The 3 best shoulder season destinations that aren’t too popular (yet)

A holiday without the crowds? Welcome to shoulder season (Picture: Getty Images)

September is a funny old month.

One day, the sun is shining, and it feels like summer is still hanging on.

The next it’s grey and miserable, and you’re boiling the kettle for a hot water bottle.

So it’s no surprise more people are ditching the hot-and-cold weather for warmer climes before winter officially sets in.

Coined ‘Super September’ by ABTA in its Travel Trends 2026 report, it’s when people swap the peak summer months for an early autumn getaway.

While not everyone can jump on the trend (think parents with school-age children), those who can are reaping the shoulder season rewards of affordable prices and fewer crowds.

Since 2023, ABTA has found that more travellers are steadily choosing September as their holiday month.

In 2025, almost a quarter (24%) said they planned to take a trip that month, up from 17% two years earlier.

Meanwhile, travel networks indicate that global autumn hotel reservations are up 55% for September, meaning the season is no longer a low-demand, last-minute option.

But as the month comes to a close and holidaymakers return home, it’s got us thinking: shoulder season isn’t just restricted to September.

October is just as good a time to go abroad, and still boasts the same off-peak benefits.

Here, Metro has rounded up 3 of the best destinations for an October getaway that aren’t too popular… yet.

Menorca, Balearic Islands

There’s no denying the Balearic Islands are one of Spain’s most beloved holiday hotspots.

Each year, more than 15 million international tourists flock to the archipelago, with the majority heading to Mallorca and Ibiza.

However, over the last year, both have been hit hard by overtourism and severe flooding. Plus, due to high demand, the islands have also seen significant price hikes.

But don’t write the Balearics off just yet, as Mallorca’s smaller neighbour, Menorca, could provide the answers.

Menorca is Mallorca’s quieter neighbour (Picture: Shutterstock / Kirk Fisher)

The island, which boasts UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status, receives a much smaller 1.77 million visitors compared to Mallorca’s 13.5 million and Ibiza’s 3.7 million.

It’s also complete with stunning scenery, rich history and great food. For example, there are over 100 beaches, pretty whitewashed villages with terracotta roofs, and the world’s largest concentration of prehistoric monuments from Talayotic culture.

In simpler words, the latter is the society that existed in the easternmost Balearic Islands during the Iron Age.

Menorca is also less of a party-central island, which could entice wellness lovers.

Rather than boozy beach clubs in Ibiza (which we’re not denying can be a great laugh), hike one of the many ancient trails, including the Camí de Cavalls, an 186 km coastal route that encircles the island.

Albania

You’ve heard the horror stories of Albania in summer: tourists sardined on packed-out Ksamil and Sarandë beaches, busy roads, and infrastructure strain.

Peak season visitor numbers have spiked thanks to TikTok, climbing past 10 million annually and surpassing the country’s total population.

There’ll be no sunbed wars in October (Picture: Shutterstock / Alp Galip)

However, for those wanting to experience the charm of Albania without contributing to overtourism, October could be the perfect month.

You can also visit the popular resort villages on the southern Albanian Riviera — which have been coined the Maldives of the Mediterranean —without the guilt.

But if you’re more interested in sightseeing than sunbathing, there are plenty of other cities and towns across the country to explore.

In Berat, a UNESCO-listed city in central Albania on the Osum River, check out the white Ottoman houses stacked together, featuring rows of large windows that look out onto the valley. These features gave Berat its nickname, ‘City of a Thousand Windows.’

Don’t forget the capital, Tirana, known for its vibrant café culture and communist-era bunkers.

Or, hike the Albanian Alps, a spectacular mountain region with trails that rival Italy’s Dolomites.

Naples, Italy

Food lovers, it’s very important that you visit Naples at least once in your life.

The southern Italian city, and capital of Campania, is widely considered a culinary capital. Seriously, it was crowned the world’s best city for food in 2024.

If it’s a city break you’re after, experience the cool chaos of Naples (Picture: Getty Images)

Naples is the birthplace of pizza, while Neapolitan pizza-making is even recognised as a UNESCO cultural heritage.

The best restaurants to sample the city’s signature dish include Pizzeria Brandi (where pizza is thought to have originated) and Pizzaioli Veraci. At both joints, a traditional Margherita costs around €7 (£6).

Once you’ve had your fill, no trip to Naples is complete without visiting the Spanish Quarter, a former no-go area once under mob rule. Today, the story is different, and you’ll find Latin American restaurants with Vespas strewn out front and the city’s brilliantly garish Maradona shrine.

There’s ancient history, too. Perhaps the most famous landmark isPompeii, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, just a 40-minute train ride away.

Entry to Pompeii costs €18 (£15), where you’ll find remnants of the ancient Roman city that was buried and preserved under volcanic ash by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

Other budget activities include sipping €1 Aperol Spritzes, taking a stroll along the seafront, and just generally watching life go by in this gritty but electric city.

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