Language 
Best places to travel in September 2026: Where to go this Spring?
Find the best places to travel in September 2026, with weather, crowds, events and practical tips for Australians planning a spring getaway.
September is one of the best months for Australians to travel. Spring is beginning at home, Europe is moving into its quieter shoulder season, Bali is near the end of its dry season, and Japan is gradually shifting from humid summer weather into early autumn.
It can also be a convenient time for family travel. In 2026, Term 3 holidays begin around 19 September in Queensland and Victoria, while Western Australia and South Australia start their breaks later in the month.
This guide gives you an overview of where to travel in September, covering short-haul favourites from Australia, European shoulder-season escapes, wildlife adventures, and spring destinations closer to home.
An eSIM you can rely on
Join over 10 million Holafly customers and get connected with our trusted, global services.
Why travel in September?
September gives Australians access to two very different travel seasons. At home and across New Zealand, spring brings longer days, fresh landscapes, and opportunities for outdoor trips. In the Northern Hemisphere, the busiest summer period is ending, but many coastal resorts, restaurants, and attractions are still operating.
Flights and accommodation are not automatically cheap, especially once Australian school holidays begin. However, travelling in early or mid-September can offer better availability than July and August, particularly in Europe.
The weather is also generally more manageable. You can avoid the hottest part of the Mediterranean summer, catch the final dry-season weeks in Bali, or plan a safari before southern Africa’s rains return.
Short-haul favourites from Australia
For a trip of around one or two weeks, these September holiday destinations offer relatively straightforward connections from major Australian cities.
Bali, Indonesia
Bali remains one of the best cheap destinations for Australians, with competitive airfares, a wide range of accommodation, and generally lower day-to-day costs than many long-haul options. Travelling to Bali from Australia is quite straightforward since multiple direct flights are operating from several Australian capitals. It is particularly convenient to fly from Perth and Darwin.
September usually falls near the end of Bali’s dry season. Conditions are typically warm, with lower rainfall than during the main wet-season months, making it a good time for beaches, waterfalls, rice terraces, and day trips.
Kyoto, Japan
Based on the Japan travel guide, Kyoto is a good choice when deciding where to travel in September for food, temples, and city sightseeing, rather than full autumn foliage.
The month begins warm and humid, with average conditions generally becoming more comfortable towards the end of September. Although it is not peak foliage season yet, it is still a great time to explore things to do in Kyoto, including Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama, and Kiyomizu-dera, before the main late-autumn rush.
New Zealand’s South Island
New Zealand’s South Island gives Australians a spring holiday without a major time-zone adjustment. September marks the beginning of spring, but conditions can still feel wintry, especially around Queenstown, Wānaka, Aoraki/Mount Cook, and higher alpine roads.
If you plan to connect several regions, a New Zealand road trip gives you more flexibility, although you should allow extra time for changeable spring conditions. The crisp sunshine can quickly shift to cooler temperatures and spring showers.
That variability is part of the appeal. Depending on the year and location, you may still find late-season skiing around Queenstown and Wānaka while lower-altitude areas begin showing signs of spring.
Europe in shoulder season
September is one of the best times for Australians to make a long-haul European trip. The journey is still substantial, but you arrive after much of Europe’s peak holiday period and before shorter autumn days set in.
Consider a Europe eSIM if you’re planning a multi-country itinerary, which will help you stay connected across several destinations without arranging a new SIM in each country.
Amalfi Coast, Italy
Visiting the Amalfi Coast is one of the best things to do in Europe, and it’s more manageable in September than during the height of July and August. The weather is generally still suitable for swimming and boat trips, while the intense midsummer heat begins to ease.
Positano, Amalfi, and Capri remain popular, so ferries, narrow roads, and buses may still be crowded, particularly on weekends and during the first half of the month.
For Australians making the long trip, the coast works best as part of a broader Italian itinerary rather than a rushed standalone break. Allow several nights in one base instead of changing hotels daily, and avoid relying on a hire car unless you are comfortable with narrow coastal roads and limited parking.
Greek Islands
The Greek Islands are among the best places to visit in September if you want a European beach holiday without the strongest summer heat.
You can enjoy the gently hot weather and soak up the sun in September, and islands such as Crete, Rhodes, Naxos, and Paros usually retain a lively atmosphere. Accommodation demand may also soften as European summer holidays end.
Santorini and Mykonos are often seen as the best places to visit in Greece, so they remain popular in September. That being said, the cruise arrivals and premium prices do not disappear immediately. If you’re looking for better value, consider larger or less nightlife-focused islands and travel later in the month.
Munich, Germany
Munich offers a completely different September trip. Rather than beaches, you get beer gardens, historic architecture, easy day trips into Bavaria, and the beginning of Oktoberfest.
Despite its name, Oktoberfest usually begins in the second half of September and continues into early October. This makes Munich one of the busiest September holiday destinations in Europe, rather than a low-crowd shoulder-season option.
Book accommodation well ahead if the festival is central to your trip. Staying near an S-Bahn or U-Bahn station outside the immediate city centre can be more affordable than searching around the festival grounds.
Wildlife and nature escapes
For a major wildlife trip, September brings dry conditions and strong animal-viewing opportunities across parts of southern and eastern Africa.
Namibia
Namibia suits Australians who want wide-open landscapes, self-drive travel, and wildlife without building the entire trip around a traditional guided safari.
September is within the dry season and is a popular time to visit Etosha National Park. With little rain, wildlife tends to gather around waterholes, improving your chances of seeing elephants, giraffes, zebras, and antelope.
Outside Etosha, you can combine desert scenery around Sossusvlei with the coast at Swakopmund and the landscapes of Damaraland.
Kenya
September is one of Kenya’s busiest safari months because that is usually when the Great Migration happens and moves through the Maasai Mara. Large herds may be present between July and October, although exact movements and river crossings depend on rainfall and cannot be guaranteed for a particular date.
That uncertainty is important when planning. Choose Kenya for the broader safari experience rather than booking solely to witness one dramatic crossing.
The dry conditions also tend to make wildlife easier to spot around water sources. Because September is a high-demand period, camps and lodges in prime areas can be expensive and should be reserved well in advance.
Spring escapes at home in Australia
You do not need to cross several time zones to find some of the best places to travel in September. Spring brings distinctive seasonal experiences within Australia, with no international flights or immigration formalities required.
Western Australia’s wildflower country
September is one of the standout months for seeing Western Australia’s wildflowers. By September, blooms can be found around Perth, the Swan Valley, the Wheatbelt, and parts of the Coral Coast and Golden Outback.
Kings Park alone contains thousands of native plant species and is one of the easiest options for Australians planning a city break rather than a long self-drive itinerary.
From the eastern states, flying to Perth and hiring a car is usually the most practical approach. Western Australians can turn the season into a weekend road trip through areas such as Wongan Hills, Dalwallinu, or the northern Wheatbelt.
Tasmania
Tasmania is a quieter domestic option for Australians who prefer cool-weather walks, food, and scenic drives to a warm beach holiday.
September is early spring, so conditions remain changeable. Snow is still possible in elevated areas, while lower regions begin to see spring growth and longer daylight hours. Pack waterproof outerwear and warm layers even when the forecast looks mild.
Things to do in Tasmania include exploring Hobart, the Tasman Peninsula, the east coast, or the Tamar Valley before the summer road-trip season. Some alpine walks may still face snow, ice, or temporary closures, so check Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service updates before setting out.
Tips for planning a September trip
- Check your state’s school-holiday dates: Queensland and Victoria begin their 2026 breaks earlier than Western Australia and South Australia, which can affect flight demand at different points in the month.
- Compare early and late September: Early September may offer better value in Europe, while late September can bring cooler weather and fewer Northern Hemisphere holidaymakers.
- Book event-based trips early: Munich during Oktoberfest and Kenya during migration season require more advance planning than an ordinary shoulder-season city break.
- Pack for transitional weather: Bring layers for Japan, New Zealand, Tasmania, and Europe rather than assuming September will feel like the Australian spring.
- Allow for weather disruption: Typhoons can affect Japan, tropical showers remain possible in Bali, and alpine conditions can change quickly in New Zealand and Tasmania.
- Check seasonal transport: Ferries, mountain roads, walking tracks, and regional tours may operate on reduced or weather-dependent schedules.
Stay connected on your September trip with Holafly
Long-haul flights out of Australia tend to land you somewhere you need to be online immediately — confirming a Bali airport transfer at 1am or finding your Kyoto guesthouse. An eSIM for Japan or our eSIM for Europe gives you unlimited data with speeds up to 5G, backed by 24/7 customer support if anything needs sorting mid-trip.
Trips rarely finish exactly on schedule. If your flight home from Munich is delayed, or your plan runs out while you’re still arranging a ride to Denpasar airport, Always On: 1 GB of monthly backup data keeps you reachable. Keep your Holafly eSIM installed and the 1 GB renews every month at no extra cost.
Get an unlimited data eSIM
Use code MYESIMNOW5 for 5% off at checkout
Plans that may interest you
哈囉我是來自台灣的 Wen，平常最喜歡旅遊，也喜歡將旅遊的種種化成文字跟大家分享，希望大家能在我的文章中找到有用的資訊，加上 Holafly 的 eSIM，讓你的旅程更美好！✈️✈️✈️ Hi! I'm Wen, a passionate content writer and travel enthusiast from Taiwan. I transform my wanderlust adventures into engaging stories and practical guides, helping fellow travelers make the most of their journeys.Through my articles, I strive to provide travel tips while introducing how our eSIM technology can enhance your travel experience - keeping you connected wherever your adventures take you!
