As the leaves turn and temperatures cool, autumn presents the perfect opportunity for a luxurious escape. Here are some of the best places to visit during the fall season, paired with our 5-star hotel recommendation for each destination to further elevate your travel experience.
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The Berkshires, Massachusetts
The Berkshires offer a quintessential New England fall experience, with rolling hills ablaze in vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows. This picturesque region is ideal for scenic drives, hiking, and cultural experiences at world-class museums.
Luxury Stay: Blantyre, Auberge Resorts Collection
This Gilded Age mansion turned resort offers Tudor-style elegance amidst 110 acres of manicured grounds. Enjoy farm-to-table dining, a world-class spa, and cozy fireplaces perfect for autumn evenings.
Reykjavik, Iceland
Fall in Reykjavik brings mild weather and stunning displays of autumn colors set against dramatic landscapes. It's an ideal time to explore Iceland's natural wonders, from waterfalls to geothermal pools, with fewer crowds than peak season.
Luxury Stay: The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland
This 5-star gem offers exclusive access to the Blue Lagoon and features minimalist Scandinavian design that complements the surrounding lava fields.
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah's historic charm is enhanced by the crisp fall air and changing foliage. Explore moss-draped squares, elegant architecture, and enjoy the city's renowned culinary scene without the summer crowds.
Luxury Stay: Perry Lane Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel
This boutique hotel blends contemporary luxury with Southern charm, featuring a rooftop pool and bar with panoramic city views.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Fall transforms Yellowstone into a wildlife viewer's paradise. The crowds thin, temperatures cool, and animals become more active, making it an ideal time for nature enthusiasts.
Luxury Stay: Amangani
Perched on the edge of East Gros Ventre Butte, this ultra-luxurious resort offers breathtaking views of the Teton Mountains and provides easy access to both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.
Manchester, Vermont
Few places in the United States experience as beautiful of a fall transition as New England does. The region’s forests become a sea of red, orange and yellow, with crisp temperatures that are perfect for outdoor adventures.
The cool weather is ideal for activities like hiking, apple picking (a New England staple) and exploring historic towns — many of which offer a masterclass in 17th- and 18th-century architecture styles (Georgian, Victorian, Federal…). New England also regularly hosts harvest festivals and fairs during the fall, some of which have been celebrated since before the founding of the United States.
It’s worth noting that popular destinations like Vermont book up quickly. If you want to visit in fall, I strongly recommend booking by early summer, if not spring.
Luxury stay: Kimpton Taconic Hotel.
The Taconic is a small boutique hotel that exemplifies New England charm. Guests enjoy cozy accommodations with a contemporary aesthetic, farm-to-table dining and inviting common spaces amidst the historic Manchester Village. The hotel's elegantly designed rooms provide a perfect retreat after a day of exploring the local hiking trails and scenic roads. In addition, the warm and inviting atmosphere, along with the hotel's proximity to quaint shops and cultural attractions, makes it an ideal spot for a relaxing fall getaway.
The hotel also features three standalone cottages near Manchester Village, which make for a more private getaway. Each is notably more spacious than The Taconic’s guest rooms.
South Carolina
A fall trip to South Carolina offers balmy temperatures (compared to the heat of summer). One of my favorite destinations is Bluffton, a quiet and scenic region that’s perfect for exploring the wildlife-abundant May River, where you can embark on personalized boat tours or kayaking adventures. Bluffton’s historic Old Town district offers a unique blend of Southern hospitality and artisanal shops, while the city’s many fall festivals celebrate local culture and cuisine, allowing visitors to savor fresh seafood and regional specialties in a vibrant atmosphere.
Luxury stay: Montage Palmetto Bluff
Montage Palmetto Bluff is an upscale resort offering a grandiose blend of classic Southern sophistication and modern amenities. Along with well-appointed rooms, guests can enjoy outdoor activities such as boating, fishing, golfing and exploring nature trails, all set on the resort’s expansive — and private — 20,000 acres.
The Hamptons, New York
The Hamptons are a great place to visit in fall if you’re looking for a taste of the finer things. While the beaches are generally too cold for swimming by mid-fall, they’re still gorgeous, and small towns offer a mix of luxurious dining and high-end shopping in a laid-back setting. There are also art galleries, historic sites and cultural festivals that add variety to a fall getaway.
Luxury stay: The Roundtree, Amagansett
The Roundtree, Amagansett is one of the Hamptons’ best places to stay in fall. What looks like a modest cottage from the street reveals itself as a spacious boutique hotel with a delightfully contemporary look and feel.
Remodeled in 2020, the hotel features 14 rooms in classic cedar shingle buildings, including a main house, barn and multiple cottages.
Park City, Utah
Park City’s ski season usually begins by Thanksgiving, but it’s worth visiting beforehand, as well. The city constantly hosts fall festivals and events, and the surrounding mountains and pine forests offer a tranquil backdrop for hiking, horseback riding and other outdoor activities.
Luxury stay: The Goldener Hirsch, Auberge Resorts Collection
The Goldener Hirsch — a world-class Auberge Resorts Collection property — sets the gold standard for mountain resorts in Utah. The property blends an upscale rustic design with European ski lodge motifs. Depending on when you visit in fall, you can enjoy premier access to Park City’s ski slopes or a variety of outdoor excitement, ranging from river rafting to fly fishing and more.
Kyoto, Japan
Fall transforms Kyoto’s many historic temples, tranquil gardens and parks into a tapestry of reds, oranges and yellows. Iconic locations such as Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Arashiyama Bamboo Grove are especially stunning during this season, and, while still busy, aren’t as crowded as they are in summer and spring. Plus, mild temperatures and clear skies ensure comfortable conditions for enjoying Kyoto's historical sites, traditional tea houses and lively streets.
Fall is also the season for cultural festivals, including the Jidai Matsuri and the Kurama Fire Festival, providing a unique glimpse into Japan's deep heritage. Additionally, Kyoto’s seasonal cuisine, featuring ingredients like matsutake mushrooms and chestnuts, enhances the culinary experience.
Luxury stay: Hotel the Mitsui Kyoto, a Luxury Collection Hotel & Spa
Blending world-class hospitality with traditional Japanese lodgings, Hotel The Mitsui offers authenticity and luxe comfort. The hotel is within many of the city’s most impressive sites, like Kyoto Imperial Palace and Nijō Castle, too.