A trip to the North during the Southern Hemisphere winter months – June, July and August – is almost a requisite pilgrimage for Australians. It's a reprieve from the oppressive winter chill that seeps into our bones. But as crowds continue to grow and temperatures continue to rise, there are some destinations that are no longer as pleasant to visit during peak seasons as they once were.
In the summer sun, even a mild 25 degrees can start to feel like 35. Especially if you're in the concrete jungle of an international metropolis. Dreams of a summer vacation wandering down cobblestone lanes with bouncy hair in a sundress can quickly turn to sweaty feet, clinging fabrics and inescapable crowds. Its for this reason (and many others), that we're convinced so many Northern Hemisphere locations can be far more enjoyable when visited in September.
Just outside of peak season, September means that many of the crowds have headed on home, and the high temperatures have subsided. Yes, it's still sun and sea weather, but the unbearable heatwaves are done and dusted. It's why many experienced travellers are choosing to delay their trips by a few weeks, so they can ultimately have a more enjoyable time.
If you're planning a September sojourn (and yes, there is still time), these are the Northern Hemisphere locations that we firmly believe are better visited in September.
1. The South of Italy
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Average daily high temperatures in July and August can be 30 degrees or more in regions like Puglia and Calabria. In parts of Sicily, it can be even higher than that. In comparison, September has an average high of around 26 degrees. While still hot, its a much more pleasant temperature for exploring the cities before jumping into the ocean for an afternoon swim. Plus, there is a period in August where many businesses will close for the holidays. So, a September holiday means you'll miss the shutdown.
2. The South of Spain
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It's not uncommon to be sightseeing in 40 degree heat and swarms of crowds if you choose to visit the South of Spain in the height of summer. For example, Seville has an average daily high of 36 degrees for most of summer. This can make exploring the sights of these stone and concrete cities a balmy affair. In September, the average temperature is about four or five degrees lower, making it a much more comfortable experience when exploring sights like the Alcazar or the Alhambra. Plus, many of the crowds will have gone home.
3. Japan
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The summer months in Japan can be oppressively hot — to the point that many travel experts recommend against visiting during the summer period altogether. For context, August's average daily high is 33 degrees in Osaka. It gets hot! September, on the other hand is the beginning of the autumn season, which actually rivals cherry blossom season for its beauty. Particularly around Kyoto, the changing bronze and auburn leaves create a feast for the eyes. However, it does mean that it's a very popular time to travel and you won't beat the crowds. But you'll have more comfortable weather when you do.
4. Greece
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Greek summers, especially on the mainland, are not for everyone. Athens has an average daily high temperature of 34 degrees for most of summer. Trekking uphill to the Parthenon is a real challenge in this heat – I tried it and nearly passed out. But in September, the temperature drops by around five degrees. Which means it's still stinking hot, but a more walkable temperature for exploring some of Greece's most important landmarks.
As for the islands, the Cyclades for example will still have daily high temperatures of around 26 degrees all through September. And the water temperature is even warmer than it is in June. It's arguably the perfect month to explore the islands.
5. Turkiye
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For pleasant weather and far smaller crowds, September is a much better time to visit Turkiye than the summer months. Especially, if you're planning to visit a few different locations. September means the inland locations won't be quite as hot, and as for the coast, it's still great swimming weather but with fewer crowds. Istanbul has average high temperatures of around 25 degrees and islands like Bozcaada will be around 26 degrees.
6. Singapore
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Temperature is not as much of a concern when planning a trip to Singapore. It's nearly the same temperature all year round, instead you need to look out for rain. Rain is unavoidable in Singapore and it rains almost every day. Luckily it only lasts for 30 minutes to a couple of hours, and then dries up as quick as it came. But September is one of the months with the lowest average rainfall, making it one of the best times to walk around and see the sights. Additionally, September is the month of many of the Mid-Autumn Festival activities and sometimes even the Grand Prix. There's a sense of whimsy through the whole country and arguably, it's the most exciting time to experience this city nation.
7. Egypt
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In the summer seasons, daytime temperatures in Egypt range between 30 to 40 degrees. And the further inland you go, the hotter it gets. As a result, the shoulder seasons have always been considered the best time to visit Egypt. The slightly cooler temperatures in the shoulder seasons means exploring many of the historical sights is a much easier experience. But of course that does make them the most popular times to visit. Of the shoulder season months, September however will be the least crowded as it is back-to-school season for many people living in the Northern Hemisphere.
8. Croatia
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Just like the South of Italy and Greece, Croatia is particularly beautiful during September. Many holiday makers have headed home, and the beaches are far less crowded. It also means the daily average high temperature will be 25 degrees in places like Dubrovnik – a much better temperature for exploring the old town and old fortresses.
9. Morocco
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Especially if you're heading to inland cities like Marrakech, it is not recommended to visit Morocco in the summer months. Instead, the shoulder seasons are the recommended time to go. Unless you're unlucky enough to be caught in a random heatwave (like I was when I visited), the shoulder seasons have temperatures from 20 to 30 degrees rather than 40 degrees or more. Also, back-to-school season for many Americans and Europeans means September is usually less crowded than some of the other shoulder season months.
10. Portugal
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If you're planning on visiting cities like Lisbon, I hope you've been practising hills and hikes. Lisbon is notoriously one of the hilliest capital cities and even short strolls can see you traversing some steep inclines. It means you'll enjoy exploring many of Portugal's best cities if the temperatures are cooler than those of high summer. The other consideration is the water temperature. Portugal's beaches come courtesy of the Atlantic Ocean, which means the water will never be as warm as places with access to the Mediterranean. As far as Portugal's shoulder seasons go, while the temperature is still balmy in May, the water is not. But in September, the water temperature in September is actually higher than in June and July. If you had some beach days planned, September is definitely the best month to go.
11. Malta
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Being closer to Africa than it is to most of Europe, Malta has a similar climate to the Tunisian Islands. Yes, the sea breeze offers a reprieve but the baking sun of the summer months can make this country unbearably hot. While this amazing country has some of the world's most beautiful beaches, Malta also has some of the world's most famous inland sights including Hagar Qim – one of the first evidences of human civilisation. In order to be able to explore these in-depth and at a comfortable pace, September is a far superior time to visit.
Another consideration is Malta's Festas. They run from April to October, but the peak is through July and August. It makes this period a notoriously busy time to visit. The streets are often packed with parades. In September, there are still few Festas, so you can experience the excitement of the fireworks, but there are far less than the previous months and the crowds will have died down.
12. California and Florida
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While the coast of California is pleasant all year round, heading inland to the dessert region is a totally different experience. I once visited Palm Springs in July. It was 38 degrees by 8am, and got to around 45 degrees by the middle of the day. It definitely put a dampener on my plans to ride a push bike around the streets and absorb the mid-century architecture. For this reason, September is a far superior month (compared to summer) for exploring California. It means the coastal regions are still pleasantly warm, but some of the dessert heat has dissipated. However, if you are exploring the inland desert areas only, October is an even better choice than September.
As a tropical climate, Florida is hot all year round. But the summer months do get particularly hot. Also, Florida is a very popular vacation spot for Americans during their school summer holidays. It means the summer months are not just humid and very hot, they're also the peak times for crowds. In September, the temperature drops by a couple of degrees, and school holidays will be over making it the ideal time to travel.
