Whether you're planning a September weekend away with family or friends or a week-long holiday in the sun, this can be a perfect time to go. Queues for top attractions are not so long, children are back at school, and the tastiest bounties of the year have all ripened. Check out some of the fruitiest wines when you visit Italy in September or simply enjoy the peace and solitude during hikes in Scotland or on visits to the beach.
In keeping with Keats' poem "To Autumn" noted above, touring the Scottish Highlands in September is a perfect way to celebrate this colourful season of the year. Keats walked the Highlands around 200 years back, and you can follow his footsteps throughout your visit. The rusty tones of moorland heathers, soaring peaks, and sparkling lochs look their best as summer draws to an end. Catch a glimpse of red squirrels and deer on your travels, or simply revel in some of the Scottish harvest highlights found at farmers' markets or local shops, including oysters, pumpkins, late tomatoes, and mega juicy mushrooms.
The delights of historic Italy draw visitors at all times of year, but one of the country's best kept secrets for autumn is that its sun-kissed southern resorts are heaps more pleasant during September. Experience the sunshine and warm oceans of Sicily or the Amalfi coastline during any visit. And, take time to learn about Italian culture and food during this extra special, fall season holiday.
Greece is another September hotspot well worth a visit as the peak holiday season draws to a close, and sunsets over the glistening ocean will be a particular highlight. Summer months can be hot and sticky throughout Greece, but September holidaymakers experience the best of the sun, alongside plenty of opportunities to sit outdoors all evening and chew the fat over a couple of bottles of local wine and ouzo. Top island destinations for September include Crete, Mykonos, and Kefalonia.
