Hello, I know this is a broad question but I've been researching possible destinations for October, only to find out that our window of travel opportunity this year is more narrow - we have up to 2 weeks, between Oct. 26 and Dec. 1 or so, during which to visit Europe. We've been to England, Prague, Austria and briefly Amsterdam, and loved it all.
Ireland and Scotland are on my bucket list but I'm a bit concerned about potential weather issues (don't mind some cold, but stormy season might be a problem) and mainly about things being closed early or altogether, as we ran into quite a bit in England in November. Italy is another dream, but the much lauded sunlight might be in short supply? Or, for a complete change from Florida, we thought of Christmas markets but don't know if any will be open.
We are a 60 year old couple with a variety of interests. Hubs will come along on my scenic nature excursions, I will go with him to tech museums (air or BMW's a plus) and we both like museums, boat rides, music/theater, and eating like a local. Not especially into ruins a la Rome, high shopping or beaches. Thanks in advance!

Florence,Modena and Venice?

On the plus side November is low season so you'll have some of the lowest prices of the year for lodging.

I wouldn't worry too much about sunlight but rain is an issue. But it seems most of what you want to do will be indoors.

Christmas markets generally don't open until late November. We once had a seasonal New England business that prompted us to do an annual European vacation in November. We often chased good weather. Despite hearing a lot of warnings about rain (and maybe we lucked out), we had perfect weather on multiple trips to the Greek islands, all over the Mediterranean (from Lisbon to Barcelona to Nice to Amalfi coast and Sicily). No crowds, great prices and everything open. As travelers, we often like to move about in Europe, with plentiful rail traffic and inexpensive flights within Europe. One November, for example, we flew into Naples (Amalfi/Sicily); flew to much cooler Venice then to Italian Alps (to meet Italian friends); then to Christmas markets in Austria; then to Romania( to meet up with our son and back to Rome (flight for $20 each) for decent fall-like weather and our eventual return home. A lot in between. And summer to winter weather. Now that our schedule is a bit more flexible, we do our annual trips in September/October because our Florida blood seeks warmer weather. But we had many Novembers enjoying Europe.

going by car or train or plane or bike or ???

I had a nice trip in November one year to the Lac Leman area outside Geneva (Lausanne, Vevey, Montreux, etc.)

I think October can be rather nice in Florence and Rome and south - I've been there several times and could easily sit at outdoor caffes - fewer crowds make it rather nice too.

Wow, thanks everyone for the great suggestions.
PalenQ, we will be going in November, not October as I'd hoped. We will fly over (to somewhere!) from Florida. We love to travel by train and can do buses or possibly rent a car if needed. We try to pack lightly, and managed just carry ons last time.
I think we're having such trouble deciding this time because unlike previous trips we have no agenda tying us to a certain area. One other concern is that my husband's knee has been acting up, so I guess we're looking for places with perhaps more centralized sights for less walking (I'm thinking Florence), or perhaps a train tour? I've even looked at river cruises, although I've always felt that going on our own was more economical and more flexible.

November can also be rather nice in Florence-Rome - I've been there several Januaries even then was usually nice enough to sit outside. A 'train tour' you mean regular tour or on own - not many train tours really and easy to go on own.

Places to research...

South of France: Provence, Mediterranean coast and Cote d'Azur, gorgeous countryside, best food in the world...

Andalusia in Spain: Seville, Granada, Cordoba, Cadiz, white villages, oranges in the trees. Glorious.

Barcelona: One of the world's great cities with markets, architecture, arts, lovely countryside in day-trip range...

Or do a two-part trip, say four days in Edinburgh, Scotland, then hop a plane to Barcelona or Paris or someplace where the sun doesn't set so early or where you can see blue sky. One-way flights from Edinburgh to Nice, Barcelona, Malaga, Rome and Florence are all between $100 and $125, so not a back-breaker.

While going on your own is more economical and more flexible, you're right, I think if the knee situation is a serious consideration for this time, a river cruise could be a great solution. Some of them are very intimate, it's not like going on a disney ocean cruise (haha).

I'm not sure what you mean when you say "train tour." I've never heard, I don't think, of a tour that is based on train travel, though of course there may be some. If you mean just traveling on your own by train, I don't think that's a solution to the bad knee problems. We take trains all over Europe these days, and it's no easy matter schlepping luggage around train stations (it often involves stairs, sometimes lots of them) and getting on and off trains expeditiously, never mind making your way through crowds at big stations and racing to catch trains that may not be announced until 10-15 minutes before they depart. And we never have more than a tiny carryon each for luggage.

I think suze could be right about the river cruise.

I have friends who have done them recently. In their telling about the trip, seemed they had plenty of time to themselves. It wasn't like a 'big bus' tour at all.

I'm just wondering how a river cruise would be in November. If I recall correctly, there have been a few late autumns in recent history where rivercruise waterways were too flooded to run boats. Of course, this year, they could be too dry.

Lots to consider. I have seen organized train tours when I was researching Ireland for October. But I do think with the knee situation either a one-or two-city stay, or a river cruise, would be our best options. It's not like the hubs can't walk, it's just that a lot of stairs wouldn't be the best idea. I've had to sadly let go of some ideas that involved a lot of walking up steps to cute little hill towns in France or Italy. I have reached out to a couple of cruise operators, because online I have trouble finding an interesting cruise that fits our time and price that isn't booked up.
It's a good problem to have, deciding where to vacation.....

So I have found Christmas markets starting around November 9 in Budapest and Nov. 15 in Innsbruck. Thinking of combining one of these with London, travelling from London to our next stop via the Eurostar and the Arlburg pass (Thanks, man in seat 61!). Does anyone have comments on these areas? If in Innsbruck we'd probably stop by Zell am See since we honeymooned there.