159 destinations scored for September.
Where to travel in September
The insider's summer: Europe at its best, the Mediterranean at its warmest, and the crowds gone home.
The straight answer
The best places to travel in September are the Greek islands and Croatia in warm-sea shoulder season, Paris and Rome after the crowds thin, Istanbul and Lisbon in golden weather, and the Serengeti as crossing season winds down.
Ask frequent travelers for their favorite month and September wins more votes than any other. Europe keeps its summer weather and loses its summer crowds: the Mediterranean reaches its warmest swimming temperatures of the year, city break conditions in Paris, Rome, and Barcelona turn ideal, and prices step down from the August peak. The Greek islands and Croatia in September are the reward for waiting.
The rest of the map cooperates. East Africa's river-crossing season runs into September. The northern lights return to Iceland's darkening skies. Seoul and the temperate East Asian cities begin their crisp golden season. New York enters its best stretch of the year. And in New England, the first fall color appears at high elevations by late month.
September's one hard rule: respect the storm map. It is the statistical peak of Atlantic hurricane season, which puts the Caribbean, the Gulf, and Florida into the highest-risk weeks of the year, and it is also peak typhoon season in Japan. The deals are real; so is the reason for them.
Our September picks, ranked
Each one opens its own month page: weather, crowds, prices and what is on.
The full September board
All 159 destinations we cover, scored for September.
At their best in September
86 places. One of their best months of the year.
Paris
Golden, highs near 70F (21C), stable early month
London
Mild and often settled, highs near 68F (20C)
Florence
Warm, easing to golden, highs near 81F (27C)
Venice
Warm, softening, highs near 75F (24C)
Barcelona
Warm, highs near 80F (27C), sea at its warmest
Lisbon
Warm, highs near 79F (26C)
Amsterdam
Mild, highs near 65F (18C)
Prague
Mild, highs near 68F (20C)
Santorini
Warm, highs near 79F (26C), sea at its warmest
Iceland
Cooling, highs near 50F (10C), real nights
Ireland
Soft and settled early month, highs near 62F (17C)
Swiss Alps
Settled and clear, highs near 65F (18C), crisp mornings
Croatia
Warm, highs near 80F (27C), sea at its warmest
Istanbul
Warm easing to pleasant, highs near 78F (26C)
Jordan
Hot easing to warm, Petra highs near 86F (30C)
Morocco
Hot easing to warm, Marrakech highs near 91F (33C)
East Africa Safari
Dry, highs near 79F (26C)
Bali
Dry and warm, highs near 86F (30C)
Seoul
Clearing and comfortable, highs near 79F (26C)
Fiji
Dry, warm, highs near 82F (28C)
Washington, DC
Warm days fading to crisp, highs near 81F (27C)
New York City
Warm fading to crisp, highs near 76F (24C)
Orlando
Hot easing late month, highs near 90F (32C), storm chances
Hawaii
Warm and calm seas, highs near 87F (31C)
Yellowstone
Crisp, highs near 66F (19C), first dustings up high
Peru
Dry season's tail, Cusco highs near 69F (21C), warming nights
The Amalfi Coast
Warm, highs near 79F (26C), sea at its warmest
Lake Como
Warm, highs near 74F (23C), settled
Cinque Terre
Warm, highs near 77F (25C), sea at its warmest
Sicily
Hot to warm, highs near 83F (28C), warm sea
The Dolomites
Crisp and clear, valley highs near 64F (18C)
Provence
Warm, highs near 79F (26C)
The French Riviera
Warm, highs near 78F (26C), sea still warm
Madrid
Warm, highs near 81F (27C)
The Algarve
Hot, highs near 80F (27C), sea at its warmest
Porto
Warm, highs near 75F (24C), mostly dry
Madeira
Warm, highs near 79F (26C), warmest sea
Vienna
Warm and settled, highs near 70F (21C)
Budapest
Warm and settled, highs near 72F (22C)
Berlin
Mild, highs near 66F (19C)
Munich
Mild, highs near 66F (19C)
Finnish Lapland
Cool, highs near 50F (10C), first frosts
Scottish Highlands
Mild, highs near 60F (16C)
Edinburgh
Mild, highs near 61F (16C)
Bruges
Mild, highs near 66F (19C)
Salzburg
Mild, highs near 66F (19C), drier
Krakow
Mild, highs near 66F (19C)
Crete
Warm, highs near 81F (27C), sea at its warmest
Mykonos
Warm, highs near 78F (26C), sea at its warmest
Malta
Warm, highs near 84F (29C), warmest sea
Canary Islands
Warm, highs near 82F (28C), sea at its warmest near 73F (23C)
Mallorca
Warm, highs near 83F (28C), sea at its warmest
Azores
Warm, highs near 76F (24C), sea still warm
Sardinia
Warm, highs near 82F (28C), sea at its warmest
Kotor
Warm, highs near 80F (27C), sea still warm
Lake Bled
Mild, highs near 69F (20C), often settled
Cappadocia
Warm, highs near 78F (26C), dry
Beijing
Warm and dry, highs near 79F (26C), clearing skies
Uzbekistan
Warm, highs near 86F (30C) early, cooling late
Rio de Janeiro
Warming, highs near 79F (26C)
Atacama Desert
Warming, days near 73F (23C), cold nights
San Francisco
Warmest of the year, highs near 70F (21C), clear
Chicago
Pleasant, highs near 75F (24C)
Nashville
Warm, highs near 83F (28C)
San Diego
Warm, highs near 77F (25C), warm ocean
Boston
Pleasant, highs near 74F (23C)
Seattle
Pleasant, highs near 71F (22C), mostly dry
Los Angeles
Warm, highs near 83F (28C), heat waves possible
Banff
Crisp, highs near 61F (16C), first snow up high
Vancouver
Mild and mostly dry, highs near 66F (19C)
Quebec City
Mild, highs near 65F (18C), crisp nights
Montreal
Mild, highs near 69F (21C)
Grand Canyon
Warm, highs near 75F (24C), monsoon fading
Yosemite
Warm, highs near 82F (28C), cool nights
Zion
Hot to warm, highs near 90F (32C), cooling
Glacier National Park
Crisp, highs near 66F (19C), first snow possible up high
Acadia
Crisp, highs near 68F (20C), clear days
Napa Valley
Warm, highs near 84F (29C), cool nights
Namibia
Hot days, highs near 86F (30C), dry
Okavango Delta
Hot and dry, highs near 91F (33C)
Zanzibar
Dry and warm, highs near 84F (29C)
Madagascar
Warming and dry, highs near 77F (25C) in the highlands
Mauritius
Dry and warming, highs near 77F (25C)
Great Barrier Reef
Dry and warming, highs near 82F (28C), water near 77F (25C)
Tahiti
Dry and sunny, highs near 82F (28C)
Uluru
Warm, highs near 82F (28C)
Also good
21 places. Solid conditions, no major caveats.
Rome
Warm, highs near 82F (28C), easing late month
Cape Town
Springlike, highs near 66F (19C)
Kyoto
Slowly cooling, highs near 85F (29C), typhoon risk
Sydney
Spring arrives, highs near 68F (20C)
Copenhagen
Mild, highs near 63F (17C)
Stockholm
Mild, highs near 60F (16C)
Norway's Fjords
Cool, highs near 58F (14C), wetter
Athens
Warm, highs near 84F (29C), easing through the month
Hokkaido
Crisp, highs near 72F (22C)
Bhutan
Rain easing, highs near 73F (23C), clearing late month
Shanghai
Warm, highs near 82F (28C), humidity easing
Borneo
Highs near 88F (31C), rain slowly increasing
Kuala Lumpur
Highs near 91F (33C), rain returning, haze possible
Aruba
Hottest month, highs near 91F (33C), light winds
Medellin
Warm, highs near 81F (27C), rains returning
Buenos Aires
Mild, highs near 66F (19C), spring arriving
Great Smoky Mountains
Warm, highs near 81F (27C), drier
Sedona
Warm, highs near 88F (31C), storms fading
Victoria Falls
Hot and dry, highs near 90F (32C)
Seychelles
Warm and breezy, highs near 82F (28C), winds easing
Melbourne
Mild, highs near 63F (17C), changeable
Quiet value
8 places. Fewer crowds and lower prices, with honest tradeoffs.
New ZealandLambs in every paddock and snow still on the tops. Expect four seasons per day; late-season skiing often runs into October.
AlaskaEarly September is a stunning bargain: fall color and thin crowds. By mid month, Denali buses stop and lodges shutter fast.
PatagoniaThe reawakening begins: some services reopen, guanacos calve, and hardy travelers find solitude. Expect winter conditions up high and limited schedules.
Luang PrabangRain starts to ease. The Boat Racing Festival usually takes place around this time.
RajasthanMonsoon eases, landscapes are green, and prices are still low. Heat can be heavy.
Delhi and AgraRain eases late in the month. Humid but increasingly pleasant evenings, and good hotel prices.
OaxacaThe rainiest stretch, with heavier afternoon storms that can make mountain roads slow. Independence celebrations on September 15 and 16.
Galapagos IslandsCold water and rough seas, but few visitors. Some cruise boats schedule dry-dock maintenance around September and October.Tradeoffs
24 places. Real upsides and real downsides. Read the month page before booking.
DubaiThe heat only begins to bend late month. Early-morning beaches and evening life return by degrees.
EgyptThe heat begins to ease late month and crowds are still thin. A value pick for heat-tolerant travelers.
TokyoTyphoon season peaks September into early October; most storms mean a day or two of rain, not disaster, but flexible plans win. Crowds and prices are pleasantly low.
SingaporeThe Formula 1 night race takes over Marina Bay for a weekend and hotel prices spike citywide. Electric if you are here for it, expensive if you are not.
MaldivesLow season's floor: the fewest visitors and the deepest discounts, paid for with the highest odds of gray afternoons.
Mexico CityThe wettest month, and patriotic month: Independence celebrations peak with the Grito on the night of September 15 and a military parade on the 16th.
SevilleStill summer heat for the first half. In even-numbered years, the Bienal de Flamenco starts.
Hong KongHeat lingers and storms are still in play, but the Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns and Fire Dragon dance can land here.
TaiwanHeat starts to break late in the month, but it is still typhoon season. Cheap if you stay flexible.
OsakaHeat lingers and typhoons can disrupt trains and flights. The Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri is the reason to be here.
PalawanStill monsoon season. Coron's sheltered bays sometimes fare better than El Nido's open coast.
Angkor WatHeaviest rain and some local flooding. Pchum Ben, a major Khmer holiday, often falls in September or October.
Sri LankaA transitional month. Yala National Park often closes for part of September into October.
KeralaMonsoon tails off. Lush landscapes, low prices, and sometimes Onam.
GoaRain tapers off. A quiet time for heritage sites and inland Goa.
NepalEarly September is still wet; late September can be excellent as the air clears. Indra Jatra fills Kathmandu Durbar Square.
Abu DhabiHeat persists but hotel rates remain at their lowest. Late September starts to ease.
BermudaThe warmest water of the year, but the heart of hurricane season for Bermuda. Book refundable and watch the forecasts.
PanamaPoor month for Panama City and the Pacific, but one of the better months for the Caribbean islands of Bocas del Toro.
CartagenaThe rainy season sets in. Lower prices and fewer visitors in exchange for sticky, still air.
Las VegasHeat eases late month. Pools stay open and rates are reasonable outside holiday weekends.
CharlestonHeat eases late in the month. Good deals, but storms can disrupt plans.
SavannahPeak hurricane season. Cooler late month and good deals.
AustinSummer lingers through most of the month. Longhorn home football Saturdays spike hotel prices and traffic. Late September starts to turn.Think twice
20 places. Heat, storms, closures, or the year's worst crowds.
ThailandPeak monsoon nearly everywhere: flooded streets in Bangkok some years, heavy Andaman seas, and rising rain on the Gulf. The year's lowest prices are the honest consolation.
VietnamThe riskiest month for a full-country trip: central typhoons and flooding begin, and the south is at peak wet. One bright spot: golden harvest terraces in the far north late month.
Riviera MayaThe statistical heart of hurricane season and the region's quietest, cheapest weeks. Only for flexible travelers with insurance and a cenote-heavy plan.
Costa RicaOn the Pacific: the year's heaviest rain, rough roads, and closures, including Monteverde-area rest weeks. The flip side: the Caribbean coast has its best weather now.
OkinawaOne of the most typhoon-prone months. A single storm can wipe out a short beach trip.
OmanStill very hot in the north while the khareef fades in the south. Turtle hatching at Ras al Jinz is a highlight.
Puerto RicoThe statistical heart of hurricane season and the month of both Maria (2017) and Fiona (2022). Only for flexible travelers with insurance.
JamaicaThe heart of hurricane season and the second rainy season arriving. Cheapest of the year for a reason.
The BahamasThe statistical heart of hurricane season; Dorian struck in early September 2019. Some Out Island resorts close for the month.
Turks and CaicosThe heart of hurricane season, and many restaurants and some resorts close for weeks. Irma and Maria both hit in September 2017.
US Virgin IslandsThe heart of hurricane season (Irma and Maria both hit in September 2017), and many St. John businesses close.
St. LuciaThe height of both hurricane and rainy season. Landslides can close mountain roads after big storms.
BarbadosPeak hurricane season and one of the rainiest months. Some hotels close for annual maintenance.
Punta CanaThe heart of hurricane season; Fiona made landfall nearby in September 2022. Cheapest time of year for a reason.
Los CabosPeak hurricane risk and the most rain of a very dry year. Several restaurants and some smaller hotels close for part of the month for maintenance.
Puerto VallartaThe rainiest month and peak storm risk. Some restaurants close for a few weeks. Mexican Independence on the night of September 15 is the bright spot.
BelizeThe heart of hurricane season. Some lodges and dive shops close for the month; the ATM cave often shuts after heavy rain. Independence Day on September 21 is the bright spot.
GuatemalaThe rainiest month and the peak landslide risk on mountain roads. Volcano views are rare, and Acatenango is often clouded in.
New OrleansThe heart of hurricane season. Cheapest month of the year, and a real risk of evacuation or disruption. Buy travel insurance if you go.
Key WestThe riskiest month. Some businesses close for a break. The cheapest time on the island.The US in September
39 states are in their best window.
Vermont
Foliage season begins: color starts at high elevations in late September and rolls downhill into October. Book leaf-season lodging months out.
Yellowstone and Grand Teton
The elk rut echoes through cooling valleys, summer crowds fade fast after Labor Day, and wildlife viewing rivals June.
Napa and Sonoma
Harvest season: crush in full swing, vineyard dinners, and warm golden afternoons. The most atmospheric month in American wine country.
Grand Canyon
The heat finally relents, monsoon storms taper, and post-Labor Day crowds thin. September reopens the canyon to comfortable hiking.
Think twice about: Florida, Louisiana.
September events worth flying for
The Great Migration
Serengeti, Tanzania and Masai Mara, Kenya
Year-round, with calving in the southern Serengeti from roughly late January to March and river crossings from about July to October
Burning Man
Black Rock Desert, Nevada
About nine days from the last Sunday of August through Labor Day, the first Monday of September
Oktoberfest
Munich, Germany
Mid September to the first Sunday of October, roughly 16 to 18 days, mostly in September despite the name
New England Fall Foliage
Vermont, New Hampshire & Maine
Late September through mid October, with peak color sweeping from north to south and high elevations downward
Northern Lights Season
Iceland, Norway & Finnish and Swedish Lapland
September through March, whenever nights are dark; the equinox months and deep winter each have their own case
Holidays and breaks in September
A holiday week has its own crowds and prices. These guides rank the world for that exact week.
Hidden gems in their September window
131 places from our lists whose best window includes September.
12 Underrated European Cities That Are Still Cool- Ghent, Ghent, Belgium. May-Jun · Sep
- Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia. May-Jun · Sep
- Bologna, Bologna, Italy. Apr-Jun · Sep-Oct
- Braga, Braga, Portugal. May-Jun · Sep
- Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland. May-Jun · Sep
Hidden Gems of Italy- Matera, Matera, Basilicata. Apr-Jun · Sep-Oct
- Lecce, Lecce, Puglia. May-Jun · Sep-Oct
- Orvieto, Orvieto, Umbria. Apr-Jun · Sep-Oct
- Ravenna, Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna. Apr-Jun · Sep-Oct
- Urbino, Urbino, Marche. May-Jun · Sep
America's Coolest Small Towns Nobody Talks About- Taos, Taos, New Mexico. May-Jun · Sep-Oct
- Paducah, Paducah, Kentucky. Apr-Jun · Sep-Oct
- Astoria, Astoria, Oregon. Jun-Sep
- Lanesboro, Lanesboro, Minnesota. May-Sep · Oct
- Berlin, Berlin, Ohio. May-Jun · Sep-Oct
The Best National Parks Nobody Visits- Great Basin National Park, Baker, Nevada. Jun-Sep
- North Cascades National Park, Washington State. Jul-Sep
- Isle Royale National Park, Lake Superior, Michigan. Jun-Sep
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Montrose, Colorado. Jun-Sep
- Lassen Volcanic National Park, Northern California. Jul-Sep
Europe's Most Charming Small Towns- Dinant, Dinant, Belgium. May-Sep
- Cesky Krumlov, Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic. May-Jun · Sep
- Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany. Apr-Jun · Sep · Dec
- Annecy, Annecy, France. Jun · Sep
- Giethoorn, Giethoorn, Netherlands. Apr-Jun · Sep
Japan Beyond Tokyo and Kyoto- Matsumoto, Matsumoto, Nagano. May-Oct
Beach Towns That Are Still Cool- Tavira, Tavira, Portugal. May-Jun · Sep-Oct
- Comporta, Comporta, Portugal. Jun · Sep
- Paternoster, Paternoster, South Africa. Nov-Mar · Aug-Sep
- Arugam Bay, Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka. May-Sep
- Folly Beach, Folly Beach, South Carolina. May-Jun · Sep-Oct
Skip the Crowds: Where to Go Instead- Milos, Milos, Greece. May-Jun · Sep
- Valencia, Valencia, Spain. Mar-Jun · Sep-Oct
- Trieste, Trieste, Italy. May-Jun · Sep
- Cilento Coast, Cilento, Campania, Italy. May-Jun · Sep
- Kotor, Kotor, Montenegro. May-Jun · Sep
The Best Shoulder-Season Trips- Paris in September, Paris, France. Sep
- Croatia in September, Dalmatian Coast, Croatia. Sep
- Iceland in September, Iceland. Sep
- Alaska at the season's edges, Alaska, USA. Late May · Early Sep
Whale Watching by Month: Where the Whales Are, All Year- Monterey Bay, Monterey, California. Jul-Oct
- Bubble-net feeding near Juneau, Juneau, Southeast Alaska. May-Sep
- Tadoussac, Saguenay fjord mouth, Quebec, Canada. Jul-Sep
- Hervey Bay, Fraser Coast, Queensland, Australia. Aug-Oct
- Swimming with humpbacks in Vava'u, Vava'u, Tonga. Jul-Oct
The Best Scuba Diving by Season: Where to Dive, Month by Month- Sipadan, Semporna, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Apr-Oct
- Komodo National Park, Flores, Indonesia. Apr-Nov
- Red Sea wrecks and reefs, Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada, Egypt. Mar-May · Sep-Nov
- Galapagos: Darwin and Wolf, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Jun-Nov
- Great Barrier Reef, Cairns and Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia. Aug-Nov
The Best Ski Destinations by Month: Where the Snow Is Best, and When- Portillo, Andes, Chile. Jul-Sep
- Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand. Jul-Sep
Safari Timing Guide: When to Go, Park by Park- Mara River crossings, Maasai Mara, Kenya, and the northern Serengeti, Tanzania. Jul-Oct
- Amboseli, Southern Kenya. Jun-Oct · Jan-Feb
- Ruaha National Park, Central Tanzania. Jun-Oct
- Volcanoes National Park, Musanze, Rwanda. Jun-Sep · Dec-Feb
- Okavango Delta, Northern Botswana. Jun-Oct
Fall Foliage Around the World: Where and When the Leaves Turn- Ruska in Finnish Lapland, Pallas-Yllastunturi and Urho Kekkonen National Parks, Finland. Sep
- Daisetsuzan, Central Hokkaido, Japan. Sep-Oct
- Colorado aspens, Maroon Bells, Kebler Pass, and the San Juan Mountains, Colorado. Sep-Oct
- Vermont, Green Mountains, Vermont. Sep-Oct
- The Laurentians and Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada. Sep-Oct
Islands Safe From Hurricane Season: Where to Go From June to November- Aruba, Southern Caribbean. Jun-Nov
- Bonaire, Southern Caribbean, Dutch Caribbean. Jun-Nov
- Curacao, Southern Caribbean, Dutch Caribbean. Jun-Nov
- Bocas del Toro, Caribbean coast, Panama. Sep-Oct
- Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Jun-Nov
The Best Stargazing Destinations, and When the Skies Are Clearest- Atacama Desert, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. May-Sep
- Maunakea, Island of Hawaii. Apr-Sep
- La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. May-Sep
- NamibRand Nature Reserve, Southern Namibia. May-Oct
- Uluru-Kata Tjuta, Northern Territory, Australia. May-Sep
Wildflower Superblooms and Flower Seasons: Where and When to Go- Namaqualand daisies, Namaqua National Park, Northern Cape, South Africa. Aug-Sep
- Western Australia wildflower season, Perth to Kalbarri and the Coral Coast, Western Australia. Aug-Oct
- Desierto florido, Atacama Desert, Chile. Sep-Oct
Monsoon-Safe Asia: Where to Go From June to September- Bali and Lombok, Indonesia. Jun-Sep
- Komodo and Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. May-Sep
- Yogyakarta and Borobudur, Central Java, Indonesia. Jun-Sep
- Sri Lanka's east coast, Trincomalee, Pasikudah, and Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka. May-Sep
- Ladakh, Leh, Ladakh, India. Jun-Sep
Where September works against you
- The Caribbean, Gulf Coast, and Florida. September is the statistical peak of Atlantic hurricane season. This is the highest-risk month of the year to have a beach itinerary on the storm map.
- Japan. Peak typhoon season: September storms regularly disrupt flights and trains, especially across the south and west. October's clear, crisp weather is worth the wait.
- The Maldives and southern India. The southwest monsoon is still running: gray skies, rain, and rougher seas in what should be a postcard. The dry season returns around December.
- Bali and Lombok's peak-price holdouts. Nothing wrong with the weather, but this is a value note: dry season is ending and September still carries near-peak pricing in famous areas. Better rates arrive with the shoulder in October.
September travel, quick answers
Where is hot in September?
The Mediterranean is at its warmest-water moment of the year from Greece to Spain, and Lisbon, Istanbul, and southern Italy hold real summer warmth. The Caribbean is hot too, but it is peak hurricane season and priced accordingly.
Where should I avoid in September?
The Caribbean, Gulf Coast, and Florida at hurricane season's statistical peak, Japan during peak typhoon season, and the Maldives while the monsoon lingers.
Is September cheaper than summer for Europe?
Yes. Airfare and hotels step down meaningfully from the July and August peak, especially after the first week, while the weather often improves. September is the best value-to-quality ratio on the European calendar.
When does fall foliage start?
In northern New England and the high Rockies, color typically begins in late September and peaks in early to mid October, moving south and downhill from there. September's final week is the safe early bet for Vermont's high country.
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