26 exquisite cultural holidays for autumn The Times Sean Newsom 26 exquisite cultural holidays for autumn Hit the galleries in Paris, take a literary cruise from New York or enjoy music in the German mountains — all of these trips are packed with mind-expanding potential New York in autumn Getty images Sean Newsom Thursday October 15 2026, 5.00am BST , The Times Listen 0:00 / · 26:10 min Share Share this article Email Twitter Facebook Link Save C ulture vultures, it's time to circle. Across Europe and further afield the blockbuster art exhibitions are open, the great orchestras are starting their new seasons and, right on cue, hotel prices in the big cities are beginning their nosedive as we approach November. So if, like me, you're gasping for some fresh intellectual air, this is your moment. To help guide your thoughts we've gathered 26 of the most promising cultural breaks this autumn. Each one comes full of mind-expanding potential — because if there's one thing that distinguishes them all, it's how much we had to leave out of each description. Paris, for example, is honouring both Monet and Cézanne. But the exhibitions at the Musée de l'Orangerie and the Grand Palais should only be a starting point for an art-loving rampage that also includes Andy Warhol at the Musée de Luxembourg, the explosive scrapwork art of Kurt Schwitters at the Musée Picasso and — for a bit of a twirl to finish — a top-to-bottom view of the fashion industry at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs. Most commented 1 Ukraine 'has run out of Patriot interceptor missiles' Russia-Ukraine war 262 comments 2 British-made drone boats used in attack on Russian port of Sochi Defence 175 comments 3 Severe drought declared in England for first time Environment 102 comments 4 Lisa Nandy 'minded to intervene' in Sky's ￡1.6bn deal for ITV Companies & Markets 69 comments 5 How Lewis Hamilton's brother overcame cerebral palsy to become racing driver Formula 1 17 comments Meanwhile, in Campania, Pompeii beckons with new, low-cost guided tours. And yes, it's going to be deeply engaging, especially now that the crowds have gone. But don't let it blind you to the wonders of the Greek colony of Paestum nearby, with its magnificent Doric temples, or the delights of Naples — whether it's the riches of the National Archaeological Museum or the citrussy millefeuille wonder of its sfogliatelle breakfast pastries. Top stories 1 US inflation hotter than expected as Iran war stokes fuel costs Economics In other words, this is just your starting point. You'll doubtless find plenty more going on when you reach your destination, so let your mind off the leash. With time on your hands and no engagement more pressing than lunch, a trip like this can be pure oxygen. All recommendations within this article are informed by independent expert editorial opinion. This article contains affiliate links and links to our in-house travel agency, Times Holidays, all of which will earn us revenue. Advertisement 1. See 20th-century art in Vienna Francis of Assisi church and the Danube in Vienna Getty images This autumn the Albertina Museum in Vienna is celebrating its 250th birthday with an electrifying double bill. In the art museum's Picasso and Bacon: What it feels like to be human two views collide. Picasso calmly deforms us while Bacon has his teeth bared and is sometimes actually screaming (￡18; albertina.at). You might want to lighten the mood afterwards by bathing in the golden glow of Klimt's masterpiece The Kiss in the Upper Belvedere (￡20; belvedere.at). Afterwards the opulent Das Tyrol hotel with light glitzy rooms will keep things visual with its own voluminous art collection. B&B doubles from ￡243. Fly or take the train to Vienna 16 of the best affordable hotels in Vienna under ￡150 2. Superb symphonies in Munich The cathedral in Munich Getty images The Times's chief culture correspondent Richard Morrison is a big fan of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. “The Bavarians have given me some of the best musical treats of my life,” he noted recently. But they're not the only star performers in the autumn programme. Catch them on November 5 and 6 and you'll also get the Austrian wunderkind and cellist Julia Hagen performing Takemitsu, Britten and Rachmaninov. Simon Rattle conducts (tickets from ￡21; brso.de). The Hotel Deutsche Eiche, with its neoclassical façade and smart, modern rooms, makes a stylish central base. B&B doubles from ￡210. Fly or take the train to Munich 3. A literary cruise from New York Could there be a better place to hear Peter Frankopan than halfway across the Atlantic Ocean on the sleek oceangoing Queen Mary 2? Oxford's professor of global history will be there from November 28 to December 5, courtesy of Cunard's Literature Festival at Sea run in partnership with The Times and The Sunday Times. The cruise goes from New York to Southampton and will bring the broadcaster Sophie Raworth together with historians, novelists and our own journalists in a programme sure to stretch your horizons — which is just as it should be in such a setting. Seven nights' full board from ￡2,359pp, including flight to New York 4. Remembering Kusama in Amsterdam The Yayoi Kusama exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum PeterTijhuis The Stedelijk Museum's retrospective of Yayoi Kusama was scheduled long before she died in August, so this is an opportunity to honour the world's favourite installation artist. Hers was an art of mind-bending scale and repetition, and in Amsterdam it has the space it needs to breathe (￡27; stedelijk.nl). You might fancy something less dotty afterwards, courtesy of the Rijksmuseum's raw and energetic Willem de Kooning show (￡21; rijksmuseum.nl). In a nearby townhouse, the Jan Luyken hotel has a cool, 1970s vibe and is handily located for a shopping spree. B&B doubles from ￡164. Fly or take the train to Amsterdam Advertisement 29 of the best hotels in Amsterdam for 2026 5. Chamber music in Madeira If the thought of winter makes you blanch, the Kirker Music Festival in Funchal is riding to your rescue. In the last week of November, just as the nights draw tight around Britain, check into the five-star Reid's Palace hotel for a soothing mix of sea views, mild mid-Atlantic weather and five sparkling chamber music recitals. The acclaimed Sacconi Quartet do most of the playing, with significant contributions from the pianist Melvyn Tan and Simon Rowland-Jones on viola. Works include Schubert's String Quartet No 14 and Ravel's Jeux d'Eau. Six nights' half-board from ￡4,989pp, including flights (kirkerholidays.com) 6. Fashion-forward Antwerp The Antwerp Six Exhibition at MoMu Stany Dederen This year Antwerp's MoMu fashion museum is celebrating the six designers who put the Belgian city's rag trade on the map and with fancy frock shops beckoning in every direction, it's sure to be a memorable experience (￡11; momu.be). Here's another: Rubens's 17th-century masterpiece The Descent from the Cross is still hanging in the spot he intended in the city's cathedral. The nearby Hotel Flora provides a final dose of voluptuous colour, with soft, dreamy rooms and an original rococo gatehouse. B&B doubles from ￡232. Take the train to Antwerp Europe's best place for shopping? It's Antwerp 7. Art and pottery in Lisbon With Lisbon's summer heat finally dissipating, it's time to catch up with the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, which reopened in July after a refit stripped away much of its clutter. Now, alongside the eclecticism of its vast collection, you can rediscover the single-minded rigour of its 1960s architecture (￡14; gulbenkian.pt). There's drama too with JMW Turner's tumultuous Wreck of a Transport Ship , painted in 1810. When you've had your fill of paintings, art nouveau jewellery and Assyrian reliefs, you can join a pottery workshop or an art class courtesy of your hotel (from ￡55). The 25-room AlmaLusa Alfama is in the city's oldest neighbourhood near the Tagus River with chic, tranquil rooms that blend traditional and contemporary styles. B&B doubles from ￡171. Fly to Lisbon Advertisement 8. Dance, music and theatre in Rome The Trevi Fountain at Piazza Di Trevi in Rome Getty images Roman holidays don't always have to be about ancient architecture and Renaissance chapels. This autumn the Italian capital is buzzing with contemporary creativity thanks to the 41st Romaeuropa Festival. Expect an ever-changing menu of modern dance, music and theatre until it closes on November 15 (romaeuropa.net). Add an exhibition devoted to the celebrated conceptual artist Marina Abramovic at GNAMC and you've got an invigorating dose of modernity (￡14; gnamc.cultura.gov.it). Top it off with a night or two at the studiously kitsch Mama Shelter hotel. It's near the Sistine Chapel, just in case you change your mind about the Renaissance. B&B doubles from ￡134. Fly to Rome 9. A perfect picture of Stockholm Pablo Picasso's Bathers with a Ball, 1928 Succession Picasso / Bildrecht, Vienna 2026, Photo: Moderna Museet / Stockholm The southern shore of Stockholm's harbour is a lovely spot for a photography gallery, blessed with a vast, contemplative sheet of water to stare at between the exhibits. This is where you'll find the wonderful Fotografiska, whose run of striking and accessible shows continues with Harder Better Faster Stronger: Are M en OK? , exploring modern manhood (￡15; stockholm.fotografiska.com). Base your art-loving weekend at the hip, central Hotel at Six, which has stylish rooms, contemporary art and a rooftop bar with cracking views. Room-only doubles from ￡157. Fly to Stockholm 18 of the best hotels in Stockholm for 2026 10. World music in Oslo The Norwegian national museum of arts in Oslo Alamy If you want to hear something fresh, Oslo World can help. From October 27 to November 1 it's building a wall of World Music around the Norwegian capital with nearly 50 concerts alongside a busy seminar programme (from ￡12; osloworld.no). Bosnian punk-folk, Saharan blues, modern flamenco — it's all there, with musicianship to the fore and long-held traditions subverted. Mix it with some fresh sights at the Nasjonalmuseet's Woman Painter exhibition, which celebrates neglected talents from 1550 to 1650 (￡17; nasjonalmuseet.no). Nearby, the 181-room Hobo hotel is a fun and funky perch with cool rooms, a pair of restaurants, a bar and a café. Room-only doubles from ￡153. Fly to Oslo 11. An aristocratic take on Sicily Palazzo Lanza Tomasi Butera in Palermo Camillo Balossini/Archivio Camillo Balossini/Mondadori Portfolio/Getty images One of the perks of a Martin Randall holiday is the way the company builds private tours into many of its itineraries. This Palermo Revealed trip from November 3 does it twice. At Palazzo Pietratagliata, the Principessa Alliata will host a dinner where you'll be waited on by her team of butlers. Then at the Palazzo Lanza Tomasi — where Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, the author of The Leopard , grew up — you'll join the Duchess of Palma for lunch. Meanwhile, outside, one of Italy's most vibrant historic cities is buzzing. The contrast between the two worlds will make your head spin. You'll stay at the 104-room Eurostars Centrale Palace in downtown Palermo, which is filled with vintage frescos and furniture and has simple, comfortable rooms. Five nights' half-board from ￡3,150pp (martinrandall.com). Fly to Palermo Advertisement 12. A music festival in the Bavarian Alps With its 100-year focus on music and literature, as well as glorious mountain scenery, the beautiful hotel and spa Schloss Elmau is unique in the Bavarian Alps — and its annual homage to the Verbier Festival is a great way to experience it. Each summer the festival, near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, brings together young talent and established maestros who reconvene in the hotel's concert hall from November 21-29. Among the star performers are Grammy Award-winning mandolinist Chris Thile, and the 15-year-old violinist Lilja Haatainen. Tickets are free for hotel guests: call 00 49 8823 18 170 for the latest availability. B&B doubles from ￡677. Fly to Munich 13. A celebration of Spanish painting The Cibeles Fountain in Madrid Getty images Expect a mix of thunderous subject matter and vaulting ambition on this six-day Art Treasures of Madrid and Malaga tour, starting on November 25. Velazquez's Christ Crucified , Goya's harrowing Third of May 1808 , Picasso's howl of despair at the Spanish Civil War in Guernica — they all feature on a tour that wisely mixes guided exploration with free afternoons to go and make your own discoveries. It also includes two bites of the Prado's cherry. Your first visit to Madrid's national collection is to trace Velazquez's gravity-defying career. The second peers into the darkening 19th-century world of Francisco Goya. Five nights' B&B from ￡2,995pp, including flights (aceculturaltours.co.uk) 14. Mozart and graffiti in Berlin A radar dome on the site of the former US Army air surveillance and listening station during the Cold War Alamy Tickets are still available for the late November concerts by the Berliner Philharmoniker — including a performance of works for orchestra, piano and French horn by Mendelssohn, Mozart and Haydn (from November 19-21, from ￡26; berliner-philharmoniker.de). So why not combine its rich and powerful sound with something spikier, courtesy of the former Anglo-American listening post at the Teufelsberg? It's not just the giant street-art murals plastering its ruins that make it magnificent, it's also the lonely setting, engulfed by the Grunewald forest. Back in town, the arty Hotel Orania runs a series of jazz concerts four nights a week. Its spacious rooms are warm and comfortable, with stylish furniture and good views of the city. B&B doubles from ￡171. Fly to Berlin 15. Pompeii without the crowds Pompeii is cooler in the autumn Getty images Exploring Pompeii on your own is much easier than it used to be. Not only does the official audio guide include a digital map, as well as descriptions of all key sites (￡8), but the park has also introduced 90-minute group tours that cost only ￡7pp, on top of the entrance fee. So, with crowds thinning and temperatures cooling, this is your moment. Book into the friendly, family-owned Atelier Inès B&B in Naples for at least three nights, invest in one of the ￡38 Pompeii cards for unlimited, year-long access, and give this extraordinary time capsule the two days it deserves (pompeiisites.org). B&B doubles from ￡153. Fly to Naples 20 of the best hotels in Naples Advertisement 16. Modern dance in the Hague Windmill De Adriaan on the canal in Haarlem Getty images After some uneven recent work, the Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) is back on top form this autumn with a widely applauded revival of a modern dance classic, The Missing Door . See it in the company's hometown of the Hague from December 10-12 alongside newly commissioned work Out of the Stillness (from ￡23; ndt.nl). Then take a 32-minute train to Haarlem, where a small but dazzling exhibition, Hals-Rembrandt , will bring together the two grandmasters of 17th-century Dutch portraiture (￡16; franshalsmuseum.nl). Close to the NDT in the centre of the Hague, the Collector hotel is full of art and has fun, characterful rooms with eclectic furnishings. B&B doubles from ￡120. Take the train to the Hague 17. A Maltese temple tour We shouldn't be surprised that an island as central as Malta has such a long history. But still, the fact that its first temples were built about 3,600 BC — 1,000 years before the Pyramids — is mind-boggling. On this guided tour from newly formed Specialist Journeys you'll see several, as well as the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum burial chambers, carved from solid limestone. Add the walled city of Mdina and the fortress of the Knights of St John into the mix and a fascinating week awaits, from November 3. You'll stay in the seaside town of Qawra at the smart AX ODYCY Hotel, which has simple rooms and a swish, adults-only rooftop pool. Six nights' half-board from ￡1,795pp (call 01722 705215 to book; specialistjourneys.co.uk). Fly to Malta 18. A writers' retreat in Spain Casa Ana in Andalusia Helter Skelter Media If you've got a book in you struggling to get out, Casa Ana can help. Set in Ferreirola, a tight little knuckle of a village in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, this 400-year-old farmhouse runs regular writing retreats, with the next one starting on November 28. Run by the novelist Julia Crouch it has all the ingredients required to make your stay productive: a sense of sanctuary, the chance to work continuously and the fellowship of other writers, egging each other on. Group readings and feedback sessions add essential constructive criticism and emotional support. Ten nights' B&B from ￡1,375pp, including some extra meals. Fly to Malaga 19. A historical tour of Istanbul The Romance Hotel Istanbul TUM HAKLARI YAZILI IZIN ILE SAKLIDIR KEMAL OLCA Still visible amid Istanbul's modern bustle are the bones of two great civilisations — the Eastern Roman and Ottoman Empires. From November 6, this six-day guided tour with Kirker goes in search of both. Some of the targets are obvious. The cavernous, glittering interior of Hagia Sophia, built nearly 1,500 years ago, is testament to the vigour of the city when it was the new Roman capital. The 15th-century Topkapi Palace also gives us an understanding of Ottoman sophistication. Other visits reveal less celebrated sights, including the marble and mosaics of the Church of St Saviour. You'll stay at one of two boutique hotels in the Sultanahmet district of central Istanbul. Five nights' half-board from ￡2,486pp, including flights (kirkerholidays.com) 20. Monet and Cézanne in Paris The Cézanne and Us exhibition Riccardo Milani / Hans Lucas / AFP via Getty Images An art-loving feast awaits in Paris . Le Musée de l'Orangerie has an exhibition entitled Monet, Painting Time running until January 25 (￡11; musee-orangerie.fr). Expect a blizzard of colour and the unshakeable sense of light and time marching together through our lives, especially in his paintings of Rouen Cathedral. Nearby, the Grand Palais shows us how generations of artists drew inspiration from Cézanne in Cézanne and Us (￡16; grandpalais.fr), while the Petit Palais has rediscovered the cloistered and colourful world of Eva Gonzalès (￡12; petitpalais.paris.fr). Just across the Seine, the welcoming Hôtel d'Orsay, once the home of Napoléon's surgeon, has stylish rooms and is a convenient base at a great price. Room-only doubles from ￡135. Fly or take the train to Paris 19 of the best affordable hotels in Paris under ￡200 21. A photo festival in Siena Launched in 2015, Siena's Photo Awards Festival has quickly cemented its place on the European arts calendar (until November 29; sienawards.com). Alongside its hotly contested awards you'll find the city's medieval heart brimming with arresting modern images. Central to the festival is an exhibition of the winning work, including Commotion in the Ocean , Nur Tucker's fierce and balletic depiction of an underwater seabird feeding frenzy. But there are many other shows, with photojournalism prominent throughout. The 13th-century Palazzetto Rosso hotel has vaulted ceilings, wonderful red-brick walls and a collection of chic rooms — at a great price — that ooze modern flair. Staying here puts the festival on your doorstep. B&B doubles from ￡109. Fly to Florence 22. A new Brussels museum One of Europe's loveliest art deco buildings reopens on November 28. Set on the Place Sainctelette in Brussels, Kanal occupies a curving, glass-walled Citroën showroom from the 1930s — and it's re-emerging from a ￡194m refit as a museum of modern art and architecture. Expect an avalanche of exhibitions at the start. A highlights show with works borrowed from the Pompidou in Paris will feature Delaunay, Matisse, Giacometti and more. Another worthwhile exhibition, An Infinite Woman: Black Archives in Two Acts , will celebrate black women artists resisting all cultural stereotypes (￡20; kanal.brussels). The bright and airy 21-room Made in Catherine hotel is close by and only five minutes' walk from the Grand Place. Rooms are pretty, modern and cosy, many with views of Place Sainte Catherine. B&B doubles from ￡152 (madeincatherine.com). Fly or take the train to Brussels 23. Greenlandic art in Copenhagen The cute Kanalhuset hotel Surprise, surprise. Kalaallit Nunaat (aka Greenland) features in the Danish capital's new art season, thanks to Fire and Ice: On Belonging and Becoming in Kalaallit Nunaat, at Copenhagen Contemporary. This vast venue — marooned in an abandoned shipyard — already seems otherworldly, and that impression is only deepened by showcasing the work of eight artists connected to Greenland (￡16; copenhagencontemporary.org ). Then include the excellent Viking galleries at the National Museum in your wanderings (￡17; nationalmuseet.dk). After all, they were the first Europeans to reach the territory. The cute Kanalhuset hotel is halfway between the two museums. It's a homely spot with 12 rooms with ceiling beams and limestone walls in the basement and a further 14 “apartments” upstairs for longer stays. Room only doubles from ￡158. Fly to Copenhagen 24. Big art shows in Basel The art capital of Switzerland is a treat in any season, thanks to the breadth and quality of two museums. This autumn, amid the gorgeous gravity of its Hans Holbein collection, Kunstmuseum Basel has gone dotty for pop-art supremo Roy Lichtenstein (￡32; kunstmuseumbasel.ch). Meanwhile, the Fondation Beyeler is stretching out and enjoying its brand new galleries with Constellations , a comprehensive show of its collection, including works from Picasso (￡27; fondationbeyeler.ch). Stay at the Hotel Märthof, which is right in the old town and has smart, modern rooms and a sixth-floor roof terrace that looks out over Marktplatz. Room-only doubles from ￡194. Fly or take the train to Basel 25. An operatic treat in Milan Everybody should visit La Scala at least once, and the prestigious venue's production of Faust , with Marina Rebeka in the tragic role of Marguerite, is a perfect reason. The opera-holidays specialist Pettitts has seats in the stalls for the final night on November 8. What's more, with three nights at the central The Square Milano Duomo hotel, you'll have time for the fascinating Global Antiquity exhibition, exploring the east-west links of the ancients (￡13; fondazioneprada.org). The bright, modern hotel is in the centre of town and many rooms have balconies that look out over the rooftops. You may even be able to pick out the Alps from the rooftop restaurant. Three nights' B&B from ￡1,850pp, including flights (pettitts.co.uk) 26. Monteverdi in Venice The Grand Canal and Basilica Santa Maria della Salute in Venice Getty Don't just look at Venice, listen to it too, courtesy of Martin Randall Travel's celebration of Claudio Monteverdi and his music. As the master of St Mark's chapel choir for 30 years, he flooded the city with his compositions and you will hear some of the finest, in a suite of magnificent settings. His opera L'Orfeo will be sung against a backdrop of Tintoretto paintings in the Scuola Grande di San Rocco. Then, on the final night, the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari will be the setting for his Vespers of 1610. Five nights' B&B from ￡3,810pp, departing November 12; (call 020 3514 3922 to book; (martinrandall.com). Fly to Venice. Top stories 1 Should you buy shares in Vanguard LifeStrategy? Companies & Markets Any we've missed? Let us know in the comments Inspired? Our in-house agency Times Holidays can help you book your trip, tailored to your specific interests Travel newsletter Your weekly round-up of the best travel inspiration, guides, hotel reviews and advice from our experts. Sign up with one click You've successfully signed up to the Travel newsletter Explore our newsletters An error occurred. Please use the link below. 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