September is the perfect month for a holiday. The peak summer rush is over, meaning cheaper prices and fewer crowds.
There’s also typically plenty of sunshine, without too many muggy heatwaves – making it ideal weather for sightseeing.
If you fancy a city break with a beach, consider Valencia. It topped our survey of the best city breaks in Europe, clinching top marks for its food and cultural sights. Tavira – a little-known harbour town in the Algarve – gets around nine hours of sunshine a day in September.
Or enjoy temperate weather and native wildflowers in Perth. Read on for our best destination picks for September – from Suffolk to the Southern Hemisphere.
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Best places to visit in September
- Aldeburgh, Suffolk 19℃
- Valencia, Spain 28℃
- Algarve, Portugal 28℃
- Halkidiki, Greece 25℃
- Perth, Australia 20℃
Best UK holiday destination in September: Aldeburgh, Suffolk
September high: 19℃
Balmy temperatures are never guaranteed in the UK, but you stand a decent chance of some warm, dry days in this sedate East Anglian town.
Aldeburgh scored five stars for its scenery and peace and quiet in our latest survey of the UK’s best and worst seaside towns – largely thanks to its endless shingle beach, lined with colourful cottages. Buy locally caught smoked fish from shacks huddled under the sea wall – fishermen still haul their boats onto the beach to sell their catch each morning – or splash out on lobster and chips at seafront restaurant The Suffolk. The 2023 annual food festival is held on 28 and 29 September at Snape Maltings – a revamped Victorian malt barn on the River Alde.
Find accommodation near Aldeburgh with Which? Recommended Provider Rural Retreats and the National Trust.
Best short-haul holiday destinations in September: Valencia, Spain
September high: 28℃
Spain’s third-largest city has miles of sandy beaches, a seductive old town, extraordinary architecture and fabulous food. Valencia landed the top spot in our survey of the best beach towns in the Mediterranean – and clinched the maximum five-star rating for value for money.
Expect the fun of Barcelona, but with fewer crowds. The extraordinary architecture ranges from a 15th-century Gothic silk exchange and Art Nouveau food market to the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences.
Valencia is the birthplace of paella – enjoy it at one of the many restaurants that fringe the city’s broad beaches – Las Arenas, La Malvarrosa and El Canañal. The city also celebrates World Paella Day on 20 September (to coincide with the rice harvest), when chefs from all over the world come to compete.
Find holidays in Valencia with Which? Recommended Provider Jet2Holidays.
Algarve, Portugal
September high: 28℃
Late-season sunseekers rejoice. The Algarve is blessed with more than 100 beaches, from cliff-backed Praia da Cordoama in the wilder west to Barreta Island in the east – a deserted sandbar in the wildlife enclave of Ria Formosa Natural Park.
The little-known town of Tavira was the Algarve’s best destination in our survey of Mediterranean seaside towns. Straddling the Gilão River, it’s a working harbour with an attractive old town and an island beach that can only be reached by ferry. Visitors awarded Tavira five stars for peace, friendliness and value for money.
Find holidays in the Algarve with Which? Recommended Providers Jet2Holidays, Hays Travel and Kuoni.
Halkidiki, Greece
September high: 25℃
The mainland is often overlooked in favour of the Greek Islands. But the peninsula of Halkidiki – three crooked ‘fingers’ – has some of the best beaches, mountains and food in Greece.
The first finger, Kassandra, has glorious golden sands and lively resorts. The second finger, Sithonia, is more rugged, with isolated coves backing onto pine-carpeted hills. The third, Mount Athos, is occupied by an ancient monastic community.
The Agean sea is at its warmest at this time of year. Greece’s second-city, Thessaloniki – with its Byzantine walls, Roman ruins and lively waterfront bars – is just an hour or so away.
Find Halkidiki holidays with Which? Recommended Providers Jet2Holidays, Hays Travel, Kuoni and Trailfinders.
Best long-haul holiday destination in September: Perth, Australia
September high: 20℃
Australia’s most remote city offers plenty of laid back charm. September marks the start of spring, when temperatures are at their most pleasant – expect highs of 20℃ and eight hours of sunshine a day.
For culture, you’ll find independent shops and a thriving food scene in the Northbridge district, not to mention the city’s best museums, theatres and galleries.
Western Australia’s oldest wine region, Swan Valley, is also just a 30-minute drive from the city. Enjoy a top-notch glass of shiraz under the shade of a eucalyptus tree at one of its family-run vineyards. September is the perfect month to walk its wildflower trails to see rare varieties that bloom nowhere else on Earth.
Rottnest island is another must-see, with its serene white-sand beaches and otherworldly pink lakes. It’s also famous for its adorable marsupial inhabitant, the quokka.
Find holidays to Perth with Which? Recommended Providers Audley Travel, Kuoni and Trailfinders.
