November is a good month for a city break. The summer crowds have gone, hotels are generally cheaper, and the Christmas lights and markets start to appear towards the end of the month. The trade-off is the weather and the short days, so the best choice depends on whether you want some sun, a bargain or something cosy. Here are seven cities that work, with what to expect in each.

If you want some sun

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon is one of the few European capitals that still gets decent weather in November. Expect daytime highs of around 18°C, lows of about 12°C and roughly five and a half hours of sunshine a day, according to one local guide. It is also one of the wettest months of the year, with around 128mm of rain, but it rarely rains all day. Pack layers and a waterproof.

It's a good month for sights because queues are short. November 11 is São Martinho, when street vendors sell roasted chestnuts, and the first Christmas markets start in late November, beginning at Rossio Square. One 2026 guide puts a two-night break at roughly £200 per person, including flights, a mid-range hotel, food and two attractions. If you want a guide, there's a half-day electric tuk-tuk tour for the hills, and a foodies walk for eating your way round.

Seville, Spain

Seville's summer heat is gone by November, which makes it far more comfortable for walking. It's described as comfortably warm by day, and one guide lists late September to November as one of its best times to visit. The Alcázar palace and gardens, the cathedral and the Giralda tower are the big sights, and flamenco in the Triana district is worth booking for the evening. The same guide estimate is roughly £200 per person for two nights. On Viator, you can book a private eco tuk-tuk tour with a local guide or a tapas, wine and history food tour.

Rome, Italy

Rome is mild in November, with temperatures of about 15°C to 19°C and plenty of sunshine, though rain picks up slightly. The Colosseum, the Borghese Gallery and the Vatican Museums all have shorter queues than in summer. Spend the evenings in Trastevere, and if you've got time, take a day trip to Ostia Antica. It sits in the mid-range to higher price tier, so budget accordingly. A guided Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill tour is a good way to see the big sights without working out the queues yourself.

If you want a bargain

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is made for cold weather, because the thermal baths are most enjoyable when it's chilly outside. The outdoor pools stay warm enough to use all month. The sights are less crowded in November, and the Christmas markets at Vörösmarty Square and St. Stephen's Basilica open earlier than in many Central European cities. A river cruise is a good way to see the city from the water, and this historic cruise with an audio guide and welcome drink is one option. There is also an off-the-beaten-path food tour. One guide puts a two-night break at roughly £150 per person, which makes it one of the cheaper options here.

Kraków, Poland

Kraków is cold in November. The average high is about 5°C and the average low about 0°C, and there are only around two hours of sunshine a day, so bring warm clothes. The upside is that peak-season crowds have left and many attractions are quiet. There is a jazz festival (Jazz All Souls' Day) and a film festival, and Christmas markets begin opening in late November. If you want to get out of the city, a private day tour to Zakopane and the Polish mountains is one option on Viator.

Check the dates before you book. On November 1 (All Saints' Day) most businesses close and people visit cemeteries with candles, and on November 11 (Independence Day) banks, museums and larger shops close for the holiday, though restaurants and bars stay open.

If you want something cosy

Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen isn't cheap and it's short on daylight in November, but it's very good at cosy. Tivoli Gardens turns into a Christmas-themed park in mid-November, and the city's lights and markets make it feel festive early. It's one of the pricier cities, at roughly £300 per person for two nights in the same guide estimate. Our weekend guide to Copenhagen covers the airport, the Copenhagen Card and Tivoli, and our guide to what to eat in Copenhagen is the one to read before you book a table. On Viator, you can book an electric canal tour with a live guide, a walking food tour and the Copenhagen Card, so check which version of the card you're choosing.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh is a good choice if you'd like to skip the flight altogether. The summer festival crowds are gone, leaving a moodier and quieter city. It's cool, wet and short on daylight, with fewer than eight hours of daylight later in the month. It's also a good rainy-day city, because the National Museum of Scotland and the National Gallery are both free. When the weather allows, walk up Calton Hill or Arthur's Seat, and finish with a whisky tasting in an Old Town pub. If you want to see the castle, this Edinburgh Castle tour includes tickets.

Which one should you pick?

  • Sun and mild weather: Lisbon or Seville
  • Best value: Budapest or Kraków
  • Culture and fewer queues: Rome
  • Cosy, festive and happy to pay for it: Copenhagen
  • No passport and no flight: Edinburgh

Also worth a look: a weekend in Porto, a full weekend in Brussels, or our guide to the best Christmas markets in Europe. If you'd rather chase the sun, our winter sun guide covers the Canary Islands, Madeira and more.

Planning and booking

Where this comes from

Weather, events and prices change, so this is a snapshot checked on 10 October 2026. Several of these guides give no figures for some cities, so we've only included numbers where a source gave them. The guides it draws on: