In these warm European cities, you escape the autumn and winter

We really have to start believing it: the cold is here. A coat is a necessity and not a fashionable accessory that you pull out during a slightly cooler summer evening. My colorful summer tops have made way for cardigans, and do you remember those short ankle socks? They are already hibernating. Yes, we can't escape that cold weather in the Netherlands, but what you can do is start planning your warm getaway before it really gets chilly. You know, to a place where there are still some nice sun rays and you can afford to step out in linen pants and a top. Luckily for you, we know exactly what the best cities are to still catch some fresh air, without having to travel twelve hours and being overwhelmed by other tourists. Because there is nothing worse than accepting that you are not a local, but an enthusiastic tourist.

1. Valletta, Malta

The first place really goes to Valletta on Malta. It may not be the first location you think of when planning a summer vacation, but believe me: you really want to go here in November. During the day, the temperature here in November can still rise to twenty-four degrees. It may cool down to fourteen degrees in the evening, but hey: anything is better than a Dutch nine degrees with rain and wind. And at this time of year, it is not crawling with tourists, but with locals.

Valletta is one of those cities where you don't do any research beforehand because you think it isn't that special, and then you are completely amazed. The old city has everything for a good weekend away: a historic center with honey-colored buildings, winding streets that seem endless, and also good hotspots. Like the Barrakka Gardens, where you can feast your eyes on the most beautiful seasonal flowers and the architecture that reminds you of a Greek temple. At the top, you have a view over the harbor where you don't have to wrestle people to the ground, because there? There aren't many in November. Other must-see attractions are the Victoria Gate, the Grand Master’s Palace, St John’s Co-Cathedral, and the streets in the city. That’s actually the best part about Valletta: just wandering the streets, passing markets and shops with local goods, and looking at the beautiful colored balconies on every building. But okay. I'm rambling on too long again.

2. Syracuse, Sicily

Italy is actually always a good plan. Even when you are walking around an Italian Christmas market in Bolzano at ten degrees. But since you want to seek out that warmth, you can do that in the land of pizza, pasta, and Leonardo da Vinci. We are not going to Rome or Florence, but to Syracuse on the island of Sicily. In November, the afternoon temperature here often hovers around twenty degrees. Of course, a shower can occur, but you don't mind that at all when you have a plate of pasta in front of you, instead of a cheese sandwich for lunch.

Where you especially want to eat that plate of pasta is in Ortigia. This is the historical heart of the island. Here you have light buildings and squares where you spontaneously start walking slowly, like Piazza Duomo. Here you have the cathedral with a great story. It originally started as a Greek temple for the goddess Athena. Then it became a church, a mosque, and then again a church. Check out the Fontana di Diana and then walk on to the freshwater spring Fonte Aretusa. End the day at the old castle Castello Maniace and prepare for a few more days of Italian enjoyment. Go (except on Sundays) to a real local market, eat an arancino, order a granita with a sweet bun for breakfast, and don't forget to eat a real, fresh cannolo. Sleep in a hotel with a sea view and believe me: after this trip, you will be a different person.

3. Corfu, Greece

Another warm place is Corfu, in Greece. The Greek islands, including Corfu, can even hit twenty-one degrees in November. That comes in handy. When you think of Corfu, you probably think of beaches, all-inclusive, and people with a neck that is way too red, but in the autumn, it is a completely different island. The crowds are gone, and what remains is green, green, and more green. Corfu is located a bit further north than most Greek islands and is therefore much less bare than you might expect.

Start in Corfu Town, or Kerkyra as the Greeks say. This city is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and you understand that as soon as you walk around. The Venetians and French have made their mark here, and you can see that in everything: stately buildings with arches, narrow streets full of balconies, and faded shutters. At the Liston, the famous arcade at the large square Spianada, order a Greek coffee and just spend an hour watching people. No one is rushing you, because there is no line behind you. Then climb to the old fort for a view over the entire city, or step into Patounis, a soap factory that has been making olive oil soap the old-fashioned way for over one hundred and fifty years. The perfect souvenir, and it smells better than a magnet. Visit the Vlacherna Monastery if you still have time and end your trip by visiting the Achilleion Palace. Here lived none other than Empress Sisi. Isn't that cool?

4. Gibraltar

In fourth place in our warmth ranking is Gibraltar. And not specifically one city, because Gibraltar is a story in itself. This British overseas territory is not a country, but a settlement. It is actually its own city with its own parliament that is independent, but somewhat still falls under the British Crown. Think of it as our own Australian, Spanish sister. I had heard of this before, but to make this my next vacation destination? I wouldn't think of that so quickly, until I saw the temperatures in November. When it can't even get above ten degrees here, they are still sitting in Gibraltar with nineteen degrees in the sun.

Imagine this: red telephone booths everywhere. There are British agents, you can eat fish and chips in pubs, and you can see the sunset between palm trees. That can all be done in Gibraltar. Here you can even (yes, hold on) watch monkeys. On the Rock of Gibraltar, which you can reach by cable car, a welcoming committee of about three hundred Barbary macaques awaits you. You can't feed them, but you can watch them. After that, visit St. Michael’s Cave and book a boat trip to spot dolphins. Because it may sound strange, but winter is actually the dolphin season here. And this time you don't have to share the boat with all those cruise ship day-trippers who have too much sunscreen on and smell like beer. You can even visit a Christmas market while wearing a summer dress and a light cardigan. Then shop tax-free on Main Street and take on the challenge of doing the Skywalk. This is a glass floor that sits above a precipice. Speaking of daredevils... Wow.