November is the sweet spot for US vacations – with Thanksgiving breaks and shoulder season perks. Our picks for Best Places to Travel in November let you swap turkey leftovers for tropical beaches in Cancún (just 2 hours from Miami) or chase fall colors in Kyoto via direct flights. Prefer snow? The best November destinations include Banff’s frozen lakes and Swiss ski resorts opening early. We’ve selected these spots for easy access (nonstop flights!), great exchange rates, and seasonal magic – from Mexico’s Day of the Dead to Germany’s Christmas markets.
🍁 Best Places to Travel in November Domestic (U.S.) Destinations
- Asheville, North Carolina
- Why: Late fall foliage in the Blue Ridge Mountains, cozy mountain towns, craft breweries.
- Bonus: Fewer tourists than in peak October.
- Sedona, Arizona
- Why: Stunning red rock hikes, perfect weather (mild and dry), great for stargazing.
- Bonus: Great for a peaceful wellness retreat.
- New York City
- Why: Thanksgiving parade, fall colors in Central Park, early Christmas markets.
- Bonus: Ice skating rinks open up!
- Savannah, Georgia
- Why: Mild temperatures, charming architecture, and haunted history.
- Bonus: Great walking city with fewer crowds.
- Hawaii (Maui or Big Island)
- Why: Warm weather, whale-watching season begins, fewer tourists than in December.
- Bonus: Great for beach + volcano adventures.
🌎 Best Places to Travel in November International Destinations (Easy for U.S. Travelers
☀️ Best Places to Travel in November for Warm Escapes
1. Mexico (Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico City) 🎭
- Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) | Nov 1–2
- Celebrations peak in Mexico City, Oaxaca & Michoacán
- Vibrant sugar skull makeup, marigold altars & candlelit cemeteries
- Parades, ofrendas (offerings) & midnight graveyard vigils
- UNESCO-listed cultural spectacle for photographers
- Dry season begins: Explore Chichén Itzá ruins or Cancún beaches
2. Thailand (Chiang Mai, Bangkok) 🪔
- Loy Krathong Festival | ~Nov 15
- Thousands of banana-leaf floats glow on Mae Ping River
- Synchronized sky lantern releases create “river of stars”
- Night bazaar treats: mango sticky rice & grilled banana
- Pro tip: Book paid lantern events (Maetaeng/Mae Jo Uni)
3. Vietnam (Hanoi, Da Nang) 🏮
- Hanoi (North): 18-25°C, light drizzle
- Hoan Kiem Lake mist walks & French Quarter cafés
- Imperial Citadel & November film festivals
- Da Nang (Central): 23-30°C, beach weather
- My Khe Beach surfing & Marble Mountain hikes
- Day trips: Hoi An lantern town & Hue’s Forbidden City
4. Spain (Canary Islands) 🏝️
- Tenerife: Winter sun (22°C), volcanic hikes & black sand beaches
—🎨—
🍂 Best Places to Travel in November in Autumn Colors & Mild Climates
1. 🇨🇳 Beijing, Shanghai & Xi’an-Best Places to Travel in November
Beijing 🌆（5°C–12°C）
🏛️ Must-see: Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall
🎯 Do: Hutong biking, Peking Opera, roast duck
💡 Tips: Book tickets online, metro English-friendly
Shanghai 🌃（10°C–18°C）
🌉 Iconic: The Bund night views, Yu Garden
🥟 Experience: Xiaolongbao cooking, Huangpu cruise
🚄 Transit: Maglev train (431km/h!) to airport
Xi’an 🏺（6°C–15°C）
⚔️ History: Terracotta Army, Ancient City Wall biking
🍜 Eat: Muslim Quarter’s yangrou paomo
🚅 Access: High-speed trains to Beijing/Chengdu
2. Japan (Kyoto, Tokyo) 🍁
- Kyoto: 8-16°C, peak maple season
- Arashiyama bamboo forest & Kiyomizu-dera temple night illuminations
- Gion district tea houses with matcha desserts
- Tokyo: 10-18°C, ginkgo golden hour
- Meiji Shrine’s 300m银杏 tunnel & Rikugien garden light-ups
- Early Christmas displays in Ginza
3. Italy (Tuscany, Sicily) 🍷
- Tuscany: 8-15°C, vineyard harvests
- Florence art museums & Val d’Orcia road trips
- Sicily: 15-22°C, coastal sunshine
- Taormina’s Greek Theatre with Etna views
- Palermo street food: arancini & cannoli
—🎨—
❄️ Best Places to Travel in November In Early Winter & Snowscapes
1. Switzerland (Zermatt, Lucerne) 🏔️
- Zermatt: -2~5°C, Matterhorn skiing opens
- Gornergrat Railway for sunrise alpenglow
- Lucerne: 2-10°C, lakeside Christmas markets
- Chapel Bridge autumn leaves & Mt. Pilatus cable cars
2. Canada (Banff NP) 🏒
- -10~5°C, frozen Lake Louise skating
- Snowshoeing & elk spotting in Bow Valley
—🎨—
🎪 Cultural Highlights
Germany (Munich) 🥨
- Christmas markets (from late Nov) with glühwein
- Nymphenburg Palace gardens & BMW Museum
🌎 Honorable Mentions
- Morocco: Sahara desert camps under stars
- Argentina: Patagonia trekking season begins
⚠️ Tips:
- Check monsoon tails in SE Asia ☔
- Book early for Kyoto/Swiss hotels 📅
Time’s ticking! Which of these best places to travel in November will you cross off your list first? 🗺️✈️
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