Where to go in September
September is peak season for Greece, Spain and Mallorca, and 2 more of our 34 destinations are at their best. For better value, Aruba is in shoulder season (32°C highs). Skip Vietnam and Thailand: their guides call September a month to avoid.
At their best in September
5 destinations are in their best season in September, ranked by the Atlas Ranger Score for the month. The warmest is Aruba at 32°C; the driest is Greece with 18mm of rain.
Peak season
Peak season
Peak season
Peak season
Peak season
Good value in September
Aruba is the best-value pick for September: shoulder season, a score of 64 and 32°C highs, without the peak-season crowds. Koh Samui is also worth it this month.
Best value
Worth it
Where to avoid in September
26 guides warn against September. Vietnam leads the list: Worst month — typhoon peak hits central Vietnam.
- VietnamWorst monthWorst month — typhoon peak hits central Vietnam31°C · 387mmWorst time to visit Vietnam →
- ThailandWorst monthWettest month in Bangkok — peak SW monsoon31°C · 339mmWorst time to visit Thailand →
- OkinawaWorst monthTyphoon peak — the worst single month to visit31°C · 245mmWorst time to visit Okinawa →
- KrabiWorst monthWet season deepens — third-wettest month32°C · 279mmWorst time to visit Krabi →
- MexicoWorst monthWet and stormy: the hurricane peak is under way33°C · 223mmWorst time to visit Mexico →
- MiamiWorst monthHurricane peak and the second-wettest month — the month to avoid30°C · 232mmWorst time to visit Miami →
- Key WestWorst monthWettest month and the hurricane peak — the month to skip30°C · 189mmWorst time to visit Key West →
- CancunWorst monthHurricane peak and the second rain surge31°C · 181mmWorst time to visit Cancun →
- TulumWorst monthPeak hurricane season — wet, quiet, cheapest31°C · 171mmWorst time to visit Tulum →
- BahamasWorst monthStatistical hurricane peak — the month to avoid31°C · 122mmWorst time to visit Bahamas →
- Cabo San LucasWorst monthWettest month — peak hurricane season, deep value32°C · 98mmWorst time to visit Cabo San Lucas →
- New OrleansWorst monthPeak hurricane month — single highest-risk window of the year30°C · 165mmWorst time to visit New Orleans →
- St. ThomasWorst monthStatistical hurricane peak — Irma and Maria both struck in 201729°C · 117mmWorst time to visit St. Thomas →
- HawaiiWorst monthStatistical hurricane peak, still hot — the cheapest month29°C · 19mmWorst time to visit Hawaii →
- PhilippinesSecond wet peak — quiet, cheap, stormy30°C · 382mmWorst time to visit Philippines →
- Da NangMonsoon arrives — rainfall triples, typhoon risk begins31°C · 324mmWorst time to visit Da Nang →
- Hoi AnMonsoon arrives — rainfall triples, typhoon risk begins31°C · 368mmWorst time to visit Hoi An →
- Costa RicaDeep green season on the Pacific — Caribbean at its driest30°C · 440mmWorst time to visit Costa Rica →
- MaldivesSecond wet peak — quiet and cheap30°C · 220mmWorst time to visit Maldives →
- JapanTyphoon season peak — wettest month of the year27°C · 220mmWorst time to visit Japan →
- Punta CanaHurricane peak — Fiona made a direct hit in 202230°C · 159mmWorst time to visit Punta Cana →
- TokyoTyphoon season peaks — wettest month of the year27°C · 209mmWorst time to visit Tokyo →
- KyotoTyphoons + lingering heat — quiet between Obon and koyo28°C · 180mmWorst time to visit Kyoto →
- Mexico CityStill wet but easing — Independence festivities23°C · 250mmWorst time to visit Mexico City →
- JamaicaStatistical hurricane peak — historically the most dangerous month31°C · 130mmWorst time to visit Jamaica →
- OsakaTyphoons + USJ Halloween Horror Nights launches28°C · 170mmWorst time to visit Osaka →
September at a glance
| Destination | September | High / low | Rain | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | Skip | 29° / 23°C | 19 mm | 86 |
| Greece | Peak | 29° / 20°C | 18 mm | 83 |
| Spain | Peak | 27° / 15°C | 77 mm | 81 |
| Mallorca | Peak | 28° / 18°C | 66 mm | 80 |
| Ibiza | Peak | 28° / 22°C | 74 mm | 79 |
| Bali | Peak | 30° / 24°C | 41 mm | 76 |
| Osaka | Skip | 28° / 21°C | 170 mm | 68 |
| St. Thomas | Skip | 29° / 27°C | 117 mm | 66 |
| Jamaica | Skip | 31° / 24°C | 130 mm | 65 |
| Kyoto | Skip | 28° / 20°C | 180 mm | 64 |
| Mexico City | Skip | 23° / 13°C | 250 mm | 64 |
| Aruba | Good | 32° / 28°C | 33 mm | 64 |
| Tokyo | Skip | 27° / 21°C | 209 mm | 63 |
| New Orleans | Skip | 30° / 24°C | 165 mm | 63 |
| Cabo San Lucas | Skip | 32° / 26°C | 98 mm | 62 |
| Koh Samui | Good | 32° / 25°C | 118 mm | 61 |
| Japan | Skip | 27° / 20°C | 220 mm | 60 |
| Tulum | Skip | 31° / 25°C | 171 mm | 60 |
| Bahamas | Skip | 31° / 27°C | 122 mm | 60 |
| Punta Cana | Skip | 30° / 26°C | 159 mm | 60 |
| Cancun | Skip | 31° / 25°C | 181 mm | 59 |
| Maldives | Skip | 30° / 26°C | 220 mm | 56 |
| Key West | Skip | 30° / 27°C | 189 mm | 54 |
| Miami | Skip | 30° / 25°C | 232 mm | 53 |
| Mexico | Skip | 33° / 24°C | 223 mm | 51 |
| Krabi | Skip | 32° / 23°C | 279 mm | 48 |
| Costa Rica | Skip | 30° / 23°C | 440 mm | 47 |
| Okinawa | Skip | 31° / 26°C | 245 mm | 43 |
| Vietnam | Skip | 31° / 25°C | 387 mm | 42 |
| Da Nang | Skip | 31° / 25°C | 324 mm | 42 |
| Hoi An | Skip | 31° / 25°C | 368 mm | 42 |
| Thailand | Skip | 31° / 25°C | 339 mm | 42 |
| Philippines | Skip | 30° / 25°C | 382 mm | 40 |
| Iceland | Mixed | 10° / 6°C | 147 mm | 33 |
September travel questions
Where is warm in September?
Aruba (32°C highs), Koh Samui (32°C highs) and Bali (30°C highs) are the warmest of the destinations that are good to visit in September.
Where is good for a beach trip in September?
Greece, Spain, Mallorca and Ibiza are in a good season with beach weather (24°C or warmer) in September.
Where is cheapest to visit in September?
September is one of the cheapest months for Aruba, and none of their guides warns against it.
Where should I avoid in September?
Vietnam, Thailand and Okinawa. Their own guides flag September: Vietnam, worst month — typhoon peak hits central vietnam; Thailand, wettest month in bangkok — peak sw monsoon; Okinawa, typhoon peak — the worst single month to visit.