ajsars

Ok thanks for all of your help.

The missus just needs to decide now if she want to visit Paris and Rome in cold possibly overcast weather. I have told her it will still be very enjoyable but she has dreamed of seeing the Eiffel tower and the other sites in nice sunshine weather. She also isnt a massive fan of the cold.

If i was starting my itinerary from scratch, Is there anywhere in Europe besides the French Rivera that is generally nice weather in October/November?

travelerjan

Even the French Riviera can be iffy ... you may do better in Sicily or Malta .. then there's the Canary Islands. But if you're looking at famous cities, with landmarks & history ... nope.

traveller1959

First, October/November is definitly better than December/January when it is colder and not drier.

So, where are the best chances to catch good weather?

The Mediterranean Sea is a region with warm and sunny summers, but, beginning from October, rainstorms can occur. The frequencies and the durations of such storm which can be pretty violent increase in November. There is never a guarantee of good weather (I have seen rain in deserts!), but chances of good or bad weather vary.

Here are my recommendations for October/November:

- As already said, the Côte d'Azur is protected by mountain chains and pretty warm, sunny and stable in this time of year. And very beautiful.

- Rome and Tuscany might be quite o.k. in October, but not any more in November.

- Andalucia belongs to the warmest and sunniest regions in Europe and has magnificent cities with great palaces and cathedrals, e.g. Granada, Cordoba, Sevilla.

- Greece has good chances of warm and sunny weather up to November. Rhodes is the sunniest spot in Europe. Crete is great and offers more in terms of culture and sights. Southern Peloponnese has great archeological sites, scenery and beaches which are warm enough in November.

- Sicily might be warm and sunny and also offers a rich cultural heritage.

- The Canary Islands have been mentioned, they have the most stable climate but are somewhat remote. Not much history there, but bizarre volcanic scenery on Lanzarote and Tenerife.

bilboburgler

Cyprus and Malta join into traveller's list, lots of history in those two countries. Probably off to Malta in a few weeks myself, went to Cyprus in the winter a few years back, shorts weather but a bit chilly in the evening and the sea was un-inviting.

Gretchen

We went to Paris for a week in late november and had 7 sunny days and one rainy night.

ajsars

Seville looks very nice. Would you recommend it over Barcelona? Which is a better city to walk around and better/cheaper food and drink?
The missus has decided she is ok travelling in the weather and we are just going to hope it doesnt rain the whole time!

Fly out mid October to Paris.
Paris - 6 nights (includes a night recovery after the flight)
Fly to Seville
Seville/Malaga for 7 nights
Transport to Barcalona
Barcelona for 4 nights
Transport to Nice/Cote d'azor
Cote d'azor for 6 nights (4 nights small town, 2 nights Nice?)
Train to Florence
Florence for 4 nights (day trip to Venice from here maybe?)
Train to Rome
Rome for 4 nights
Fly home from Rome


Does this sound reasonable? Or is it better to only go to one of Seville or Barca and spend more time in the other spots?

Understandably the weather wont be fantastic but the pay off is not many tourists compared to high season, and if its just cold and abit overcast it shouldnt be too bad. When it rains in Europe does it storm and heavy down pour all day, or does it drizzle?

bilboburgler

Seville and Cordoba make a good day trip out one from the other, Malaga is great but a bit further. The railway station in Malaga is way out of town, but right in the centre for Seville and Cordoba

traveller1959

With your new itinerary, you should enjoy at least 50% mild and sunny weather. The itinerary is doable and you will see some of the best places in Europe. It is probably the best what you can do in 30 days in this time of year.

The Andalucian towns are more exotic than Barcelona. You find Moorish and Jewish heritage. When it comes to walking around there is no difference. Also, there are many options for daytrips into the surrounding region.

From Sevilla, I recommend a trip to Jerez with a visit of a Sherry winery (Gonzales Byass is very good) and a trip to Cordoba, maybe also to the mountain town Ronda. The very best thing what you can do in the region is visiting the Alhambra in Granada.

In Barcelona, you find more Michelin-star-awarded restaurants. The food in Andalucia is generally simpler, more rustic. But you will find out that eating and drinking is extremely inexpensive all over Spain. Michelin-starred restaurants are 25% of the price of French restaurants of the same quality.

Also, whereever you are, check out for the Bib Gourmand restaurants of the Guide Michelin - excellent food at moderate prices.

ajsars

Thanks. Do you recommend going to Nice straight after Paris? (laround the 18th October) or go to Seville and Barcelona first around the 18th then Nice around the end of October (28th or around then) for better weather?

ajsars

Also looking at travelling on the overnight trains between cities to save some money. Has anyone had experience using these? Is 2nd class fine or is it recommended to go 1st class on the overnight sleepers?