Places To Visit In September
The kids are back at school and the Fall is just around the corner, but you are still wanting to get your sun and travel fix. If this sounds like you, then don’t pack up that sunscreen just yet as September really is a great month for a cheeky getaway.
Depending on where you go, your trip will be cheaper than the height of the vacation season and you will not be fighting against the tourist crowds. The temperatures are also starting to either heat up or cool down, giving a choice of climates you can totally enjoy.
So, stop dreaming and start packing your travel backpack as we give you the travel-savvy lowdown on the best places to visit in September.
1. Hawaii
Best for: Late summer sun
Temperatures: 24°C – 29°C
With a dip in airfare prices after the summer demand, September is an awesome time to say ‘aloha’ to the heavenly islands of Hawaii. You’ll still get those balmy temperatures but without the crowds which will be starting to wane as summer comes to a close. A great time to grab some late Hawaiian summer sun, especially as a couple as we defy you not to find those lush green islands a romantic paradise! You will need a light cover up for mountain hiking trails as the temperatures are cooler, but the ocean temperatures are at their peak, making it the perfect time to learn to ride those waves. And with the rainy season still a month or two away, September is a dry month, meaning the only soaking you should get is in the pool or in the ocean with a wakesurf board!
2. New York
Best for: A cool city break, closer to home
Temperatures: 21-25°C
For a culture hit a little closer to home, New York is an essential on your city break list and September is the perfect time to experience all that the Big Apple has to offer.
In September, the steam has been taken out of the summer heat as the fresher air of Fall starts to cool the city streets, and with the kids back at school and the pre-Halloween and Thanksgiving rush still around the corner, there is a little more room on the sidewalk. The milder weather makes September a great time to really explore this gorgeous city on foot and get lost amongst its streets, skyscrapers, department stores, museums and parks. Or claim your seat on the open top deck of one of the many tour buses and have a prime viewing spot of the buzz, noise and excitement of the city that never sleeps.
3. New Zealand
Best for: Getting out into the great outdoors
Temperatures: 7°C – 23°C
The Land of the Long White Cloud is the outdoor lover’s paradise, with its islands dominated by wild and mountainous landscapes and stunning coastlines, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. September brings the start of spring to New Zealand, with temperatures climbing to the high teens/low twenties but with some of the ski resorts still open for snow play. Water temperatures are chilly so wrap up for those water sports, but for walkers, mountain bikers and adventurers, September in New Zealand is an awesome time to pack up a campervan and head out to explore.
4. Corfu, Greece
Best for: A warm European break
Temperatures: 17°C – 28°C
Make like Meryl Streep in Mama Mia! and head off on your very own Ionian adventure. September is a stunning time to visit Corfu, the second largest island in the azure blue Ionian Sea and a convenient base to go island hopping if you like. The summer tourist hordes have headed home but the temperatures are still nicely sizzling, to give you the ultimate chilled out European beach break. And when you have had enough of lazing by the pool, there is enough culture and delicious Mediterranean cuisine to keep you satisfied.
5. Tokyo, Japan
Best for: A culture fix, without the summer crowds
Temperatures: 20°C – 26°C
Travel to the Land of the Rising Sun and you can escape the maddening crowds that cramp Tokyo and Japan’s larger cities during the hot summer months, meaning you get a little more space to soak up the culture and sheer brilliance of this beautiful friendly country. As September heralds the start of autumn, the heat and humidity has finally ebbed to manageable levels and the color of the city and countryside is starting to change, giving stunning Insta-ready images of gold and scarlet trees, gardens and parks. Immerse yourself in the frenetic city life of Tokyo, with its myriad of neon signs, karaoke rooms, ramen bars and urban tech before seeking out your Zen spot in the trails, shrines and temples of the surrounding mountains and countryside.
6. The Maldives
Best for: relaxing water sports or a feel-good retreat
Temperatures: 27°C – 28°C
September catches the end of the monsoon season in the lux-haven that is the Maldives, but if you like your outdoor water activities or fancy a spa retreat, then don’t let that put you off. Yes, it is wetter than the height of the summer season, but then again, you can grab a real bargain when it comes to flights and accommodation. The September temperatures for this Indian Ocean idyll are still high – you’re looking at around 28°c and an average of nine hours of sun a day. Pick a resort that has a spa and make your Maldives September trip a total feel-good retreat, or dust off your diving qualification and get in and under the ocean, to experience the stunning marine life that the Maldives has to offer.
7. South Africa
Best for: That long-haul trip of a lifetime
Temperatures: 15°C – 25C
Just catching the end of South Africa’s dry season, September is a wild time for that safari trip you have always wanted to do. After the long dry months, the odds of some awesome animal encounters are high, as the wildlife congregate en-mass around the waterholes to drink the precious water. The September climate is dry but mild, and you won’t be jostling with the summer crowds to catch a glimpse of the bigger beasts. September also sees the stunning wildflower carpets of Namaqualand in full bloom as well as the migration of Southern right whales to the coast. Schedule a few days in Cape Town to capture the whale spectacle, as you sip on a cold glass of the finest South African Sauvignon Blanc!
Sources:
- Travel In September: The Expert’s Choice – Lonely Planet
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