September is a great time to visit Europe, due to the great weather and various festivities going on throughout the continent. However, when planning an international trip with an endless bucket list of places you want to visit, it can be hard to narrow down which country (or countries), you want to prioritize for your next vacation. Keep reading to learn more about our top European destinations for September.
Key Takeaways
- There are so many great places to check out in Europe in September, including Germany, Iceland, Italy, and Greece.
- If you are looking to check out a festival or to party, Germany is our recommended destination due to the famous Oktoberfest festival.
- If you are looking for time at the beach, we recommend checking out a Greek island or Malaga, Spain.
- If you want to check out a historic European city, we recommend Florence, Rome, and Barcelona.
Germany
If you want to check out a festival, September may be the best time of year to visit Germany. Read our top destinations below:
1. Munich
Perhaps the most famous festival in the world, Oktoberfest features beer tents and fair rides. 6-7 million people attend this yearly event, with about 7 million liters of beer being consumed.
The name “Oktoberfest” is a bit of a misnomer, since most of the festival takes place in September. It can last anywhere from 16 to 18 days and if you want to drink beer, you should reserve a spot in a tent in advance. Otherwise, you will have to get there really early (we’re talking like 5am) or you will have to miss out on drinking any beer.
Outside of Oktoberfest, Munich is a really cool city to check out, with the Hofbräuhaus (more beer!), the surfers, and castles (which are only a drive away).
2. Stuttgart
If you are interested in attending a German beer festival, but are overwhelmed by the sheer size of the official Oktoberfest, Stuttgart could be the right destination for you! The Cannstatter Volksfest is a three-week fair filled with rides and beer. Plus, it’s a good excuse to wear Lederhosen.
3. Heidelberg
Known as one of the most beautiful cities in Germany, Heidelberg is well worth a visit. This city offers a rich history and is an interesting fusion between Baroque buildings and medieval streets. In September, they have an annual event known as the Schlossbeleuchtung (The Illumination of the Castle). We recommend watching the fireworks from the old bridge which goes over the Neckar.
I lived here when I was 21 and fell in love with the city. It has beautiful hiking trails (such as Philosopher’s Way), interesting history (including a student prison), and its very own castle. Plus, if you are looking for some cool bars in Heidelberg, check out Unterestrasse. There are a lot of historic places with cool drinks and plenty of beer.
Greece
We love the Greek islands and September is one of best times to go. It’s still warm, a lot is still open, and there are far fewer tourists. Below are some of our recommendations for destinations to visit.
4. Lindos, Rhodes
Rhodes is still very warm with the highs ranging between 84 to 79 and the lows falling to 75 to 70. This makes it perfect for swimming and sitting on the beach.
Lindos in particular is a beautiful town. It is situated on the side of cliffs, with the crystal blue water of the beaches below. At the top of the hill is a fort, where you can soak in the views.
Similar to Santorini, it has the whitewashed walls and pedestrian zones, so you can explore and get lost in the maze of shops. We recommend visiting the various rooftop restaurants and stopping by our favorite cocktail place (Crazy Moon) for drinks later.
The beach in Lindos. Look at that water!
5. Naoussa, Paros
Naoussa, Paros, feels like you are stepping into an Instagram post, that feels too beautiful to be real.
Situated right along the water, you can walk along the walls to explore a fort while looking out at the ocean. There are tons of beachside restaurants, clubs, and bars. Plus, Naoussa has a great nightlife.
Italy
6. Florence
I spent two weeks here while taking an art course, and it was magical. Florence is filled with art, good food, and friendly people. We recommend taking a guided tour when coming here, since the city has such a rich history. From Michelangelo to the Medici family, Florence played a large role in the Renaissance.
If you are also looking to travel cheaply in Europe, there are also a ton of free sites in Florence, due to the city’s vast collection of art housed in churches and outside in open-air museums.
7. Rome
Filled with historical sites, such as the Colosseum, the Sistine Chapel, and the Trevi Fountain, there is so much to see and do in Rome. You could spend days here, while checking out sites from the Roman Empire to the Renaissance.
Pro Tip: If you are struggling between Rome and Florence, we recommend doing both. It’s really easy to get from Rome to Florence. Both cities offer something unique.
8. Positano, The Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is incredibly beautiful with its homes that span the cliffs. Before my two-week class in Florence, my partner and I spent a few days here and fell in love with the views, the food, and the beach.
The best views of the Amalfi are higher up, though this will involve a lot of stairs. If you choose to stay on the cliffs, there are special cabs that will take you from downtown to your final destination if you bring luggage. Just look for them right near the port.
The downtown has a mix of shops and restaurants. My favorite was Resturante Bruno, where I ate a simple pasta dish with olive oil and spices (so good) and my partner’s favorite meal of our whole trip was at Chez Black. We also recommend trying the Limoncello, which was delicious.
Pro Tip: We recommend going to the Path of the Gods. You can easily reach here by bus.
Cyprus
9. Paphos
SDanck and I went here with a friend of ours. The city is beautiful and has a very local feel. If you are a runner like me (or even if you like long walks), you’ll appreciate the path along the waterfront, which spans the city and goes for miles.
While well known for the beach, don’t forget to check out the Archaeological Park to learn more about the local history.
Croatia
10. Dubrovnik
If you are a Game of Thrones fan (or at least were a Game of Thrones fan before the final season), you will recognize Dubrovnik as King’s Landing. Star Wars was also filmed here, so we recommend taking a tour, which can showcase the various filming sites of each movie.
This is where Sansa left King’s Landing!
Spoiler: KDancks wins the Game of Thrones
Overlooking Dubravnik
Outside of its movie fame, Dubrovnik is a beautiful city. You can walk along the castle walls and explore the various shops and restaurants.
11. Plitvice Lakes
This is a beautiful natural park filled with waterfalls and numerous trails. Be prepared to spend the entire day here, since the park is very large. The highs average around 72 degrees, while the lows are around 52 degrees, making it great weather for hiking and walking around.
Iceland
12. Reykjavik
September through April are the ideal times to see the northern lights, due to the longer nights. However, it’s not guaranteed to see them, so September in particular is a great time to go, since the weather is still good for hiking and the days aren’t too short yet.
While in Reykjavik, we recommend checking out the famous church, the Lava Show and doing a free walking tour of the city.
Spain
13. Barcelona
The average temperature in Barcelona in September is 78.8 degrees Fahrenheit, making this an ideal time to visit, especially since key sights such as Park Güell are all outside. While here, we recommend checking out anything created by Gaudi. He was an influential architect and his work is so mesmerizing. In particular,Park Güell is really cool and has great views of the city.
For the best views, we recommend going to the Bunkers at sunset. Bring a picnic and some wine as you look at the city below.
14. Malaga
Malaga is right at the coast and is a little cooler than the rest of Spain. It has some beautiful beaches and great weather. However, it can get crowded here, since the weather is great.
Malaga, Spain
Tinto de Verrano: We recommend trying this while in Spain
The beach
Portugal
15. Porto
If you love wine, Porto could be the perfect destination for you. My friends and I went while living in Heidelberg, since the flights were so cheap via Ryanair (probably about 15 Euros at the time). We highly recommend going wine tasting and sampling some famous port wine. We also recommend checking out the most beautiful book shop in the world and taking a boat downtown.
Porto, Portugal
Final Thoughts
What’s your favorite European city to visit in September? Leave your recommendations in the comments below.
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