale castle was opened to the public. Walt Disney visited this castle and used it as inspiration for the castle of Sleeping Beauty in Disneyland.
Opening hours – 9am to 6pm
Entrance fee – €12
The castle can only be visited with a guided tour and photography inside is forbidden.
Best time so see – Early to mid October
🏨 Click here for available hotels in the area.
Schloss Neuschwanstein is located on the Romantic road in Germany. Click here to see more options for a spectacular road trip!
11. Lillafüred – Hungary
Lillafüred is a small town near Miskolc and is around 2 hours driving from Budapest.It’s actually a tourist resort in the middle of a beautiful forest. You can stay at the Palace Hotel, visit the hanging gardens, the caves, a waterfall or go for a boat ride on the lake! It’s truly one of the more magical places in Hungary.
Lillafüred is a really fun day trip from Budapest, for other day trip ideas click here!
Best time to go – Early to mid October
🏨 Click here for available hotels in the area.
12. Lauterbrunnen – Switzerland
So far I have only been so lucky to experience Lauterbrunnen on a warm Summer evening. But I can only imagine how beautiful it must be during Autumn!
Lauterbrunnen is a pretty small town but you can easily spend an entire day here due to the many different hiking options here. Lauterbrunnen is only a mere 25 minutes driving from Interlaken and there is a big parking lot right at the main train station. A parking ticket for 3 hours is €3,50. The train from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen also takes only 20 minutes and drops you off right in the center.
For more information on Lauterbrunnen and the surrounding area click here.
Best time to go – Mid October
🏨 Click here for available hotels in the area.
13. Transfagarasan Road- Romania
The Carpathian Mountains offer some of the most amazing views, especially during Fall you can see some of the most beautiful Autumn foliage in Europe here. In Romania there are two high-altitude roads that offer insane views and that are really popular among both tourists and locals, namely the well-known Transfagarasan road and the Transalpina. The famous British auto show Top Gear shot one of its episodes on Transfagarasan, naming it “the best road in the world”
Best time to visit – Early to mid October
🏨 Click here for available hotels in the area.
14. The Highlands – Scotland
Scotland is often overlooked when it comes to traveling during Fall season since most people prefer to visit during the Summer months. However the golden hues from the leaves are truly a sight to see!
Best time to go – End of September to mid October
🏨 Click here for available hotels in the area.
15. Plitvice National Park – Croatia
Last but certainly not least is the Plitvice National Park, one of the most famous parks in Croatia! It’s not surprise that during the Summer months it can get incredibly busy on the park trails but during Autumn you’ll see way less people! Plitvice Lakes National Park is divided into two sections, the “Upper Lakes” and “Lower Lakes,” and features eight different visitors’ courses. Ticket prices vary by season; you can find the latest prices and information here.
Best time to go – Mid to end of October
🏨 Click here for available hotels in the area.
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