As much as we mourn the exit of summer, autumn always ends up being a welcome transition. Crisper air, clearer skies and a new wardrobe are all of a sudden in play, and the endless beach-bound, seaside Instagram posts of the past few months have faded into the background. Wanderlust is, no doubt, a year-round condition, but autumn stirs up a feeling of wanting to go somewhere woody and cosy. Here, MR PORTER recommends five exceptional destinations for autumnal retreats – where foliage will be alive with colour and there’s a whole new set of things to do now that it’s sweater weather.

Yamanashi Prefecture rests in the southern, sloping hills of the Japanese Alps. The forest here is alive with birdsong and insect-strumming, yet it somehow feels simultaneously still. It is not far from Tokyo, and it makes for a great day trip. One recommended activity: stopping by the Hakushu distillery, which belongs to Suntory, Japan’s premier whisky maker. The distillery echoes the peaceful vibes of the surrounding landscape, with ageing done in large wooden stores – and there’s a quiet rhythm between workers and wanderers. Try a tasting, buy a bottle to bring home and be sure to explore the birdwatching trail in the grounds.

California’s Napa Valley region is at its best during autumn. The summer vineyard-hopping crowds have dispersed, and the leaf-peeping is impressive. We recommend at stay at Las Alcobas, A Luxury Collection Hotel, in St Helena, which is just north of the town of Napa proper. Massive vineyard-view rooms have private fire-pits on their terraces. Grab a meal at The Charter Oak restaurant run by the Michelin-starred chef Mr Christopher Kostow. Then retire to your porch, flames up, with a bottle of Newton Vineyard’s Unfiltered Chardonnay (though the mood might feel more red-wine in vibe, this white is excellent – and you can actually see the vineyard from your room).

An autumn trip to Oslo may very well feel like a winter visit if you’re from a warm-weather clime. But all the same, this under-rated Scandinavian standout has plenty to offer: fantastic and low-key restaurants, the striking Oslo Opera House designed by the esteemed Norwegian firm, Snøhetta, and a robust art offering. Spend a morning taking in the famous “Scream_”_ by Mr Edvard Munch at The Munch Museum. Then browse a more contemporary sampling at the Astrup Fearnley Museet, which is hosting a Gilbert & George exhibition until January. Stay right next door at The Thief, arguably Oslo’s trendiest hotel. It, too, is full of modern art and warming cocktails at the end of a chilly day.

If you haven’t been to Austin, it’s worth going now. The city is rapidly becoming a multi-faceted hotspot, from tech to boutique hospitality to music. During the summer, it’s full of bachelor and bachelorette parties and it can be scorching hot. Autumn promises a bit more of a relaxed pace (though the University of Texas Austin is back in session – and it’s one of the biggest colleges in the US) with warm days and brisk nights. Our favourite place to stay? The South Congress Hotel. Sparse and roomy with a cosmopolitan-meets-desert vibe, it’s a great place to sip, to sleep or to simply kick back. Another place worth popping into is the Hotel Van Zandt near Rainey Street. It makes a strong, easy-to-order-another spicy margarita.

Alaska’s crown jewel is Denali National Park and Preserve. It clocks in at six million acres, and is home to the tallest mountain in the US. By autumn (and autumn comes a bit earlier here, given how far north this is), the crowds have thinned to the point where you might even feel like you’re the only one there. Wildlife abounds, peaks soar into the big, long sky and an otherworldly sensation takes over. If you camp, or glamp, bring plenty of warm clothes as temperatures will drop at night. You can also go biking or set up a “flightseeing” aerial tour. Whatever you do, it is an unforgettable experience.