Where to go in November: 7 destinations at their very best

Mexico City: best for Day of the Dead Celebrations

November opens with one of Mexico's most iconic cultural celebrations as Día de los Muertos transforms the capital into a kaleidoscope of marigolds, sugar skulls and ancestral devotion. The first days of the month see the city's streets come alive with processions, elaborate altars adorning homes and public spaces, and a real sense of connection between past and present. After the festivities, travellers can explore the cobbled streets of Coyoacán, the world-class collections at Museo Jumex and the ancient canals of Xochimilco.

Casa Polanco delivers understated luxury in the upscale Polanco neighbourhood, where contemporary Mexican design meets residential tranquillity. The 10-suite property feels like staying in a sophisticated friend's home, with a rooftop terrace offering sunset views over the leafy area. For those seeking full-service grandeur, the Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City in Paseo de la Reforma occupies a magnificent eight-storey mansion where Diego Rivera murals grace the walls, the spa offers traditional temazcal ceremonies and the courtyard pool provides an oasis within the city.

Dubai: best for Dubai Design Week

For creatives looking to travel in November, Dubai transforms into a global destination for Dubai Design Week. The weather finally relents - temperatures hover in the blissful mid-20s - making it possible to enjoy the city's outdoor spaces. The design district pulses with installations, exhibitions and talks from international luminaries. It's also the beginning of the season to explore the souks, dine alfresco and lounge by impossibly beautiful pools, without the sweltering heat.

The Bulgari Resort sits on Jumeira Bay Island like a modernist jewel box, where Italian elegance meets Arabian opulence. The yacht-filled marina, private beach and spa inspired by Roman baths create an atmosphere of exclusive serenity, while Il Ristorante serves some of the finest Italian cuisine in the Gulf. The new Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, unveiled in March 2025, represents a new pinnacle of ambition on Dubai’s shoreline. Designed by Shaun Killa, it combines 386 rooms and suites with sweeping terraces, a glittering 82-berth superyacht marina and a three-storey Talise Spa offering cutting-edge wellness treatments alongside serene ocean-view pools. 

Athens: best for autumn sunshine and cultural exploration

November in Athens offers something increasingly rare: a European capital bathed in warm sunshine without the suffocating summer crowds. The Acropolis stands proud against impossibly blue skies and you can marvel at the Parthenon without the big tour groups. Temperatures hover around 18°C, ideal for wandering through Plaka's pretty streets, discovering hidden galleries in Metaxourgeio or taking long lunches in Monastiraki. Athens' cultural calendar intensifies with gallery openings, theatre performances and a renewed energy in the tavernas.

The Dolli brings playful maximalism to the Athenian hotel scene. This design-forward property in Kolonaki marries vintage furnishings with contemporary Greek art, creating spaces that feel both nostalgic and utterly now. The rooftop bar offers Acropolis views with clever cocktails. For waterfront tranquillity, One&Only Aesthesis on the Athenian Riviera provides a coastal retreat just 30 minutes from the city centre, where private beaches, Chenot spa therapies, and Michelin-worthy dining make a compelling case for never leaving the hotel.

Hong Kong: best for hairy crab season

November marks the peak of hairy crab season in Hong Kong, when these prized crustaceans from Yangcheng Lake grace the menus of the city's finest Cantonese restaurants. It's a culinary obsession that turns dining into ritual, with eight-course crab feasts celebrated in homes and restaurants across the region. Outside the restaurants, November is when the humidity finally breaks, skies clear and temperatures settle into the low 20s, perfect for hiking Dragon's Back, exploring the antiquities of Hollywood Road or watching the Symphony of Lights from a harbour-facing terrace.

Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong remains the grande dame of Hong Kong hospitality, where the legendary Clipper Lounge afternoon tea and Michelin-starred Cantonese dining at Man Wah (including exceptional hairy crab preparations) uphold standards set over six decades. Across the water, The Peninsula Hong Kong defines old-world elegance with its fleet of Rolls-Royce Phantoms, impeccable service and a rooftop restaurant that surveys the glittering skyline. Both hotels prove that in Hong Kong, heritage and glamour never go out of style.

Antigua: best for Caribbean warmth and water sports

When much of the world turns grey and chilly, Antigua basks in perpetual sunshine with temperatures hovering around 28°C and refreshing trade winds tempering the heat. November marks the sweet spot after hurricane season when the island's 365 beaches (one for each day of the year, as locals proudly remind you) glisten under stunning skies. The sailing is exceptional: Antigua Sailing Week may be in spring, but November provides equally terrific conditions with fewer boats crowding the turquoise waters. This is also when you'll find the island at its most tranquil, before the December rush.

Carlisle Bay delivers contemporary Caribbean luxury on a horseshoe bay where the sand is impossibly white and the water sports centre could outfit a small navy. The resort's six treatment rooms make it a spa destination in its own right, while the four restaurants ensure you never tire of the menu. For those seeking more intimate island glamour, Jumby Bay Resort occupies its own private island, a Rosewood property where bicycles replace cars, three pristine beaches provide Robinson Crusoe seclusion and the only sounds are waves and birdsong. 

Cyprus: best for Mediterranean mildness and off-season bliss

Visit Cyprus in November and you'll wonder why anyone goes in summer: temperatures remain remarkably mild at 22°C, the sea retains its summer warmth, and the island's archaeological treasures - from Paphos mosaics to Crusader castles - can be explored without the crowds. The hills turn green after the first rains, perfect for hiking in the Troodos Mountains or exploring wine villages where harvest celebrations continue through November. This is Cyprus at its most authentically Mediterranean, when locals reclaim their island and the pace of life slows to something approaching the ancient rhythms.

Cap St Georges in Paphos epitomises contemporary Cypriot luxury, a clifftop resort where suites cascade down to a private beach club and the thalassotherapy spa harnesses the healing properties of the island's mineral-rich waters. The location, set above Coral Bay, affords sunset views that justify the journey alone. Further along the coast, Anassa in Polis Chrysochous provides an intimate experience, where Cypriot village architecture houses suites with private pools, a Byzantine chapel adds historic romance and the Thalassa Spa's marine-inspired treatments connect you to the island's ancient wellness traditions. Both properties prove that Cyprus deserves attention far beyond the summer holiday season.

Osaka: best for autumn foliage and culinary excellence

Osaka in November offers Japan's famed autumn colours known as kōyō - at their most resplendent, with maple trees blazing crimson and gold in temple gardens and parks throughout the city. Temperatures are bracing but comfortable, ideal for exploring the historic Dōtonbori district, visiting Osaka Castle surrounded by autumn leaves or embarking on food pilgrimages through the city known as 'Japan's kitchen.' This is also the season for hearty regional specialities: steaming bowls of udon, perfectly grilled yakitori and the theatrical tableside preparation of teppanyaki.

The Four Seasons Osaka brings contemporary Japanese minimalism to new heights, occupying the upper floors of a sleek tower with views extending to Osaka Bay. The Michelin-starred sushi counter and serene spa provide compelling reasons never to venture beyond the property, though the location makes exploration effortless. For a different perspective, the Waldorf Astoria Osaka combines Art Deco glamour with Japanese craftsmanship - the champagne bar serves rare vintages amid soaring ceilings, while the location in Nishi-Umeda puts you at the heart of the city's stylish shopping and dining districts.