Best Places to Travel in September
It’s hard to narrow down the best places to travel in September, but our travel experts are up for the challenge. September is a great month to get out and explore the world. The summer holiday crowds have mostly vanished, returning back to work and school. Many regions across the globe are experiencing some of their best weather of the year. These are Ker & Downey’s best places to travel in September, including one in our own backyard.
Kenya
September in Kenya is high season for a reason. It’s an incredible time to go on safari. Clear skies, low chance of rain, and less mosquitoes make it an ideal time to head out on game drives. The Great Migration passes through the Masai Mara from July to October, which is a big draw to East African country. Travel to Kenya during September with Ker & Downey for a more personal and intimate experience of the Great Migration away from crowded safari lodges.
Read More about Kenya
The Pantanal
There are so many reasons to visit Brazil in September: it’s shoulder season so the prices are right and the weather is warm without being stifling or rainy. While the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema of Rio de Janeiro are sure to be delightful, we suggest heading inland to the Pantanal, Brazil’s wetlands, to witness the elusive jaguar during prime wildlife viewing season.
Read More About Brazil
Oman
Extending till October, green, olive ridley, hawksbill, and loggerhead turtles emerge from the blue deeps of the Arabian Sea to wander onto the beaches of the Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve to lay eggs. It’s quite the sight to watch them nestle into the sand and see the newly hatched little ones scramble to the open waters.
Read More About Oman
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory in Australia is one of the best places to travel in September. The ninth month of the year brings about longer daylight hours, which is great for exploring the Northern Territory – Australia’s real Outback. Set out on an adventure with our sixteen-day Luxury Outback Safari through some of Australia’s great outdoors.
Read More About Australia
South Africa
South Africa is a pretty phenomenal destination year-round, but September is particularly magical. It’s the start of the Cape’s spring, so the world-famous Namaqualand daisies are in bloom and in the game reserves, you will encounter lots of newborn animals on your game drives. It’s also an ideal time for whale watching in Hermanus as the Southern Right Whales return to the bay for calving and mating season. If you’re there on the last day of the month, you can also participate in the annual Hermanus Whale Festival – a three-day celebration that sees thousands of visitors flock to the seaside town for some of the best land-based whale watching in the world.
Read More About South Africa
China
Head to Beijing in September for the beginning of autumn when it’s less crowded. The weather is starting to cool down and there’s less rainfall. Make a trip to historic Pingyao, a UNESCO-recognized ancient city and China’s financial center during the Qing Dynasty. The Pingyao International Photography Festival also takes place in September. During that time, the city is transformed into a large open-air photo gallery with exhibits from professional and amateur photographers from all over the world.
Atacama Desert
The Atacama Desert is a year-round destination through and through. As the driest desert on Earth, this 70,000-square-mile playground is a lunar-like landscape full of giant salt flats, active geyser fields, luxurious hot springs, and numerous archaeological sites. For a true “fire and ice” vacation for the whole family, pair the heat of the desert with the ski-ready powder of the Andes—the perfect escape before the back-to-school rush.
Read More About Chile
New Zealand
September is a great time to travel to New Zealand. It’s the beginning of spring, wildflowers are in bloom, and you can take advantage of shoulder season rates. Get out and smell the flowers with walks through the botanic gardens. Be sure to travel before the last week of September to avoid a two-week school holiday.
Read More About New Zealand
Texas
September is a great time to travel to Texas. Days can still be warm, but the nights are cool. And if you are interested in music, it’s a great time to travel to the Lone Star State. At the end of the month, you’ll find Austin buzzing with excitement for the Austin City Limits Musical Festival, and out west in Marfa, you can attend the Trans-Pecos Festival of Music + Love.
Read More About the United States
Bali
It’s shoulder season in Bali so the rates are usually lower than at other times of the year. The weather is pleasant so it’s a great time to get out and explore the “Island of the Gods.”
Read More About Indonesia
London
While the weather in London is notoriously unpredictable, September can be an absolutely beautiful month in the Big Smoke. The days are longer, kids are back in school, and the city becomes a storehouse for global and innovative design during the London Design Festival. In September, travelers will find London exploding with a slew of installations, exhibits, festival stages, lectures, and pop-ups. The festival is a rich, relaxed affair, generally highlighting the work of London-based artists and inviting visitors to interact with everything from housewares to fashion accessories to children’s toys in London’s best “design districts.”
Read More About the United Kingdom
Hvar Island
Croatians often say that September is the most magical month on the Adriatic Coast. The sun and sea still warm the skin, and a sense of post-summer calmness fills the air. Additionally, fragrant ready-to-pick grapes permeate terraced vineyards. Indeed, Hvar Island is one of the best places to travel in September because it is wine harvest month. With a viticulture tradition that dates back more than 2,000 years, Hvar takes wine season seriously. This is especially true in the 2400-year-old town of Stari Grad, home of the UNESCO-protected Stari Grad Plain, the oldest continually-cultivated vineyard in the world. Therefore, September is dedicated to picking grapes before they are freshly crushed and processed into wine. It is an agricultural event that brings together families and friends and a chance to come together to enjoy the authentic experiences that bring Hvar Island to life.
Read More About Croatia
Cylades
September is one the best times to visit Greece, as it offers sparse island beaches, uncrowded ancient sites, lower prices, and ideal weather clear of the brutal summer heat. We recommend taking to the islands, whether the luxurious hot spots of Mykonos and Santorini or the eastern Mediterranean spectacle of Crete where warm days and cool evenings meet rich culture, age-old palaces, and natural beauty galore.
Read More About Greece
Budapest
For all the wine lovers out there – don’t miss out on the opportunity to taste the best Hungarian wines at the time of harvest, typically every September. Soak the atmosphere in during Budapest’s wine festivals at the Buda castle and try a Danube river cruise.
Read More About Hungary
Berlin
September is festival season in Berlin. From Berlin Art Week to the free State Opera for All open air concert, there are plenty of opportunities to take in the vibrant art scene of the the city.
Read More About Germany
Barcelona
Barcelona is especially perfect in September as residents return from their holidays and attempt to soak in as much of the summer sunshine that’s left. The month also plays host to the city’s biggest annual fiesta, La Mercè, an official holiday honoring the patron saint of Barcelona that takes the form of more than 600 indoor and outdoor events, most of which are free. The city’s famed rooftop terraces are typically only open during the summer months, so September is also your last chance to take in the 360-degree views of the city from here.
Read More About Spain
Ardennes
Ardennes is home to a wide diversity of plants and animals. From mid-September to mid-October, the tranquility of the majestic Ardennes forests, situated in the south-east of Belgium is disturbed by frequent, irregular calls of rutting red deer stags. Enjoy a walk in the forest with a naturalist tracking the savage sound and other local fauna in a natural unspoiled area with vast forests of broadleaf and fir, hills and fast flowing rivers.
Learn More About Belgium
Georgia
This month brings rtveli – the grape harvest and the perfect time to visit the birthplace of viticulture. With over 500 original grape varieties, Georgia has the oldest unbroken tradition of wine making in the world and you will be there to see it first-hand. Visit local winemakers to taste their wines and learn about their unique method using kvevri, the oldest known method of wine production. These giant terracotta vessels are buried in the ground to achieve the perfect temperature and promote fermentation. While you are there, try your hand at making khinkhali, the ubiquitous dumplings served at nearly every meal and churchkhela, a dessert made of walnuts dipped in a thick grape paste.
Learn More About Georgia
Sicily
The beaches in Sicily are rarely crowded and bonus points for the still warm weather well into the autumn months, yet it’s cool enough for exploring the medieval towns. September is also the best time for fresh and absolutely delicious produce from Etna’s rich national parks.
Read More About Italy and Sicily
Appenzell
September marks the ceremonial journey of Appenzell's resident cows as they travel from the mountain pastures to the valley for the winter. But this isn't just a parade of cows... it's a colorful pageant. Farmers adorn their milk cows with flower headdresses and garlands as well as huge cowbells. Locals dress up in traditional costumes, goats lead the parade, cattle dogs run alongside, and a wooden wagon follows with butter and cheese making equipment. If timed right, you have the opportunity to cheer on the approximately 380,000 cows as they commence their slow and steady journey then enjoy the brass bands, yodelers, street fair, and farmer's market afterward.
Explore Switzerland