Where to go when guide
If you’re tied to school holidays, keen to miss the monsoon season or hoping to snag an off-season bargain, read our month-by-month guide on where to go on holiday when.
Where to go on holiday in September 2021
September is a great month for exploring Europe, especially the Mediterranean. The summer crowds have gone, but the weather remains fine enough for small ship cruises, multi activity breaks and walking holidays. In Asia, it’s a great month for following the Silk Road in sunshine or heading to Malaysian Borneo. If you like your rainforests to be in their least rainy state, this is their driest season. There are a few holiday destinations to avoid in September: monsoon season is still underway in Southeast Asia and Southern India, and hurricane season is sweeping over the Caribbean. Save those shores for another month.
Our Best places to go in September Holidays
Borneo orangutan holiday
Trekking, wildlife and beach adventure holiday to Borneo
From
£3460
14 days
inc UK flights
West Highland Line railway holiday in Scotland
Take the "The World's Best Rail Journey" to the Isle of Skye
From
£895 to £965
5 days
ex flights
Borneo tour, Great Apes and Beach escapes
Explore bustling cities, lush jungles and paradise beaches.
From
£1658
9 days
ex flights
Split to Dubrovnik Luxury cruise, Croatia
Cruise Split to Dubrovnik in luxury via Croatia's islands
From
£899 to £1599
8 days
ex flights
Scotland by railway holiday
Experience authentic Scotland independently and car-free
From
£1135 to £1195
8 days
ex flights
Luxury gulet cruise in the Aegean
5 star services while cruising the Greek Islands in luxury
From
£1035 to £1359
8 days
ex flights
Activity holiday in Montenegro
An active villa holiday at stunning Lake Skadar, Montenegro
From
£645 to £745
7 days
ex flights
Amalfi Coast walking holiday, Italy
Walk in lemon groves and hillside villages
From
£1249 to £1649
8 days
inc UK flights
Jordan holiday, a week in Jordan
A week to explore the spectacular sites and scenery of Jordan
From
£1749 to £1999
9 days
inc UK flights
Southern Croatia cruise in comfort
Cruise Croatia's beautiful islands on a small cruise ship
From
£559 to £865
8 days
ex flights
Croatian coast walking tours, self guided
A seven-day walking holiday on the Dalmatian coast — islands and Dubrovnik included
From
€595 to €750
7 days
ex flights
Croatia holiday, activity week
'Relaxingly Active' holiday with flexible Island activities
From
€1090 to €1250
7 days
ex flights
Learn Spanish and walking holiday, Spanish Pyrenees
Spanish conversation, outdoor classes and scenic excursions
From
€1350
8 days
ex flights
Albania holidays, small group tour
An incredible history set against a rugged landscape
From
£1349 to £1449
10 days
inc UK flights
Borneo tailor made tour on a shoestring
The Best of Borneo: Wildlife, Adventure, Idyllic Beaches
From
£1295
11 days
ex flights
Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan highlights tour
Three stunning countries in one unforgettable tour
From
£1627
13 days
ex flights
Northern lights and whale watching cruise in Iceland
A cruise around Iceland with a chance of whales & Aurora
From
£2635
8 days
ex flights
Yoga Retreats in Valencia, Spain
Yoga and meditation in the magical countryside of Valencia
From
€495 to €1195
6 days
ex flights
Brazil wildlife tour, jaguars and waterfalls
Jaguar spotting 100% success rate, Iguacu waterfalls & Rio.
From
£4895
16 days
inc UK flights
Spanish course & walking holiday, Picos de Europa, Spain
Walk and talk on this small group language holiday in Picos de Europa National Park
From
€659
7 days
ex flights
Luxury small ship cruise in Croatia
Luxury small ship cruise through Croatia's Islands
From
£1175 to £1535
8 days
ex flights
Luxury trekking holiday in the Atlas Mountains
Stay at the Kasbah du Toubkal and trek in style
From
€957
6 days
ex flights
Greek Island Cruise
Discover Greece on this relaxing cruise around Evia
From
£1211 to £1502
8 days
inc UK flights
Catalonia self guided walking holidays
Self-guided walking holidays in Catalonia
From
€715 to €799
8 days
ex flights
Split to Dubrovnik premium cruise
A classic cruise from Split to Dubrovnik on a premium vessel
From
£999 to £1399
8 days
ex flights
Algarve holiday accommodation
Enchanting agrotourism on 6 ha rural estate close to beach
From
€55 to €225
per accommodation per night
Bulgaria mountains and monasteries Tour
Discover the history, culture and landscapes of Bulgaria
From
£1149 to £1175
10 days
ex flights
Self guided biking tour in Croatia
Explore the amazing island's coasts, medieval town on bike
From
€440 to €905
7 days
ex flights
Croatia self drive holiday
A tailor made holiday that entices you to get your feet walking — and your toes wet
From
£995 to £1475
15 days
ex flights
Iceland
1. Iceland
In autumn, Iceland explodes with life on all fronts. On shore, leaves on bushes and birch trees turn gold. In the water, humpback and minke whales, plus orca, can be seen off the coast at Husavik. But it’s the night sky that causes the biggest scramble: September is the first month of the year when it’s dark enough to see the Northern Lights.
Jordan
2. Jordan
It’s too hot in summer in Jordan, so many holiday companies have a break, restarting in September. This is a great month for cultural holidays – sleeping under the stars in a Wadi Rum camp or watching the light change as the sun sets over Petra. It’s also a good time to visit Aqaba. As the Red Sea warms, turtles, eagle rays – and keen divers – amass underwater.
Malaysia
3. Malaysia
It’s warm all year round in Malaysia and Borneo, but the drier season runs from February to September, making early autumn a good time to visit, especially if you’re taking a trip to the south of Borneo. September is also the month of the Borneo International Kite Festival. Orangutans can be seen year-round, but turtles are best spotted this month – head to Lankayan Island.
Scotland
4. Scotland
The weather might be wetter in the Highlands than it is in high summer, but in September Scotland makes its own sunshine – in the oranges of burnishing bracken and the yellowing of the turning trees. August is the busiest month in Edinburgh, thanks to its Fringe festival. In September, the capital breathes a sigh of relief and is much more relaxed.
The Silk Road
5. The Silk Road
September is a great month to travel along the Silk Road. Travelling long distances means there’s lots of flux in the climate, but September might be the perfect compromise: it won’t be too cold in the Kyrgyzstan mountains, so you won’t be shivering in front of the scenery, and the snow will have long melted so you can make it across the high-altitude passes. It isn’t too hot in Uzbekistan’s cities either – after a long hot summer, it will be cooler but still wonderfully sunny.
Southern Europe
6. Southern Europe
The Med jet set have left the beaches, high summer is over, and all over Southern Europe holiday towns breathe a sigh of relief. In quiet, sunny September, Southern Europe is less crowded, the water is warm, and the harvest brings great local produce to the table – great after an active holiday. Go walking in Greece, Spain, Italy or Southern Portugal, cruising in Croatia, or exploring in Albania.
Our top Best places to go in September Holiday
Scotland by railway holiday
Experience authentic Scotland independently and car-free
From
£1135 to £1195
8 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
This trip can be tailor made from April to the end of October.
This trip can be tailor made from April to the end of October.
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Best places to go in September or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
September holiday advice
We’ve asked our expert travel partners where they’d go in September. Here’s what they say…
Robert Kidd, from Scottish holiday expert McKinley Kidd, says Scotland is a surprise hit in September: “Everyone wants to go on our rail holiday to Scotland in May or June, but I think the nicest times are actually in the autumn. The weather can be a bit more mixed, but you get the autumn colours and especially the heather from late August, and then in September the trees begin to turn.”
Uros Kumer, from our Croatia cruising specialists Frontier Adriatic, likes taking travellers out in the quieter autumn months: “We love sailing in Croatia in late April, May, June and September. In these periods it is less crowded and once you reduce crowds everything is nicer, calmer and cleaner. The weather is also good in this period and, importantly, it is also more affordable.”
Farah Abubakar, tour designer at Experience Jordan, says that hiking in Jordan can be great – outside of summer: “The best times to hike Dana to Petra or to visit Jordan in general is spring and autumn. We avoid summer – June, July, August. It’s too hot here for hikers and we stop our walking tours, and then we start again in September. In winter, it’s very wet and rainy and sometimes snowy.”
Andrew Appleyard, from our adventure holiday specialists Exodus Travel, says – whether you’re following the Silk Road or visiting Uzbekistan on its own – it’s best before it gets too cold: “May is my favourite time of year there, or late September. Later than that, it does get really cold down near the Afghan border, but it is warmer further north.”
More about Best places to go in September
September is a great time to get some extra sunshine at the end of summer. Everyone else might be back to school, but you’ll be grabbing your backpack and heading off for wildlife watching and walks on the beach. Read on for more.
Grapes in vineyards, fruits in markets, and plenty of nutting: our top 10 September holidays have a few things on common. There’s also an abundance of natural delicacies, warm waters, and an escape from summer crowds.
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