If the end of summer has left you chasing a final dose of heat, new research points firmly at one spot on the map. Antalya, on Turkey's Mediterranean coast, has been named the best destination for a last-minute autumn escape, after travel insurance site Quotezone crunched the numbers on ten popular southern European holiday spots.
The comparison looked at September and October temperatures, sunshine hours, rainfall and sea temperature, alongside the cheapest three-night stay at each destination. Antalya came out comfortably ahead: an average of 27.6°C in September and October, 9.5 hours of daily sunshine, and sea temperatures still sitting at a swim-friendly 27.5°C. Rainfall barely rates a mention at that time of year.
The city itself gives you more than a beach to lie on. Antalya has one of the stronger hotel scenes in Turkey, from big resort strips to slicker boutique stays along the coast, and the old town of Kaleiçi puts Roman-era walls, an Ottoman quarter and a harbour a short stroll from the water. Beyond the city there are watersports and hiking for travellers who want more than a sun lounger, plus a sizeable chunk of ancient history within easy reach.
The runners-up are useful to know too. Tenerife took second place, with averages of 26.3°C and some of the cheapest accommodation in the running — three-night stays from £108. Larnaca in Cyprus matched Antalya's 9.5 sunshine hours, while Crete offers water around 24.5°C, warm enough for proper swimming well into autumn. All four make sense if you want to extend the season without a long-haul flight.
Why it matters: September and October are the sweet spot for Mediterranean shoulder-season travel — fewer crowds, lower prices and heat that's still genuinely hot. Antalya's win makes it an easy call for a spontaneous trip: direct flights from much of Europe take around four hours, and the resort infrastructure means you can book late with confidence. If your priority is the cheapest possible break, Tenerife's £108 three-night floor is hard to argue with.