The first month of shoulder season may just be the best month to travel. The tourist crowds thin out. Flight and hotel prices drop. And with the sun still shining there are plenty of places where it’s hot in September.
With summer fading into fall across the Northern Hemisphere it can be hard to say goodbye to long, warm days. But September serves up some of the best opportunities to soak up the last rays of sun.
The Southern Hemisphere too is springing into life, with temperatures warm and humidity still low before the monsoons arrive.
The 10 hottest countries to visit in September
The weather in September in Europe is often at its very best, in particular, the glorious islands and resorts spread across the Aegean and Mediterranean. While the Middle East and Northern Africa are emerging from the extremes of summer heat, light winds cooling the bath warm seas, perfect for diving.
And in the Americas, end-of-summer parties and festivals make the most of the warm September days. Here’s where is hot in September, whether you want to keep it local or head for the horizon.
| Country | Destination | Avg. temp September | Avg. hours of sun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan | Aqaba | 86°F | 11 |
| Mexico | Ensenada | 70°F | 12 |
| Turkey | Bodrum | 78°F | 10 |
| Egypt | Cairo | 80°F | 11 |
| Greece | Rhodes | 76°F | 11 |
| Portugal | Coimbra | 69°F | 9 |
| Australia | Whitsunday Islands | 72°F | 9 |
| Morocco | Atlantic Coast | 72°F | 9 |
| USA | Los Angeles | 74°F | 10 |
Learn more about where it’s hot in September
1. Aqaba, Jordan
- Average September temperature: 86°F
- Average hours of daily sun: 11 hours
- Suitable for: Solo Travel, Family Travel, Couples Travel, Budget Travel
At the tip of the northernmost prong of the Red Sea, Aqaba is easily overlooked for Egypt’s big dive resorts. Many use it as little more than a stopover en route to Jordan’s spectacular destinations – Wadi Rum and Petra.
That, however, would mean you miss Aqaba’s magical public and private beaches and offshore underwater wonderland. Summer in September is when Aqaba’s diving prowess really shines. Air temperatures cool to a still sizzling daily average of 86°F and the water is at its warmest.
Cheaper and less touristy than its famed neighbor Sharm el-Sheikh, there are plenty of boating, diving, and snorkeling operations. Aqaba Moon Divers is great and offers a range of trips and dive courses. If you’re experienced, don’t miss the extraordinary underwater military museum complete with a US Army tank.
2. Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
- Average September temperature: 70°F
- Average hours of daily sun: 12 hours
- Suitable for: Solo Travel, Couples Travel, Budget Travel, Backpacking
A two-hour drive across the border from San Diego lands you in Ensenada. A bustling port city, it’s still warm enough in September to justify spending entire days lazing on its beaches, especially those to the south.
Surfers should head for Playa San Miguel, families to tranquil Playa Estero, and couples for picturesque Punta Banda with its views over Bahia de Todos Santos.
With sand and salt water washed away, the evenings are all about tostadas and margaritas. For the latter, there’s only one place to go – Hussong’s Cantina. Legend has it the margarita was invented here in 1941 for the daughter of the German ambassador, but that matters not. Hussong’s is a riot – locals and tourists rubbing shoulders to the clink of glasses and the crunch of peanuts underfoot.
For food, head to La Guerrerense, the street food cart lauded by Anthony Bourdain as one of the best in the world. While their tostada de ceviche is undeniably delicious, almost all the street vendors I tried were just as good.
3. Bodrum, Turkey
- Average September temperature: 78°F
- Average hours of daily sun: 10 hours
- Suitable for: Family Travel, Couples Travel, Luxury Travel
The Bodrum Peninsula on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast is a well-trodden jewel among beach holiday destinations. One of the best places for sun in September, it averages ten hours of sun daily with temperatures regularly into the 80s.
Ringed by crystal waters of the Aegean Sea (still warm by the way) it’s dotted with pretty coastal villages. Skip Bodrum town and head to the north coast where luxury hotels drop their prices for shoulder season amid fashionable villages like Türkbükü and Tobra.
My pick is the lovely Macakizi Bodrum for an unrivaled bayside setting. Its beach club, a network of wooden boardwalks extending out over the turquoise Aegean, is the perfect place to laze on daybeds and soak up the fading summer sun.
4. Cairo, Egypt
- Average September temperature: 80°F
- Average hours of daily sun: 11 hours
- Suitable for: Group Travel, Couples Travel, Luxury Travel
Cairo in September is magic. The crazy highs of July and August are gone with the temperatures hovering around a much more manageable 80°F. Still hot, yes. But with 11 hours of daily sun, you can shelter from the peak heat with time left to explore. You won’t see a drop of rain either.
And what a metropolis it is to explore! The city of a thousand minarets is breathtaking in its Islamic splendor, particularly at dawn and dusk.
The Khan el-Khalili bazaar, unchanged since the 14th century, is a sensory assault of spices and perfumes. Wekala al-Balaq street market is the place to pick up a new bed set of super soft Egyptian cotton. You may be less tempted to buy something at the camel market, but that doesn’t mean you should miss it.
Out of the searing summer heat, the Pyramids of Giza are much more fun to explore. That’s especially true of the desert plateau that surrounds the three pyramids Khufru, Khafre, and Menkaure. Here you’ll find tombs, temples and smaller pyramids that have also stood for thousands of years.
5. Rhodes, Greece
- Average September temperature: 76°F
- Average hours of daily sun: 11 hours
- Suitable for: Family Travel, Group Travel, Couples Travel, Luxury Travel
With temperatures regularly climbing into the low 80s, Rhodes, Greece is the epitome of where’s hot and dry in September. It’s not just the weather either – the Mediterranean retains its summer blue hues and heat. And the welcome of the Greek people is, if anything, even warmer than in peak summer months.
The sandy and secluded beaches take on a quieter, more relaxed character. The commotion of Faliraki slowly dies down. The cobbled streets of Lindos become more navigable and the extraordinary Acropolis at its peak more accessible.
There’s no better time to dive into Rhodes’ history with warm summer evenings ripe for exploring. A walking tour in the footsteps of the Knights Templar takes you through the capital’s medieval Old Town, the largest and most intact anywhere in Europe. End your evening on one of the many restaurant terraces – Marco Polo and Wonder are both lovely.
6. Coimbra, Portugal
- Average September temperature: 69°F
- Average hours of daily sun: 9 hours
- Suitable for: Family Travel, Couples Travel, Budget Travel, LGBTQ
Just 90 minutes by car or train from Porto lies the medieval riverfront city of Coimbra. One of the most atmospheric and historic in Portugal, it tumbles down a hill and over the Mondego River. The Old Town is particularly lovely in September when it’s cool enough to manage the steep, winding streets.
Climb them and you’ll arrive at the city’s historic UNESCO World Heritage university, one of the oldest in Europe. Reportedly an inspiration to JK Rowling’s Hogwarts in Harry Potter, it’s baroque library and 18th-century bell tower are exquisite. As are the views across red rooftops to the river beyond.
And if the temperatures do soar, the lovely seaside town of Figueira da Foz is less than an hour away. With enormous beaches and a lovely seafront esplanade, it’s one of the best places in Europe for sun in September.
7. Whitsunday Islands, Australia
- Average September temperature: 72°F
- Average hours of daily sun: 9 hours
- Suitable for: Solo Travel, Couples Travel, Luxury Travel, Backpacking
It’s the start of spring in the Southern Hemisphere with much of Australia turning hot and sunny in September. Off the Queensland coast just far enough from the backpacking party scene of Airlie Beach sit the Whitsundays.
A cluster of 74 mostly uninhabited island paradises, they are Australia’s finest natural playground. Next to the Great Barrier Reef, they’re adorned with beaches that regularly top “world’s best” lists. Long have they been a magnet for sailors, fishers, divers and nowadays, influencers in search of the perfect shot.
Most famous is Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island with its five-ish miles of powder-white sand and phosphorescent blue water. Bushwalking and beach camping make for unrivaled Great Outdoors experiences. Or if you’re feeling plush, head to Hamilton Island for its luxury resorts and epic seafood restaurants.
8. Atlantic Coast, Morocco
- Average September temperature: 72°F
- Average hours of daily sun: 9 hours
- Suitable for: Solo Travel, Couples Travel, Budget Travel, Backpacking
Morocco’s Atlantic Coast is a sun-drenched, beach-laden oasis. As the cloying heat of summer lifts, September brings in a month of warm and dry weather helpfully fanned by coastal trade winds.
Kickstart a road trip with a day in Agadir on its beachfront promenade for a soft introduction to the Moroccan way of life. Head north to laid-back Taghazout made famous by the surf that turned this sleepy fishing village into a mini mecca for wellness practitioners and hippies. Morning yoga on the beach, the herby smell of burning kif ripe in the air.
Further north sits bohemian Essaouira, the wind and kitesurfing capital and resort of choice for rock stars throughout the ages. Heading for Casablanca, stop off at the sheltered lagoon of Oualidia for a dip in the sea where Moroccan royals learned to surf.
9. Los Angeles, USA
- Average September temperature: 74°F
- Average hours of daily sun: 10 hours
- Suitable for: Couples Travel, Luxury Travel, LGBTQ, Backpacking
Skip LA’s inner-city and head for the beaches of Malibu, Santa Monica, and Venice. While the Pacific never gets warm exactly, the glistening bodies of LA’s suntanning elite should be enough to convince you the beach is still the right decision.
Labor Day weekend is the last outing for many vacationers, which leaves the rest of the month blissfully quiet. Or as quiet as LA’s beaches get, anyway.
Bike the boardwalk north from Venice dodging in-line skaters, bodybuilders, and the mania of beach life on the way. In Santa Monica, stop off at Crudo e Nudo to throw back some oysters on the half shell. Then onwards to Malibu for sundowners at Malibu Farm Restaurant. A perfect LA day.
The last Sunday of the month sees Abbot Kinney in Venice, “the world’s coolest street”, throw its 34th street festival. Live music, beer gardens, hundreds of vendors and food stalls cooking under the September sun.
10. Malta
- Average September temperature: 76°F
- Average hours of daily sun: 9 hours
- Suitable for: Family Travel, Group Travel, Couples Travel, Luxury Travel
Malta is one of the most versatile and exotic island countries that stay warm in September. For a tiny archipelago, it packs a big punch.
The clearest waters in the Mediterranean make mind-blowing watersports a daily experience. For diving head to Dwejra or Comino. For beach lazing and warm water swimming, try Mellieha.
Malta’s intense and multicultural history has left its mark across its islands. UNESCO-listed Neolithic temples, baroque cathedrals, and modern masterpieces like the City Gate are among its all-star lineup. You’ll see an awful lot in a small area and will probably recognize many from blockbusters like Gladiator and Game of Thrones.
On September 8th you can join Il-Vitorja, “Victory Day”. A public feast, it celebrates the end of the Great Siege of Malta by the Ottoman Empire. Expect concerts, fireworks, and lots and lots of amazing food.
Find more hot destinations
If the thought of lower prices, smaller crowds, and the prolonged summer sun hasn’t inspired you, our other guides will! For fall travel without worrying about the warmth, check out our guide to the best places to visit in September, August, and July.
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