November is the month savvy travellers look forward to: airfares hit their annual low, the crowds have vanished, and while Canada turns up the heat, half the globe enters the dry season. The real question remains: where to go in November to find sunshine without breaking the bank? If your departure is sooner, our guide where to go in October covers the previous month.
Here are our 10 November destinations, ranked by flight time: sunshine within 6 hours, long-haul flights entering their best season, and Europe with its mild weather and long weekends. For each: real weather, sea temperature, and what makes that month special.
Gear for Travelling in November
A word on gear before you board, because November widens the gap between departure and arrival: 8°C at takeoff, sometimes 30°C upon landing, and in the tropics, a local pharmacy that doesn't always have your medication equivalents. A compartmentalised wash bag saves you from rummaging through three bags for an antihistamine; a hanging toiletry bag adapts to hotel and riad bathrooms; and a travel bag that withstands tropical downpours or Roman drizzle protects your documents and camera. Our trio for this month:
The 10 November Destinations at a Glance
Average air and sea temperatures in November, flight times from Paris, and the highlight of each destination — enough to compare at a glance before diving into the details.
| Destination | Air | Sea | Flight from Paris | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Sea (Egypt) | 27 °C | 26 °C | 4 h 45 direct | diving + guaranteed sunshine |
| Madeira (Portugal) | 22 °C | 21 °C | 4 h direct | hiking + eternal spring |
| Malta | 21 °C | 21 °C | 2 h 50 direct | city break + warm sea |
| Cape Verde | 27 °C | 25 °C | 6 h direct | beaches + trade winds |
| Thailand | 32 °C | 29 °C | 11 h direct | start of dry season |
| Mexico (Oaxaca, Yucatán) | 28 °C | 27 °C | 11 h direct | festivals + beaches |
| Mauritius | 27 °C | 26 °C | 11 h direct | lagoon + southern summer |
| Vietnam (north and centre) | 24 °C | 25 °C in Da Nang | 11 h 30 layover | Halong Bay + culture |
| Seville and Andalusia | 20 °C | — | 2 h 20 direct | mild weather + tapas without crowds |
| Rome | 17 °C | — | 2 h 10 direct | eternal city returned to the Romans |
Want a visual preview before the detailed destination-by-destination breakdown? This video selection sweeps through the month's must-sees:
Sunshine Within 6 Hours of Flight
The Red Sea, a Sun Guarantee
Hurghada, Marsa Alam, or Sharm el-Sheikh boast 27°C in the air, 26°C in the water, and an almost guaranteed clear sky in November — all within 5 hours of Paris. It's one of the best sun-to-flight-time ratios of the autumn, and the peak diving season: visibility on the reefs is at its maximum, and a Luxor–Red Sea combo adds the Valley of the Kings without the summer heat.
Madeira, the Eternal Spring
The Portuguese island never really drops below 20°C: in November, expect 22°C, a sea at 21°C, and levadas — these irrigation channels turned trails — that can be explored in stunning autumn light. Funchal is gently preparing its lights, prices are at their lowest, and the island remains one of the few places in Europe where you can still hike and swim on the same day.
Malta, the City Break That Kept Summer
Less than 3 hours of flight, the Maltese archipelago maintains 21°C in the air and water in November. Valletta can finally be visited without the crowds, Gozo's coves regain their calm, and the seabed remains accessible for the brave. An excellent choice for the November 11th long weekend: Mediterranean escape, budget-friendly, direct flights from most Canadian cities.
Cape Verde, the Trade Winds 6 Hours from Paris
Off the coast of Senegal, the Cape Verde archipelago begins its best season in November: the short rainy season ends, Sal and Boa Vista boast 27°C, a sea at 25°C, and winds that delight kitesurfers. No significant time difference (one hour), no long-haul flight: it's the taste of the tropics without the fatigue of the far end of the world.
Long-Haul: Heading into the Dry Season
November marks the great shift under the tropics: the monsoon retreats from Southeast Asia, the southern summer settles in the Indian Ocean, and the Caribbean emerges from hurricane season. Before booking, check your passport's validity — six months after the return date for Thailand and most distant destinations — and protect it from airport handling:
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Thailand, the Return of the Prime Season
The monsoon ends, the dry season sets in: 32°C, an Andaman Sea at 29°C, and islands — Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta — reopening their boat connections. November is the ideal month to get ahead of Thailand, just before December's high season and its doubled rates. To budget the trip item by item, our guide detailed budget for a trip to Thailand provides real ranges, from guesthouses to resorts.
Mexico's Festivals and Beaches
Early November, the country celebrates Día de los Muertos: altars adorned with cempasúchil flowers, candlelit vigils in Oaxaca or on Lake Pátzcuaro — festivities inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The rest of the month, the dry season sets in: 28°C, a Caribbean Sea at 27°C, and still reasonable rates before December on the Yucatán coast.
Mauritius, the Start of the Southern Summer
The southern winter is over: 27°C in the air, a lagoon at 26°C, and flamboyant trees in bloom. November is one of the driest and brightest months on the island — perfect for combining relaxation, snorkeling, and inland hikes, before the southern summer rains arrive in January. Hotel rates rise mid-December: November is the smart window.
Northern and Central Vietnam
It's the best window of the year for Hanoi and Halong Bay: 24°C, dry air, and soft light on the karst sugar loaves. The centre — Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang — emerges from its rainy season with a sea still at 25°C. Only the south (Mekong Delta) remains to be watched at the beginning of the month; everywhere else, November is the month for photographers.
A reflex for all these distant destinations: showers remain possible and brief — a waterproof backpack protects your camera and documents while it passes. And to fit eleven days of light clothes into a carry-on, compression changes everything:
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Europe's Long Weekends and Mild Weather
Seville and Andalusia
Twenty degrees in November, orange trees laden with fruit, and terraces still lively: Andalusia offers the continent's last true respite of mildness. Seville, Cordoba, and Granada can finally be visited without queues — the Alhambra in November means easy reservations and the low light transforming the patios. The November 11th long weekend is more than enough.
Rome Returned to the Romans
Seventeen degrees, a few quickly passing showers, and a city that finally breathes: November is when Rome becomes Italian again. The Colosseum and Vatican Museums can be explored without jostling, trattorias welcome back their regulars, and hotel rates drop by a third compared to October. The cultural city break par excellence — just remember the umbrella and shoes that can handle wet cobblestones.
Packing for November
The month's trap is well-known: leaving Canada in a coat to land in a t-shirt — or the reverse on return. The solution lies in three habits: layering rather than piling (t-shirts + fleece + windbreaker cover 90% of situations), rolling clothes by outfit, and compartmentalising to separate summer from mid-season. A compressible organiser saves a third of space — enough to stay in carry-on even with two climates in the same bag:
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Complete with a toiletry bag in travel size if you're packing light: bottles under 100 ml gathered in a transparent pouch, and security takes just seconds. On flights with layovers, always keep a change of clothes in your carry-on — checked bags sometimes miss the connection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is the warmest in November? Among destinations accessible from Canada, Thailand leads (32°C, sea at 29°C), followed by Mexico and Mauritius (27-28°C). Within 6 hours of flight, the Egyptian Red Sea and Cape Verde hold 27°C with almost guaranteed sunshine.
Where to go for sunshine in November without breaking the bank? The Red Sea offers the best sun-to-price ratio of the month (direct flights + discounted hotels outside school holidays). Malta and Madeira combine low-cost flights and off-season accommodation. For long-haul, Thailand in November remains 30 to 40% cheaper than in December.
Where to spend the November 1st and 11th long weekends? For 3-4 days, aim short: Seville or Rome for culture, Malta for the sea, Marrakech for a change of scenery. The Mexican Día de los Muertos (November 1st-2nd) deserves a proper ten-day stay.
Where to go for warmth within 6 hours of Canada? Four safe bets: the Red Sea (27°C, 4h45), Cape Verde (27°C, 6h), Madeira (22°C, 4h), and Malta (21°C, 2h50). All maintain a sea at 21°C or more — enough to swim in November without a long-haul flight.
