Every year, Germans and tourists from all over flock to Munich to down a collective six million liters of beer for Oktoberfest, making it an ideal time to visit the Rhine River. Usually overflowing with tourists drawn by the picturesque castles and rolling vineyards, the Rhine is less crowded and more pleasant in October. In fact, Viking River Cruise offers eight-day "Vineyards and Vistas" tours of the river from Nuremberg to Trier only four months of the year: May, April, September and October. The tour includes stops to visit the medieval town of Wurzburg and a glass-blowing workshop in Wertheim.
Viking River Cruise
800-304-9616
vikingrivercruises.com
The series of islands off the southern coast of Greece are almost too popular in the summer. Visit in the fall when the scorching temperatures have dropped, and the seaside fish taverns aren't overflowing with other tourists. October is the best time to enjoy still-warm weather in Greece, whether touring quaint blue-and-white painted churches or going for a swim followed by some ouzo and grilled octopus. Party animals should check out Santorini or Mykonos, while those looking for a more relaxed, romantic atmosphere might head to Rhodes or Syros.
If you can't decide, see a selection islands via a cruise. Blue Water Holidays offers all-inclusive trips, but you can opt out of including airfare, allowing you to take advantage of airline sales and deals. Its "Aegean Odyssey" cruise boasts "informal cruising," beginning and ending in Athens, with stops that include Santorini, Kea and Kusadasi in Turkey.
Blue Water Holidays
Bridge House, Brook Street
Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23
011-44-1756-706527
cruisingholidays.co.uk
Ireland may have only recently imported the U.S. tradition of dressing up, but their celebration of Halloween is as old as their green hills. Now known as All Hallow's Eve, the last day of October was originally a pagan, Celtic holiday called Samhain. Trick or treating is a great way to peek at the insides of Dublin's stately Georgian homes, and the famous row of pubs in Temple Bar resound with traditional Irish music and are plastered with themed decorations. Two tours of Dublin make for a guided holiday. Ghost Tour Dublin gives an overview of the city's most haunted places, pointing out "ghosts," such as Irish revolutionary Robert Emmet. Hidden Dublin Walks does a serious of tours on the three days before Halloween, including a bus tour to the Hellfire Club, an 18th-century building associated with satanism.
Ghost Tour Dublin
Meets opposite McDonald's on Henry Street
011-353-086-158-0949
ghosttourdublin.com
Hidden Dublin Walks
hiddendublinwalks.com
