September is upcoming, and if you have a vacation at that time and are finding a perfect place to go, so this post is for you. Below are top 10 places that you can choose for your trip in September because that’s the best time to visit them.
The Best Places To Visit In September
| 1. Grand Canyon National Park | 4. Ibiza | 7. Japan | 10. Zimbabwe |
| 2. Nepal | 5. Toronto | 8. Budapest | |
| 3. Vietnam | 6. Cape Town, South Africa | 9. Honolulu, Hawaii |
The Grand Canyon is well known for its spectacular array of rock strata and its beautiful and colorful landscape. Every year Grand Canyon National Park attracts about five million visitors. If you come here on peak season (from June to August) you will accept the fact that it’s hard to find a quiet corner to enjoy the scenery. Besides that, the temperature in the inner canyon is really high in summer that causes heat illness, fatigue and even fatal accident.
Grand Canyon National Park, United States
So the best times to visit the Grand Canyon is September through November when the daytime temperature is cooler and the crowds thin out. An addition to the advantage of travelling to Grand Canyon in September is that you can find great hotel deals and save your money on other services.
Friendship in the Grand Canyon National Park, United States
Highlighted activities: Day hike in and around the canyon, Half-day and all-day water trips, Walk “The trail of Time”.
Notice: The best time to have great photos of your adventure is on the golden hour which is the time shortly after dawn or before dusk. These times the sun casts a warm glow that gives the best lighting for photos.
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Nepal, located in South Asia, is famous for its mountain peaks and eight of them are in the top 10 highest peaks in the world, including the world’s tallest Mount Everest. With such an advantage, Nepal is a paradise for adventure tourism with loads of outdoor activities as: mountaineering, trekking, zip flying, sky diving, bungee jumping, mountain biking… So it’s really important to choose the right time to take a trip to Nepal when you have the best weather to do all your activities here.
Annapurna, Narchyang, Nepal
And September is one of the best months to go as the sky is usually clear and the views are brilliant. September is the last month of monsoon months so heavy rains gradually disappear and the weather is cooler with the average temperature 250C. This month is also the starting time to open many treks in Everest, Annapurna and Manang areas, it means you will get your trekking permits and other documentation quicker and easier before peak season comes.
A day hike above Manang Valley in Nepal used to acclimatise to the altitude before embarking on a few further daysof the hike.
Highlighted activities: Trekking in the Annapurna region; Trekking in the Mount Everest area; Wildlife viewing at Chitwan National Park; Trisuli River Rafting trips.
Notice: The main religions in Nepal are Hinduism and Buddhism so they effect much on Nepalis’s culture. You need to take time to learn some of their cultures to avoid making basic mistakes and take note some important rules as: the slaughter of cows is illegal in Nepal; take off your shoes before entering a temple or a house; the right hand is used to eat, pay, give and receive…
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Vietnam is a Southeast Asian country with beautiful landscapes and rich cultural traditions. This country features beautiful scenery of natural mountainous regions, incredible beaches and bustling cities with ancient cultural heritages. The country has a tropical monsoon climate that changes markedly between the north and south. The temperature in the south of Vietnam remains calm all year round, while the north has distinct seasonal variations.
Ha Long, Vietnam
So if you want to visit the whole country, September is one of the most favorable seasons. In this time, both the north and south have similar weather: temperatures are still high with sunshine and much less rainfall than other parts of the country. This is the ideal time to go trekking in the mountainous areas in the North as Sa Pa, Ha Giang, Mai Chau to admire the stunning beauty of paddy fields in the harvest time. And at this time you can still enjoy bright daylight at beaches with warm water in Phan Thiet, Mui Ne, Con Dao, Phu Quoc…
Ninh Bình Province, Vietnam
Highlighted activities: visiting Ha Giang and its terraced fields, day tours in Sa Pa, water sports in Mui Ne, exploring the Mekong Delta with floating markets….
Note: Not like the North and South, September is the rainy season in Central Vietnam. This region is wet and gets flooded, especially in Hue and Hoi An. So you might consider your trip here.
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Ibiza is a famous entertainment paradise for young people. This small island of the Balearic Islands is packed with amazing sights, attractions and lively nightlife. It gets very busy in the peak summer months (from May to September), beaches are full of people and it’s really hard to find a table for lunch at a beach restaurant without advanced booking.
Ibiza sunset - Spain
So I recommend you should plan a vacation here in September to have more fancy experience and peaceful sightseeing. This time is the end of high season, the weather is cool down with the average temperature 240C, it's still a great time for water activities or just relaxing on the beach. Besides, the bars are still lively with their closing parties and more rooms are available at hotels and restaurants.
Santa Eulalia Del Río, Ibiza, Spain
Highlighted activities: Walking through the Old Town; Visiting Punta Arabi Hippy Market; Party at Bora Bora Beach Club; Snorkeling and sailing in nearby island Formentera;
Note: The primary language in Ibiza is Spanish and there are not many taxi drivers speaking English, so you need to prepare a paper with a Spanish address to show him or use your smartphone.
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Toronto, the capital of Ontario, is the largest city in Canada with numerous museums and galleries; skyscrapers and high-rise buildings. Every year it attracts over 43 million tourists. The peak tourist season is in summer from June to August with numerous festivals, parades and exhibitions in hot weather and high prices of everything. The best times to visit the city are late April through May and September through October.
On a beautiful autumn afternoon on the Toronto Island, 3 ladies enjoy the scenery.
During September, the weather is more comfortable with sunny days and a little chilly at night. September is also the shoulder season, it means that crowds will be fewer and accommodation prices will be cheaper. And there are still various events for you to enjoy like the International Film Festival, the Toronto Beer Week from 14th to 22nd September, Southside Shuffle Festival.
Toronto skyline from Centre Island in the summer - Centre Island, Toronto, Canada
Highlighted activities: Visitting the spectacular Niagara Falls; Salmon fishing; Visiting the CN Tower; Attending the Toronto International Film Festival; Checking in High Park and the Toronto Zoo.
Note: Pearson International Airport (YYZ) is located very far from the city center, and it will take you an hour to go to the center if you get on a car rides with a price of about $75. So the advice here is let’s take a train from the airport to Union Station downtown. It will help you save money with the cost of just over $12 CAD and save time with only 25 minutes to get to the center.
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Cape Town is one of the most popular international tourist destinations in Africa. The city is well-known for its harbor, its significant natural beauty, and its beaches. It offers tourists various land and sea-based activities and one of the most notable attractions is the whale watching tour.
Clifton beach, Cape Town, South Africa
The peak season for this tour is in September when the Southern Right whales have arrived from Antarctica, ready to mate and rest in the Western Cape’s waters. And at the end of this month, the popular annual Whale Festival of Hermanus is held. September is also springtime in this region, it brings mild days with average temperatures and wildflowers blooming brings a stunning landscape of color. The citizens welcome spring by Franschhoek Uncorked Festival and the Cape Town Fringe Festival. All these things make September become the best month to visit Cape Town.
Penguins at Boulders Beach, Cape Town, South Africa
Highlighted activities: Going on a whale watching tour; Hiking up the Table Mountain and seeing the beauty of wildflowers; Exploring Robben Island; Seeing the Boulders Beach Penguins
Note: One of the top in the to-do lists in Cape Town is visiting the Boulders Beach Park. It is home of over 3,000 penguins and you have a chance to get up close and personal with them. But the fun notice here is don’t get too close to them, they will bite you with their sharp beaks.
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Referring to Japan, you will probably think of the famous cherry blossom festivals in spring. But this is not really the best time to come to Japan, because you will be overwhelmed by the craze of people and holiday crowds or even unable to find a small space to sit under the tree to watch the flowers. Except for cherry blossoms, Japan has a lot of beautiful sights waiting for you to explore, so my advice here is you should choose a time in other seasons for your first visit to Japan. And September is one of the most suitable times.
Famous Fuji - Fujiyoshida, Japan
September is great for first-timers to Japan, you can enjoy the beauty of the cities without being disturbed by the crowds and you can have a bargain with accommodation because it is a low season for tourism. There are many things you can do in Japan in September: you can dive into the autumnal beauty of Hokkaido where the temperature is cool and the leaves begin to change color; or you can enjoy the sunshine on the beaches on the Izu Peninsula and along the coast of Wakayama; or you can learn Japanese traditional culture through a variety of festivals around the country like: the Meguro Kumin Matsuri in Tokyo, The Owara Kaze no Bon Festival in the Toyama City; the Aizuwakamatsu in Fukushima, the Kishiwada Danjiri Festival in Osaka…
Sanja Matsuri in Tokyo, Japan
Highlighted activities: Hiking in Daisetsuzan National Park in Hokkaido; Visiting the town of Shirahama in Wakayama with beaches, hot spring baths; attending the Kishiwada Danjiri Festival in Osaka; watching sumo tournament at the Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo stadium…
Note: Japan Railways has the most extensive and efficient rail network running both within and between Japan's cities so the best way to travel around the country is by using trains. And you can save yourself a lot of money for traveling because the taxi fare in Japan is really high.
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The capital of Hungary - Budapest - is a perfect combination of history with flamboyant 19th-century architecture and modern with epic nightlife. The city, seperated by the beautiful Danube River, attracts people from all over the world with its stunning sights and its cultural events and festivals. And the most ideal month to visit this city is September when Budapest has a perfect weather for outdoor activities. The average temperature ranges from 230C in daylight to 130C at night. This weather allows you to roam around the city all day without being too hot.
Budapest, Szabó Dezső stny, Hungary
And in this month Budapest is also not overcrowded with tourists that helps you find the best rate for accommodations, but the city still has many exciting events waiting for your exploration.
Riverside scene - Budapest, Hungary
Highlighted activities: Taking a tour along the Danube River; Attending one of some festivals like: Jewish Cultural Festival, the Budapest Wine Festival, Budapest Chocolate Festival; Having sweet pastries and a cup of coffee in cafes; Experiencing Széchenyi Thermal Bath.
Note: The currency in Hungary is the Forint (HUF), not Euros. You can use directly Euros in some shops but the conversion rate is not really good, so you should use HUF. And to have a better rate you can exchange in the large licensed bureaux like Northline or Correct Change. The lowest rates tend to be offered at the airport, railway stations, and banks. Avoid transactions with strangers on the road, they may scam you.
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Diamond Head, Honolulu, USA
Honolulu – the heart of Hawaii is so famous that I don't think it is necessary to mention reasons to persuade you to come here on your vacation. And you may also hear of Honolulu's overload during the high season when prices are up high and resorts are often full. To avoid crowds and save your money, you should come here in shoulder seasons: from mid-April to early June or from September to mid-December. In September, you can enjoy the dry, warm and sunny weather at the popular Waikiki Beach or attend a load of festivals here with fewer crowds and fair rates.
Waikiki, HI, USA
Highlighted activities: Taking a hike up the Diamond Head volcano; Visiting the spectacular Manoa Falls; Having a swim at Waikiki famous beach; Attending Aloha Festivals; Exploring the Pearl Harbour.
Note: If you plan to rent a car to go around the city, you must know that you will have to pay for parking at public parking spots and they cost a lot of money. So consider the city bus and walking if you can. And the other fact is there are really too many homeless people on the streets that may affect your experience. So you should be mentally prepared to accept this to not be shocked when you come here.
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Nowadays, Zimbabwe is becoming a favorite destination for wildlife lovers. Overcoming political instability and violence in the past, Zimbabwe is now changing day by day for the better, welcoming visitors to discover its wonders from majestic natural landscapes, World Heritage-listed archaeological sites to rare wildlife. And one of the best months to go to Zimbabwe is September when it is the dry season here with warm temperatures and long dry days so malaria risk is low.
The sun was beginning to set at the Hwange National Park. In the horizon, has the sun started to kiss the plains pink, the African dirt started to life into a billowing cloud. Before my eyes, hundreds ans hundreds of elephants made their way through the plains and down to the watering hole. Baby elephants leaped with joy as their mothers guided their steps to the water. In an orderly fashion, the elephants paitently waited for their turn. It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever whitnessed.
This is also the best time for wildlife viewing because wildlife will gather along the remaining river banks or waterholes, you can witness hippos, lions, rhinoceros, elephants herds.... Another great thing is that at this time the Victoria Falls is at its low flow, so it offers really good view and access to water activities, such as swimming and rafting in the Zambezi River below the falls. All these things can’t have when the Falls is at its greatest volume.
Eastern Highlands, Zimbabwe
Highlighted activities: Taking a safari tour in Hwange National Park; Visiting the Victoria Falls and enjoying some of the thrilling activities around it; Fishing on the Zambezi river;
Note: The Internet in Zimbabwe is not as prevalent as in other countries so WiFi can only be found in main cities with a high cost. And because of frequent power outages so the internet here is often slow and unreliable. So you should bring USB to store photos and videos instead of uploading them on your social network as usual.
Conclusion
After reading my list, you must have an idea for your upcoming trip in September. Don't wait, plan your trip in detail now and don't forget to share your experiences with me when you come back.