The best places that are hot and cheap in October are Tenerife and Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, Cyprus, Rhodes, Malta, Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, and Egypt’s Red Sea resorts. All of them average daytime highs of 25°C or more this month. For longer trips, Mombasa in Kenya and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic reach 30°C and are among the cheapest winter sun spots on the ground this year.
October is one of the best-value months for a sun holiday. The school summer rush is over, the sea is still at its warmest after months of heat, and outside the late-October half term, flights and hotels drop from their summer peaks.
Key takeaways
Hottest short-haul option: Egypt's Red Sea, with highs of 31–32°C in Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh.
Warmest place in Europe in October: Cyprus, averaging 27–28°C.
Best value in Europe: Tenerife, the cheapest Canary Island for daily spending in the 2026 Post Office Winter Sun report.
Best long-haul value: Mombasa, Kenya, at 30°C and the second-cheapest winter sun destination surveyed.
Money-saver: fly before or after the late-October school half term.
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Hot and Cheap October Destinations at a Glance
Temperatures below are the average October daytime high from each country’s national weather service (1991–2020 normals where available). Holiday costs come from the Post Office Travel Money Winter Sun Holiday Costs Barometer 2026 , published 26 September 2026. It prices the same basket of eight items in 24 resorts: coffee, beer, soft drink, wine, water, sun cream, insect repellent, and a three-course dinner for two with wine.
| Destination | Avg October high | Holiday basket cost (Post Office 2026) | Flight from London |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurghada, Egypt | 32.1°C | Not surveyed | ~5 hrs |
| Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt | 31.5°C | Not surveyed | ~5 hrs |
| Punta Cana, Dominican Republic | 31.5°C | £89.79 | ~9 hrs |
| Mombasa, Kenya | 30.0°C | £63.66 | Connecting flight |
| Larnaca / Paphos, Cyprus | 28.3°C / 27.0°C | £98.02 (Paphos) | ~4.5 hrs |
| Antalya, Turkey | 27.3°C | Not surveyed | ~4 hrs |
| Lanzarote, Canary Islands | 27.0°C | £93.82 | ~4 hrs |
| Tenerife, Canary Islands | 26.6°C | £87.46 | ~4.5 hrs |
| Agadir, Morocco | 26.1°C | Not surveyed | ~3.5 hrs |
| Rhodes, Greece | 25.6°C | £97.75 | ~4 hrs |
| Malta | 25.0°C | £96.36 (Sliema) | ~3 hrs |
Flight times are approximate direct times from London. Several of these destinations also have direct routes from Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, and other UK regional airports.
Short-Haul Hot and Cheap Destinations for October
Tenerife and Lanzarote, Canary Islands
The Canaries are the most reliable warm spot within about four hours of the UK, and they stay that way right through winter. Tenerife averages 26.6°C in October and Lanzarote around 27°C, with very little rain and the sea still around 23–24°C.
They’re also good value this year. In the Post Office’s 2026 winter sun survey , Tenerife came 8th cheapest of 24 destinations (£87.46 for the basket), ahead of every other European resort bar the Algarve and Costa del Sol. Lanzarote came 11th at £93.82.
- Best for: guaranteed sun, short flights, lots of low-cost routes.
- Watch out for: the late-October half term, when Canary Islands prices climb fast.
Search cheap flights from London to Tenerife , or read our low-cost Las Palmas playbook if Gran Canaria appeals.
Cyprus
Cyprus is the warmest place in the EU in October. Larnaca averages 28.3°C and Paphos 27°C, with around 270 hours of sunshine in the month and almost no rain until November. It’s the closest thing to a summer holiday you’ll get in Europe this late in the year.
Paphos came 14th of 24 in the Post Office survey at £98.02, so it’s a little pricier on the ground than the Canaries, but still well below Caribbean prices.
- Best for: the warmest European sea and beach weather, English widely spoken.
- Watch out for: longer flights (about 4.5 hours) and fewer ultra-cheap fares than Spain.
Compare flights from London to Larnaca or see all flights to Cyprus .
Rhodes, Greece
Rhodes keeps its summer feel longer than most Greek islands, with an average October high of 25.6°C and the sea at almost 24°C. It placed 13th in the Post Office survey (£97.75). That’s the best Greek value on the list, and good for somewhere with this much history in its old town.
- Best for: beach days combined with sightseeing.
- Watch out for: some beach bars and seasonal hotels closing towards the end of the month.
See flights to Greece and our guide to the best of Greece all year round .
Malta
Malta is the shortest flight on this list at about three hours, and it still averages 25°C in October with a sea temperature above 23°C. Sliema came 12th in the survey at £96.36.
- Best for: a long weekend of sun, swimming, and history.
- Watch out for: rain returning in October, with around 6–7 wet days on average.
Find flights to Malta .
Antalya and Turkey’s Turquoise Coast
Antalya averages 27.3°C in October with the sea at nearly 25°C, and Marmaris is similar at 26.5°C. Turkey wasn’t included in this year’s Post Office winter sun survey, but its resorts have regularly ranked among the cheapest in the Post Office’s annual Holiday Money Report in recent years. The favourable exchange rate for sterling makes eating out, drinks, and excursions cheap on the ground.
- Best for: all-inclusive value and warm swimming.
- Watch out for: rain starting to pick up later in the month.
Search flights from London to Antalya , and read Antalya for less for how to keep costs down once you’re there.
Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
If you want genuinely hot, Egypt is the answer. Hurghada averages 32.1°C in October and Sharm El Sheikh 31.5°C. Both get almost no rain, and the Red Sea stays at 26–27°C, which is warm enough for long snorkelling and diving sessions.
Egypt isn’t included in the Post Office barometer, so there’s no like-for-like cost figure. Most of the value comes from all-inclusive packages, which are a popular way to book both resorts.
- Best for: the hottest weather within five hours of the UK, and some of the best snorkelling near Europe.
- Watch out for: entry requirements. UK visitors need a visa, so check the latest guidance on GOV.UK before you travel.
Compare flights from London to Sharm El Sheikh or all flights to Egypt .
Budget Guides
Sun, Sand, And Papas Arrugadas: Your Low-Cost Las Palmas Playbook
Discover budget-friendly tips for exploring Las Palmas, from sunny beaches to authentic papas arrugadas, in this low-cost travel guide.
Read the guideAgadir, Morocco
Agadir is the closest you’ll get to guaranteed sunshine in North Africa. It averages 26.1°C in October with fewer than two rainy days in the month, and the flight is about three and a half hours from London. It isn’t in the Post Office survey, but it’s a solid pick when Spain’s prices spike for half term.
- Best for: a long sandy beach and day trips inland.
- Watch out for: the Atlantic, which is cooler than the Mediterranean or Red Sea.
Find flights to Morocco .
Long-Haul Hot and Cheap Destinations for October
Mombasa, Kenya
Mombasa is the standout long-haul value this year. It averages 30°C in October and came 2nd cheapest of all 24 destinations in the Post Office’s 2026 survey at £63.66, with prices unchanged since spring. There are no direct flights from the UK, but a connection via a Gulf or European hub is straightforward, and Kiwi.com’s Virtual Interlining can combine airlines to find cheaper routes than a single carrier offers.
- Best for: Indian Ocean beaches with a safari add-on.
- Watch out for: October’s short-rains season, with around nine wet days on average.
See flights to Kenya .
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Punta Cana reaches 31.5°C in October. At £89.79 in the survey it was the cheapest Caribbean destination, well ahead of Barbados (£107.32) and Antigua (£108.85). It’s also one of the few Caribbean spots with direct flights from the UK.
- Best for: all-inclusive Caribbean beaches at a lower price.
- Watch out for: the tail end of hurricane season, and around 11 rainy days in the month (mostly short tropical showers).
Find flights to the Dominican Republic .
The Warmest Places in Europe in October
If you’d rather stay in Europe, here’s how the warmest options rank by average October high:
- Larnaca, Cyprus: 28.3°C
- Paphos, Cyprus: 27.0°C
- Lanzarote, Canary Islands: 27.0°C
- Tenerife, Canary Islands: 26.6°C
- Rhodes, Greece: 25.6°C
- Madeira (Funchal), Portugal: 25.1°C
- Malta: 25.0°C
Cyprus takes the top spot, and it’s also the warmest EU country for sea swimming this month. If you count Turkey’s southern coast, Antalya (27.3°C) sits between Cyprus and the Canaries. The Canary Islands have one extra advantage: they stay warm into November and beyond, when the eastern Mediterranean starts to cool.
For cheaper city breaks rather than beach weather, our guide to where to travel in Europe in October by price sorts eight cities by fare.
Cheap in October, but Not Quite Hot
Some destinations top the value rankings but fall short on heat, so it’s worth knowing before you book.
- Cape Town, South Africa was the cheapest destination in the whole 2026 survey (£58.24), but October is spring there and daytime highs average 22.2°C.
- The Algarve, Portugal was the cheapest European resort (£82.35), but Faro averages 23.3°C in October with around six wet days. That’s pleasant, but not beach-hot. Our Faro on a budget guide covers it.
- Phuket, Thailand came 5th cheapest (£76.39), but October is one of its wettest months. It becomes a much better bet from November.
- Madeira is warm at 25.1°C but was among the most expensive in the survey at £129.63, and it has one of the highest October rainfall totals on this list.
How to Keep an October Sun Holiday Cheap
- Avoid the half-term week. Most UK schools break in late October, and prices on family-favourite routes jump that week. Early to mid-October is usually cheaper.
- Check regional airports. Flights from Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, or Edinburgh can undercut London on the same route.
- Be flexible on the day. Midweek departures are often cheaper than Friday or Saturday flights.
- Mix airlines. Kiwi.com combines flights from different airlines, including low-cost carriers, into a single itinerary. That opens up cheaper routes to places like Mombasa or Agadir. If a combination involves a self-transfer, the Kiwi.com Guarantee protects you if a delay or cancellation disrupts a covered connection.
- Book last minute with care. Late deals do appear in October, especially to the Canaries and Turkey. Check last-minute flights if your dates are flexible.
Find Your October Sun on Kiwi.com
October still gives you proper beach weather for less than summer, as long as you pick the right place. For guaranteed heat, go to Egypt. For the warmest European sea, go to Cyprus. For the best value close to home, go to Tenerife. For a long-haul bargain, go to Mombasa. Book outside half term and compare a few UK airports, and you’ll have the sun for a fraction of July prices.
Search cheap flights on Kiwi.com →
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Still deciding? These are the questions travellers ask most about October sun.
October Sun FAQs
Is the sea warm enough to swim in October?
Yes, in most places on this list. October sea temperatures are around 26–27°C in the Red Sea, about 25°C off Antalya, and 23–24°C around Rhodes, Malta, and the Canary Islands. That’s close to peak season, because the sea is slow to lose its summer heat.
Is early or late October better for a hot holiday?
Early October is usually both hotter and cheaper. Temperatures across the Mediterranean drop a few degrees through the month, while prices rise for the late-October school half term. If you can only travel at half term, the Canaries and Egypt hold their heat best.
Is October hurricane season in the Caribbean?
October falls at the end of the Atlantic hurricane season, which officially runs until 30 November. Most of the season’s activity happens earlier, but storms can still occur, so travel insurance that covers weather disruption is worth having for a Caribbean trip.
Where is hot in October for a long weekend?
Malta is the best pick for three or four days, with the shortest flight on this list at about three hours and highs of around 25°C. Agadir and the Canary Islands also work well for a long weekend from most UK airports.
Is it cheaper to book an all-inclusive in October?
Often, yes, particularly in Turkey and Egypt, where all-inclusive is the most common way to book and resorts compete for guests after the summer peak. Compare the package price with separate flights and a half board or B&B hotel, because in cheaper destinations eating out can work out better value.
Where stays hot after October?
The Canary Islands stay warm all winter, and Egypt’s Red Sea resorts remain in the high 20s°C into November. For more ideas later in the season, see our list of warm-weather destinations for December .
