Autumn is a great time to travel in Europe, particularly the early part of the season with warm but not overbearing temperatures and more affordable travel than in the peak summer months. Below, we have a suggested digital nomad itinerary for travelling around Europe in autumn (fall).
Table of Contents
- Autumn Digital Nomad Itinerary in Europe (Schengen Zone)
- Europe Autumn Itinerary – Average Temperatures (Daily Highs)
It is entirely in the EU and Schengen Zone, so you don’t need to worry about any visa issues once inside and you can take in five different countries at your own pace. It features some of the best European cities to visit in autumn (better in September or early October if possible). It ends with a period in the Greek Islands which do stay warmer until later and remain nice places to visit in November.
This could be spread over a full three months or 90 days if you’re on a Schengen visa. However you can easily tailor it to your own work commitments and travel preferences. It wouldn’t feel too rushed to do this at a much faster pace, possibly in one or two months for example, although there are loads of options for extending it or adding in other destinations.
Autumn Digital Nomad Itinerary in Europe (Schengen Zone)
Berlin, Germany
The German capital is just a cool place to hang around for any length of time and has plenty of positives for digital nomads. There are loads of quirky neighbourhoods where you can find a base and it’s blessed with many coworking options and ways to meet like-minded people in what is an international city, home to people from all over Europe.
It also offers more cultural attractions such as museums and galleries than any other city on this autumn digital nomad itinerary for Europe. Come in early September and you can still generally enjoy the sunshine by day in one of the city’s many biergartens whilst Berlin’s clubbing scene is legendary if that’s your thing.
Prague, Czech Republic
It’s only around four hours by a very scenic train ride from Berlin to the Czech capital Prague. You will notice the sudden drop in prices from the very minute you arrive which is obviously a major bonus for anyone able to work remotely. Prague, which features in our rundown of the best Czech cities for nomads, is a stunning riverside city known for its rich architecture and historic streets.
It’s another good place for drinking and socialising with Czech beer among the best and cheapest in Europe and it’s full of useful cafes and hostel lounges where you can get some work done. Prague is generally a city that is much quieter in the week but really comes alive at the weekend when thousands of weekend visitors pour in and join locals in partying until the early hours.
Krakow, Poland
There are plenty of similarities between Krakow and Prague, although the latter retains a slightly busier and more touristy feel. Krakow is widely considered the most interesting city in Poland to visit though and its old town featuring the 14th Century Wawel Royal Castle which was one of the first ever UNESCO world heritage sites, along with the nearby Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines.
A trip to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum is another harrowing but essential day-trip that can be done from the city, although it could also be visited en-route from Prague as it is situated halfway between Krakow and the Czech border.
Zakopane, Poland
After three city stops, you might be ready for a change of pace and Zakopane certainly delivers on that. Located only around 100 km south of Krakow, it is a small resort town at the base of the Tatras Mountains where Poland borders Slovakia. Mountain climbing and walking are the most popular summer activities and should remain pleasant into September or October, but it’s worth noting this is the coolest destination on this Europe nomad route.
It’s fair to say there isn’t exactly much of a digital nomad scene in Zakopane but it’s a beautiful location to work from for a few days or longer. It gets busier again during the winter months with the ski season running from December well into the spring but you should be able to take advantage of cheaper accommodation deals in the quieter autumn period.
Budapest, Hungary
Getting to Budapest from Zakopane isn’t the easiest or quickest trip in the world so you may want to break it up with a short stop in Slovakia which you will need to pass through to reach the Hungarian capital. Budapest is one of the most popular cities in Europe with digital nomads and remote workers with great value accommodation, food and pretty much everything making it a good base to stay a bit longer.
Known for its natural thermal baths and ruin bars, there are many ways to spend your free time in Budapest but your experience may depend on the time of your visit. It usually remains warm throughout September and you can spend many happy hours in the sun on the giant Margaret Island, situated in the middle of the Danube River, a hub for sports and various outdoor activities. By November though, the nights are drawing in and the bitterly cold Hungarian winter is fast approaching. Maybe a good time to jump on a flight south to Greece?
Thessaloniki & Around, Greece
There are affordable direct flights from Budapest to Thessaloniki, Greece’s northern second city. It will most likely be considerably warmer than where you’re coming from, although if your priority is catching the last of the beach weather for the year, you may want to skip it and head straight to Athens or one of the islands.
Thessaloniki is not really on the European or even Greek tourist map but that in some ways will be a refreshing change. It’s a vibrant university city with a young population and lively nightlife scene. There is also relatively easy access to both beaches and mountains making it a decent base for nature lovers who also want the city experience.
Athens, Greece
Roughly four hours south by rail and you will reach the historic Greek capital Athens, one of the best known travel destinations in the world. It’s one of the best places to visit in Europe in October for sun and warm weather with average highs of 23°C in that month, significantly higher than almost all other European capitals which are starting to rapidly cool down. The mild conditions can often continue deep into November too.
Athens is a really affordable destination in terms of finding accommodation and you should be able to find a good airbnb in a central district without spending too much. However the cost of food and drinks is notably more than in the likes of Hungary and Poland, although you won’t mind spending a bit more to enjoy excellent Greek cuisine. Overall it’s a good option for nomads but perhaps lacks the community atmosphere of some other major European cities.
Island Hopping, Greece
Athens is also your best bet for hopping on a ferry to some of the best Greek islands and you could easily spend several weeks just moving around the islands in the Aegean Sea which separates Greece from Turkey.
Highlights for travellers and digital nomads include Paros which is home to many beautiful beaches and picturesque villages but lacks the crowds of some of the more popular islands. It’s a good bet for a bit of tranquility and getting some work done in great surroundings. However if you’re after something livelier, the party island of Mykonos is a good bet, particularly in September or October when the beaches are still warm and there is still an energy to the place at night, just without the outright madness of the peak summer months.
Chania (Crete), Greece
Greece has around 200 inhabited islands in total so you really are spoiled for choice and it’s worth doing a bit of research to find the ones that suit you the best. The largest and most populous is Crete. It’s also the southernmost of the main ones making it one of the best places to visit in Europe in November for warm weather and as such it’s a logical ending point for this autumn itinerary.
Heraklion is the largest city in Crete but Chania may be a better option as it is home to an active digital nomad community which organises dinners and nights out. It’s a pretty little city known for its 14th-century Venetian harbour, complete with some fine waterfront restaurants.
Europe Autumn Itinerary – Average Temperatures (Daily Highs)
| September | October | November | |
| Berlin | 19°C | 14°C | 8°C |
| Prague | 20°C | 14°C | 8°C |
| Krakow | 19°C | 13°C | 7°C |
| Zakopane | 16°C | 12°C | 6°C |
| Budapest | 23°C | 16°C | 9°C |
| Thessaloniki | 27°C | 21°C | 15°C |
| Athens | 28°C | 23°C | 18°C |
| Mykonos | 25°C | 21°C | 17°C |
| Chania | 27°C | 24°C | 19°C |
Generally speaking at this time of year, as you move south in Europe the climate improves so this Autumn itinerary is designed to be done in a north-south fashion, starting in cities like Berlin and Prague before the winter cold sets in.
Depending on exactly when you visit and how quickly you move, you should just catch the end of the beach season in Greece and failing that will certainly be able to enjoy mild temperatures in November at a time when it is starting to get cold across most of the continent.
Autumn in Europe – Other Options
This is only one suggestion of course and there are loads of other great autumn destinations in Europe. If you’re looking for a bit more inspiration, you can try an app like Skratch which helps nomads track their travels and look for their next destination.
Overall, September is a fantastic month to travel as a digital nomad in most of the continent as temperatures are still pretty warm all over but the school holidays are finished so prices start to drop and the most popular summer coastal destinations start to become notably less crowded. The likes of Portugal, Spain, Southern France, Malta, Italy and Greece are all Schengen destinations where it’s still warm enough to hit the beach in September and in many cases well into October. Spain’s free train scheme also helps make it an attractive autumn destination.
As you head deeper into the autumn, it does get a bit harder to find a warm climate though. Some digital nomads may opt to head to winter sun destinations such as the Canary Islands when this point is reached but the Algarve, Southern Spain, Malta and Crete still maintain daily highs of around 20°C at this time of year. Outside of the Schengen Zone, Cyprus is also a really good bet in November and would make for an easy extension to the Europe Autumn itinerary outlined above, particularly if you are a non-EU citizen and nearing your 90-day Schengen limit.
Danny Holm
Danny is a digital nomad who has travelled extensively in Europe whilst writing about his adventures and closely monitoring his costs. He's a regular writer for nomadguide.eu and has experience of short stays in many of the best and cheapest places to live in Europe whilst working online.
