A Euronews Travel guide says November suits travellers who want smaller crowds, from Vienna's first festive markets to a marathon in Athens, balloons in Portugal and winter sun in the Canaries.

November is often treated as an awkward month for travel, with shorter days and less predictable weather, but Euronews Travel's guide for 2026 presents that as an advantage: fewer crowds, a busy cultural calendar and the first hints of Christmas in European cities. Vienna is its leading example. According to the guide, the Christmas markets at Schönbrunn Palace and Stephansplatz open on 6 November and the best-known one, at Rathausplatz, follows on 13 November. Outside the markets, the guide suggests using the quieter weeks to visit the Belvedere, the Hofburg and the Kunsthistorisches Museum. For those who would rather avoid the cold, it points to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, noting its beaches and volcanic landscapes and its relatively low prices.

The guide also lists a series of dated events. Berlin Science Week runs from 1 to 10 November under the theme "In Touch", with a public weekend on 6 to 8 November. The 43rd Athens Marathon, which follows the historic route from Marathon to the Panathenaic Stadium, is scheduled for 7 and 8 November. In Portugal's Alentejo region, an international hot air balloon festival is listed for 7 to 12 November, and the town of Borba is due to host its Vine and Wine Festival from 11 to 15 November, with tastings, regional food and crafts. Later in the month, the guide notes, cities such as Strasbourg, Nuremberg and Prague move into full festive mode, which makes the final week a way to see big markets before the December crowds.

On accommodation, Euronews Travel highlights several openings. The Elba Corralejo Resort & Spa in Fuerteventura is due to open on 1 November with 478 rooms, while Casa Verbena Madrid, a 45-room hotel on Calle de Preciados, marks the European debut of Hilton's Outset Collection. A new Van der Valk hotel with 113 rooms is opening in Maastricht, and new Alpine lodges are planned for the 2026-2027 ski season, including properties in Cortina, Verbier, Morzine and Les Menuires. The guide advises booking winter-sun trips and Christmas travel early to avoid high prices. All dates and openings here come from that single guide, so readers should confirm them with the organisers and the properties before booking.