Where to travel in September: the best destinations right now

September is the travel world's best-kept secret — the crowds thin out, the prices drop, and in many destinations the weather is actually better than it was in July. While everyone else is back at their desks recovering from the school holidays, you could be sitting on a near-empty beach in the Algarve, hiking through golden Dolomite meadows, or eating your way through Kyoto before the autumn foliage tourists pile in. Here's where to go this month, why it works, and exactly what it'll cost you.

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Why September is one of the best months to travel

The logic is almost embarrassingly simple. Peak summer ends when UK schools go back — typically the first week of September — and the travel industry hasn't quite caught up. Flights and hotels reprice slowly, which means you're often getting July-quality weather for May-level prices. Sea temperatures in the Mediterranean are at their annual peak (the water has had three months of sun to warm up). And the light — especially in southern Europe and Asia — takes on that amber quality that makes every photo look like it was taken by a professional.

The honest caveat: "shoulder season" isn't uniform. Some destinations are still rammed in early September (the Greek islands, for example), and a few switch weather patterns sharply mid-month. We'll flag the timing where it matters.

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Portugal: the Algarve and Lisbon in their sweet spot

If you want guaranteed sun with none of the July chaos, Portugal is your answer. The Algarve sees average highs of 27°C in September, the sea sits around 22°C, and the famous clifftop beaches — Lagos, Praia da Marinha, Albufeira's Oura beach — lose roughly a third of their crowds the moment September hits.

Lisbon is even better value. Stay in Mouraria or Intendente rather than the tourist-heavy Alfama and you'll find boutique guesthouses from around £70–£90 per night. The city is genuinely more pleasant in September: the searing 35°C+ heat of August softens to a much more walkable 26°C, the queues at Pastéis de Belém shrink, and the neighbourhood festivals (festas) that run through summer are still ticking along.

Flights from the UK: London to Lisbon typically runs £60–£130 return in September if you book a few weeks ahead; regional UK airports to Faro (Algarve) can be found for similar prices. Use the flight search on Itching to Travel to compare current deals across carriers — prices shift week to week.

Watch out for: Early-morning Atlantic fog on the Algarve coast, which usually burns off by 10am but can surprise first-timers.

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Japan: Tokyo and Kyoto before the autumn rush

Here's the thing about Japan in September: most Western travellers skip it because they've been told about the heat and humidity, which is fair — early September in Tokyo is still sweaty at 27–30°C. But by mid-to-late September, something shifts. The humidity drops, the skies clear, and you're walking around one of the world's great cities in perfect T-shirt weather with noticeably thinner crowds.

Tokyo's Shimokitazawa neighbourhood is a brilliant base — think record shops, jazz bars, and ramen spots beloved by locals rather than tourists, with guesthouses and small hotels from around £80–£120 per night. In Kyoto, aim for the Fushimi or Higashiyama areas and budget £90–£150 per night for a decent ryokan-style stay.

The real September bonus: many of Japan's major autumn food festivals and matsuri (local festivals) begin in late September. Nara's Deer Calling Festival (Shikajiku Ceremony) is the 7th October but the atmosphere builds earlier. You're catching Japan at a genuinely good moment.

Flights from the UK: London to Tokyo runs £550–£850 return in September depending on timing and airline. It's not cheap, but it's meaningfully lower than peak cherry blossom season prices.

Practical note: Japan is outside the EU, so your UK mobile roaming deal won't apply. Pick up an Airalo eSIM before you fly — you can set it up from your phone before departure and have data the moment you land at Narita or Haneda. A 10-day Japan data package typically costs around £8–£12, which is far cheaper than buying a physical SIM at the airport.

Browse Japan tours on Itching to Travel if you want guided options — our Viator-powered listings cover everything from bullet train day trips to private Kyoto temple tours.

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Morocco: shoulder season with spectacular light

September in Morocco is, bluntly, one of the most photogenic months on earth. The summer heat in Marrakech and the interior eases — from brutal 38°C+ in August to a more manageable 30–33°C — while the Atlas Mountains and the road to Merzouga and the Sahara become genuinely comfortable for the first time since spring.

Stay in the Mouassine or Kennaria areas of Marrakech's medina for the best mix of authenticity and access. Riad prices in September drop compared to October (when European visitors flood back), and you can find beautiful mid-range riads from £60–£110 per night including breakfast. Budget options in the medina start around £25–£40.

The souks are busy year-round — that's their nature — but September mornings before 9am are genuinely quiet. The Bahia Palace, perpetually packed in summer, often has short queues by mid-month.

Flights: London to Marrakech is typically £80–£160 return in September. Agadir is also served from regional UK airports and is worth considering if you want beach time alongside city visits.

Honest downside: The heat is still real. If you're sensitive to it, book a riad with a plunge pool, plan all outdoor activities for morning or evening, and hydrate constantly.

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The Dolomites, Italy: hiking season peaks

Most people think of the Dolomites as a winter destination. They're wrong, and September is the proof. The Alta Via long-distance trails are fully accessible, the mountain huts (rifugi) are still open and serving plates of casunziei pasta and local wine, and the landscapes — dramatic limestone spires, wildflower meadows, mirrored lakes — are at their absolute best before the October closures begin.

Base yourself in Corvara (Val Badia) or Cortina d'Ampezzo for access to the best trails. Self-catering apartments in the villages run £80–£140 per night in September; rifugio overnight stays on the trails cost around £50–£80 per person including dinner and breakfast — brilliant value for an experience that feels genuinely remote.

The Tre Cime di Lavaredo circular walk (roughly 10km, 500m ascent) is the showpiece hike and is genuinely doable for anyone reasonably fit. In July and August the car park is full by 6am; in September you can often arrive at 8am without issue.

Flights: London to Venice (nearest major hub) runs £70–£150 return in September. From Venice, it's a 2–2.5 hour drive or bus to the main Dolomite valleys. Compare accommodation on Itching to Travel to find the best rates across the valley villages.

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Colombia: the Caribbean coast and Medellín in dry season

This one surprises people. Colombia's Caribbean coast — including Cartagena and the Tayrona National Park beaches — sits in a drier weather pattern in September compared to the rainy season that affects much of South America. The temperatures are warm (29–32°C), the sea is calm, and flight prices from the UK haven't caught up with how good the destination actually is right now.

Medellín is one of the world's great urban turnaround stories — explore the El Poblado and Laureles neighbourhoods for the best eating, coffee shops, and nightlife. Hotels in El Poblado run £45–£90 per night; budget hostels start around £15–£25.

Flights from the UK: London to Medellín or Bogotá typically runs £550–£750 return in September, usually with one stop.

Insurance note: for a destination like Colombia, travel insurance isn't optional — it's the thing standing between you and a serious financial problem if anything goes wrong medically. Make sure your policy covers South America specifically and check the small print on activity coverage if you're planning anything adventurous in Tayrona.

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How to make the most of September travel

A few practical points that apply wherever you go:

• Book flights early in the week — Tuesday and Wednesday departures are often cheaper than weekends even in shoulder season

• Check school holiday dates — some European countries (Germany, France) run later summer holidays, keeping some resorts busy until mid-September

• Pack one warm layer — even warm destinations cool down at night in September, and mountain destinations like the Dolomites can drop to 8–10°C after sunset

• Verify visa requirements — Japan requires no visa for UK passport holders (up to 90 days); Morocco is visa-free; Colombia is visa-free for up to 90 days. Always double-check current rules before you travel.

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September travel rewards the organised and punishes the passive. The destinations above are genuinely better this month than they were in August — but the best prices go fast once people wake up to that fact.

Head to Itching to Travel now to search flights, compare hotels, and browse tours for every destination in this list. Your September trip is closer than you think.

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