The Best Places to Visit in September: The Month Savvy Travellers Wait For
Estimated reading time: 15 mins
Summer is over, so let’s talk about September. Everyone’s obsessed with banging on about the summer months, but honestly? September is the one I quietly look forward to all year. The kids are back at school, the Instagram crowds have thinned out, and half of Europe suddenly remembers how to be civil to tourists again. I’ve been chasing this exact month around the map for the best part of a decade now, and I keep landing on the same conclusion: it’s the smartest time to travel, full stop.
It’s not just me being precious about it either. Prices drop the second the school gates open. The Mediterranean sea is still warm from three months of baking sun, even if the air’s lost that brutal edge. And in the places where summer never really suited the landscape anyway (looking at you, Marrakech), September finally lets you actually enjoy being outside.
Below is my running list of where I’d point you this September, built from trips I’ve actually taken and a few mistakes I’d rather you skipped. Some are obvious. A couple might surprise you. All of them earn their spot.
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Best Places to Visit in September: Quick Facts
Best for: Warm seas without August's heat, autumn aurora season, and shoulder-season prices across most of Europe
Avoid if: You're set on Hokkaido foliage (too early) or a guaranteed dry trip through southern Japan (typhoon risk still lingers)
Money saver: Hotel prices in the Mediterranean can drop 20 to 40% between late August and late September
Pack for: Layers. Mornings and evenings cool down fast even where the daytime sun is still working hard
Watch for: Early September is still effectively high season in places like Santorini. Book ahead or wait for the second half of the month
Tinker's Tip: If you can only travel one half of September, pick the second half. Crowds drop noticeably after the 15th almost everywhere on this list, and the weather rarely punishes you for waiting.
Why September is Considered the Best Time to Travel
There’s a reason so many well-travelled people quietly shift their big trip to September instead of squeezing it into July or August. It’s not one single thing, it’s a handful of factors that all land at once, and together they make it one of the strongest windows on the calendar.
Start with the obvious one: school holidays end. Across the UK, Europe and North America, that’s when family travel drops off a cliff, and airlines and hotels respond accordingly. Prices ease, availability opens up, and you stop competing with quite so many people for the same table at dinner. Then there’s the weather itself. Much of the Mediterranean, the Balkans and North Africa spend August in genuinely uncomfortable heat, the kind that makes sightseeing feel like a chore. September lets the temperature drop into something you can actually enjoy, while the sea, having spent three months absorbing summer sun, is often still warm enough to swim in well past the point most people assume the season’s over.
It’s not just a European story either. September marks the start of aurora season in Iceland and Scandinavia, the shoulder season kicks in properly across Southeast Asia as the wet season eases in some regions, and destinations that struggle through peak summer heat, Marrakech being the obvious example, become genuinely pleasant again.
- Fewer families and school-holiday crowds across most of the northern hemisphere
- Sea and air temperatures still comfortable in most summer destinations
- Noticeably lower accommodation and flight prices once the last week of August passes
- Aurora season restarts and desert regions become liveable again
Fact: Hotel occupancy across much of southern Europe typically falls by a third or more between the last week of August and mid-September, which is exactly why prices move the way they do.
1. Santorini and the Cyclades, Greece
I’ll be honest, I used to roll my eyes a bit at Santorini. Too many honeymoon photos, too many sunset crowds elbowing each other off the caldera wall. Then I went in late September and got it. The sea sits around 24°C, still warm enough for proper swimming, while the air has dropped from August’s punishing heat into something you can actually walk around in without melting.
Early September is still busy, worth knowing if you’re picturing empty streets in Oia. Wait until after the 15th and the difference is night and day. Hotel prices ease off, restaurants stop needing three-day-advance bookings, and the famous sunset spots are merely crowded rather than genuinely unbearable.
- Hire a boat or join a catamaran sunset cruise around the caldera (book ahead even in late September)
- Walk the Fira to Oia coastal trail early morning before the heat builds
- Island-hop to quieter Naxos or Paros if Santorini’s crowds still feel like too much
If you’re keen on more of Greece’s islands, our Greece guide covers the wider Cyclades and beyond, useful if Santorini ends up being just the opener.
Timing tip: If your dates are flexible, shift your trip to the last week of September rather than the first. Same warm sea, same blue domes, noticeably calmer streets in Oia.
2. The Amalfi Coast, Italy
Italy in August is, frankly, a test of endurance. Crowds at Pompeii, queues for the Amalfi buses that wind round those terrifying cliff roads, heat that sits on you like a wet towel. September fixes most of that. The sea is still warm enough to swim, the light goes properly golden in the afternoons, and the towns along the coast (Positano, Ravello, Praiano) lose just enough tourist traffic to feel liveable again.
This is also harvest season in much of southern Italy, which means local restaurants lean into seasonal menus. Figs, tomatoes at their absolute peak, the first hints of autumn produce alongside summer’s last gasp. Genuinely one of the better times of year to eat your way around the region.
For a road trip through this stretch and beyond, our Italy destination guide has the detail. And if you’re planning to drive the coast yourself rather than relying on those notoriously packed SITA buses, sorting car hire in advance saves a lot of stress, just know the roads are narrow and the locals drive like they’ve got somewhere urgent to be (because they probably do).
Money saver: Positano hotel rates drop noticeably once the school holidays end. Book the same room you'd have paid August prices for, just a few weeks later, and the saving can be substantial.
Related Article: Planning your first trip? Don't use a car! How to Visit the Amalfi Coast Without Hiring a Car . Covers everything from getting around to where to eat and what not to miss.
3. The Dalmatian Coast, Croatia
Dubrovnik in July is basically a cruise ship car park with extra steps. September, especially the back half of it, is a completely different city. Daytime temperatures sit comfortably in the mid-20s, the Adriatic holds onto around 23°C, and you can actually walk the city walls without queuing behind forty people taking the same photo.
I’d push you further south too. Korčula and Hvar both quiet down significantly, and island-hopping ferries that were packed solid in August suddenly have seats to spare. Wine harvest season kicks off across Istria around now as well, so if you’re heading north instead, expect vineyard tastings and a lot of very happy local winemakers.
Quick win: Ferries between Split and Hvar that needed booking weeks ahead in August often have same-day availability come late September. Worth checking before you commit to a fixed schedule.
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| Croatia in September | Detail |
|---|---|
| Average air temperature | 20°C to 26°C / 68°F to 79°F |
| Sea temperature | Around 23°C / 73°F |
| Best for | Island hopping, city walls without the crush, wine harvest in Istria |
| Watch out for | Hotel prices in Dubrovnik old town still hold up well into mid-month |
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4. Kyoto, Japan
Right, I need to caveat this one properly. September is Japan’s peak typhoon month, and Kyoto’s temple gardens get genuinely humid until things settle around the third week. I’ve had a trip there disrupted by a storm that grounded flights for a day, so don’t go in blind. Build a flexible itinerary and keep an eye on the forecast.
That said, if you go in with eyes open, late September Kyoto is wonderful. The Autumnal Equinox brings shrine festivals and moon-viewing events, temples that are normally closed off open their treasures to the public for the month, and the crowds that flood the city during cherry blossom and peak autumn colour season simply aren’t there yet. Think of it as Kyoto’s quiet, slightly damp, deeply atmospheric in-between month.
- Visit Kōrin-in’s Hojo Garden, only open to the public in September
- Catch the Seimei Shrine’s Annual and Shinko Festivals around the equinox
- Build at least one flexible “indoor day” into your plan in case of rain or storm disruption
It’s also worth sorting travel insurance before any Japan trip in September, given how genuinely possible flight and rail disruption is during typhoon season. Better to have it and not need it. For more on the wider country, see our Japan guide.
Watch out: September sees one or two typhoons hit Japan on average, usually lasting a day or two each. They tend to disrupt central Honshu less than the southern islands, but build slack into your Kyoto and Tokyo itinerary regardless.
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5. New York City, USA
New York in August is humidity soup. September flips a switch. The air dries out, temperatures settle into the low-to-mid 20s°C, and the city seems to exhale a bit once Labor Day’s over. This is genuinely one of my favourite windows to visit, walking the High Line or Central Park without sweating through your shirt by 10am is underrated.
It’s also peak event season. The US Open wraps up early in the month, Fashion Week takes over in mid-September, and outdoor dining season is still in full swing before the cold properly arrives. Museums and Broadway shows are easier to get into too, since the summer tourist surge has eased off.
Curious about other parts of the States this time of year? Our USA destination guide covers more ground, and if you fancy stretching the trip into early autumn foliage territory, late September is roughly when New England starts to turn.
Good to know: Fashion Week traffic pushes mid-range hotel prices up noticeably in mid-September. If budget matters more than runway-watching, book either side of it.
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Browse the shop6. Iceland
Here’s the one people sleep on. September is officially when Iceland’s aurora season kicks back into gear after the bright summer nights finally fade. The equinox around the 22nd or 23rd often brings stronger geomagnetic activity too, which can mean more vivid displays if you get a clear night. I’ve stood in a field outside Vík at 11pm in late September watching green light ripple across the sky, no snow, no minus-fifteen temperatures, just a jumper and a flask of something warm.
It’s also before the proper winter weather sets in, so road conditions around the Ring Road are still manageable for most of the month, and you avoid both the midnight-sun crowds of summer and the genuinely treacherous driving of deep winter.
An eSIM is worth setting up before you land, so you can check aurora forecast apps in real time without hunting for wifi on a remote bit of coastline at 11pm.
Must do: Stay at least three nights if aurora hunting is the priority. One clear night isn't guaranteed, three gives the weather and the geomagnetic activity a fair chance to line up.
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| Iceland aurora basics | September detail |
|---|---|
| Aurora season starts | Late August into early September |
| Best viewing window | Roughly 9:30pm to 1am, away from city light pollution |
| Equinox boost | Around 22 to 23 September, often stronger geomagnetic activity |
| Road conditions | Still good for self-drive, unlike deep winter months |
7. Lake Bled and Ljubljana, Slovenia
Slovenia in September is criminally underrated, and I say that as someone who didn’t visit until embarrassingly late in my own travelling life. Lake Bled loses its peak summer swarm of day-trippers, the water’s still clear enough for a swim if you’re brave, and the surrounding mountains start picking up that early autumn crispness that makes the whole scene look like a postcard nobody airbrushed.
Ljubljana itself is small enough to properly explore on foot in a couple of days. Riverside cafes, a dragon-topped bridge that’s far more charming than it sounds, and prices that remain noticeably gentler than neighbouring Italy or Austria. If you’ve already done the big Mediterranean names and want somewhere quieter for late September, this is where I’d point you.
- Row out to Bled Island, ideally early morning before the day-trip boats arrive
- Wander Ljubljana’s Friday Food Market for local produce and street food
- Day trip into the Julian Alps if you’ve got a car, Lake Bohinj is even quieter than Bled
Tinker's Tip: Skip the queue for the famous Bled Island rowing boats entirely and walk the lake's perimeter trail instead. Same postcard view, none of the wait, and you'll have most of it to yourself by September.
8. Marrakech and the Sahara, Morocco
Marrakech in midsummer is a genuinely punishing place to be outdoors, we’re talking high 30s and beyond. September brings real relief, with daytime highs settling around 30 to 33°C and evenings cooling enough to actually enjoy a rooftop dinner without sweating through it. The Sahara still runs hot during the day, but overnight desert camps become far more pleasant once the sun drops.
This is also when desert tours genuinely come back into their own. Camel treks and overnight camps that feel borderline miserable in July suddenly become one of the best things you’ll do all year. I did an overnight camp near Merzouga in late September and the night sky alone justified the whole trip.
If you’d rather not self-organise the desert leg, a guided day tours option takes the logistics off your plate entirely, useful if you’re short on time or not keen on negotiating multi-day transport yourself. For wider planning across the continent, our Africa guide is a good starting point.
Weather note: The desert temperature swing is brutal in the best way, scorching by day, genuinely cold by night. Pack a proper layer for the overnight camp even if you're sweating during the camel trek.
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| Region | September daytime high |
|---|---|
| Marrakech | 30-33°C / 86-91°F |
| Fez | 27°C / 81°F |
| Sahara Desert (day) | 35°C+ / 95°F+, much cooler overnight |
| Essaouira (coast) | 24-26°C / 75-79°F |
9. Hanoi and Northern Vietnam
This one needs a bit of nuance. Southern Vietnam is still firmly in its wet season come September, but the north, Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Giang, starts easing into its dry, cooler stretch right around now. Hanoi’s brutal summer humidity finally lets up, and the rice terraces around Sapa are either just finishing their golden harvest period or shifting into it, depending on the year and altitude.
It’s a genuinely lovely time to trek the northern highlands without the oppressive heat that makes July and August borderline unbearable for hiking. Pack layers though, mountain mornings in Sapa can be properly chilly even while Hanoi sits warm and humid down at sea level.
- Trek the rice terraces around Sapa for late harvest colours
- Explore Hanoi’s Old Quarter once the worst of the summer humidity has broken
- Consider Ha Giang Loop if you’re comfortable on a motorbike, conditions are far kinder than midsummer
For the wider region, our Asia guide has more on planning around Southeast Asia’s patchwork of seasons, which honestly trips up more travellers than any single destination’s individual weather quirks.
Check this first: Don't assume Vietnam has one weather pattern. The south is still wet through September while the north is drying out, so check region-specific forecasts rather than a single country-wide one.
10. A Word on Mexico (and Where to Go Instead This Month)
I get asked about Mexico a lot for September, and I’ll be straight with you: it’s peak Atlantic hurricane season, and the Caribbean coast (Cancún, Tulum, Riviera Maya) carries real storm risk this month. It’s not that you can’t go, plenty of people do and have a great trip, but it’s worth knowing what you’re signing up for before you book.
If Mexico’s still calling, our season-by-season Mexico guide breaks down which months genuinely suit which coast. For September specifically, I’d lean toward the Pacific side or inland cities like Oaxaca and Mexico City over the hurricane-exposed Caribbean coast, and I’d absolutely sort proper travel insurance with storm coverage if you do book the Caribbean side regardless.
Reality check: September is statistically the peak month of the Atlantic hurricane season, not a quiet patch of it. That doesn't mean cancel your trip, it means flexible dates and refundable bookings are worth the small extra cost.
September Costs at a Glance
Prices vary wildly by season, so here’s a rough daily budget snapshot for a mid-range traveller (think a nice-but-not-flashy hotel, a couple of restaurant meals, some activities) across a handful of destinations from this list. Prices correct as of 2026.
Small print: These are mid-range averages, not hard limits. Early September pricing in places like Santorini still runs noticeably higher than the figures below, which assume a late-month trip.
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| Destination | Daily budget (GBP) | Daily budget (EUR) | Daily budget (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santorini, Greece | £90-150 | €105-175 | $115-190 |
| Dubrovnik, Croatia | £70-120 | €82-140 | $90-155 |
| Kyoto, Japan | £75-130 | €88-150 | $95-165 |
| Ljubljana, Slovenia | £50-90 | €58-105 | $65-115 |
| Marrakech, Morocco | £40-80 | €47-93 | $50-100 |
These shift fast depending on exactly when in September you travel (early month still carries summer pricing in plenty of these spots) and how far ahead you book. Our travel budget calculator is handy if you want a more tailored number based on your own travel style.
So, Where Should You Actually Go?
If I had to pick just one, it’d genuinely depend on what you’re chasing. Warm sea and fewer crowds, Croatia or the quieter Greek islands win every time. Aurora hunting without the brutal winter cold, Iceland in late September is hard to beat. Heat relief after a punishing summer, Morocco’s transformation this month is dramatic enough that it’s basically a different country to visit in July.
What I will say across the board: book the back half of the month where you can. Crowds thin, prices ease, and the weather rarely punishes you for the wait. September rewards a bit of patience, and honestly, that’s more than I can say for most travel advice going around.
Need help narrowing it down further? Our travel itinerary generator can build a day-by-day plan once you’ve settled on a destination, and our entry requirement checker is worth a quick run before you book anything, visa rules have a habit of changing without much warning.
Adventure on,
The Travel Tinker Crew 🌍✨
FAQs
Is September a good time to visit Europe?
Yes, it’s widely considered one of the best months. Crowds drop sharply once school holidays end, prices ease, and most of the Mediterranean and Adriatic coast stays warm enough for swimming well into the month.
Where is hot in September for a guaranteed sunshine holiday?
Marrakech, the Sahara, and the Greek islands all reliably deliver warm, sunny conditions in September, though Marrakech and the desert run noticeably hotter than the Mediterranean coast.
Is it worth visiting Japan in September given the typhoon risk?
It can be, especially in the second half of the month, but go in with a flexible itinerary and decent travel insurance. Typhoons typically disrupt travel for a day or two at a time rather than ruining an entire trip.
What's the best place to see the Northern Lights in September?
Iceland is the standout choice. Aurora season officially restarts in late August or early September, and the autumn equinox around the 22nd often brings stronger geomagnetic activity and more vivid displays.
Is September cheaper than visiting in summer?
Generally yes, particularly from mid-September onward once school holidays across Europe and North America have ended. Early September in popular spots like Santorini can still carry near-peak pricing though, so timing within the month matters.
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Helen Ross
I’m a 32-year-old photographer and travel enthusiast, journeying from place to place, immortalizing the hidden tales, unseen moments, and the narratives that lie between.
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