Chase Autumn Across Europe: Taste Italy and Greece, Feel the Mood of Ireland and Norway
Authors / Photo source: Unsplash, Vitaly Gariev.
Contents:
- Autumn in Italy: New-Harvest Olive Oil and White Truffles in Tuscany
- Greece in November: A Warm Sea and the Olive Harvest in the Peloponnese
- Ireland in Autumn: Golden Hills, Cosy Pubs and a Samhain Festival
- Norway in Autumn: Quiet Fjords and the Train Down to Flåm
By late October, Europe slows down. The summer crowds have gone home, café tables are free again, and the air smells of wood smoke and fallen leaves. It's the perfect time to choose a trip by mood. In the south, in Italy and Greece, autumn is something you taste: the olives are picked and the new-harvest oil is opened. In the north, in Ireland and Norway, it feels different: mist over the hills, the warm glow of a pub and the stillness of the fjords. Here are four destinations worth visiting right now. Intui's route network keeps growing, and in each of these countries one of our drivers is ready to meet you.
Autumn in Italy: New-Harvest Olive Oil and White Truffles in Tuscany
Authors / Photo source: Unsplash, Paul Sebastian Saliba.
In Tuscany, these are the weeks of the olive harvest. Nets are spread under the trees, and the olive mills work almost around the clock. The new-harvest oil is bright green with a peppery, grassy kick, and locals taste it on toasted bread rubbed with garlic, known as fettunta. From 14 to 29 November, the medieval town of San Miniato, between Florence and Pisa, hosts the National White Truffle Fair at weekends. Daytime temperatures sit around 15°C, which is ideal for walks across the Chianti hills. Getting from Florence Airport to Siena by public transport means changing in the city centre, which is tiring with suitcases. A private transfer takes you straight to your hotel in just over an hour.
Greece in November: A Warm Sea and the Olive Harvest in the Peloponnese
Authors / Photo source: Unsplash, Jack Niles.
In late October, the sea near Kalamata is still around 22°C, and for many visitors the swimming season goes on. In November, Messinia starts harvesting its famous Kalamata olives, and the villages smell of fresh oil. Stop by the stone village of Kardamyli on the Mani peninsula and visit Ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games. Many travellers fly into Athens, and Kalamata is about three hours away from there. Intercity buses leave from a coach station on the other side of the city, which you still have to get to first. A private transfer booked in advance picks you up right outside the terminal, and the price is fixed at booking.
Ireland in Autumn: Golden Hills, Cosy Pubs and a Samhain Festival
Authors / Photo source: Wikimedia Commons, Olliebailie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
In autumn, Ireland changes colour: the Wicklow hills turn rust-red with bracken, and Dublin pubs fill with live music in the evenings. The Irish say Halloween was born here, as it grew out of the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. From 29 October to 1 November, the towns of Trim and Athboy host the Púca Festival, with a procession by the walls of Trim Castle, fire shows, storytellers and concerts. Evening events finish late, and buses from County Meath are infrequent. A private transfer from Dublin Airport to Trim takes about an hour. Your voucher includes the driver's contact details, so finding each other in the festival crowds is easy.
Norway in Autumn: Quiet Fjords and the Train Down to Flåm
Authors / Photo source: Unsplash, redcharlie.
Norway's fjords are especially beautiful in autumn: the slopes turn yellow and red, and there are far fewer visitors than in summer. Start in Bergen and ride the funicular up Mount Fløyen for a view over the whole city. From there, the road leads to the Aurlandsfjord and the village of Flåm. The Flåm Railway climbs from here up to the mountain pass, past waterfalls, and the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord is close by. By train, the journey from Bergen to Flåm involves a change at Myrdal, and there are fewer departures in the off-season. A private transfer from Bergen Airport to Aurland takes about three hours. When booking, you can choose a car that fits your luggage, even if you're bringing hiking gear.
South or north, taste or mood: autumn in Europe offers a choice that summer doesn't. Pick your destination and leave the ride from the airport to your hotel to us. A private transfer with Intui is easy to book in advance for any of these routes, and on arrival day someone will already be waiting for you.
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Read also: 7 Ski Resorts Where the Season Starts Earliest
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Golovanov Alex & Intui travel
