9 Best Places to Visit in November 2026

Kyoto, Chiang Mai, Kerala, Petra, Luxor, Madeira, Lisbon, Maui and Buenos Aires are among the best places to visit in November 2026, because each hits a seasonal sweet spot: peak autumn color, the end of monsoon or summer heat, or a lull between crowds. Daily budgets range from about $31 to $153 in the sources below, so there is a pick for most trips. Dates and prices are checked against current sources.

We picked destinations by weather, a specific November draw such as a festival or foliage peak, and crowd and price conditions compared with high season. Temperatures and daily costs come mainly from MonkeyTravel's estimates, which are averages rather than guarantees, and events come from tourism and travel sources linked in each section. The list mixes long-haul and shorter trips: Europe's Madeira and Lisbon suit a quick getaway, while Kyoto, Chiang Mai and Kerala reward a week or more. Use each quick-facts line to compare options, then check current fares and entry rules before you commit to dates.

1. Kyoto, Japan

Temperatures: 8–17°C · Peak color: mid-November to early December · Book: 3–6 months ahead

November is Kyoto's leaf season, with city temples peaking around mid-November, according to Japan Atlas. Reach Tofuku-ji before 8:30am on weekdays to skip 30 to 45 minute queues, and note hotel prices can jump 50 to 100%. Evening illuminations at Eikan-do run roughly November 6 to 30. BestTimesToVisit calls it arguably the most spectacular month. Arashiyama's forested hills are best from Tenryu-ji garden at opening time, the Tozai subway avoids crowded buses, and evening illumination tickets at Eikan-do cost about 1,000 yen and can sell out. If you arrive in early November, visit mountain areas such as Kurama first, then move to city temples as the color descends. Pair it with our Tokyo neighborhoods guide.

2. Chiang Mai, Thailand

Festival: Loy Krathong, Nov 24–25 · Lantern tickets: about ฿4,800–15,900 · Free option: krathong floating on the Ping River

Loy Krathong falls on November 24 to 25 in 2026, and Chiang Mai pairs it with Yi Peng sky lanterns, per OutThailand. It is not a public holiday, celebrations happen in the evening, and accommodation sells out weeks ahead. Sky lanterns are restricted in several cities, with penalties up to ฿60,000, so use licensed events. Sukhothai Historical Park, the festival's traditional home, runs nightly light-and-sound shows among UNESCO ruins from November 15 to 24, and Bangkok's main urban celebration is at Asiatique the Riverfront. Banana-leaf krathongs are biodegradable, while styrofoam ones are not, so choose accordingly. MonkeyTravel lists Thailand's Andaman coast as drying out in November.

3. Kerala, India

Temperatures: 22.9–32.6°C · Diwali: Nov 8 · Daily cost: about $40

The monsoon retreats and the backwaters stay lush, according to MonkeyTravel. Kerala Tourism says houseboats operate in seven districts, with roughly 500 in Alappuzha alone, and the district tourism council runs prepaid counters at standardized rates. The boats descend from kettuvallams, traditional cargo vessels more than a century old, and modern versions use bamboo, coir and coconut wood. For Alappuzha, advance booking through the council involves a ₹2,500 deposit, so confirm current terms directly. Our full list of the best places to visit in Kerala covers the rest. Pairing a trip with a procedure? Read about flying home after surgery in Kerala.

4. Petra and Wadi Rum, Jordan

Temperatures: 14.9–27°C · Petra ticket (overnight visitors): 50 JD for one day · Daily cost: about $153

Hiking conditions turn ideal as the heat breaks. Visit Jordan lists Petra at 50, 55 and 60 JD for one, two and three days for visitors staying overnight, and notes the Jordan Pass bundles Petra entry, waives the visa fee for stays of three nights or more, and covers over 40 other sites. Multi-day Petra tickets must be used on consecutive days, children under 12 enter free during daylight hours, and a passport is required at the ticket office, with payment in cash Jordanian dinars or by Visa card. Pass tiers are on the official Jordan Pass site.

5. Luxor and the Nile, Egypt

Daytime highs: 28–30°C · Nights: 18–20°C · Best for: temples and river cruises

November marks the start of ideal Nile cruise conditions, with fewer visitors at the Valley of the Kings than in December to February, per Egypt Tours Plus. Hotels and boats often offer better availability and lower rates than peak winter. MonkeyTravel puts Luxor's daily cost near $31, the cheapest on this list. Comfortable weather also allows extended temple visits at Karnak and Luxor without summer heat exhaustion, plus desert activities and outdoor photography, and river temperatures stay warm enough for lounging on deck. Evenings on board are cooler but pleasant.

6. Madeira, Portugal

Highs/lows: 21°C / 16°C · Rainfall: one of the wetter months · Best for: levada hikes, gardens

Rough Guides describes mild temperatures, a still-warm sea, fewer crowds and lower costs, with extra rain keeping the island green. Pack layers and rain gear, and check trail conditions with the Madeira tourism board's advice to walkers before setting out on levada paths. MonkeyTravel's numbers are a touch warmer at 22.8°C highs and 17°C lows, and describe the levada trails as green and walkable. November suits gardens, viewpoints and unhurried cultural stops more than beach days, so plan a mix rather than a single-activity trip.

7. Lisbon, Portugal

Weather: mid-60s°F, sunny · Events: Christmas markets from mid-November, São Martinho · Best for: city breaks

Vrbo's November list highlights vintage tram rides, historic neighborhoods and harvest-season wine tastings. Start with our Lisbon neighborhoods guide, then note that Vrbo also highlights Budapest thermal baths, Dubrovnik's light art festival, Vienna's early Christmas markets and Crete's quiet harvest-season shoulder period as alternatives if Lisbon is booked. To compare festive options in our Europe Christmas markets roundup.

8. Maui, Hawaii

Ranking: #1 in U.S. News' November list · Crowds: between honeymoon and snowbird seasons · Hotel rates: affordable

U.S. News ranks Maui first, noting honeymooners are long gone and snowbirds have yet to arrive. That means lighter crowds and more affordable hotel rates before the holiday rush, and Hawaii's humpback whale season, covered by Maui Now, builds through winter. U.S. News' runners-up include San Francisco, with post-Thanksgiving festivals and lower hotel rates than usual, plus Fiordland in New Zealand, Telluride and Sarasota. Maui works best as a slow, beach-and-scenery trip when rooms are cheaper than at peak.

9. Buenos Aires, Argentina

Temperatures: 16.1–26°C · Highlight: jacarandas in bloom · Daily cost: about $55

Late spring brings purple jacaranda blooms, per MonkeyTravel, and Noticias Ambientales describes the violet color across the city's streets. Prices climb in December, so November is the value window. Sovereignty Day on November 23 falls in the month, MonkeyTravel notes, and the late-spring weather suits long walks through neighborhood parks and plazas. Bring a light layer for cooler evenings, since lows dip to about 16°C.

People also ask

Where is the best place to travel in November?

It depends on your goal. Kyoto suits fall foliage, Luxor and Petra suit warm-weather sightseeing, Kerala and Chiang Mai suit tropical festivals, and Maui, Madeira and Buenos Aires offer mild weather with lighter crowds before December prices.

Where is warm in November?

Kerala averages 22.9–32.6°C, Luxor reaches 28–30°C by day, Chiang Mai and Phuket are dry and hot, and Buenos Aires runs 16–26°C. Madeira is milder at about 21°C, with more rain.

When is Loy Krathong in 2026?

Loy Krathong falls on November 24 to 25, 2026, tied to the full moon of the twelfth Thai lunar month. Chiang Mai combines it with Yi Peng lanterns. It is not a public holiday, so businesses stay open.

When is the best time for Kyoto autumn leaves?

City temples typically peak from mid-November, with a broader window of about November 15 to December 5. Mountain areas such as Kurama turn earlier. Book hotels three to six months ahead because prices can rise 50 to 100%.

Is November a good time to visit Egypt?

Yes. Luxor sees highs of 28–30°C, fewer crowds than December to February, and the start of Nile cruise season. Availability is better and rates often lower than at peak winter, according to Egypt Tours Plus.

What is the cheapest place to visit in November?

Of the destinations here, MonkeyTravel's daily-cost estimates put Luxor lowest at about $31, followed by Kerala at $40 and Buenos Aires at $55. Jordan is the priciest of those at about $153.

Facts were checked against current sources as of September 29, 2026; weather, festival dates and prices can change, so confirm details before booking or traveling.