Where to Travel in November

You can escape the winter – or embrace it wholeheartedly. If you’re in need of winter sunshine or a desert break, November is the time to relax in the Canary Islands or head into Abu Dhabi. Egypt offers a rich history to go with beach resorts, and Christmas comes early in all its festive colours to Berlin, Strasbourg and Stockholm.

Enjoy both culture and nature in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi 

With temperatures hovering between 25 °C and 30 °C, November is an agreeable time to explore the cultural and natural riches of Abu Dhabi. Start with the innovative outposts of the Louvre and Guggenheim museums before experiencing the sheer majesty of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Afterwards, soak up the sun on the broad sweep of sandy beaches that lines the UAE’s capital.

Away from the modern cityscape, Abu Dhabi shows its green side with the enchanting Mangrove National Park. Rent a kayak for a captivating journey through the waterways of this lush mangrove forest, all the while looking out for herons and flamingos.

Soak up Gran Canaria’s winter sunshine

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Spain’s Canary Islands offer so much variety within this archipelago off the coast of Morocco. But if you want true winter sun, Gran Canaria – the warmest of the seven islands – is your best bet. Start at its southernmost tip at Maspalomas, whose massive sand dunes look as if they had wandered over from the Sahara.

Afterwards, work your way up the island’s rugged interior via its calderas (volcanic craters) and nature reserves at Los Marteles and the forested mountains of Doramas. Finish with a visit to the pretty capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and its superb food market.

Explore Egypt’s history

Egypt

November brings hot sunny days and cooler nights to Egypt, and the chance to discover some of the world’s greatest ancient sights. It’s easy to forget just how close the Great Pyramids at Giza and the Sphinx are to the centre of Cairo, and history fans won’t want to miss the Valley of the Kings in Luxor and Aswan’s temples.

Scuba divers and beach lovers can prolong the taste of summer by heading to the Red Sea. Between Hurghada, Sharm El-Sheikh and El Gouna, you’ll find everything you want for a sunny break.

Get festive in Stockholm

Embrace the winter in one of Europe’s most sparkling capital cities. As temperatures plunge in Stockholm, the city decks itself in twinkling lights and starts Christmas celebrations early. Christmas markets spring up in November around the city, and the cobbled lanes of Gamla Stan, the old town, become even prettier. It’s also time for the Stockholm International Film Festival, so here’s your chance to get your fill of Nordic noir.

One of the most enjoyable ways to get to know the city is to take a boat cruise. And go even further with a cruise round the Stockholm archipelago – all 30,000 islands of it.

Discover Cape Town’s beauty

November is shoulder season in Cape Town, so there are fewer crowds as you discover the city’s many sights. A ride up the cable car to Table Mountain is a must, as is a hike through the national park’s nature reserves, gorges and forests. Cape Town’s indented coastline is dotted with sandy beaches – perfect when you want to watch the sun go down over the South Atlantic.

Take the ferry to Robben Island for a sobering lesson in South Africa’s history and the pivotal role played by former president and prisoner Nelson Mandela.

Fall for Strasbourg’s charms

Strasbourg

Strasbourg is a beautiful melting pot of French and German culture. Sitting close to the Rhine River that divides France from Germany, the city’s island centre is half-timbered heaven – especially the exceptionally picturesque waterside Petite France district.

Just when you think the city can’t get any prettier, you turn up at the Gothic Strasbourg Cathedral, one of the most majestic in Europe. And this is where one of the city’s several Christmas markets sets up its glittering stalls in November as Strasbourg goes into festive overdrive.

Feel Berlin’s Christmas spirit

Berlin Christmas market

If Christmas can never come soon enough, then Berlin in November is for you, since the majority of the city’s two dozen festive markets begin to pop up this month. Christmas lights, decorations and displays are everywhere, bringing a sense of warmth and the scent of mulled wine to the chilly air.

Berlin’s wide-ranging cultural life is just as tempting, with captivating contemporary art at the Neue Nationalgalerie and the cluster of museums on Museum Island only the tip of the iceberg.

Taste truffles in Piedmont

Bordering France and Switzerland, this northwestern region of Italy is perfumed with the scent of truffles every autumn during the annual International Alba White Truffle Fair. The focus is the attractive town of Alba, where chefs and food lovers celebrate this “white gold” that comes from the hills around Langhe, Monferrato and other parts of the Piedmont region.

It’s also one of Italy’s top wine-growing areas, producing world-class Barolo and Barbera d’Alba, among others. Include a visit to the region’s capital, Turin, birthplace of the Slow Food movement, and you have the makings of some seriously fine feasting.

Published: October 07, 2024

Last Updated: November 29, 2024