Where to Go in October to Enjoy Indian Summer?

As the back-to-school season gets back into full swing and autumn is already beginning to show its first signs, October still offers plenty of beautiful sunny breaks. In the South of France, the Mediterranean or the Balearic Islands, temperatures remain mild, terraces enjoy their final golden days and the landscapes are slowly beginning to change colour. Here are five hotels where you can extend the summer and head for the sunshine in October, whether for a gastronomic getaway, a spa retreat or a city break.

What if Indian summer were spent in the Périgord Noir? Just a few kilometres from Sarlat-la-Canéda, Domaine de Rochebois, one of the best hotels for a countryside weekend, is housed in an elegant 19th-century residence that has been restored as a 4-star hotel without erasing its character: exposed stone, slate roofs and formal French gardens create a particularly appealing setting in autumn.

Why go in October? Because the Périgord Noir is particularly well suited to seasonal getaways: softer light, the first autumn colours and trails that are much quieter than in the height of summer. Good news for swimming enthusiasts: the outdoor infinity pool remains open until October, although it is not heated.

The estate has 40 rooms and suites, spread between the main residence and the villas, ranging from 25 to 80 sq m. Among them, the Duplex Terrace Suite stands out with its marble bathroom, Nuxe bath products and private terrace.

Wellness plays an important role here, with a 400 sq m Nuxe Spa. Facilities include a heated sensory pool at 34°C with eight hydrotherapy zones, a hammam, herbal tea room, fitness room and double treatment room. Treatments are by Nuxe, from massages and facials to manicures, pedicures and personalised rituals.

At the table, Le M offers bistronomic cuisine by chef Paul Pettini, centred around produce from the Périgord region. Lunch has the feel of a contemporary brasserie, while dinner is more creative and focused on locally sourced ingredients. For a drink after dinner, head to the Joséphine bar.

Domaine de Rochebois, 2 route du Château de Montfort, 24200 Vitrac. 40 rooms and suites from €101 per night.

Just a few kilometres from Montpellier, Domaine de Biar offers something different: the experience of a discreet country estate where guests come to slow down, eat well and enjoy the grounds. Set within a historic estate, this 4-star hotel in Occitanie combines heritage, nature and environmental responsibility. It is among France's eco-friendly hotels, bearing the Green Key label, awarded 2 Keys by the Michelin Guide and committed to Écotable.

Why go in October? It is the ideal time to make the most of the estate's surroundings without seeking a seaside atmosphere at all costs. Days in the Hérault region are often still pleasant, making it more tempting to stroll through the grounds, practise yoga, enjoy treatments and linger over long meals than spend the day by the pool, which is open from June to September.

Here, luxury also lies in the small number of rooms: just 13 rooms and suites, all different, ranging from 20 to 56 sq m. Stone walls, exposed beams and contemporary furniture create a warm atmosphere. The Guilhem Junior Suite, with its combination of raw wood, stone and ceramics, is one of the most representative. The rooms also feature Maison Caulières bath products.

A stay at Domaine de Biar is the perfect opportunity to disconnect. There are no televisions in the rooms, but all the comfort needed to truly slow down.

At La Table de Biar, chef Mathieu Garcin creates gastronomic cuisine inspired by the Languedoc terroir, with an emphasis on local, organic and seasonal produce. The restaurant is Écotable certified and has been awarded two Toques by Gault & Millau.

When it comes to wellness, massages, facials and rituals are carried out using oils from Maison Caulières. A eucalyptus hammam completes the offering. And for a truly different experience, equicoaching allows guests to work on confidence and listening skills through interaction with horses.

Domaine de Biar, Chemin du Mas de Biar, 34880 Lavérune. 13 rooms and suites from €255 per night.

In the Alpilles, five minutes from the village of Les Baux-de-Provence, in Paradou, Le Hameau des Baux doesn't really look like a hotel. And for good reason: as its name suggests, it is more like a tiny village, with stone houses arranged around a square, complete with a fountain and plane trees, set amid a five-hectare olive grove that produces AOC olive oil. This 4-star Green Key-certified property, located in the Alpilles Regional Nature Park between Arles and Avignon, is one of the most beautiful boutique hotels in Provence — and arguably the most unexpected.

Why go in October? Because the Alpilles are much more enjoyable to explore in autumn, when the heat subsides and the trails become quieter. The two outdoor pools — the main pool and the adults-only lap pool — remain heated until All Saints' Day, so you can still swim beneath the olive trees. It is also the perfect season for sightseeing: the Carrières des Lumières and Château des Baux are five minutes away, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and the archaeological site of Glanum are 15 minutes away, and Arles is 20 minutes away. Le Hameau also offers a package combining a night's stay with admission to the Carrières.

The hamlet has 27 rooms and suites, ranging from 20 to 65 sq m, spread throughout the village houses. Limewashed walls, old wooden beams and vintage furniture sourced from L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue: no two rooms are alike, and most open onto a private terrace overlooking the rose gardens, olive grove or almond orchard. Among them, the Privilege Terrace Suite offers 65 sq m, either as a duplex or on one level, with a master bedroom and separate living room.

Here, luxury lies less in the amenities than in the art. Under the artistic direction of Constance Breton, around sixty artworks and limited editions are displayed throughout the individually designed rooms: Sophie Calle, Eva Jospin, Laurent Grasso and Paola Pivi share the space with emerging contemporary artists. In the gardens, installations change with the seasons, such as Pulsations by the duo Scenocosme, a sound piece that can only be heard through contact with an old oak tree. The lobby also houses an Actes Sud bookshop.

At the table, Allegria serves bistronomic cuisine led by chef Julie Chaix. Trained at Maison Pic and later with Alain Ducasse at Le Louis XV and La Bastide de Moustiers, followed by a stint at Bistrot Benoit in New York, she returned to cook in Provence. Organic growers from Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, fishermen from the Camargue, farmers from the Alpilles and olive oil from the Vallée des Baux: the menu follows its producers and the seasons, making Allegria one of the standout tables in Les Baux-de-Provence. Sunday brunch returns from September 20.

And for getting some fresh air, the hotel rents electric bicycles and provides routes along the Alpilles Canal, as far as Maussane or Château des Baux. Unless you'd rather take a vintage convertible along the Route du Destet.

Le Hameau des Baux, 285 chemin de Bourgeac, 13520 Paradou. 27 rooms and suites.

In Pedralbes, one of Barcelona's most elegant neighbourhoods, Grand Hyatt Barcelona offers another way to enjoy Indian summer: a city break abroad combining architecture, gastronomy and long stretches of downtime at the spa. The hotel, housed in a building constructed in 1975, now blends Art Deco heritage with contemporary comfort.

Why go in October? Because Barcelona is particularly pleasant once the summer heat begins to fade. You can explore the city on foot, visit the Pedralbes Monastery or take in Barcelona's classic sights without having to contend with midsummer temperatures, before returning to the hotel's tranquillity at the end of the day. The outdoor pool, open from spring through autumn, still allows guests to make the most of the fine weather.

Grand Hyatt Barcelona has 465 rooms, including 49 suites and a penthouse, according to its official listing. Rooms start at 29 sq m and reinterpret the property's Art Deco spirit in a contemporary style. They feature, among other things, walk-in showers and Natura Bissé bath products.

Gastronomy is one of the hotel's highlights. On the 19th floor, Maymanta offers Peruvian cuisine by chef Omar Malpartida, combining Andean, Amazonian and Pacific influences, with spectacular views over Barcelona. Leña, chef Dani García's restaurant, focuses on wood-fired cooking in a theatrical setting. Sofia Bar & Tapas rounds out the offering with Mediterranean cuisine and cocktails.

To end the day, head to Oasis Wellness & Spa by Natura Bissé, a more than 1,000 sq m space featuring a 75 sq m indoor pool, jacuzzi, sauna, hammam, salt room, ice room and Natura Bissé treatments. A genuine decompression chamber after a day exploring Barcelona.

Grand Hyatt Barcelona, Plaça de Pius XII, 4, 08028 Barcelona, Spain. 465 rooms, including 49 suites and a penthouse, from €193 per night.

In Baja Sardinia, just a stone's throw from the Costa Smeralda, 7Pines Resort Sardinia stretches across 15 hectares of Mediterranean gardens leading down to a succession of hidden coves and fine sandy beaches. A member of the Destination by Hyatt collection, this 5-star resort embraces a way of life in which minimalist architecture, crafted from granite and white Orosei marble, blends seamlessly into the Sardinian maquis.

Why go in October? Because by then the Costa Smeralda has regained its tranquillity, once the summer crowds have disappeared, while the sea remains mild and the views over the Maddalena Archipelago are unchanged. It is also the ideal time to enjoy the paths winding through the pine trees towards the resort's coves, before the first real autumn chill sets in. Please note: the resort operates seasonally and closes in mid-October. It is therefore best to plan your stay for the beginning of the month.

The property has 75 rooms and suites, divided between the Gardens, Laguna — an adults-only area surrounding its namesake pool — and the Sea View accommodation, closest to the shoreline. Many have private terraces overlooking the gardens, lagoon or sea.

Wellness takes centre stage at the Pure Seven Spa, whose treatment rooms are arranged around a garden patio, with an herbal tea room, hammam, sauna, sensory shower, ice shower and indoor and outdoor Kneipp circuit. When it comes to dining, the resort brings together three standout venues: Capogiro, a Michelin Guide 2026 one-star gastronomic restaurant where chef Pasquale D'Ambrosio creates Mediterranean cuisine rooted in Sardinian terroir against a sunset backdrop; Spazio by Franco Pepe, serving the recipes of the chef voted the world's best pizzaiolo beside the pool; and Cone Club, a laid-back beach restaurant.

7Pines Resort Sardinia, Loc. Li Mucchi Bianchi, 07021 Baja Sardinia (Arzachena), Italy. 75 rooms and suites, from €450 per night.

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