The great European summer holiday rush is over. The crowds have packed their tanning lotion and gone home, the scorching August heat has mellowed into a pleasant, golden warmth, and the entire continent seems to heave a collective, contented sigh of relief. This, right here, is the sweet spot.
September is the month the travel insiders cherish. It’s when you can experience Europe at its most authentic, swapping sweaty queues for serene strolls and frantic energy for a relaxed, local vibe. Ready to take advantage of the best month of the year? Here are the European cities that truly come into their own in September.
Ljubljana, Slovenia
If a city could be a charming, unassuming friend you instantly love, it would be Ljubljana. Slovenia’s capital is a fairytale of a place, with a dragon-guarded bridge, a castle perched on a hill, and a jade-green river running through its center.
In September, the weather is perfect for doing what the locals do best: sitting at a riverside café with a coffee or a glass of wine. The student population returns, giving the city a vibrant buzz without the tourist-heavy crowds of summer. It’s impossibly green, ridiculously friendly, and the ideal spot for a relaxed city break.
Porto, Portugal
September in Porto and the surrounding Douro Valley means one thing: the wine harvest. The entire region is humming with the energy of the vindima. This is the perfect time to tour the famous port wine lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia, perhaps even taking a day trip into the valley to see the grape-picking in action.
The ferocious summer heat has subsided, making it far more pleasant to tackle the city’s notoriously steep, cobbled streets. You can explore the colourful Ribeira district and walk across the magnificent Dom Luís I Bridge without breaking into a full sweat.
Corfu, Greece
Dreaming of a Greek island escape but shudder at the thought of packed beaches? September is your answer. In Corfu, the sea is still wonderfully warm from a whole summer of sunshine, but the crowds have thinned out dramatically. You can find a beautiful spot on the sand without having to strategically place your towel two inches from a stranger.
The weather is still brilliant for swimming and boating, and exploring the elegant, Venetian-style streets of Corfu Old Town becomes a joy rather than a sweltering endurance test. It’s all the beauty, with half the people.
York, England
As a faint, crisp chill begins to tinge the air, historic cities like York are at their best. September is the perfect time for a cozy, atmospheric getaway before the proper cold sets in. You can wander through the absurdly crooked medieval street that looks like it fell out of a Harry Potter book and duck into a centuries-old pub for a pint.
The evenings are ideal for one of the city’s famous ghost tours, where the history feels a little spookier as the nights start to draw in. Walk the ancient city walls and soak up the atmosphere for a perfectly British getaway.
Munich, Germany
Despite what the name suggests, Oktoberfest actually kicks off in the second half of September, and Munich is the place to be. This isn’t just a beer festival; it’s the world’s biggest party, a full-throttle celebration of Bavarian culture.
Don your lederhosen or dirndl and head to the Theresienwiese fairgrounds for giant steins of beer, massive pretzels, and joyous singing in colossal tents. The atmosphere is electric. Even if the festival isn’t your main goal, the city is buzzing with energy, and the autumn colors in the English Garden are spectacular. This might be the most German thing to do and it is worth every beer-induced headache.
Barcelona, Spain
Visiting Barcelona in July or August can be a trial by fire, a battle against oppressive heat and heaving crowds. But, visit in September, and you’ll wonder what all the fuss was about. The weather is sublime being warm enough for the beach but mild enough to explore the Gothic Quarter or Park Güell without melting. The city breathes again although the crowds pick up again for the spectacular La Mercè Festival at the end of the month.
You can wander Las Ramblas (if you dare…) without being swept away by a human tide and might even get a table at that tapas bar you read about. It’s the perfect balance of sunshine and sanity and sangria still tastes just as good in September.
Evora, Portugal
If you want to step back in time without the crowds of Lisbon or Porto, Evora is your answer. This stunning city sits in the middle of the sun-drenched Alentejo region, and September offers relief from the intense summer heat. This makes exploring its historical wonders like the incredible Roman Temple or the slightly terrifying Chapel of Bones a far more pleasant experience.
The pace of life is slow, the food is hearty, and the surrounding plains are famous for their cork trees and wineries. It’s a truly authentic Portuguese escape and might just be the “next big thing” on all European bucket list destinations.
Rome, Italy
Rome in summer can be brutal when the heat radiating off the ancient stone can make sightseeing feel like a marathon in a sauna. But Rome in September? Bellissima. The golden autumn light makes the city look even more magical, and the temperature is perfect for long, lazy strolls between the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Trevi Fountain.
You can sit at a pavement café in Trastevere, enjoying a plate of cacio e pepe without feeling frazzled. The city is still lively, but the edge has been taken off, leaving only pure, unadulterated Italian charm. And to top it all off, your gilatoo might even melt a little slower, giving you more time to savor it.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
September casts a special kind of magic on Amsterdam. The light slanting across the canals is beautiful, the city’s trees begin to show the first hints of autumn colour, and the hordes of summer tourists have dissipated. This is your chance to hire a bike and explore the city’s charming streets without constantly dodging massive tour groups (just dodging the Dutch cyclists).
The queues for major attractions like the Anne Frank House and the Rijksmuseum are shorter, and the whole city just feels more relaxed. It’s the ideal time to experience Amsterdam like a local. And when the inevitable rain sets in, just order more krokketten!
Cordoba, Spain
Famous for being one of the hottest cities in Europe, Cordoba in high summer is best viewed from inside an air-conditioned room. In September, however, the city becomes a paradise. The ferocious heat finally breaks, allowing you to comfortably explore its main attraction, the breathtaking Mezquita-Cathedral which is a jaw-dropping former mosque.
You can get lost in the winding streets of the old Jewish Quarter and wander through the city’s famous flower-filled patios, which are often still in bloom. It’s all the charm of Andalusia without the risk of spontaneously combusting. But just know that you might still need to take a small siesta as per tradition!
Aarhus, Denmark
For a dose of cool Scandi design and a laid-back vibe, skip Copenhagen and head to Denmark’s second city. Aarhus is a vibrant university town with a youthful energy. September brings crisp, fresh air that’s perfect for exploring. And you might even have a few extra dark hours to sleep as the sun starts to rise a little later.
Check out the Den Gamle By (an open-air old town museum) or walk through the iconic rainbow-coloured rooftop walkway of the ARoS Art Museum for incredible city views. The city is compact, easily walkable, and full of fantastic cafes and restaurants where you can embrace the Danish concept of hygge as autumn rolls in.
Bordeaux, France
Like its Portuguese counterpart, the Bordeaux region is a hive of activity in September as the annual grape harvest (les vendanges) gets underway. For any wine lover, this is a pilgrimage. The city of Bordeaux itself is a stunner, with elegant 18th-century architecture, grand public squares, and a world-class food scene.
You can use the city as a base to take tours through the famous wine-growing areas of Médoc and Saint-Émilion, tasting the world’s most famous red wines right at the source. Or simply stay in the city and check out the incredible wine museum on the banks of the Garonne. It’s sophisticated, delicious, and quintessentially French.